Is there any friendly people in Montana? (Billings, Missoula: renting, university)

[california visitor]

I happened to come upon your web site by accident, and could not have been more disapointed! We visited Montana Last summer and loved it, and oh by the way we are from California! I can't believe people would be so narrow minded as to put down everyone from California, we visited and really enjoyed ourself, and not once did it cross our minds to try to convert any of the Montana people. Get real, Californians don't want you to be like us, thats the whole point, diversity.

Montana is beautiful and wide open and thats what we enjoyed, and yes the people did seem very western to us, but again, so what.

Please get to know some Californians before you try to insult them, there really not that threatening and really could careless what you do in your state of Montana.

[Interpol76]

I lived in Montana for a few years and found that people are either extremely nice or extremely mean, then again, I lived in Missoula which is quite a bit different from the rest of the state. As I recall, it seemed most people that lived in Missoula were from somewhere else, thus people were pretty open to newcomers and transplants.

[decembergirl]

I have noticed Native Montanans being petty and rude to *gasp* other Native Montanans. So not sure where the us vs. them theories come from. To be quite honest, this Native Montanan doesn't get along with numerous other Montanans. And sad to say, its my lack of desire to get $*%*$ faced on a regular basis that is the cause!

If someone here is rude to you then don't go blaming it on the fact that they are from MT, they are rude simply because they are a jerk. Plain as that. And if you come here thinking that the natives need to be throwing some type of welcome party, then you're delusional. No one does that.

[MuryB]

Originally Posted by LeaveMeBe

I don't think i've ever ran across such hateful people. Is there anyone out there that has anything kind to say? Where I come from there is such thing as respect your neighbor. No one is a stranger here. Everyone is treated as if they are an old friend. I guess I thought the rest of the world was like that. You people should be ashamed of yourselves. None of us anywhere like all the changes that are coming about in our states but that is no reason to blame a certain individual. Blame just those trying to do the changin. NOt to mention alot are moving just for the simple fact they can't make it where they are living. So would u rather they starve and be miserable. Or some move because they are losing their children to gangs or death. Why can't we find a place on this earth that is good for our children to grow up. Why can't u welcome newcomers and educate them on the land you are lucky to have lived on?
I myself am not people crazy..not because i don't necessarily like people I just get nervous around people exspecially ones I don't know. But anyway I would never be rude to someone just because they moved to my town. If anything I'd be all the more nicer.

I am from Virginia and my cousin and I just got back from visiting Montana to do family history research. I have never met such wonderful, friendly people anywhere. We visited small, small places like Lavina, where my mother was born in 1910 and we went to people's homes as complete strangers, explained what we were doing and every single one said "Come on in". They told us stories, showed us books and pictures and were absolutely wonderful. Here we were two middle-aged women out in the middle of Montana and we were embraced almost as family. I can't say enough about how connected I feel to Montana after spending that wonderful week there. Even in Helena where we did much of our research at the archives, people were friendly and nice. They listened to our stories and told us theirs. Lavina is in my heart even as it appears to be dying. I will never forget my experience there. I love Montana and Montanans!

[Joe Doer]

I would never stereotype a whole state because of a few who vent on a message board. I have been to every part of Montana and it has 99% good people.

Originally Posted by MuryB

I am from Virginia and my cousin and I just got back from visiting Montana to do family history research. I have never met such wonderful, friendly people anywhere. We visited small, small places like Lavina, where my mother was born in 1910 and we went to people's homes as complete strangers, explained what we were doing and every single one said "Come on in". They told us stories, showed us books and pictures and were absolutely wonderful. Here we were two middle-aged women out in the middle of Montana and we were embraced almost as family. I can't say enough about how connected I feel to Montana after spending that wonderful week there. Even in Helena where we did much of our research at the archives, people were friendly and nice. They listened to our stories and told us theirs. Lavina is in my heart even as it appears to be dying. I will never forget my experience there. I love Montana and Montanans!

[j760]

I completely agree with the OP.

[Trace_Rinaldi]

Everytime I've ever stayed in Montana or travelled through the state the people have always been very friendly. I've been in many hotels, resturants, gas stations etc. everyone always treated me just fine. I even have California plates;-)

[LovesMT]

My ex and I moved to Helena MT in 1975 from Colorado -- moved here initially for the job (we planned to stay a year, maybe 2, and then move back to CO). Quit the job and stayed here ever since -- because we loved the people and way of life. If you want to be alone in MT, you can be. If you want to get involved, you can be. If you want to be part of the solutions to the problems (every place on Earth has them, of course), you can be. If you want to turn off the news and only pay attention to your own life, you can do that, as well. And, if you want to be a jerk, well that's your right, too. And if you don't care how people respond to your jerky behavior, you'll be fine here -- probably won't get shot on the street as you might in other places.

I agree with the posts about people living in more sparsely populated places being good neighbors and friends -- I think it's probably natural selection, LOL. We come here because we expect to take care of ourselves and, at the same time, realize that only by pulling together can some things get done. We're generally a self-reliant AND helpful group. I got a good laugh about the bumper stickers that were prevalent when I first moved here -- "30 Below Keeps the Riff-Raff Out" -- enough said! (I think we need to start printing those again <G>)

I've traveled EVERYWHERE in MT during my almost 34 years here and I have never found a "better" place in this country (although I admit to not having traveled everywhere in the whole US -- but have visited more than 2/3rds of the states) as far as the "people" here. Of course, that is from my perspective. The land is still beautiful, even though I, too, am sorry to see housing developments popping up over previously farming, ranching and mountain land. There are the typical concerns about diminishing water, agricultural production and wildlife habitat -- and real estate bubbles ready to burst. MT is still a better place to live than at least 90% of the rest of the country. There are growing social and economic issues -- even though we still have a decent economy and low unemployment rates. It's both easier and harder to do things in MT -- just like everywhere else.

I spent a good many years working for state and federal government and know both the benefits and problems those "institutions" face. While I truly believe that if one wants change -- a different direction -- it is their responsibility to become part of the solution, I also understand turning your back on some problems and simply denying their existence or "agreeing to disagree" as a means of coping. We all do what we can. In Montana, I've found that doing that is, most often, enough.

It's definitely a more "rural" lifestyle here, in general. That said, here in the Helena area (and others!), we have symphonies, theater, art galleries, and jazz festivals along with the county fairs, rodeos, trail rides, demo derbies, fishing, hunting, backpacking and high school basketball games. Better yet, we are still "communities" where anyone who cares still knows what's happening and how to take part -- and where one who is so inclined can take part and feel welcomed for doing so.

Perhaps this why I love it here -- mutual respect is a norm. I've never felt like an "outsider" when participating in the community, what I want to do in my private life is my own business, and I have generally great neighbors. When we disagree, as people often do, we don't take it as a personal attack -- we use the information to figure out a solution -- even if it is to simply disagree.

[NYMTman]

The grammatical error in the topic title is getting annoying.

We dislike subject-verb disagreement in Montana

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by NYMTman

The grammatical error in the topic title is getting annoying.

We dislike subject-verb disagreement in Montana

We does it on purpose, to make ignernt ferinners think we's hicks.

Helps when you go to fleece the riffraff.