Traveling Chicagoan's - Have you noticed.... (Charleston, Manhattan: transplants, how much, home)

[TecWmn]

That some areas of the country are really sensitive and cannot take the honest, but well-meaning directness that we are so used to? Where the 'tell it like it is' philosophy doesn't fit.....

Specifically, where do you feel like you need to 'tone it down'?

What place do you go that makes you long for the honest and direct demeanor of your fellow Chicagoan's??

[ERS-One]

La La Land in my experience.

[Lookout Kid]

Wisconsin.

[80sguy84]

Well,I have been living in "Southern Hell" or they call it Oklahoma for a few years now and boy do they like to "Sugarcoat" everything here,And sometimes they give you a stupid expression when you "Tell it like it is",I honestly stopped caring a long time ago for all I give a rats a$$ they can stay in backwards bible la la land,Soon I'll be back home in Chicago to proudly rejoin the "Real World"

IMO,The whole State has to be wiped by a tornado and just extend Texas north lol Oh wait a minute G*D tried that on MAY 3, 1999

(And Texas people DO "tell it like it is",THAT state I can respect).......To a certain point lol

[Drover]

During my visit to Charleston, I was mesmerized by their gift of understatement. For instance, they have "palmetto bugs" crawling all over the place, by which they mean "cockroaches so big you could put a saddle on one and ride it around town."

During a tour of an 18th century mansion on the battery, we were told that approximately two feet of storm surge from the Ashley and Cooper rivers flooded the first floor during Hurricane Hugo. The tour guide characterized this as a "moisture problem."

And of course, we did not have a "Civil War" in the middle of the 18th Century. It was merely "The Disturbance."

It's like they would rather do backflips on smoldering coals than call something unpleasant what it really is.

[skipcromer]

Originally Posted by Drover

During my visit to Charleston, I was mesmerized by their gift of understatement. For instance, they have "palmetto bugs" crawling all over the place, by which they mean "cockroaches so big you could put a saddle on one and ride it around town."

During a tour of an 18th century mansion on the battery, we were told that approximately two feet of storm surge from the Ashley and Cooper rivers flooded the first floor during Hurricane Hugo. The tour guide characterized this as a "moisture problem."

And of course, we did not have a "Civil War" in the middle of the 18th Century. It was merely "The Disturbance."

It's like they would rather do backflips on smoldering coals than call something unpleasant what it really is.

As sad as it is, in the south the civil war isnt really over, its only halftime.

[Sailaway50]

I was in Cleveland for an extended period (before it got "this" bad), and I had to underplay everything I said .. if you were straight, people looked right through you.

Every time I met someone from Chicago, we marvelled at how easy it was to talk "normally again."

In L.A., I felt that Valley Girl (non gender specific) lives, particularly in retail establishments.

In San Francisco, I felt most people I spoke to were more on the same urban speaking level as Chicago. Same with Manhattan and Long Island.

New Jersey, I felt they were more "Chicago" than Chicagoans.....

[Sailaway50]

Originally Posted by skipcromer

As sad as it is, in the south the civil war isnt really over, its only halftime.

Great comment. My friend just got back from Alabama and her daughter's landlord told her, "Darlin', the only thing that upsets us worse down here than a Yankee is a Catholic. I'm sure your little gal will be fine."

They are both Yankees and Catholic.

[myrc60]

Originally Posted by skipcromer

As sad as it is, in the south the civil war isnt really over, its only halftime.

For some this is true; but for us transplants we just wish they'd get over it already! There are some people down here that still fly the Civil Flag.

[Fata Morgana]

I'm Chicago born / bred and have been in the Bay Area for the past 16 mos due to the husband's job. Cannot tell you how much I miss that direct, open approach. Chicagoans are direct but I think direct and warm whereas generally speaking, ppl here tend to be aloof and a bit cold. At least compared to ppl back home.

A few weeks ago I had some tests done at the hospital and the doctor I ended up seeing was a NYC transplant. Cannot even begin to explain how easily I was able to instantly connect / communicate on the same level with the doc, as if we had broken into our common native language, and was totally over-joyed.

In Chicago I'm seen as a bit shy and reserved while out here I'm seen as too in your face and open. Go figure.