East TX “like third world”? (Vidor, Jasper: live in, military, vacation)

[Thoreau424]

Originally Posted by BobTex

@Thoreau424

I just want to tell you from the bottom of my rich and deeply Texan heart how much I am impressed by the ways you think ! You are indeed a pearl of wisdom.

Thanks Bob! I really appreciate that! I love Texas, and love the strong thinking and "living large" that true Texans show. I'll have to admit that I moved elsewhere for awhile, and it only opened my eyes even more to the treasures of my native state. Have a good day!

[walker1962]

Maybe back 50-60 years ago when Earl Campbell, Billy Sims, Matthew McConaughey and Forest Whittaker were born there. Forrest's family did move to California when he was a kid but things have improved. Remember Patrick Mahomes is from the Tyler area and his dad played MLB and easily could have moved but stayed.

[Raider Scott]

Originally Posted by walker1962

Maybe back 50-60 years ago when Earl Campbell, Billy Sims, Matthew McConaughey and Forest Whittaker were born there. Forrest's family did move to California when he was a kid but things have improved. Remember Patrick Mahomes is from the Tyler area and his dad played MLB and easily could have moved but stayed.

Mahomes is awesome....he is the future of NFL QBs.


An honored alum of my Alma Mater. #gunsup

[KathrynAragon]

Yerp. (Spit.) That thar's me - third world.

[RMESMH]

Originally Posted by thenewtexan

Congrats on your move! At least tell us you'll be at Grapefest this year lol. Berlin and Asia are headlining. As a Gen Xer, i would go in a second if I could!

Thanks for posting this. I haven't seen Berlin live since the mid 90s, and I haven't seen Asia live since the 80s. I'm going to try to go.

[detachable arm]

Originally Posted by Thoreau424

And let's not forget that towns like Jasper and Vidor are located in that region too, with a notoriety of dated thinking.

Originally Posted by BobTex

Please, someone with your learned background and deep insight please expound on this statement for there is nothing of substance in this other than the name of 2 towns.

I'll chime in. Can't speak for Jasper. I met a couple of people from there and all I can say is the impression I get is the lifestyle is as quick as molasses.

I've spent a lot of time from Beaumont to Sabine Pass though. I don't really consider Vidor, Orange or any of that region "East Texas". It is deep Southeast TX which is a totally different animal, like SW Louisiana West. I'd say "East Texas" starts around Silsbee or Kountze, with Lumberton being kind of a border area receiving white flight from Beaumont.

Believe it or not some of the nicest people I've ever met were from Vidor. But let's not kid ourselves... there are a lot of total dumbasses out there, too-- bad enough they're the #1 laughingstock for all the natives who live in the surrounding podunk towns. And yes, there is a lot of very dated thinking in the Golden Triangle, but it is with an odd mix of very progressive thinking too. It's why that whole region is a SNAFU.

As far as the real East Texas goes... I really like it. It is nothing close to the 3rd world. I've thought about buying a little 2 bedroom fixer-upper on 3-4 acres when the kids are grown. Yes, even with all the stories of meth, incest, outlaw hideaways, and the pervasive mentality of "don't be too sharp or too quick if you know what's good for you". Looks cheap & peaceful, and after you secure your place it seems like the biggest issues are a 90' tree falling on your house from severe weather, and flooding.

[BobTex]

Originally Posted by detachable arm

I'll chime in. Can't speak for Jasper. I met a couple of people from there and all I can say is the impression I get is the lifestyle is as quick as molasses.

Nice of you to chime in but really trying to get Thoreau's meanings to his statements. I just hate to see hit and runs!

I will try to address your post with my thoughts on it though.

On Jasper, I really like Jasper but I spend a considerable amount of time at Lake Sam Rayburn . . . fishing in a mostly quick as molasses style. Lifestyle choices are in direct correlation to happiness in many. I've lived in a few regions of the US including New England (Maine), Fla., and the E. Tenn. hills (still own 80 ac. NE of Sevierville). Never lived west of where I live now but my dad did live in Alaska for 22 years so I have a handle on life there. Not really sure of what the meaning or the undercurrent of your statement "lifestyle is as quick as molasses" is. Negative or positive connotation?

Originally Posted by detachable arm

I've spent a lot of time from Beaumont to Sabine Pass though. I don't really consider Vidor, Orange or any of that region "East Texas". It is deep Southeast TX which is a totally different animal, like SW Louisiana West. I'd say "East Texas" starts around Silsbee or Kountze, with Lumberton being kind of a border area receiving white flight from Beaumont.

I said this in the start of this thread. This region around Beaumont is not "East Texas" per se. I agree with the premise of this part of your post. I have lived in this SE part of Texas much of my life (30 of 67 years) with a considerable part of time in Port Neches (moved the last time from there in 1996 and wouldn't return). My mother, maternal grandparents , and a sister is buried there.

Originally Posted by detachable arm

Believe it or not some of the nicest people I've ever met were from Vidor. But let's not kid ourselves... there are a lot of total dumbasses out there, too-- bad enough they're the #1 laughingstock for all the natives who live in the surrounding podunk towns. And yes, there is a lot of very dated thinking in the Golden Triangle, but it is with an odd mix of very progressive thinking too. It's why that whole region is a SNAFU.

A lot of total dumbasses everywhere. I'm not taking up for Vidor. It's just a mixture of "country" people and a bedroom community that is supported by industry around Orange and Beaumont/Port Arthur and probably to an extent the Sulphur/Lake Charles industries. I've known plenty of folks from there and can't find a discernible regional character flaw despite the dumbassity you mentioned above. It can be trashy visually so I guess that's a flaw but not unique.

Originally Posted by detachable arm

As far as the real East Texas goes... I really like it. It is nothing close to the 3rd world. I've thought about buying a little 2 bedroom fixer-upper on 3-4 acres when the kids are grown. Yes, even with all the stories of meth, incest, outlaw hideaways, and the pervasive mentality of "don't be too sharp or too quick if you know what's good for you". Looks cheap & peaceful, and after you secure your place it seems like the biggest issues are a 90' tree falling on your house from severe weather, and flooding.

A lot of the "stories" you mention are old history, urban lore, and some have little to no basis. Do I know the "bad areas" in my county? Sure I do but I also know the "bad" areas in Houston and even some in DFW. My thoughts are that Thoreau is dancing around certain racial stories on Jasper and Vidor.

Meth can be an issue I guess. Most meth in the US is coming from Mexico and of the higher use states 6 of 10 are northern tier states along with California. (https://www.banyantreatmentcenter.co...s-palmsprings/) Michigan and NY are #1 and #2. Meth issues are really non existent for the most part. That "meth lab" cooking is so "Breaking Bad" and so 2008.

FTR states with the highest incidence of incest: (Texas not in the top 20) Maybe E Tx is different????

Washington
Oregon
Montana
South Dakota
New Mexico
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Louisiana
Indiana
Kentucky
Tennessee
Alabama
Georgia
South Carolina
North Carolina
Virginia
West Virginia
Maryland
Delaware
Maine

Outlaws? Rilly? --- Easiest places for an outlaw to hide out is an area of high population density and that's not E. Tx.. Seriously . The Big Thicket was an outlaw hideout . . . in the 1800's.

Ha ha ha ... "too sharp, too quick" Really makes me giggle. Hard to respond. I'm a retired (07/2020) neuro trauma RN for 30 years. At what point should I dull my point? Almost everyone I know respects high functioning/intelligent folks.

I love living here as I've said. My biggest complaint is weather related, the humidity, and my tolerances are diminishing. My electric power can be spotty in bad weather but I am the last meter on a long leg that travels 6 miles through towering timber. You gotta cut any risky trees around your dwelling(s).

What are you "securing your place" from?

I think if you adjust your preconceptions you might fit in in here in East Texas.

[Treasurevalley92]

No. SOMEparts of east Texas are backwoods, poor, racist, and stuck in the past, but absolutely none of it is 3rd world.

[philmoregenius]

We moved to Sulphur Springs in Dec. after living in Dallas/Irving for 15 years. The people are kind, it has any type of food you could want, and the service is better than in the city. People take pride in their houses.

[Raider Scott]

Many people think East Texas is Jasper and Vidor.



Just as many think conservative voters all watch Fox and follow Q-Anon.


It is simply not true. The world is just not that simple, sorry.