What do you think about the midwest? (vs, best)

[DinsdalePirahna]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

I wonder what all those fancy cars in CA would be running on if it wasn't for Midwestern corn.

Probably California Crude.

[Jimrob1]

I spent one winter and spring in Minneapolis some 20 years ago on a job assignment. I enjoyed it and found it one of the nicer and cleanest areas of this country. It almost seemed Canadian in some ways. The people for the most part were friendly and pleasant. Other than Minneapolis I don't have much experience, with the Midwest other than to drive through.

Now I'm retired and living in the Phoenix area. I have to admit it seems everyone here is from the Midwest or just about. There are few here at least in this region of the Metro from the East. I can't say they are unfriendly, but I can't say they put much effort into being friendly. They almost seem clannish in many ways. More comfortable with their own, which I understand can happen. Especially with older people. Although I liked them better in Minneapolis than here. Of course a snowbird region can give a person an entirely different perspective on people. Very transient atmosphere.

[Heyooooo]

Originally Posted by Jimrob1

I spent one winter and spring in Minneapolis some 20 years ago on a job assignment. I enjoyed it and found it one of the nicer and cleanest areas of this country. It almost seemed Canadian in some ways. The people for the most part were friendly and pleasant. Other than Minneapolis I don't have much experience, with the Midwest other than to drive through.

Now I'm retired and living in the Phoenix area. I have to admit it seems everyone here is from the Midwest or just about. There are few here at least in this region of the Metro from the East. I can't say they are unfriendly, but I can't say they put much effort into being friendly. They almost seem clannish in many ways. More comfortable with their own, which I understand can happen. Especially with older people. Although I liked them better in Minneapolis than here. Of course a snowbird region can give a person an entirely different perspective on people. Very transient atmosphere.

You mean provincial, which is always used to describe Boston, NYC, Philly, etc.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

And it's worked just fine for them for generations. Guess that means they should change so they're "progressive," huh?

Only you would try to insert politics into the reply which I never made any mention of.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Jimrob1

I spent one winter and spring in Minneapolis some 20 years ago on a job assignment. I enjoyed it and found it one of the nicer and cleanest areas of this country. It almost seemed Canadian in some ways. The people for the most part were friendly and pleasant. Other than Minneapolis I don't have much experience, with the Midwest other than to drive through.

Now I'm retired and living in the Phoenix area. I have to admit it seems everyone here is from the Midwest or just about. There are few here at least in this region of the Metro from the East. I can't say they are unfriendly, but I can't say they put much effort into being friendly. They almost seem clannish in many ways. More comfortable with their own, which I understand can happen. Especially with older people. Although I liked them better in Minneapolis than here. Of course a snowbird region can give a person an entirely different perspective on people. Very transient atmosphere.

I'm surprised people from the Midwest are still gravitating toward Arizona for retirement. I guess they prefer to go from one extreme to another in terms of a nice lower sun angle that is more European like to a very low latitude with a scorching hot sun angle. Addmitedly I have never been to Phoenix, although I do prefer San Diego for lower latitude cities, but prices are $$$.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Only you would try to insert politics into the reply which I never made any mention of.

Only you would take it that way. I wasn't referring to that kind of progressiveness. I was talking about modernization

[jayp1188]

I'm largely indifferent to most of the Midwest, but I love Chicago, I think Minneapolis, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Madison are all pretty cool places to visit, and I'm fond of the beautiful scenery in parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan.

[stlouisan]

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

But understand however, that although church may be a big part of peoples' life in Wisconsin, etc. its VERY different from the south. The Lutherans and Catholic culture of the midwest is significantly more in dialogue with the secular world compared to the South. There is a liberal tradition in Wisconsin/Minnesota/Iowa that makes life VERY different from the Southern Baptist tradition. There is not the aggressive push of religion into politics the way the South is. There isn't the resistance to scientific understanding of our world and how humans came to be. Remember that Iowa passed a law allowing same sex marriage.

Church in the midwest is more about community, yes actual religion too, but not with the prostelityzing culture of the south. The upper midwest has a had a lot of liberal politicians too, (as did the south).

Now the great plains are a little different. Nebraska, Dakotas, Kansas are a different animal altogether.

Southern Baptists do, however extend into the Midwest. Missouri and much of the southern halves of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio consist of them. However, all of these states are still predominantly Catholic in most or all of their major cities. St. Louis, as an example, has many many Lutherans and Catholics, even if the surrounding rural areas in Missouri are Baptist strongholds. THese areas, it is important to note, are not culturally or linguistically southern. This is all part of what makes the Midwest so diverse. It contains influences from virtually every region of the country....the Western Plains, the Northeast, Canada, and the South. It is truly a melting pot for accents as well, as on the northern end you hear canadian accents, and on the southern end you hear southern accents.

[todd00]

I think people have misconceptions of the mid-west. Some know little or nothing about these states, outside of hearing the major cities mentioned. As far as lifestyle some would say most everyone is a bumpkin, redneck and or farmer. There are those types but other types as well. People like to generalize and label states and people. I think Minnesota and Wisconsin are both very pretty states. And northern Michigan and the UP are beautiful, one of the most scenic states, in my opinion. Those that fly over miss a lot. Parts of Illinois and Ohio are nice as well. Indiana is my least favorite of the states mentioned, but I haven't seen much of it. When I think of the mid-west I also think of Iowa and the plains states. Or would you call them something else? Thoughts and labels are about the same for these states.. corn, wheat, and nothing much of anything else. Though some never take the time to find out for themselves. Those that move to these states often are pleasantly surprised.

[stlouisan]

Originally Posted by todd00

I think people have misconceptions of the mid-west. Some know little or nothing about these states, outside of hearing the major cities mentioned. As far as lifestyle some would say most everyone is a bumpkin, redneck and or farmer. There are those types but other types as well. People like to generalize and label states and people. I think Minnesota and Wisconsin are both very pretty states. And northern Michigan and the UP are beautiful, one of the most scenic states, in my opinion. Those that fly over miss a lot. Parts of Illinois and Ohio are nice as well. Indiana is my least favorite of the states mentioned, but I haven't seen much of it. When I think of the mid-west I also think of Iowa and the plains states. Or would you call them something else? Thoughts and labels are about the same for these states.. corn, wheat, and nothing much of anything else. Though some never take the time to find out for themselves. Those that move to these states often are pleasantly surprised.

Missouri should come to mind just as much as these other states.