Why does Chicago have so many "tough guys"...? (how much, living in)

[Ron.]

I am what you would call a people watcher. Has anyone ever noticed the dirty looks people give eachother......for no apparent reason?

I mean you can be on a crowded train and just barely touch someone and all of a sudden comes the "mean mug".

Folks give dirty looks like none other. It's as if everyone wants to be "tough" or something.

I just happen to notice a lot of this last week.


Gee-whiz, relax people..........

[noid_1985]

lol @ "mean-mug" Chicago is known for that- or people who just stare at you- Why are you staring at me- can I help you??

[long101]

ya this isnt just Chicago there are alot of d-bags everywhere. Its usually just the younger crowds that are the hard asses

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

I don't get many mean mugs.

I guess that makes me the tough guy.

[Ron.]

When you say young, let's say 40 and under. It's more adults than youth, based on my observation.

Originally Posted by long101

ya this isnt just Chicago there are alot of d-bags everywhere. Its usually just the younger crowds that are the hard asses

[Ron.]

I was asking do you notice it?

Originally Posted by CarolinaBredChicagoan

I don't get many mean mugs.

I guess that makes me the tough guy.

[j33]

I can't say that I've ever noticed this. I've generally found people in Chicago to be pretty friendly.

[jdiddy]

What's it to ya?! Move along, pal.

[PokerPlayer1]

I agree that the culture of Chicago is stoic, maybe a bit mean. With that said, it is straight-forward and refreshingly honest. It's a no-bull**** city.

After spending a lot of my life in the deep south, I've found that the much vaunted "southern hospitality" is really a grossly synthetic, unnatural thing. When you're immersed in it, it's so damn sugary you leave with diabetes (also, I've never encountered a higher percentage of shysters and backstabbers than I did when living in a culture where everyone was expected to "pretend nice" as a matter of policy)

This type of thing offends directly against whatever sensibilities that cause folks to appreciate genuineness in a person and thankfully, this cultural framework is nowhere to be found in Chitown. Chicago might not be sugary and warm- no one is interested in your life story and they don't care if y'all come back now, y'hear?- but they're straight shooters and if they like you, they genuinely like you.

I don't notice if anyone is staring at me because frankly, I couldn't care less about them and as such, am not too concerned with paying attention long enough to find out.

[hank0604]

Originally Posted by PokerPlayer1

I agree that the culture of Chicago is stoic, maybe a bit mean. With that said, it is straight-forward and refreshingly honest. It's a no-bull**** city.

After spending a lot of my life in the deep south, I've found that the much vaunted "southern hospitality" is really a grossly synthetic, unnatural thing. When you're immersed in it, it's so damn sugary you leave with diabetes (also, I've never encountered a higher percentage of shysters and backstabbers than I did when living in a culture where everyone was expected to "pretend nice" with each other)

This type of thing offends directly against whatever sensibilities that causes folks to appreciate genuineness in a person and thankfully, this cultural framework is nowhere to be found in Chitown. Chicago might not be sugary and warm- no one is interested in your life story and they don't care if y'all come back now, y'hear?- but they're straight shooters and if they like you, they genuinely like you.

I don't notice if anyone is staring at me because frankly, I couldn't care less about them and as such, am not too concerned with paying attention long enough to find out.

Quoted for truth.

As someone who was born and raised in Shreveport, LA (the last capital of the Confederacy), I can say that it is very refreshing to live here. The people here aren't mean, but they wear their emotions on their sleeves. You can tell what people are thinking, and likewise I don't have to fake nice all the time.

Sure, I was raised to be respectful to strangers, and I still sir and ma'am my elders and superiors, but I also don't have to wear out my arm waving at everyone I see.

On a side note, though, I definitely do NOT like how much people honk their car horns here. Seriously, lay off the horns, they are for emergency use. The car in front of you waiting 2 seconds after the light turns green does not qualify as an emergency.