Cliquish, insiular and cold people in Small Town America (real estate, farmers, outsiders)
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Relatives of mine where so happy to be able to retire when they both reached 65. They were also happy to be able to move out of the big City and into the small town in Southern MN they grew up in years ago. Trouble was, the friendly small town they remembered from their youth had changed. Instead of friendly they found a closed society of small minded poorly educated people who did not like outsiders. I suspect this is the case in many small towns all over America.
Relatives of mine where so happy to be able to retire when they both reached 65. They were also happy to be able to move out of the big City and into the small town in Southern MN they grew up in years ago. Trouble was, the friendly small town they remembered from their youth had changed. Instead of friendly they found a closed society of small minded poorly educated people who did not like outsiders. I suspect this is the case in many small towns all over America.
The world has changed. Look at you and me. We are not out talking to our neighbors, we are talking on the INTERNET.
I suspect this is the case in many small towns all over America.
Based on a an indirect sample of one? Well, in my sample of one, I've found that not to be true. My neighbors gather weekly for coffee and chat, and we have retired couples, artists, farmers, ranchers, a doctor, a contractor, a forest service worker, a railroad worker, a real estate agent and a logger on disability. We certainly do NOT have the same political opinions, and it gets ... lively, but everyone comes back most every week.
True, we have certain peole we're closer to, and "visit" with and have dinner parties with, but we're all friendly, even the once I vehemently disagree with.
Location: Jonquil City (aka Smyrna) Georgia- by Atlanta
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Quote:
Originally Posted by politically_correct
Relatives of mine where so happy to be able to retire when they both reached 65. They were also happy to be able to move out of the big City and into the small town in Southern MN they grew up in years ago. Trouble was, the friendly small town they remembered from their youth had changed. Instead of friendly they found a closed society of small minded poorly educated people who did not like outsiders. I suspect this is the case in many small towns all over America.
I would say this- in many small towns and even some neighbourhoods in larger cities- people tend to know each other and form close knit communities. They are often suspicious of outsiders- especially small town folks who see big city folks moving in. Sometimes they think that big city people are a threat to their way of life (and sometimes they are proven right). But if your politics, culture and personality match theirs, evetually they will warm up to you and you too will be part of the clique. But they will be really hacked if you move there with the 'tude "hey I am a college educated big city transplant and I am here to show you hicks the right way to do things".
Relatives of mine where so happy to be able to retire when they both reached 65. They were also happy to be able to move out of the big City and into the small town in Southern MN they grew up in years ago. Trouble was, the friendly small town they remembered from their youth had changed. Instead of friendly they found a closed society of small minded poorly educated people who did not like outsiders. I suspect this is the case in many small towns all over America.
Yes, there are many people in small towns who are very friendly to outsiders but I suspect this is not common. I suspect that many people in small towns are isolated from the ways of the big city and feel threatened by people who are different than they are. Just a hunch and it is impossible to come up with what the true situation is in every town. But with boards such as this maybe others can tell their personal experiences.
I have travelled this country from West to East, from East to West, from North to South--and it is rare that I encounter anything but friendly, and this is not pie in the sky experiences. I am not an easy sell, but I generally find folks are friendly if I am friendly.
The notion that small town rural folks are insular is also an out of date and retro notion. In this community we have an average educational level of graduate school, with some having post-graduate degrees, and some who haven't made it through high-school, but their knowledge base is extra-ordinary, filled with laughter and life experience and smarts of the important kind. What is more important than really living and living on the land?
Take a trip away from politically correct urban cities and give it a try and then make a judgment.
The only bite you'll get is a mosquito!
Quote:
Originally Posted by politically_correct
Yes, there are many people in small towns who are very friendly to outsiders but I suspect this is not common. I suspect that many people in small towns are isolated from the ways of the big city and feel threatened by people who are different than they are. Just a hunch and it is impossible to come up with what the true situation is in every town. But with boards such as this maybe others can tell their personal experiences.
Relatives of mine where so happy to be able to retire when they both reached 65. They were also happy to be able to move out of the big City and into the small town in Southern MN they grew up in years ago. Trouble was, the friendly small town they remembered from their youth had changed. Instead of friendly they found a closed society of small minded poorly educated people who did not like outsiders. I suspect this is the case in many small towns all over America.
So just because people are "stand offish" and suspicious of newcomers they are close minded and uneducated?
I actually found this to be true when I moved from a city in Fla to a small town NH.. The people are in a bubble, where nothing in the world is important except what happens in that town and whatever happens as small as it is is usually handled as if its the end of the world. Most of the people have never even left the town, they don't graduate highschool and instead opt to simply carry on the family business of farming or what not. They are not friendly to outsiders because outsiders bring change and theydon't like that at all. They feel threatened.. They are also nosey and used to knowing everyone and their business and want to know yours... Needless to day I'm moving back to Fla in 4 weeks and I'm actually here right now for 2 weeks to get away from that small town mind set.. It drives me nuts!
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