What Is The Worst Town In Nebraska? (Franklin, Scribner: gangs, move)

[nebrgirlgeorge]

Originally Posted by Sudo Nymm

Through a series of misadventures which began with 9/11, I now find myself
stranded in Ogallala, Nebraska. As the local folklore has it, I am not the first
wayfarer to be imprisoned here, unable to make enough money to escape.

After nearly a year in this miserable, godforsaken splotch of ignorant rednecks,
I am seriously considering throwing myself under the next express train.

I love opera, ballet, classical music, theater and the fine arts in general. And,
no, you dumb farmers, I'm not gay. I'm educated, cultured, sophisticated, and
hate the fact that there is no one here with whom I can share the joy I knew
at seeing Barishnikov dance. Only a few miles from here a young man was
tied to a barbed-wire fence and beaten to death for holding unpopular opinions.
I recently asked a co-worker (I work in a factory, since this town has no need of
a senior engineer) if he thought Obama would win the nomination, and he replied
"O-what-a?"

I've lived abroad. I even spent four years in a third-world country. But I've
never even been in a place where people are so hell-bent on ignoring the world
at large. Mention Iraq, and you get "Well, I dunno 'bout that'. Mention Bush and
lay down the facts about his lies, and you get "Well, he's the President". If you
can't talk bass fishing, high school sports or who died yesterday, you can't
carry on a conversation in this hellhole that goes by the name of Ogallala.

Fortunately this town (like the entire state) is dying. The downturn in the
economy (thank you George and his rich banker buddies) will sound the death knell for many stilted, unprepared, head-in-the-sand rural communities. When ethanol becomes an evil rather than a godsend, these whining farmers who claim they can't live on twenty times the net income I make will get their comeuppance,
and Nebraska will become the Dust Bowl it so richly deserves to be.

The state legislature is busy making laws to keep young people in the state, to
prevent the "brain drain". Well, guys, all I can say is that anybody with a
three-digit IQ, an ounce of gumption and five dollars has already left this "land
of losers" and the rest of us are saving up.

There's a beautiful, fascinating, mind-bending world out there, and I'm gonna
get back to it (or catch the next Union Pacific express, face-first), 'cause I can't
live here. Living here isn't living. It's just hiding. It's ignorance. It's stupidity.
It's cowardice. It's like living with Neanderthals cowering in a cave.

I've been around the world, and Ogallala is the worst place I've ever been.

I read this, and I feel very sorry for you. First of all, if you think you are the only educated person in western Nebraska, you are so sadly mistaken. Do you know what kind of an IQ it takes to run a successful ranch. Well, my bad , you quite obviously don't. And I will tell you why I think this. If you stand on such a pedestal, you need to climb down off it so you are able to converse with the people that are smart enough to know that they don't need a flashing neon sign with their IQ on their forehead! They know they don't need to convince anyone how smart they are. If you have to tell everyone how smart you are, who are you trying to convince? You ... or others. If you ask me, if you have to tout your IQ, it probably isn't as high as you say it is. And then again, if you have to have a congenial personality to join in the community - who cares what your IQ is.

I agree with who ever said, if you are so overly educated, why were you not smart enough to realize that you were above all the people of Ogalla. You should have figured that out when you went to apply for the job. And maybe it isn't the towns or companys fault that they didn't need an engineer, maybe they were looking for someone that would fit in to the area, and make a positive contribution to the community, rather than to put your co-workers and neighbors down. You must have a very long nose to look down.

Again, like (sorry, I have old timers disease- so I don't remember her full name) Granny said, instead of putting the town down, why not try to start some organization to bring the culture to the town that you say the town is so desperately lacking in. With an IQ like you say you have, I would think you could figure out how to do that - no problem. Maybe you aren't the only one who would enjoy bringing something new and exciting to their town.

I know of a lovely little town that is much smaller than Ogalla, that took the old grocery store, and turned it into a concert hall. Every two weeks they book a concert. Not all who appear are famous, but Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and several others played there. Now before you give me what for about who would want to listen to Willie, I am just saying - if they can bring in country names, why can't you find a way to bring what ever you like to your uneducated town?? With such a high IQ, you should not only be able to figure out a way to do it, but possibly turn it into a money making business.

But in reality, as one said, the country in Nebraska isn't for everybody. And Nebraska would be better off with out those who really don't want to be there. So I am right there offering you the $5 to get out of town, and hopefully out of the state and back to NY or your 3rd world country. I think they deserve you. I am old, and I still recall stories of people being tarred and feathered, and run out of many towns, and not just in Nebraska! If I were you, I would be saving every penney so you can get out on your own, instead of being railroaded as you say you may do. Sounds like quite a pity party you are having at Ogalla's expense. Even in Nebraska we have heard of anti-depressants, I would say you could use a dose, because you are sure feeling sorry for yourself. Just because you weren't smart enough to go to a big city to get that Senior Eng. job you think you deserve - you are no different than the welfare recipient, only you think we owe you entertainment, and a better job, that evidently you weren't able to capture in some big city or in Ogalla.

I wish you much luck in your quest for your utopia. And I certainly hope they worship you in the manner you want to be accustomed to. As for me, I will stay where I like talking to people, everyone has an interesting story. Life is what you make of it. I do surveys for a living, and I know there is alot of animosity towards the dreaded telemarketer, although I do surveys, many people say it is the same thing. And I talk to people like you, and it is a very short survey, because people like you bore me. But I get some calls where elderly people and others have stories that I could listen to forever. And I talk to educated people that have very interesting stories, but they don't start the conversation with "I have a three digit IQ!" You just figure it out by listening. Maybe you should try a little more listening, and not so much tooting your own horn.

But I wish you the best. I hope you find it. I just don't understand why you were so blind as to think you would be happy in what you think is a jerkwater town. Just baffels me why you even took the job. I am sure you,too, have a story, but I think it would probably bore me.

If you don't like your life - only you can change it!!

[Chris19]

Sudo Nymm,

Rural Nebraskans are a very hardy people and these people are decendents of people who have held their communities in tact during the dust bowl. I know of many Nebraskans and they are just as smart as the big city people who think they know it all (when in fact they do not). Many people in Ogallala and smaller towns prefer to live in the smaller towns due to the simpler life and other quality of life features that big cities simply do not offer.

The small town atmosphere is not for everyone, but please do not slam it and brand Nebraskans or rural folk for being stupid. The people are very nice and sincere people and many are very smart and wise people. They are smart in other ways than those in the cities and may have more practical knowledge.

There are many smart people who start their own business and take initiative and risk to put their dreams into work. Life is not easy here and takes a lot of dedication and can be trying at times, but may be worth the risk and may be better than the backstabbing, rat-race corporate culture of the larger cities. If you have an enterprising spark within you, the rural area has niches where you can do well in.

As in the prior post, you should start an organization and network with others with similar interests with you and work to bring arts, culture, and additional entertainment options to Ogallala and the region. In a lot of smaller towns, people had to band together to bring sports and other venues in as enterainment in years past and even now. Sometimes, you may fail, but you learn from your failures and move forward.

The negative attitutde bug must have caught you. This attitude will make you unhappy here in the small-town Midwest and will likely follow you to your beloved cities. One thing that I ask you is to make the best of your time and experiences in Nebraska and perhaps you will learn from it and grow spiritually and emotionally.

[SCGranny]

LOL Nebrgirlgeorge, you can call me anything you want - just don't call me late for supper!

My daughter and I will be in Nebraska in 10 days... and if that house in that tiny town is everything we've been told, we'll be settling in by June.

Cannot. WAIT!

When I get settled, you're all invited to a real Southern weekend barbecue! Yes, even you, Sudo. Unless that is just too redneckian for your tastes. BTW, I have a karaoke machine... we can have some seriously silly fun. I'm setting it up on the porch... Bring your tents and watch out for the sandburrs!

Failing that, I'll see you all at the Star Gazer party in July... or at any and every county fair I can get to!

[Gunluvver2]

Glad to hear you are coming to Nebraska SCGranny. What community did you finally decide to settle in? I am just itching for warmer weather so I can fire up the motorcycle for some intersting day trips. If you are close to a good fishing hole maybe I can contribute a few fish for a fish fry? That is assuming the fish are biting of course.

GL2

[SCGranny]

Umm... er... I don't want to say until the papers are signed! LOL
I all too often have jinxed myself by saying, "I'm gonna do THIS!" only to find out that I couldn't, or someone else beat me to it. That's why I have this one house on a list of 6 - at the top, and the first one I'm looking at, but I don't want to be too disappointed if it doesn't pan out.

[nebrgirlgeorge]

SCGranny,

Sounds like we have alot in common, the love of people and humor, good music, and good food!! I would not only be honored to come to your BBQ, but I am sure I would love to sit and listen to you for hours! I can tell you are very well educated - and I didn't even need to see your 3 digit IQ on a neon sign on your forehead to tell that. I just had to listen to what you wrote!

I find your writings very interesting, and I would love to hear your story, I am sure it is a good one. The sand burrs, and the star gazing sounds like you might be headed for my old stomping grounds where I grew up? And I hope that is where you are headed, they have very nice people out there that will help you when you need it, you don't even have to ask. Those people out there are so far and few between that they depend on each other like family, and sometimes they treat you better than family! LOL!! As I have said so many times before - the cows out number the people, so you don't have all the luxuries of a big city.

I had a wonderful childhood out west growing up. Something that I would not trade for all the rice in China. I can't imagine having to grow up in a city! And I am glad I didn't have to find out.

I must admit, as I grew up, I moved to a town of about 20,000 and for the most part I like it. And I don't know if I could give up my 24 hour a day grocery stores, and being able to grab some fast food after working a 12 hour day instead of cooking. But if I were retired, and had all day to cook, I think I would like to go back to a small town area. And I must say, I miss knowing that every car I meet is going to give a friendly wave, even if they have no idea who you are. And not having to wonder if it was actually some one giving me the notorious 1 finger salute that you so often get here. And you don't even have a clue what you did to get that salute.

So SCGranny, when you get settled in, and have that BBQ, I would be honored to attend, and I may even have some music to add to your Karaoke party. And I hope you enjoy western and central Nebraska as much as I have.

Even my ex-husband who moved to Iowa to be with his wife's family said, once the Sandhills gets in your craw, it stays there, and he misses it too. I warned him of the humidity that we didn't have out west, and he thought he could take that too. But he even says - mowing and gardening aren't as much fun when you are sweating before you even get to the mower.

And SCGranny - if I were 20 years younger, I would even offer to help you unpack when you get here, but my back will not permit that. But I would bring a covered dish or two, to enjoy once the truck was unloaded. And this is all what Sudo does not get about Ogalla, you have to love people!! And I do!!

So I can't wait to hear where you move to, and have a safe trip here! We be watchin for ya, and will keep the porch light on fer ya, too!! We will have us a real whing ding of a time, yes we will!

Good Luck and God Bless!!

[Chris19]

SC Granny, you will like this part of the country, based on some of the posts that you made. The Upper Midwest/Great Plains region is full of friendly people and the region has its own beauty (a diamond in the rough and hidden gem of sorts). I wish you well with your possible move.

[SCGranny]

Thanks for all the nice words! We are very excited, have our fingers crossed. And don't worry, nebergirl, about helping us unpack... that will take months anyway. Hubby is disabled (9 inches of titanium in his back and a metal hip) so we have learned to only do what matters, and when it matters. He still gets around on his own two feet, but he doesn't bend well. We've never used movers before, but this time we will; as long as they get the stuff in the right areas and rooms, we'll be good to go. No worries. Our son in Las Vegas has a performing troupe and has offered them as slave labor for a weekend if we need them, too! The trade off is that I cook for them, and they can hunt the turkeys... Yes, Nebrgirl, I think you know where I mean!

Oh, I've got stories... but most of them I want to forget! Grin I live very much in the 'now' and in the future, and the past is - well, past. No sense worrying or talking about or remembering it now. Hubby is the historian of the family; he just bought a scanner so he can put all of our pics on disk. And he is the storyteller in the family.

I have had a dream of moving someplace where I can raise my vegies, have chickens, cows, make my own butter and cheese, do my canning, have a productive greenhouse, make my ceramics - all the things I've done piecemeal over years, put it all together and settle in somewhere. Raising kids and making a living came first. Now I am ready to enter the second stage of life. But I am always willing to pitch in and do whatever, in a community that is productive. And I always have a good time, wherever I am!

So thanks for the warm welcome... we'll know by next Tuesday if things will work out or not.

[looney215]

I have lived in a small community for the past 24 years and it was alright while my children were small. I didn't have to worry about anything to much.

But the downside of small living is you ALWAYS have someone in your business and although it can be a nice thing from time to time. It also can be a real pain in the neck.

I grew up in a big city and moved to a small town when I was 26, I think now that my children are all raised, I think I'll try my hand at big city living again.

Just a little tired of all the "lets pretend" going on. Not that it isn't going on in the big cities, just not as noticable.

[looney215]

Looney216
If you have so much money that you can afford to go to the opera and such, than you don't have anyone to blame but yourself for living where you do.

If your such an educated man than why not post some resumes and get your unhappy rear out of there. Because belive me if I was so educated and had all that going for me, I would'nt be wining about how bad things were for me. I would see to it that I found a place that I would enjoy being in.



I read this, and I feel very sorry for you. First of all, if you think you are the only educated person in western Nebraska, you are so sadly mistaken. Do you know what kind of an IQ it takes to run a successful ranch. Well, my bad , you quite obviously don't. And I will tell you why I think this. If you stand on such a pedestal, you need to climb down off it so you are able to converse with the people that are smart enough to know that they don't need a flashing neon sign with their IQ on their forehead! They know they don't need to convince anyone how smart they are. If you have to tell everyone how smart you are, who are you trying to convince? You ... or others. If you ask me, if you have to tout your IQ, it probably isn't as high as you say it is. And then again, if you have to have a congenial personality to join in the community - who cares what your IQ is.

I agree with who ever said, if you are so overly educated, why were you not smart enough to realize that you were above all the people of Ogalla. You should have figured that out when you went to apply for the job. And maybe it isn't the towns or companys fault that they didn't need an engineer, maybe they were looking for someone that would fit in to the area, and make a positive contribution to the community, rather than to put your co-workers and neighbors down. You must have a very long nose to look down.

Again, like (sorry, I have old timers disease- so I don't remember her full name) Granny said, instead of putting the town down, why not try to start some organization to bring the culture to the town that you say the town is so desperately lacking in. With an IQ like you say you have, I would think you could figure out how to do that - no problem. Maybe you aren't the only one who would enjoy bringing something new and exciting to their town.

I know of a lovely little town that is much smaller than Ogalla, that took the old grocery store, and turned it into a concert hall. Every two weeks they book a concert. Not all who appear are famous, but Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and several others played there. Now before you give me what for about who would want to listen to Willie, I am just saying - if they can bring in country names, why can't you find a way to bring what ever you like to your uneducated town?? With such a high IQ, you should not only be able to figure out a way to do it, but possibly turn it into a money making business.

But in reality, as one said, the country in Nebraska isn't for everybody. And Nebraska would be better off with out those who really don't want to be there. So I am right there offering you the $5 to get out of town, and hopefully out of the state and back to NY or your 3rd world country. I think they deserve you. I am old, and I still recall stories of people being tarred and feathered, and run out of many towns, and not just in Nebraska! If I were you, I would be saving every penney so you can get out on your own, instead of being railroaded as you say you may do. Sounds like quite a pity party you are having at Ogalla's expense. Even in Nebraska we have heard of anti-depressants, I would say you could use a dose, because you are sure feeling sorry for yourself. Just because you weren't smart enough to go to a big city to get that Senior Eng. job you think you deserve - you are no different than the welfare recipient, only you think we owe you entertainment, and a better job, that evidently you weren't able to capture in some big city or in Ogalla.

I wish you much luck in your quest for your utopia. And I certainly hope they worship you in the manner you want to be accustomed to. As for me, I will stay where I like talking to people, everyone has an interesting story. Life is what you make of it. I do surveys for a living, and I know there is alot of animosity towards the dreaded telemarketer, although I do surveys, many people say it is the same thing. And I talk to people like you, and it is a very short survey, because people like you bore me. But I get some calls where elderly people and others have stories that I could listen to forever. And I talk to educated people that have very interesting stories, but they don't start the conversation with "I have a three digit IQ!" You just figure it out by listening. Maybe you should try a little more listening, and not so much tooting your own horn.

But I wish you the best. I hope you find it. I just don't understand why you were so blind as to think you would be happy in what you think is a jerkwater town. Just baffels me why you even took the job. I am sure you,too, have a story, but I think it would probably bore me.

If you don't like your life - only you can change it!![/quote]