What attracts people to MS?

[Mobilemoll]

Originally Posted by Thriftygal

Alot of people come here to retire. Apparently Southaven was voted one of the best places to retire by somebody (I know this because one of my husband's workers moved here from Hawaii because of this). I think what attracts people most, as many of you have mentioned, is the affordable housing and the low cost of living.

Funny you mentioned that I have an aunt who lives in Indianola and during the 'Great Migration' where many folks flocked either west to Cali, mid west towards Chicago, Milwaukee and the like or east in the NY Metro or New England area, she tells me 75%+ of those folks are moving back to ole Miss to retire. Many people she, my mom (high tailed it to NY during GM time) and my other aunts (made it as far north as KY) grew up with. It's cheaper and makes more sense once you've settled down and want to slower pace. It's not for everyone as one of my older cousins moved back to Morgan City area from up here (with conviction mind you!) and came crawling back within a month Lol!

[missylyn]

well I lived on the west bank of new orleans till i was 15 yrs old. then i moved to camden,ar. which was a culture shock! i now reside on the coast of ms. i been in waveland all the way to ocean springs. and to sum it all up i have the best of both worlds! in N.O. i was always close to department stores, malls theaters good restaurants, always postive things to do that are availiable within reasonable driving distances. and living here on the coast i have the same luxury! when living in arkansas it was more spacious less congested ppl don't live on top of each other but because it was a small town and less crime/burglary don't have to worry about walking down the street and getting rapped or robbed like new orleans. there was anything to do except go to walmart the only real store they have to offer. and no theaters! they have movie galleries to rent and you have your choice between 3 franchised burger joints or the 3 privatly owned resturants. but living on the coast i have the best of both worlds it's alil bit of both it has more to offer, and less to worry about except for the hurricaines which i'm trying to get use to.

[willdufauve]

Originally Posted by Roy G. Biv

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".

African-American is usually capitalized unless you don't think very highly of them or don't have much readin', ritin' and book learnin'.

Of my family, who happen to be African-Americans, there are numerous college professors, several PhD's, dozens of masters degrees, an internationally known playwright, an internationally known film maker, a published poet, the Superintendent of one of the largest public school systems in the US, a vice president of a college in Boston, a Directer of Financial Aid at another college in Boston, an award winning actor/producer, a successful painter, a software CEO...

Our intellectual pursuits are running along just fine.

[Phil75230]

First thing's are first:


Basic Points: Practically any medium sized city will have "beacon" organizations and clubs catering to cerebral interests. Secondly, it's not a matter of what the state as a whole is like - it's a matter of whether there is a small place within that state that can offer easy access the kinds of people you clique well with.

I learned that what the state or community is like regarding intellectualism really isn't the issue. The issue is easy access to people who share your personal interests. Almost any metro area of at least 300,000 will likely offer intellectual amenities and discussion groups (and plenty with an even smaller population than that, but I'm just sticking with guarantees). Usually these are going to be in the oldest continuous middle class section of the city - aka the parts of the central city not abandoned by the middle class over the past 50 or so years. Getting involved in the arts and literary scene is a good place to start...also, if it's your thing, Jackson has an astronomy club, like most cities its size.

[KEKI]

[quote=Roy G. Biv;4914168]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.[/Q

I'am a chicago native who grew up mostly in mississippi and I want you to know something roy that alot of, and I do mean alot of famous and educated people have come out of mississippi.Go and do some researching alittle.......like some billionaire's like oprah and bob johnson who own's black entertainment television "B.E.T". Alot of actors and singers from country, R&B, Gospel, and Blues, so watch what you say about a state when you don't really know the history of it, don't go by what you seen are experience while you came down here for just a minute just in one are a few areas of ms you have to really get around and explore to find the best thing in a town or state, and I'am going to let you know something that i've been to every state and let me tell you that I met alot of people and people from mississippi are the friendliest i've ever seen or been around.