Why do they hate me so in Wyoming? (Powell, Basin: hotel, buy)

[harryglos]

I flew into Billings in the early evening, drove to Powell, checked into the hotel eagerly awaiting the morning and seeing the sights. After a great breakfast which for some reason always tastes better at 4500 feet and above, I jumped in the car to start my first foray into the Great State of Wyoming.

My travels started with such great expectations until I noticed as I was driving towards Basin, about to pass the gentleman driving a nice shiny red Chevrolet Pick-Em-Up truck when the driver gives me the finger! I couldn’t believe it… Generally it takes talking to me for at least 5 minutes before someone does that. This was my first drive by fingering and it wasn’t pretty.

I’m a grown man and shook it off, as you’d expect. OK-OK maybe I did have to pull over for a few minutes, but no problem, I do carry tissues with me! By the way, have you ever noticed while driving around the Great State of Wyoming you can’t just pull over anywhere? I saw one guy who parked on the side of the road and the car rolled on its side. I was going to get out and help until I saw the license plate and realized it was a Michigan-der! Anyway I digress…

So here I am driving along the highways and byways and every vehicle I pass give me the finger, some with a smile on their face. Man that’s just so cold! I was about ready to give em the finger right back when a cautionary thought came to me. I mean, once you consider a newborn in the Great State of Wyoming’s first bottle is in the shape of a rife with Winchester emblazoned on the side. All of a sudden the thought of returning the finger in kind seemed like a very bad idea!

Now are you with me here friends and neighbors? All day long I’ve been driving around passing cars and every one of which is giving me the finger! I wasn't far from the dreaded "finger fetish" I can tell you that right now!

So here I am in a little town in a little restaurant where the special of the day is chilly. So I order the special and here’s this guy sitting behind me telling a local “how they do it in California”! Are you kidding me… Here I’m out getting the finger all day and now I have to listen to how they do things in California? Am I in some kind of space-time continuum or what? This guy was talking about living in a semi-rural area and requested the removal of the Deer Crossing sign on his road. The reason: "Too many deer were being hit by cars" and he didn't want them to cross there anymore.”

Oh and have you had Wyoming Chilly? That stuff would take the chrome off a trailer hitch! What it did to my stomach is a conversation for another day and another forum.

So I ask you the question… Why do they hate me so in Wyoming? I tried to cowboy up but that’s no easy thing when your wearing a striped green Polo pullover, orange shorts and flip-flops. And I must tell you honestly my trip back to Powell was sadly a reenactment of my initial driving experience. I felt like I was giving everybody the Piece sign and they were only returning half of it! Never have I been so fingered...

To make matters worse, just before going back to my room I went to the local grocery store and put a bar of soap, a toothbrush, toothpaste, a pint of milk and a frozen TV dinner in my cart. As the cashier was ringing up the items she says, “I bet you’re single.” I asked her how she could tell, because of my purchases? She said “No it’s because you’re goofy-looking.” Don’t you hate when that happens?

So please tell me, “Why do they hate me so in Wyoming”?

Harry aka "Man of many Fingers"...

[Wingfoot]

Don't take it so personal,they hate everyone.

[MRVphotog]

Originally Posted by harryglos

So here I am driving along the highways and byways and every vehicle I pass give me the finger, some with a smile on their face. ..

I think you answered your own question. From your description you drive like the roadway is your personal German Autobon. Disrespecting the speed limits posted, for several common sense reasons isn't gonna win you any friends anywhere.

I'm sure your gonna say you followed the speed limits but I'm not gonna buy that....sorry.

[Crazymomof3]

I think someone is poking fun...
and trying to be witty.

Kinda went over like a lead balloon.

[harryglos]

Wow, this is a tough crowd...

I post something meant to be humorous and I'm blamed for reckless endangerment! I guess what I expected was something like "Hey we're friendly here in Wyoming and everyone puts their finger up to say Hey... But it's not the middle one!" But noooooo!

Anyway so much for humor right! I was kidding in my last post because of how amazed I was that everyone I passed put their finger up as much to say "good to see ya"!

You guys are about as much fun as hitting your thumb with a hammer!

Harry

[wyolady]

Originally Posted by harryglos

Wow, this is a tough crowd...

I post something meant to be humorous and I'm blamed for reckless endangerment! I guess what I expected was something like "Hey we're friendly here in Wyoming and everyone puts their finger up to say Hey... But it's not the middle one!" But noooooo!

Anyway so much for humor right! I was kidding in my last post because of how amazed I was that everyone I passed put their finger up as much to say "good to see ya"!

You guys are about as much fun as hitting your thumb with a hammer!

Harry

I got it, Harry, and laughed out loud. Especially the part about the guy who wanted the deer crossing removed 'cuz too many deer cross the road there. We must have the smartest deer in the nation!

[wyoquilter]

Originally Posted by wyolady

I got it, Harry, and laughed out loud. Especially the part about the guy who wanted the deer crossing removed 'cuz too many deer cross the road there. We must have the smartest deer in the nation!

The deer here are very smart. During hunting season you see them standing near fences which have NO HUNTING posted on them just taunting the hunter.

As to the OP, I can honestly say that I took your post seriously and I couldn't believe that WY folks had been so rude. This is generally not the case unless someone has done something to deserve such rude behavior from Wyomingites.

Course, in my DH's circle of friends the single finger salute is their way of saying hello to each other. At first it was a bit embarrassing walking into some place like Walmart or driving down the road and seeing someone giving us the bird and my DH giving it back and both had a smile on their face. But after awhile it became so common that it doesn't bother me so much. I actually feel privalaged when his friends give me the bird when they see me as I know that the must like me enough to do so.

[harryglos]

Hey thanks guys, for a while I thought I'd made a mistake and posted to the wrong forum. I love Wyoming, its wide open spaces, its incredible mountains and scenery, but mostly its people and their spirit.

Thanks for the posts and thanks for participating in the great forum on Wyoming. I enjoy all the threads and posts, it helps sustain me as I prepare to leave Florida and migrate to the greatest state of the lower 48... Wyoming!

Harry

[gaduchman]

Welcome to Wyoming - that's what my neighbor said to me three weeks ago when I arrived 'home'. Well I was born and grew up here. The forefinger salute is a welcome sight, compared to the middle finger I got all the time in Atlanta and Miami.

Then my neighbor realized who I was and said "been gone long" - to which I said, 'just a while to clear my head'.

[BlackShoe]

The real reason is really quite simple,and has not been mentioned as yet.The raised finger is neither an obscene gesture,nor is it a greeting.Because the wind never stops blowing in Wyoming,this is way that its citizens determine its direction and velocity,which they must do constantly in order to survive.