How Do People Out of Town React When You Say You're From Ohio? (Cleveland: public schools, place to live)

[Art1979]

Originally Posted by QCongress83216

A while back I did a forum about how does out of towners (sorry for the misspelling in the title) react when you tell people that you're from Cleveland. Now I wanna know how do people in other cities react when you tell them you're from anywhere in Ohio.

Consistently, regardless of state, it was one of two things:

- "I know so-and-so, and they're from [random Ohio city]," and vaguely anticipate I know them or their kin.

OR

- "I got a speeding ticket in Ohio."

The best reaction though was the chocolatier in Portsmouth, New Hampshire that was rendered speechless. He never explained himself. So, it's left up to my interpretation.

Man, I miss those days.

Originally Posted by SMF575

Whenever I tell someone where I'm from they usually have a neutral reaction and some seem quite interested. I don't think many people have a negative perception of Ohio, except if they're from Michigan or think the grass is greener on the other side.

Yeah, it's not much of anything unless there's a high concentration of relocatees in the area (e.g. Florida, North Carolina, or Arizona). Usually, it's a laugh or a dig but a) I've got a sense of humor and b) I'm a guest in a more comfortable area. You're not a prophet in your hometown and you're a visitor elsewhere. Take the good with the bad.

[Cleveland_Collector]

Originally Posted by Beacher23

Moved to Tampa, Florida 4 years ago from Akron/Cleveland area. Everytime someone asks where i'm from and I tell them, they always seem to understand and don't blame me for leaving lol.

Remember you said that when the next Irma makes a direct hit. You got lucky in 2017 but, unfortunately for you and the taxpayers who are constantly forced to bail you out, it's only a matter of time.

[Vanderbiltgrad]

Most people offer no opinion on Ohio but most people say it is a boring state if they do offer a comment. Really nobody in TN thinks about Ohio for a second unless they can get tourist money from them.

[Marie Joseph]

Nobody really seems to think anything either way here when they find out that someone is from Ohio. They might tease them about being a Browns fan or ask them about Cleveland--because the assumption here is that people from Ohio come from the Cleveland area.

When I was going to high school in Upstate NY, a few kids from Ohio moved to Syracuse with their families because their parents got job transfers in an automotive supplier in the area. We thought that their accents were cool-sounding and of course asked them if the lake really caught on fire. None of them knew because they had all been too young like us to remember and none of them were from Cleveland area anyhow--they all were from around Youngstown area. We mostly were interested in how Ohio was different than Upstate NY and of course made the assumption that they all must be farmers. Nothing really negative though. They had expected a bunch of obnoxious people when they heard 'New York'...

[randomparent]

Originally Posted by Marie Joseph

Nobody really seems to think anything either way here when they find out that someone is from Ohio. They might tease them about being a Browns fan or ask them about Cleveland--because the assumption here is that people from Ohio come from the Cleveland area.

When I was going to high school in Upstate NY, a few kids from Ohio moved to Syracuse with their families because their parents got job transfers in an automotive supplier in the area. We thought that their accents were cool-sounding and of course asked them if the lake really caught on fire. None of them knew because they had all been too young like us to remember and none of them were from Cleveland area anyhow--they all were from around Youngstown area. We mostly were interested in how Ohio was different than Upstate NY and of course made the assumption that they all must be farmers. Nothing really negative though. They had expected a bunch of obnoxious people when they heard 'New York'...

It was the Cuyahoga River not Lake Erie, and, yes, it happened but not just once. It actually happened many, many times. It was such a common occurrence that the 1969 fire that captured the nation's attention barely made the local news.

[Minervah]

Every state has a reputation for one thing or another and that reputation can change as years go by. The stories behind the reputation and the reputation itself of long ago is mostly forgotten as time goes by. Unless of course it’s so good it becomes folklore which can actually add to the interest or color if the place.

Any place that doesn’t have one or two good stories to tell is boring. And who wants to live in a boring place?

[Art1979]

Originally Posted by Minervah

Any place that doesn’t have one or two good stories to tell is boring. And who wants to live in a boring place?

Believe it or not there are some people out there that thrive on the status quo, steady life of a "boring" place. They don't like rocking the boat or having the boat rocked. They want zero surprises and to coast through life. I should know. They're in my family. Ha!

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by Art1979

Believe it or not there are some people out there that thrive on the status quo, steady life of a "boring" place. They don't like rocking the boat or having the boat rocked. They want zero surprises and to coast through life. I should know. They're in my family. Ha!

Well, I guess you got me there.

[EscAlaMike]

I've done a fair bit of traveling through Ohio, and I found much of it to be very nice. Of course some of the bigger cities have a strong "Rust Belt" feel, but rural Ohio, especially the southern half of the state, is beautiful.

Cincinnati is also a great city based on my experience.

Still too cold for this Southern boy though

[Cleveland_Collector]

Originally Posted by Vanderbiltgrad

Most people offer no opinion on Ohio but most people say it is a boring state if they do offer a comment. Really nobody in TN thinks about Ohio for a second unless they can get tourist money from them.

You can safely assume the reverse about the opinions of most Ohioans and TN.