I'm Sorry for this redundant Post... (ski resorts, neighborhoods, school)

[sp2007]

I want to broaden these vague generalities. I don't think its a Mormon thing, its a Utah thing. I try to say hi to my neighbors who aren't LDS and I will be lucky if they make eye contact let alone hello back.

:shakes head:

[kaytidid]

When I lived in Jersey years ago, we knew our immediate neighbors right adjacent to us, but that was it. No one made an effort...us included.

Now, we know many of our neighbors. Most we are friendly with. There are a couple of them that are a bit standoffish. Friendly "enough", but not really friendly, if you know what I mean. That is okay though. I don't think any differently of them, I just figure them to be more private then my other neighbors.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by sp2007

I want to broaden these vague generalities. I don't think its a Mormon thing, its a Utah thing. I try to say hi to my neighbors who aren't LDS and I will be lucky if they make eye contact let alone hello back.

It's not a Utah thing either; it's a thing common to some neighborhoods but not to others. I have lived in Utah all of my 61 years. We lived for awhile in a Salt Lake neighborhood where no one was the slightest bit friendly to us. We're LDS and even when we went to church functions (which, due to the way LDS congregations are structured geographically, meant that we were going to church with our neighbors), we were essentially ignored. My husband went over to the church one evening to help set up tables and chairs for a ward party and not one person spoke to him in the hour or so he was there. You'll run into this sort of thing in some neighborhoods but not in others. It has nothing to do with religion and nothing to do with Utah specifically.

[hilgi]

Originally Posted by sp2007

I want to broaden these vague generalities. I don't think its a Mormon thing, its a Utah thing. I try to say hi to my neighbors who aren't LDS and I will be lucky if they make eye contact let alone hello back.

:shakes head:

My wife and my-coworker who followed us out here from CA talk about how strange it is to run into so many nice people. We joke that it is almost erie how friendly people are. I guess I just run into all the nice people in Utah.

[sp2007]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

It's not a Utah thing either; it's a thing common to some neighborhoods but not to others. I have lived in Utah all of my 61 years. We lived for awhile in a Salt Lake neighborhood where no one was the slightest bit friendly to us. We're LDS and even when we went to church functions (which, due to the way LDS congregations are structured geographically, meant that we were going to church with our neighbors), we were essentially ignored. My husband went over to the church one evening to help set up tables and chairs for a ward party and not one person spoke to him in the hour or so he was there. You'll run into this sort of thing in some neighborhoods but not in others. It has nothing to do with religion and nothing to do with Utah specifically.

Good I am glad we generalized it from a specific religion, to the state and now include at leas the country.

Are we done yet?

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by sp2007

Good I am glad we generalized it from a specific religion, to the state and now include at leas the country.

Are we done yet?

No. Let's just generalize it to the human race and call it good.

[markg91359]

I want to broaden these vague generalities. I don't think its a Mormon thing, its a Utah thing. I try to say hi to my neighbors who aren't LDS and I will be lucky if they make eye contact let alone hello back.

:shakes head

DW and I have always gone out of our way to try and make friends with non-Mormons who live in the area. Its been my observation that many non-LDS people who live here in Utah engage in behaviors which create alot of the "unfriendliness" that they later complain about. Getting along with people is an often difficult "two-way street" that some people really never learn to navigate. I'll give some examples of behaviors I've seen from non-LDS people that will not win them friends or positively influence others:

1. Telling your LDS co-workers and acquaintances how much you hate being sent here by your employer and you're just praying for the day you can get a transfer to a "normal place" like California or New York.

2. Complaining endlessly about the liquor laws when nothing prevents you from going down to a state store and buying all the liquor you want.

3. Telling everyone you don't like living in Utah because its a "Theocracy".

4. Saying that Utah's five national parks are "fine, if you like a lot of red rock"

5. Acting amazed that we have even a low sales tax on food here.

6. Suggesting that bad driving is totally unique to Utah.

7. Whenever you have a complaint about something in the state beginning your complaint with the words "Mormon Church". (I guarantee you that the church is not responsible for floods, forest fires, and famine)

8. Telling everyone that Utah's schools are the worst in the country. (They aren't by a longshot)

9. Telling "jokes" that make fun of important religious beliefs.

10. Stating that people in Utah can't think for themselves.

It sounds funny, and I'm exaggerating a bit. However, I have heard a variation of every one of these statements from non-Mormons over the years.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Mark, there's truth in what you wrote. I've heard most of those statements over the years myself and it always makes me wonder how people can go through life with such a negative outlook.

[osugirl2]

Originally Posted by markg91359

DW and I have always gone out of our way to try and make friends with non-Mormons who live in the area. Its been my observation that many non-LDS people who live here in Utah engage in behaviors which create alot of the "unfriendliness" that they later complain about. Getting along with people is an often difficult "two-way street" that some people really never learn to navigate. I'll give some examples of behaviors I've seen from non-LDS people that will not win them friends or positively influence others:

1. Telling your LDS co-workers and acquaintances how much you hate being sent here by your employer and you're just praying for the day you can get a transfer to a "normal place" like California or New York.

2. Complaining endlessly about the liquor laws when nothing prevents you from going down to a state store and buying all the liquor you want.

3. Telling everyone you don't like living in Utah because its a "Theocracy".

4. Saying that Utah's five national parks are "fine, if you like a lot of red rock"

5. Acting amazed that we have even a low sales tax on food here.

6. Suggesting that bad driving is totally unique to Utah.

7. Whenever you have a complaint about something in the state beginning your complaint with the words "Mormon Church". (I guarantee you that the church is not responsible for floods, forest fires, and famine)

8. Telling everyone that Utah's schools are the worst in the country. (They aren't by a longshot)

9. Telling "jokes" that make fun of important religious beliefs.

10. Stating that people in Utah can't think for themselves.

It sounds funny, and I'm exaggerating a bit. However, I have heard a variation of every one of these statements from non-Mormons over the years.

I would definitely say that is not a way to start any sort of friendship.....lol

[Lmejh]

Originally Posted by markg91359

(I guarantee you that the church is not responsible for floods, forest fires, and famine)

Yes, but the Church is responsible for the gas prices in the state. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this has come from the mouth of a totally serious person.