[BigOkie]

Originally Posted by jcm1986

As it turns out, the potential to relocate to Oklahoma with my current company fell through. I just found out last week. So...while I'm not angry or unhappy, I have decided to look for something else outside of my retailer where I can actually earn a living.

I have narrowed my choices down to four cities in TX and OK, including Oklahoma City, and Tulsa. Obviously, Houston's job growth is phenomenal, so I'm naturally inclined to apply for jobs there. However, I've still found about 20 jobs thus far in Oklahoma for which I qualify and intend to apply for some of those.

So all hope is not lost! Once again, thanks Okies!

I lived in Houston for about four years in the early nineties; while I may not be able to speak to that city's condition today, I might be able to provide some insight.

[ftv98]

Originally Posted by lv_ramsey

Run away from Oklahoma.It is congested,flat,and full of narrow minded people.Not to mention the weather and poverty.It is the worst place to live.

I know this is an old thread, but for folks who stumble upon it through google (as I did), I want to say that although lv_ramsey's post wasn't very diplomatically worded, I have to agree with him/her. I'm not originally from Oklahoma, but I've lived here for two years. These have been some of the least inspirational, least content years of my life.

Oklahoma is not progressive. Oklahoma is not open-minded. I almost laughed my booty off when I read that someone in here wrote, "Oklahoma has come a long way since 2000..." !!!! Since 9 years ago? Seriously? That's not something to brag about, folks!

I am not an in-your-face liberal. I respect and tolerate others' opinions. That's why I dislike Oklahoma. So long as you're Christian, straight, and raising a family, there's tons of room for diversity. If you're, say, single, gay and Jewish, well...don't expect to find a community here. I actually had to lie and say that I was engaged to my live-in boyfriend before I could get a job. I have an MBA from an Ivy League school and an impressive work history, but when asked why I moved here (my boyfriend's job), I told the truth...and oh no, that was a mistake! Once I said I was engaged, I had five job offers come through. Coincidence?

Look, I'm not trying to bash Oklahoma. I simply noticed that several folks requested lv_ramsey provide evidence for his/her opinion, and I wanted to share that s/he's not the only one with an unfavorable view of this state. I have found it terribly backward, painfully conservative (and conservative isn't a bad thing; not allowing other views to flourish as well IS a bad thing), narrow-minded and dreadfully self-preservationist to a fault. Oklahomans will defend the state until the cows come home, never admitting that maybe, just maybe, there is something to improve upon here.

Oklahoma can have some beautiful vistas, and the folks are friendly enough on the surface, but my experience has been terrible. When my boyfriend's job assigns him to another state, I will throw all my belongings in a box and skip happily out of here!

[karibear]

Originally Posted by ftv98

I am not an in-your-face liberal. I respect and tolerate others' opinions. That's why I dislike Oklahoma. So long as you're Christian, straight, and raising a family, there's tons of room for diversity. If you're, say, single, gay and Jewish, well...don't expect to find a community here. I actually had to lie and say that I was engaged to my live-in boyfriend before I could get a job. I have an MBA from an Ivy League school and an impressive work history, but when asked why I moved here (my boyfriend's job), I told the truth...and oh no, that was a mistake! Once I said I was engaged, I had five job offers come through. Coincidence?

Look, I'm not trying to bash Oklahoma. I simply noticed that several folks requested lv_ramsey provide evidence for his/her opinion, and I wanted to share that s/he's not the only one with an unfavorable view of this state. I have found it terribly backward, painfully conservative (and conservative isn't a bad thing; not allowing other views to flourish as well IS a bad thing), narrow-minded and dreadfully self-preservationist to a fault. Oklahomans will defend the state until the cows come home, never admitting that maybe, just maybe, there is something to improve upon here.

Oklahoma can have some beautiful vistas, and the folks are friendly enough on the surface, but my experience has been terrible. When my boyfriend's job assigns him to another state, I will throw all my belongings in a box and skip happily out of here!

I don't know where you're living, but my experience has been totally different. No one has ever hassled me about my lifestyle [I should say previous lifestyle] and while I'm not Christian, I'm also not Jewish or gay. But I know plenty of those who are, and they have no problems, either.

I considered a lot of places before I found this particular forum, and people who didn't know me, who lived on the west coast at the time, were willing to drive around the eastern half of the state and take pictures and inspect houses that might suit me. One of them offered me a place to stay once I finally got here and had to wait for the closing on the house I finally got. Quite a few people have gone out of their way to include me in what they are doing, keep in touch, and so on. I have wonderful neighbors who couldn't be nicer if they tried - they aren't pet people, but when I was in the hospital last month they took excellent care of all of my critters.

I suppose there must be some unpleasant people, but I haven't met any of them. I think what you expect has a large bearing on what you get, and if you expect people to be overly impressed with your Ivy League educatoin and great work history, well, they probably won't be, not here or anywhere else for that matter. What tends to impress employers isn't so much where or what you studied, but that you've proved you can finish something you started. And for what it's worth, I've lived in quite a few other states, from Missouri to Alaska, and I've lived both in big cities and in the bush. The small town I live in now suits me very well.

[Mattie Jo]

I think everyone's experiences here can be validated. ftv98, I have had those same experiences or have heard others talk of them. People are very friendly, but if they know that you are not like them things change, but still you can find a group of people that think more along your lines in many of the big cities and big towns. I know of gays and Jewish people in my big town that are doing fine here, but mainly because they found a group.

I would not say that Oklahoma is the worst place to live, because I actually like it here, and I grew up in California. The people are very friendly, and you really don't have to go around telling them about your political or religious views. Of course, in this way they stay friendly. I also have a big tolerance for Christians, and I am learning to have it towards Republicans, some of whom know that I am a Democrat.

Love the weather, and it is not flat where I live, but I found that there is beauty even in the flatter places.

[Fairfielder]

[quote=Mattie Jo;6828572]I also have a big tolerance for Christians, and I am learning to have it towards Republicans, some of whom know that I am a Democrat. quote]


Oh, gee, Thanks. I am pleased to know I can be tolerated if I move there.

[Goodpasture]

Originally Posted by Fairfielder

Oh, gee, Thanks. I am pleased to know I can be tolerated if I move there.

Only if you are Christian......frankly I don't tolerate anyone very much, Christian or not........

[Fairfielder]

I try to tolerate every (law-abiding) person and especially those who have the patience to tolerate me.

People probably put up with me because I tend to stay off my soapbox most of the time. It can get pretty slippery on those things, you know.

Or, maybe they put up with me because I am so darn cute.

[Goodpasture]

The Merry Minuet
The Kingston Trio
Words and Music by Sheldon Harnick
-From their 1959 LP "From the Hungry"

They're rioting in Africa (whistling)
They're starving in Spain (whistling)
There's hurricanes in Flo-ri-da (whistling)
And Texas needs rain
The whole world is festering with unhappy souls
The French hate the Germans, the Germans hate the Poles

Italians hate Yugoslavs, South Africans hate the Dutch
AND I DON'T LIKE ANYBODY VERY MUCH!!

But we can be tranquil and thankful and proud
For man's been endowed with a mushroom-shaped cloud
And we know for certain that some lovely day
Someone will set the spark off
AND WE WILL ALL BE BLOWN AWAY!!

They're rioting in Africa (whistling)
There's strife in Iran
What nature doesn't so to us
Will be done by our fellow *man*

[Fairfielder]

GP, where the heck do you find this stuff??? You appear to be a vast resource of...well, a lot of "stuff". Very cool!

I find it interesting to read what someone writes about the times they are living in. I like to compare things written 50 years ago (100 or even thousands of years ago) to today. I don't believe much has changed in the way society interacts; the difference is the speed at which technology allows us to do things and makes the world smaller.

I.O.W., if you lived in a village a thousand yrs ago, you probably never traveled more than a few miles outside of it. This was your whole world as you knew it. If another group invaded your village and destroyed nearly everyone and everything, it was the equivalent of worldwide nuclear destruction today. The difference is "our world" as we know it is just "bigger" today. The only thing that changes are the dates and names.

Did I just go way off topic...oops!

[nevergoingback]

ftv98-
Do you live in the backwoods or something? It's sad that you are stereotyping an entire state. Your post may sound like OK in some ways, but definitely doesn't sound like the Tulsa that I know.

I checked out the equality center in Tulsa and thought it was a great thing and was a little surprised to see something that large and nice, even in Tulsa. If you live in the area, you really need to check it out, lots of nice, open minded people.
Sorry for your experience in OK, good luck with you're travels. I am curious what area you live in, I'll be shocked if it is Tulsa.
We are Oklahomans for Equality. Welcome!