What attracts people to MS? (Jackson, Southaven: to rent, home, theater)

[Roy G. Biv]

I know you guys are feeling like you need to "defend" your home state and all. I don't blame you, and I apologize for sounding extra jerkish in my first post--it was late and I had just been to a funeral there in Batesville (a really annoying one I might add). My comment was intended to be more about the attitude of anti-intellectualism (which you may still disagree with), rather than a blanket personal attack against all people of Mississippi.

But what each of you is saying is fundamentally verifying what I said in my previous post. Mississippi is not well known for its celebration of learning--that is not an audacious claim nor an attack and there is plenty of statistical data that suggests that people of MS regardless of race do not produce stellar test results on average.

As aiangel_writer said, the people of MS fancy themselves as being more "real" than the stuffy intellectual types. The consequence of that common attitude is that if one is an intellectual type of person, then they are not "real". "Book learning" is on a lower rung of importance. This is definitely not unique to MS and it exists in many cultures. The same anti-intellectual notion is common within african american culture where intellectual pursuits are often seen as "too white" and not "keepin it real".

Anti-intellectualism not only leads to a great array of widespread ignorance and lack of awareness, but it impacts the way that a society is able to function and deal with its problems and it tends to be socially destructive (although on the other hand, a lack of social graces is also destructive to a community's well being). As such, I am not attracted to Mississippi just as I am not attracted to rude and elitist new england states.

[njkate]

Originally Posted by Roy G. Biv

I know you guys are feeling like you need to "defend" your home state and all. I don't blame you, and I apologize for sounding extra jerkish in my first post--it was late and I had just been to a funeral there in Batesville (a really annoying one I might add). My comment was intended to be more about the attitude of anti-intellectualism (which you may still disagree with), rather than a blanket personal attack against all people of Mississippi.

But what each of you is saying is fundamentally verifying what I said in my previous post. Mississippi is not well known for its celebration of learning--that is not an audacious claim nor an attack and there is plenty of statistical data that suggests that people of MS regardless of race do not produce stellar test results on average.

As aiangel_writer said, the people of MS fancy themselves as being more "real" than the stuffy intellectual types. The consequence of that common attitude is that if one is an intellectual type of person, then they are not "real". "Book learning" is on a lower rung of importance. This is definitely not unique to MS and it exists in many cultures. The same anti-intellectual notion is common within african american culture where intellectual pursuits are often seen as "too white" and not "keepin it real".

Anti-intellectualism not only leads to a great array of widespread ignorance and lack of awareness, but it impacts the way that a society is able to function and deal with its problems and it tends to be socially destructive (although on the other hand, a lack of social graces is also destructive to a community's well being). As such, I am not attracted to Mississippi just as I am not attracted to rude and elitist new england states.

Scratching my head here..an annoying funeral....that's a first..I'm sure it was most annoying for the deceased..

That said, MS has many many good qualities, it has been on my list for several years for a "snow bird" retreat and I'm a die hard yankee, thing is when I leave NJ and travel else where be it in the US or a foreign country, I embrace that things, food, culture may be a whole lot different then here in NJ, if it weren't why bother to even travel

[nancy thereader]

Scratching my head here..an annoying funeral....that's a first..I'm sure it was most annoying for the deceased..

Great comment.

[Roy G. Biv]

Yes it was one of those funerals where preacher slowly rambled for an hour about his church and about God but said very little about the deceased, even though he knew the family for many years.

[Old Woman Golfer]

Well - I am a brand new member to this Forum - and after reading the various responses to "what attracts people to MS?", I felt I wanted to join and add "my 2 cents worth."

First of all, my husband and I retired in March of this year, and moved to Hernando, MS from central Illinois. We had originally bought a retirement home in Gautier, MS (along the gulf coast) in March, 2005 but after Katrina hit - (and the coast was devasted so severely) that location lost some appeal for us. We had visited the casinos and golf courses in the Tunica area several times and started to check out the surrounding area. We met up with a wonderful realtor, Cara O'Bryant, and she showed us several homes - ultimately landing us in Hernando, MS.

The appeal for us was: reasonably priced housing (get to have our own golf cart on a golf course); affordable retirement (taxes, etc.); mild winters (still able to play golf); and extremely warm and friendly people. We have met some wonderful people and are honored that they have welcomed "US YANKS" into their community with open arms. I do believe the life style down here is a little slower paced but that's not a bad thing (who wants to move fast when it's 105 degrees)! And they do call us Yanks - but we understand - we're from the north!

My only disappointment is the fact that I have decided full retirement wasn't the right thing for me and I am having a very difficult time finding a job - but then, let's look at the economy - everything is tight now!

[njkate]

Originally Posted by Old Woman Golfer

Well - I am a brand new member to this Forum - and after reading the various responses to "what attracts people to MS?", I felt I wanted to join and add "my 2 cents worth."

First of all, my husband and I retired in March of this year, and moved to Hernando, MS from central Illinois. We had originally bought a retirement home in Gautier, MS (along the gulf coast) in March, 2005 but after Katrina hit - (and the coast was devasted so severely) that location lost some appeal for us. We had visited the casinos and golf courses in the Tunica area several times and started to check out the surrounding area. We met up with a wonderful realtor, Cara O'Bryant, and she showed us several homes - ultimately landing us in Hernando, MS.

The appeal for us was: reasonably priced housing (get to have our own golf cart on a golf course); affordable retirement (taxes, etc.); mild winters (still able to play golf); and extremely warm and friendly people. We have met some wonderful people and are honored that they have welcomed "US YANKS" into their community with open arms. I do believe the life style down here is a little slower paced but that's not a bad thing (who wants to move fast when it's 105 degrees)! And they do call us Yanks - but we understand - we're from the north!

My only disappointment is the fact that I have decided full retirement wasn't the right thing for me and I am having a very difficult time finding a job - but then, let's look at the economy - everything is tight now!

Oh that was a great post!! Good luck in your retirement...enjoy!!!

As for jobs, well even here in the NYC metro area they are tight.
I look at the NJ Unemployment site for the WARN notices ( when a company plans on laying off many people at once) and they are growing....

My fave spot for a snow bird haven was either Bay St Louis or Ocean Springs...planning a trip to New Orleans in April ( one of the many reasons for the MS coast, not to far from New Orleans) will have to take a drive over and see how they are faring.

[mccarley]

Originally Posted by Old Woman Golfer

And they do call us Yanks - but we understand - we're from the north!

!

I bet you are not hearing the "kee". I have 71 years of experience living in the South and I don't believe I have ever heard anyone refer to someone from up north as "yank".

[Old Woman Golfer]

Well - I guess to be honest - they do call us Yankees!! But it does give us an excuse when we play golf and we "shank" one the wrong direction!! We just say it's the "yankee" coming out of us!!

[jacksonian]

Hmmm, Roy...

I graduated from a MS public high school in 2001. I scored a 30 on the ACT. I had 40 students graduate with a higher GPA than I did... guess I just don't comprehend your reasoning.

And if you want to discuss our healthcare, you should call the University of Mississippi Medical Center and ask them how high they ranked in the US. And since I just learned how to use the internet, here is their website:
University of Mississippi Health Care

[jacksonian]

Silly me, I forgot to add that UMMC also performed the world's first heart transplant. I guess my lack of education caused a glitch in my memory.

And to add one more thing, the current president of the American Heart Association lives in Mississippi.