How friendly are people? (Dallas: live, move to, metro area)

[jgn2013]

Originally Posted by RadiantBaby

Metro Dallas is a lot of show. A lot of overly-wide grins. A lot of insincere sincerity.

As far as major cities in Texas go, Dallas has a reputation for being fake and gaudy. The comment on Dallas being cagey and nowhere near direct is spot-on. Dallas fears telling the truth in a face-to-face situation. People placate to a fault.

I'd more consider Austin and San Antonio authentic and genuinely friendly.

Dallas also has a ton of transplants....hard to say how much of that is native culture and how much was imported from out of state. My department at work has 50-ish employees and I'm the only one born and raised in Dallas. The rest were either born elsewhere and moved here in middle school, moved from southern TX or moved from out-of-state as adults.

In general though, southerners are more cagey than northerners. I'm a 5th generation Texan and have caught myself doing this on many occasions. Someone will engage me in conversation and I'll basically encourage them to keep talking with well-timed questions and responses. They'll end up sharing half their life story while they barely know my name.

My in-laws from NYC/NJ will speak their piece with little prompting. Very direct.

[NTXPerson]

Originally Posted by jgn2013

Dallas also has a ton of transplants....hard to say how much of that is native culture and how much was imported from out of state. My department at work has 50-ish employees and I'm the only one born and raised in Dallas. The rest were either born elsewhere and moved here in middle school, moved from southern TX or moved from out-of-state as adults.

In general though, southerners are more cagey than northerners. I'm a 5th generation Texan and have caught myself doing this on many occasions. Someone will engage me in conversation and I'll basically encourage them to keep talking with well-timed questions and responses. They'll end up sharing half their life story while they barely know my name.

My in-laws from NYC/NJ will speak their piece with little prompting. Very direct.

I can say this has been my experience as well! I am a fifth-generation Texan. My mother was born and raised in Dallas, as was I. My mom has said that your typical southern hospitality was very common in Dallas until there was a large migration of people from the NE that moved here in the 70's (I think).

[Pinkett]

A lot of people in these North of Dallas suburbs are well to do. I think some of that fakeness and snobbynish comes from that. I’ve lived here for over 5 years and I don’t have a single good friend. Mind you, I live in an affluent neighborhood but I don’t share the same values as most people in my neighborhood. I don’t drive the latest and greatest car, my kids go to public schools, I live a very simple life. No LVs and Chanels. I am okay with that. I am doing things that I enjoy doing. I live where I want to live. Don’t worry about what your neighbors do and think. You don’t have to fit into what they think is appropriate lifestyle.

Pick a neighborhood you like, school that you like for your kids, a life you like. Don’t worry about others or the fact if you’ll fit in.

[astropathtobe]

we are new to dallas (live in UP) and its been fine. our kids made friends easily and our neighbors seem nice. I don't know that its different from any other city. if you are looking for close friends, you probably have to put efforts in; but thats true everywhere!

[jaysan89]

I've lived in the Dallas area for over 2.5 years now and I find it to be one of the most racist, snobby and unfriendliest places on the face of this earth.

[Bullandram1]

If you find a neighborhood with Native Texans then yes we are friendly, engaging, and respectful. If you live in a neighborhood with people who moved here from other places forget about it. If you throw into the mix they came from California...forget about it. Haha! You can typically gage this by how many Biden signs are in the yard...Good luck!

[dallasboi]

Originally Posted by jaysan89

I've lived in the Dallas area for over 2.5 years now and I find it to be one of the most racist, snobby and unfriendliest places on the face of this earth.

If you believe this is 100% accurate then YOU are the problem and you should probably move. I know that if I were you I wouldn't stay in a place that I hate....It's not fair to you.

[RadiantBaby]

Originally Posted by jaysan89

I've lived in the Dallas area for over 2.5 years now and I find it to be one of the most racist, snobby and unfriendliest places on the face of this earth.

The racist comment I agree with. It's a very separated city and they prefer to keep it that way.

[GigiTer]

Moved here from the northeast last summer - my opinion, the customer service in stores and restaurants is very friendly!! My neighbors not so much! Lol!! It’s been very odd! Our neighbors across from us who are not native Texans have been the most friendly. My native Texan neighbors are slowly warming up but they have not been forward friendly. They all have busy lives, I certainly did not expect a welcoming mat but it is odd to me because the customer service level is SO very friendly! LOL!

My HS said the kids at school are all very nice but more subdued in reaching out. Maybe that goes to the Texan aloofness someone else mentioned here???

[jgn2013]

Originally Posted by NTXPerson

I can say this has been my experience as well! I am a fifth-generation Texan. My mother was born and raised in Dallas, as was I. My mom has said that your typical southern hospitality was very common in Dallas until there was a large migration of people from the NE that moved here in the 70's (I think).

That's a great point. People that appear to be natives are often just transplants that have been here for so long that most can't tell the difference. While I do appreciate the migration of new ideas and people, it gets annoying when outsiders ascribe all of these negative stereotypes to Dallasites. It's often (but not always) outsiders bringing rude behavior with them.

My girlfriend (now wife), future mother and father-in-law and I rode the train to the State Fair about 10 or 11 years ago. An older lady began asking me a few questions...mostly small talk. She had a thick southern accent but spoke at a faster, "big city" pace. My wife/in-laws were like "what is she saying" because they had never heard anyone speak that way. I recognized it quickly as someone that probably grew up with a lot of East Texas family but also spent plenty of time in Dallas. To me, everything she said was perfectly intelligible. It's how I'm inclined to speak at times when hanging around family members.