How "Texas-y" is Austin? (Dallas, Fort Worth: home, restaurants, assessment)

[muppets]

Definitely wouldn't move down there without a job nor talk about politics at work, job interview or otherwise.

[muppets]

Originally Posted by RoadWarrior12

Your picture of Texas is horrifically flawed.

I was describing what most of my extended network thinks about Texas, not my own personal beliefs. I would never consider moving there if I thought Texas was actually like that.

[muppets]

Originally Posted by mark311

I think the main thing that transplants need to "get" when they move to the Austin area is that they need to accept some things that they might not agree with. Something like the "prominent gun culture" is just that. A lot of people take pride in their gun ownership whether they vote Republican or Democrat. So yes, that is one thing that might put you off if you aren't willing to accept that the culture is just different here.

This absolutely doesn't put me off, I was just curious as to what it is really like down there since most of my friends and family (clearly) have no idea. I actually enjoy interacting with people of different lifestyles and beliefs because I find it interesting (as long as both parties are respectful and don't try to force their views on one another).

[radiolibre99]

I agree that ppl need to accept a different type of life if you want to live in Texas. I'm as liberal as they come but I do appreciate the lifestyle in Texas that revolves around hunting, fishing, guns and cars. I just don't like it when ppl use it as a way to set themselves apart from the rest of the world, as if they're preserving some traditional order that the New World Order is trying to destroy, LOL.

[muppets]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

In any case, MUCH of Texas is more that way than gets credit - the socially liberal, fiscally conservative approach is probably the professed position of most people I know. You can do whatever you want as long as it doesn't injure me AND I don't have to pay for it.

Definitely becoming more fiscally conservative as I get older and have to start paying for things LOL. Around here though I feel like I have to include some kind of disclaimer i.e. "I'm socially liberal BUT..." You're actually criticized if you pick and choose too much.

Anyway, very interesting -- thank you!

Also, I know this is a silly question but with all the transplants in Austin, can you actually go a full day without hearing a Southern accent? From what I've read it seems like Southern Californians have taken over the entire city LOL

[mark311]

Originally Posted by muppets

Also, I know this is a silly question but with all the transplants in Austin, can you actually go a full day without hearing a Southern accent? From what I've read it seems like Southern Californians have taken over the entire city LOL

Native Austinites don't have a Southern accent. The word "y'all" is about the only giveaway. Even people from other areas of Texas don't have a Southern accent, but you can definitely detect a "Texan" accent.

[muppets]

Originally Posted by CRS73

Mistaking us for part of the South will just get you in trouble.

What would be correct then? The Southwest?

Also, sorry to sound so ignorant (I've never been anywhere south of Ohio), but are confederate flags a big thing in Texas?

[muppets]

Originally Posted by mark311

I think the people here don't try to fit into a "liberal" or a "conservative" mold, but pick and choose what they want to do and what they want to support by their own individual beliefs. So from what I've seen, there are a lot of Obama voters that regularly go to the shooting range with their kids and that is just accepted here.

I'm glad to read Austin isn't an "all or nothing" kind of place. If I saw a pick-up truck with an Obama bumper sticker parked at a shooting range, I'd probably take a picture, that's how rare something like that would be up here. People in Toronto love Obama and follow the American elections with much more interest than the Canadian elections (I guess for obvious reasons LOL), but it would contradict the hip, urban, liberal "lifestyle" to be seen at a shooting range (I don't even know if there are any in Toronto, but if there were, it'd be a big no-no to go to one, unless you were being "ironic"). I haven't met anyone who identifies as liberal but doesn't recycle, or who supports gay marriage and simultaneously loves small government. It's actually kind of stifling sometimes.

[TexasHorseLady]

The Southwest more than the South (except for a small part of East Texas), but, really, being as large as it is, and with so many influences, it's just Texas.

Confederate flags are not a big thing either way to most Texans. The Texas state flag is what you'll see the most, and you'll see it a LOT.

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by muppets

What would be correct then? The Southwest?

TEXAS!! We are region unto ourselves! And if you don't believe me, try driving from Beaumont to El Paso or Brownsville to Amarillo!

Usually if you say TX is part of the southwest, everyone shrugs (doesn't make sense for Tyler but whatever) but if you try to put Texas in "the south" most folks will protest.