To those who complain about Californians moving to their state and "ruining" it. (legal, states)

[ragnarkar]

I guess I may be one of them.. and I have no intention of "assimilating" into your local culture. In fact, I never really assimilated into Californian culture when I moved there many years ago either. I will continue being myself instead of assimilating, as long as it's legal to do so.

Over 30 years ago, my family immigrated to the US. Since birth, I've lived in 4 different states and 3 different continents, let alone countries. I honestly don't identify with my own birth country's culture or the culture of any of the states I've lived in. The only culture I somewhat identify with are highly educated and tech-savvy older (30-something) millennial. I feel I have far more in common with an educated and tech-savvy millennial in say, France, Russia, India, Brazil, China, etc. than I do with a random person from Texas (where I currently live) or California (where I lived for the last 15 years.)

I do admit I "absorb" aspects of a local culture if I live there long enough. But I never completely assimilate; I spend a good chunk of my free time online anyways and those online communities are the same whether I access them in Kansas, Alaska, Nigeria, etc. you get the picture.

So anyways, I really fail to see how people like me are ruining the local culture of a place whenever we move somewhere new.. and based on my past history of frequent moves, I don't think Texas is the last state I'll be calling home in my lifetime.

[nightlysparrow]

Your statements sound like you feel like an outsider wherever you go, except when you're online. I wonder why?

[Soonhun]

So, basically, you complain that people expect you to "assimilate" and how you don't assimilate. How does that at all have anything to do with your conclusion that people who don't assimilate do not change or ruin the local culture? What you say doesn't give any weight for or against that argument.

Sounds like you need a blog.

[mhays25]

I'd rather people keep their own culture vs. becoming "just another local." At least the good parts...if you come from a place where littering and driving recklessly are ok, don't continue those parts.

[Pincho-toot]

You do realise that assimilation does not mean changing everything about who you are, right? If anything, it means adding something new to your identity. No one has a problem with bringing new positive perspectives, bringing new foods and sharing your own culture, what people do have a problem with is people who complain about where they move to without doing anything to make it better, or who want to change the way things are for no good reason besides self interest, or who talk down to the locals as if they're lesser. That's what ticks people off.

I pronounce "pecan" as "pee-kan" and I'm not saying "pih-cawn" (unless talking about butter pecan) because its not natural for me to say it like that, but I'm also not going to tell a native Texan to say "pee-kan" instead. Its their nut!

[toosie]

given the thread title and that no debate has been set forth in the OP, this thread is closed. Agreed with the poster who recommended a blog - we do offer that feature here at City-Data.