Shreveport's Stagnet Population

[annie_himself]

Those two are far from this concept.

[Mwahfromtheheart]

Education. Our college system up here is so awkward. Kids here run off to college elsewhere and find good jobs either in those cities or elsewhere. Plus the amount of fun that can be found here equals... go to a bar / club or go gamble. Woo hoo. There is no culture other than having that small town feeling with a mid sized city shopping feel.

Not to mention everywhere you go in the city you hear "n word" this or "white people" that. It's very uncomfortable in that every time I go in a store, I hope the people there are white so that I don't get a stink eye. Blacks simply do not want to talk to whites for a large part, and I can see why. Racism is so open here, I can't go a day without hearing a white person complain about what blacks do all the time.

Plus every 3 people or so will be 1 that wants to shove God down your throat (even though I do believe in God). Employment opportunities for anybody who is not a christian loving whatever (IE gay or some other alternative lifestyle) is slim. It's a very judgmental environment. I guess that comes from having absolutely no culture or difference aside from that small town Texas vibe it has.

In summary, education is probably the biggest issue as nobody wants to locate where there are uneducated people. Then comes the boredom factor that makes it so nobody under the age of 30 (IE college kids / new grads) wants to be here, which means they'll simply settle elsewhere. After that the racism just gives you a dreadful feeling to be social anyways. Lastly religion makes it an even more uncomfortable, "cliquey" environment.

Shreveport is just... not a fun place to live! ... Unless you like the country feel. That's why it's stagnant, because the people don't WANT it to grow, whether they say they want it to or not.

[Marshall Gibson LP]

Originally Posted by Mwahfromtheheart

Not to mention everywhere you go in the city you hear "n word" this or "white people" that. Racism is so open here, I can't go a day without hearing a white person complain about what blacks do all the time.

Plus every 3 people or so will be 1 that wants to shove God down your throat (even though I do believe in God). Employment opportunities for anybody who is not a christian loving whatever (IE gay or some other alternative lifestyle) is slim. It's a very judgmental environment. I guess that comes from having absolutely no culture or difference aside from that small town Texas vibe it has.

Sums up why I, and many others, left as soon as we got a college degree. Sad, really. My roots in the area go back at least 150 years, and geographically, it has alot going for it. But the prevailing attitude....

[hdwell]

Originally Posted by Mwahfromtheheart

Education. Our college system up here is so awkward. Kids here run off to college elsewhere and find good jobs either in those cities or elsewhere. Plus the amount of fun that can be found here equals... go to a bar / club or go gamble. Woo hoo. There is no culture other than having that small town feeling with a mid sized city shopping feel.

Not to mention everywhere you go in the city you hear "n word" this or "white people" that. It's very uncomfortable in that every time I go in a store, I hope the people there are white so that I don't get a stink eye. Blacks simply do not want to talk to whites for a large part, and I can see why. Racism is so open here, I can't go a day without hearing a white person complain about what blacks do all the time.

Plus every 3 people or so will be 1 that wants to shove God down your throat (even though I do believe in God). Employment opportunities for anybody who is not a christian loving whatever (IE gay or some other alternative lifestyle) is slim. It's a very judgmental environment. I guess that comes from having absolutely no culture or difference aside from that small town Texas vibe it has.

In summary, education is probably the biggest issue as nobody wants to locate where there are uneducated people. Then comes the boredom factor that makes it so nobody under the age of 30 (IE college kids / new grads) wants to be here, which means they'll simply settle elsewhere. After that the racism just gives you a dreadful feeling to be social anyways. Lastly religion makes it an even more uncomfortable, "cliquey" environment.

Shreveport is just... not a fun place to live! ... Unless you like the country feel. That's why it's stagnant, because the people don't WANT it to grow, whether they say they want it to or not.

We must not cross paths (or at least hang out in the same areas). I guess I've been lucky not to experience those racial and religious people. No seriously, I haven't. I don't go to many places around SBC except for SE Shreveport shopping. I see interracial couples often and never hear any commentary (of course you don't know what one is thinking).

The proselytizing and bible thumping doesn't seem to happen around me either. Maybe I just don't happen to be there at the right time. My church is socially moderate to liberal (I'm sure there are a few conservatives thrown in) but politics and lifestyles aren't discussed. I am satisfied with what it is. That is interesting to say the least. Btw I am mainstream protestant.

Yes, Shreveport and Bossier City seriously lack good jobs. The people are very satisfied so it seems with the status quo around here. It's a shame, but much of what actually could have been many years in potential business, education, and youth is gone today. The attitude of people in SBC is so negative that I don't see how it will ever change. I have said enough times that attitudes must change here. But I am not sure that will ever happen.

SBC is deep fried deep south. When people can cleanse their hearts and take on a new role of help and guidance, then things will begin to improve. It still takes money to build a city and make it go round. But the attitude will have to change before anything gets done

[BeenThereDunThat]

I've been a member of various civic organizations and business groups. It's a mixed bag. One very prominent local Shreveport business group that you had to wait on a list to get accepted made me quite uncomfortable at times. We would do breakfast meetings and sit among different tables and I can't tell you how many times people would ask: " Now what church do you go to?" or (my personal favorite) " Do you and your lovely wife have a church-home?" It got to the point that I quit lying and would simply say: " I / we don't go to church anymore; we feel we no longer need the tradition of public worship to support our faith." Well I might as well have told them to go ________ themselves for the shocked reaction I'd get.
These were business people, accountants, lawyers, entrepreneurs, real estate types, insurance sales folks... most of whom had higher degrees. As soon as it got out among others to how I replied about my non-church status, folks would avoid me in some cases. So I quit renewing memberships, joining organizations and basically just stayed out of things. I don't begin every luncheon with a prayer and I don't fault those who do, it's just not my thing and I choose not to be around it.

This has been my experience, your mileage may vary. But due to the nature of my work, I got to know quite a few folks from different backgrounds and I can tell you that religion plays very strong here in NW La. If you come off as too secular your social circle will become quite small.

One thing about the negative attitude thing about SBC. The big thing is that the voting populace for years has been too easily manipulated by special interests. Sure this is the core of politics in general but overall, when you have an elderly population that tends to vote based on nostalgia and not on what the future holds, you're going to get the same result over and over again. Younger people have left who would've otherwise challenged the status-quo but they left to get better education, better jobs and they aren't coming back. A few years ago, Mayor Keith Hightower tried this advertising campaign about "Bring The Kids Back" (remember that laughable project?) they spent thousands on advertising and a promotional video showing the same stuff: partying at the casinos, Red River Entertainment District (a bust), churches, better schools (a bust), thriving industry like GM (a bust), BAFB, BioMedical Research Center (pretty much a bust), etc. etc. etc. This was just 10 years ago! Seems the area is big on propaganda and short on follow-through. Reason: Politicians come and go, their cronies get their "take" and no one cares. With each political administration, the cycle continues, history repeats and everybody says the same thing over and over. And it's continuing event to this day as the players shift roles, same names but different jobs.

[hdwell]

Yeah I try to avoid any religious confrontations with people. I generally avoid those with the propensity to proselytize (that is exactly what they are doing whether they admit it or not). I'm at home at my church and we don't do that. We help the needy but don't beat on them. Most of my friends are moderate to liberal and we aren't into the right wing evangelical movement. I agree occasionally with some of it but I don't buy the whole package. I'm too independent.

Oh btw, I am happy with my smaller circle of friends, lol. One thing I've learned over the years is that so many of the righties who are oh so religious, really aren't your friends. They know how to "act", but their behavior gets a little strange for me at times. I just can't warm up to them anymore. Just not meant to be!