When you say you're from North Dakota (Fargo, Bismarck: crime, how much)

[huttah]

I spend a lot of time online talking to people. One time I remember talking to someone on MSN instant messenger, I told him I was from North Dakota and he asked me if we have electricity. No joke.

I've also been asked what part of Canada it's in, and what part of Germany it's in.

Does it bug you that North Dakota is unknown and people think it's part of a different country? That people think we don't have electricity when we're talking to them on the computer?

Do we really have that kind of reputation? Are other people just stupid? Or did I just constantly run into stupid people?

Should our government be doing something, anything to get us noticed as part of the US?

I'm not talking about a movie with fake accents either.
I'm talking some sort of national monument, or something children learn in school so they remember North Dakota.

[HighPlainsDrifter73]

I think we should just leave things as they are. I'll be moving to Nodak in a couple of years and I want it to stay the way it is. I sure don't want North Dakota to become 'discovered' by the masses and have it turn into the next California, Florida or Arizona. It's a largely unspoiled area of the country with some areas bordering on frontier. I'm a little concerned about the oil boom going on, but fortunately the harsh winters work to keep the masses out. I myself love ferocious winters and that's one reason for my move up there.

When I mention to people that I will be moving there, typical responses I get are 'where's that', 'sounds cold to me' or 'why wouldn't you move somewhere warm'. It's all OK with me.

[StartingOverAgain]

Actually, I'm kind of between the two of you when it comes to this issue. I love the idea of North Dakota being sparsely populated (and cooooooold) because that keeps out the overcrowding, gangs, major drug problems and crime for the most part. But at the same time, the ignorance of a LOT of people can be stunning. Until I decided to move out of the insane heat of the south, I didn't know that much about the upper Midwest until I started doing extensive research, but never was I confused about it having electricity and indoor plumbing.

Unfortunately, a good number of people are simply ignorant.

[carp killer]

Originally Posted by HighPlainsDrifter73

I think we should just leave things as they are. I'll be moving to Nodak in a couple of years and I want it to stay the way it is. I sure don't want North Dakota to become 'discovered' by the masses and have it turn into the next California, Florida or Arizona. It's a largely unspoiled area of the country with some areas bordering on frontier. I'm a little concerned about the oil boom going on, but fortunately the harsh winters work to keep the masses out. I myself love ferocious winters and that's one reason for my move up there.

When I mention to people that I will be moving there, typical responses I get are 'where's that', 'sounds cold to me' or 'why wouldn't you move somewhere warm'. It's all OK with me.

A big +1!

[sef_14]

Many years ago i use to work as a jug hustler planting jugs in the ground checking the ground for oil. I was in Utah and a person ask me where i was from. I said North Dakota. He asked me if Cow boys and Indians live there. I said yes and then he said do they have cars or is it horse and buggy days. I laughed and said those days were gone. He thought North Dakota was living in the pioneer days. What a joke. I to feel safe in North Dakota except it is getting worse in Fargo ND. I am planning on moving to Bismarck at the end of September. I love the Western part of the state. Shirl

[libchic]

My family is planning to move to Dickinson this fall. My son is seeking employment as a welder and it looks really good there. Are residents accepting of people who were not born and raised there, or are we facing a social "shut-out"?.

[bschott]

I normally laugh and ask if they are being serious. Something like "Come on, you honestly think that?"

Though I have had people ask me if my car was electric because I have a block heater cord coming out the grill. I explain what a block heater is (when I was in Texas) and they didn't believe it got that cold except possibly alaska.

[huttah]

Originally Posted by libchic

My family is planning to move to Dickinson this fall. My son is seeking employment as a welder and it looks really good there. Are residents accepting of people who were not born and raised there, or are we facing a social "shut-out"?.

As long as you treat people well, they'll be kind to you. There are the random jerks once in a while, but I'm pretty sure you'll find most of the people are easy to get along with!

[Alt Dach]

[quote=huttah;4879781]I spend a lot of time online talking to people. One time I remember talking to someone on MSN instant messenger, I told him I was from North Dakota and he asked me if we have

Do we really have that kind of reputation? Are other people just stupid? Or did I just constantly run into stupid people?


You answered your own question.Yes,esp . in matters of history and geography the average american is completly and totally ignorant.

[TravisW]

I usually see how much I can get away with them believing. I once had a gal from San Francisco believing that I had my own active nuclear missile silo.