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I saw a survey that said North Dakota was the most extroverted (least shy) state but also the least open to experience. In general the upper Midwest is very friendly.A shy person might still like it because people are nice.
Friendly does not equal outgoing.
I greatly disagree with these maps that have been posted that show the Upper Midwest as "very extroverted". I honestly have no idea where that even comes from. Yes, most people are very polite and friendly, but reserved in this part of the country. There's definitely a remnant of Scandinavian stoicism that still lingers especially in Minnesota culture.
One personal anecdote that comes to mind sort of speaks to the mindset one might find in Minnesotans. I have relatives who come up from South Carolina to visit my family every few summers, and usually my mom dreads it because she's far too polite to suggest that they stay in a hotel instead of them just assuming they're welcome stay at my parents' house. Of course, as Southerners, my relatives have a very "my house is your house" mentality that just isn't as commonly shared around here. Minnesotans are much more private and value space to themselves.
I think the North East is good for a more introverted person. People will not force conversation on you. As they get to know you, they will open up, but it's not like a fake friendly thing coming at you. I feel like if someone does talk to you, it's because they really want to.
I'm an introvert and some people have this weird idea that small towns are good for us. They aren't. A big city is where people don't care who you are or what you're doing. I would lose my mind in a small town, heck I worked in a small town (20K pop) and I would drive around and see people I know. Don't have that issue in a big city.
I'm an introvert and some people have this weird idea that small towns are good for us. They aren't. A big city is where people don't care who you are or what you're doing. I would lose my mind in a small town, heck I worked in a small town (20K pop) and I would drive around and see people I know. Don't have that issue in a big city.
I like larger cities, too. My true nature is an introvert, but I can fake being an extrovert pretty well (at work esp.) .
I wonder why the parts of the South tend to be more extroverted?
There's different cultural expectations put on people.
In the Northeast, there's a concept called "proper reserve." Basically it's considered to be intrusive if you approach a stranger and speak without being spoken to first, or without some sort of pressing need (e.g., cashier at a store).
In the South in contrast, it's generally considered rude not to engage in idle, surface-level chitchat with people - particularly if you're next to them for a good period of time (waiting in line, on the bus, etc).
I never said "the Midwest". And I never said "German" alone. Just give me some credit that I can at least remember what I wrote an hour before.
I specifically said the upper Midwest in reference to Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota as stated in my first post here. I figured people knew that I was referring to these states in following posts and not, say, Michigan. But I see that I shouldn't have assumed. And I added Scandinavian because that is important.
I didn't want to turn this into a history lesson. I'm aware Germans are in WI. Germans are in a lot of states. Scandinavians arrived in Wisconsin too but so did many other groups. So it wasn't a Scandi-dominant area. Even today MN has twice the number of Scandinavian descendants of WI, with a smaller population. You're free to look up how their histories differ if you want more clarification.
Well, YOU know what you meant, and that's good enough for me.
The Pacific NW is not monolithic in this regard. Seattle would be a perfectly suitable place to not ever talk to anybody, but in Spokane you will make 5 friends by the time you walk off the train to the bar.
I feel like Denver is shy, though I won't get much agreement on that.
And if OP wants to break out of the shy shell, small towns are the way to go.
Cheyenne, why? I don't get that vibe at all.
Honestly, even in Tacoma people are far more extroverted than in, say, North Seattle.
Also, California has huge variation as well. Silicon Valley is as introverted as place as I’ve seen in the country. Much of LA County, on the other hand, is highly extroverted.
There are other examples out there which vary slightly.
This map has Utah as one of the most extroverted states. That does not jive with my experience at all. People are very friendly, but generally seem to keep to themselves.
I like larger cities, too. My true nature is an introvert, but I can fake being an extrovert pretty well (at work esp.) .
I know what you mean, I work around alot of people and I have to act the same.
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