[Katiana]

Originally Posted by nmnita

probably the same reason people are taken back by those of us living in AR and enjoying our lives. No,we don't have as much diversity as we had living in DC, Dallas or Calif. I was raised in So Calif, educated there, lived in Marin County for many years and eventually ended up here: Long story. Do we miss some of what we had before? Maybe a little but people are people just about everywhere, people here are friendly (many form Ca I may add) they are laid back and certainly not dumb or uneducated like people on either coast might think we are. So many people only understand their own life style .
Nita

Originally Posted by burgerflipper

Good point, that goes for a lot for people who have lived in Omaha all their lives. People outside of Omaha are reluctant to accept it's not a giant farm with a few black people and people in Omaha are reluctant to accept there may be better places to live (according to each persons lifestyle and personality).

Me, I probably will choose to live in TX or in the Southeast someday because I know Omaha isn't the best fit for me(I absolutely HATE winter).

I think the two posters above have excellent points. Many people have stereotyped notions of other places: California rock stars, Texas cowhands, Snobbish easterners, "Cheeseheads" from Wisconsin, and stereotypes about Omaha as well. I've been in a lot of places, lived in 7 states, and just when I think I've heard them all, I hear something new!

[NowInWI]

Originally Posted by jwconne

I wonder why people from other parts of the country freak out when I tell them I am from Omaha. I have lived all over the country and this is by far one of the best kept secrets of a city out there. I am not from here but when I had to leave Omaha for work, I jumped at the chance to move back. Why do people have a miss conception of Omaha which I consider home now ???

Who cares what other people think? I grew up in Omaha, and am so thankful that my dad's job took us there when I was in first grade. I think it was the best place to grow up, and am so thankful I had that opportunity. That was many, many years ago, and I'm pretty firmly ensconced in Wisconsin now, but Omaha is where my roots are and I love it.

[vpandora]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Many people have stereotyped notions of other places: California rock stars, Texas cowhands, Snobbish easterners, "Cheeseheads" from Wisconsin, and stereotypes about Omaha as well. I've been in a lot of places, lived in 7 states, and just when I think I've heard them all, I hear something new!

People have an innate need to categorize and simplify everything, including people. So we assume whatever we hear or read about people from certain places is gospel truth and that everyone there is like that. Much of it is for fun I'm sure... who hasn't joked about how strange or backwards people from places very different from us are? But it goes too far when people take those stereotypes too seriously. If someone told me they were moving someplace I had only heard about, I'd say "Really? Why are you moving there" out of curiousity rather than "OMG thats nuts, I heard that place SUCKS!"

Sometimes I'm annoyed at the perceptions people have about Omaha, but I'm also glad sometimes, like I live in an awesome place that not everyone is aware of, not even my friends and family who have lived here their entire lives. Omaha is not for everyone and not as beautiful or exciting as some bigger, well known cities, but if you look for things to appreciate, you can find them.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by vpandora

People have an innate need to categorize and simplify everything, including people. So we assume whatever we hear or read about people from certain places is gospel truth and that everyone there is like that. Much of it is for fun I'm sure... who hasn't joked about how strange or backwards people from places very different from us are? But it goes too far when people take those stereotypes too seriously. If someone told me they were moving someplace I had only heard about, I'd say "Really? Why are you moving there" out of curiousity rather than "OMG thats nuts, I heard that place SUCKS!"

Sometimes I'm annoyed at the perceptions people have about Omaha, but I'm also glad sometimes, like I live in an awesome place that not everyone is aware of, not even my friends and family who have lived here their entire lives. Omaha is not for everyone and not as beautiful or exciting as some bigger, well known cities, but if you look for things to appreciate, you can find them.

Great points, we see this in NWA all the time. People associate us with poverty, lack of education, all rednecks, running around barefoot and getting our cousins pregnant. Actually, much of AR is middle class and upwards, especially NWA. We have several corp here, not just Wal-Mart. Lots of forests, rivers, golf courses, lakes (mostly man make) mild weather, relatively low cost of living, (not the lowest) good entertainment, great dining choices and a pretty good university...

By the way, we don't all drive broken down pick ups, nor do we have our cars parked in our front yard, some of up park them behind the trailer and some of us drive broken down Fords..

Nita

[aerahrtlu]

You know, some people in small towns also view Omaha as a big, huge, dangerous place to live. That if you're there, no matter how nice the area, you'll get shot in a drive-by. *shrug* So it isn't only people from big towns thinking that it's a cow town, there's also people from small towns that think it's a huge ghetto.
It goes with not knowing anything about the city and being totally out of your comfort zone.

[nebraskanass]

I don't really know much about Omaha, but I do know LINCOLN SUCKS!!

[Omaha Rocks]

We've got family that lives in Minneapolis. After coming to Omaha several times, they love Omaha. I don't know that they'll move down here, but if their jobs brought them here they would not be at all disappointed.

[aerahrtlu]

I don't really know much about Omaha, but I do know LINCOLN SUCKS!!

This has absolutely nothing to do with the conversation.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by aerahrtlu

You know, some people in small towns also view Omaha as a big, huge, dangerous place to live. That if you're there, no matter how nice the area, you'll get shot in a drive-by. *shrug* So it isn't only people from big towns thinking that it's a cow town, there's also people from small towns that think it's a huge ghetto.
It goes with not knowing anything about the city and being totally out of your comfort zone.

Some of my family members who live in the Omaha burbs think that. They were appalled when we stayed at a motel by the zoo last December.

[Omaha Rocks]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Some of my family members who live in the Omaha burbs think that. They were appalled when we stayed at a motel by the zoo last December.

Yeah. Nevermind that they have huge drug busts at the Millard Schools. You just never hear about them because "rich mommy & daddy" have enough money to keep stuff out of the news.