What is "midwestern mentality"??? (Chicago: transplants, high school, live in)

[jackal]

Hi there!
I'm an European journalist working on an article regarding the differences in mentality between Americans coming from different parts of the United States. Could you, as Chicagoans, explain to me in layman's terms what so called "Midwestern Mentality" means? I would be grateful.

[coldwine]

It isn't alcoholism if I have my reasons.

[Chi-town Native]

Chicagoans are the exception to it, I'll tell you that much. it refers more to upstanding Swedish farmer types in Minnesota, people not looking for fast times or glitz, straight-laced, common-sense folks, that kinda thing.

[Thepreacherswife]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

Chicagoans are the exception to it, I'll tell you that much. it refers more to upstanding Swedish farmer types in Minnesota, people not looking for fast times or glitz, straight-laced, common-sense folks, that kinda thing.

I disagree. Compare Chicagoans to New Yorkers and Losangelinos - I think you'll find that Chicagoans are less neurotic, less self-important, less rude, more laid back, and less likely to meddle (or care about) in another person's business.

[tb4000]

It depends because so many people in the city are transplants from like Michigan, Wisconsin, and the suburbs of Indiana and Illinois. So that midwestern mentality is pretty varied.

[brainiac138]

to me the midwestern mentality is a mindset where you don't really deal with anything or confront problems, but just hope they go away.

[hamiltonra25]

Originally Posted by tb4000

It depends because so many people in the city are transplants from like Michigan, Wisconsin, and the suburbs of Indiana and Illinois. So that midwestern mentality is pretty varied.

are you really that much of a transplant if you come from the suburbs of chicago?! cmon get real. so your saying if you arent within the chicago zip code your a transplant, i personally think thats a bit ridiculous. i agree with mn, wi, and mi. Quite frankly if you live within an hour of the city i would not call you a transplant...

[j33]

It depends on who you talk to when it comes to the 'transplant' question. Usually the sort of person who is hung up on this is a younger person from the city, and they are hung up on the minutae of what side of Harlem or Howard one grows up on and feel like they can make sweeping generalizations about you because based on your answer. Most adults don't really care. I grew up just south of the city in the southern suburbs, and have always had more on common with my fellow Chicagoans (city and burbs) than the other parts of Illinois and don't really consider myself a 'transplant to chicago' even though I didn't move to the city proper until after high school, as I have been spending lots of time with friends and family in the city since I was a young child.

[Mands86]

Originally Posted by hamiltonra25

are you really that much of a transplant if you come from the suburbs of chicago?! cmon get real. so your saying if you arent within the chicago zip code your a transplant, i personally think thats a bit ridiculous. i agree with mn, wi, and mi. Quite frankly if you live within an hour of the city i would not call you a transplant...

I agree but that's because I live in the suburbs about a half hour from the city.

[Lookout Kid]

To say there is a "midwestern mentality" is to make a sweeping generalization about millions of people. There is no "midwestern mentality". The whole concept is simply offensive. So take your generalizations and stick 'em.