There's something I've wondered about Texans... (Corpus Christi, Tyler: crime, how much, houses)

[dhanu86]

There are many horror movies with the setting in Texas. Especially Texas Chainsaws Massacre which is based on a true story.

Are Texans ever scared of being out on the road in the woods or desert, or just outside or in their house in generally??

In new jersey there's the legend of the jersey devil and sightings over the years but noone is scared of it.. unless they're driving in the middle of the night surrounded by fields or pine forrest with no other car in sight, only little lights in the distance.

[Westerner92]

Texas Chainsaw massacre was a true story... but it actually happened in Michigan. Hollywood decided to put it in Texas because they knew it would be more interesting. In fact, I have heard that movie producers will put the setting in Texas if the plot isn't all that great so it will be more exciting.
So no. Texas is no more creepy at night than any other place.

[love roses]

Now that I'm done laughing ...In my case, no. Not in general, but if you are mainly speaking of places that have local stories of hauntings and such, maybe a little. I know that when I was a little kid and I'd go visit my paternal grandparents my cousins and even my grandpa told me scary stories. When they lived in Pleasanton I remember that my grandpa would give us some change to go walk to the candy store. This was on the outskirts of town, road was sand, not paved. Well, on the way to the store there was this fork in the road and this huge house (2 or 3 stories) was right between the forks. Noone lived in it, but it wasn't falling apart or anything and I remember it was wood and all white, huge house. I guess it was the local "haunted" house, at least according to my cousins. My grandma said an old lady had lived there and passed away and none of her family had done anything with the house. We figured they didn't want anything to do with it because it was haunted. Gotta love kid's imaginations.

When they moved to Tyler, the same cousins and my grandpa told us big foot stories. That always scared the pants off me. They had a camper behind the house that us kids would spend the night in, and sometimes my oldest cousin would say he was going inside to the bathroom. He would sneak back outside and shake the camper and make weird noises and we'd scream bloody murder. It made me hate having to run from the camper to the house when I had to go to the bathroom because I thought bigfoot was hiding behind the camper and was going to snatch me up!

When I lived in Brazoria, snake road had a reputation as a hangout for Devil worshipers. So, it was the place to drive fast through late at night. According to legend, you didn't want your car to break down or else you could end up being sacrificed in a ritual. I doubt any of it was true, but that road was so dark, scary, and twisty a teenager would believe anything about it, I'm sure.

Other than those types of stories, no, I don't think people are afraid of being outside at all. They think the Chupacabra thing has been debunked as a cross between coyotes and dogs.

[Kibby]

Originally Posted by dhanu86

There are many horror movies with the setting in Texas. Especially Texas Chainsaws Massacre which is based on a true story.

Are Texans ever scared of being out on the road in the woods or desert, or just outside or in their house in generally??

In new jersey there's the legend of the jersey devil and sightings over the years but noone is scared of it.. unless they're driving in the middle of the night surrounded by fields or pine forrest with no other car in sight, only little lights in the distance.

Well, it's certainly a major concern. Normally if we have to "go on the road" - it's always best to form a wagon train, that way if you are attacked or lose a wheel off the wagon - help is handy. Safety in numbers is our motto.

Pretty much the same thing with leaving the house in the evening - it's necessary to carry a gun or something ... never do know when you might get attacked by those dangerous Armadillos - they are pretty scary, much worse that the chainsaw guys which we have mostly eradicated by now.



OK .... I was just kidding of course. This sort of question reminds me of my neighbor who came here from Indiana in the late 70's - her family worried about her moving here because they had heard that you had to travel by wagon to get to a doctor. They thought we had nothing but dirt roads and sod houses.

Here's the REAL guy that the Texas Chainsaw massacres was based on ... Edward Theodore Gein and the real story of the The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

Looks like you only have to worry if you live in Wisconsin

K

[Westerner92]

Originally Posted by Kibby

Here's the REAL guy that the Texas Chainsaw massacres was based on ... Edward Theodore Gein and the real story of the The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

Looks like you only have to worry if you live in Wisconsin

K

Oops! I said it was in Michigan!

[GayleTX]

If I were given a choice between between dropped in the middle of Chicago or in the middle of the Big Thicket in Texas........well, just give me a sack lunch and a flashlight and I'd be much happier and safer in the Thicket than in the ghetto!!

[SaladoSam]

Have to be careful on those hot summer nites as kids playing hide'n'seek. Some never get found, a fate I could've wished on one of my sibs.

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by dhanu86

There are many horror movies with the setting in Texas. Especially Texas Chainsaws Massacre which is based on a true story.

Are Texans ever scared of being out on the road in the woods or desert, or just outside or in their house in generally??

In new jersey there's the legend of the jersey devil and sightings over the years but noone is scared of it.. unless they're driving in the middle of the night surrounded by fields or pine forrest with no other car in sight, only little lights in the distance.

We in Texas all go well-heeled most of the time. Our six-shooters and short-barelled shotguns will stop anything short of a Tee-Rex!

So no, while we may use common sense and be a bit cautious...we aint a' skeered of Jason or Leatherface! *grins*

[dhanu86]

I've read a little online about Leatherface and never even found out about it being from Wisconsin. In the latest or 2nd to latest Chainsaw movie, at the end there is real footage of a cop being filmed walking into Leatherface's celler and gets Axed by him! I won't even walk outside in my neighborhood at night so I don't think I'll be worried in Texas, especially with a gun under the seat.

Horror movies are so idiotic! I want to see one come out where the actors aren't so stupid, like turning their back to a killer after barely wacking him down with a bat. Makes me want to never watch a horror movie again, waste of time.

[Kibby]

Originally Posted by dhanu86

I've read a little online about Leatherface and never even found out about it being from Wisconsin. In the latest or 2nd to latest Chainsaw movie, at the end there is real footage of a cop being filmed walking into Leatherface's celler and gets Axed by him! I won't even walk outside in my neighborhood at night so I don't think I'll be worried in Texas, especially with a gun under the seat.

On a realistic note - back in the 60's - 70's, I didn't think a thing about getting in my car and driving 200 miles at night through Texas ...... I would do it today if it was an emergency, but I avoid that sort of thing when I can. Times have changed, and people need to be more careful - not just in Texas, but everywhere. About the only "gangs" any of us had ever heard of in the 60's were the Hell's Angels (thank you California) and growing up in Corpus Christi, TX ... we didn't even lock the doors - day or night.

Today - if I want to take a walk around my neighborhood after dark, my hubby throws a fit. I feel safe, and know I could go to any neighbor and find refuge and help but times have changed and people are just more careful. On the other hand, my daughter lives in Washington DC about a mile from an area that has an average of 3 shootings a month - you can literally get shot going from your front walk to your house. It's not a "ghetto" - it's just big city dangerous with a sort of crime that we are not much used to.

You will find many more guns in homes (mostly rifles) than you will under a car seat but there are probably plenty of those also, especially for those folks that drive distance on mostly deserted country roads. I think the main difference here is that when you meet a Texan with a gun in a dangerous situation - better count on them using that gun if necessary. Many stories of grandmothers who grabbed the gun and shot the burgler during the break in. It's the whole "self reliance thing". There is a lot of that "self reliance" business down here.

Horror movies are so idiotic! I want to see one come out where the actors aren't so stupid, like turning their back to a killer after barely wacking him down with a bat. Makes me want to never watch a horror movie again, waste of time.

Horror movies are supposed to be "so idiotic", they are pure entertainment. IF you are a fan of the "scary movie), and those fans have been around since the old Vampire and Frankenstein movies/books -- then I'm betting you will "watch" them ... it's entertainment, part of that entertainment is how "stupid" the characters are and how much smarter "we" would be in the same situation.

You are a good sport ... I didn't mean to give you a hard time in the earlier post, but we all get so tickled at this sort of question.

IF you have never been to Texas ...... come on down, you will love it. Great place to visit - many like living here.

K