OT: Things we find freaking neat but no place to post

[pixburgher66]

I'll probably get slammed for this, but I've noticed that in the south and midwest, some people (not all) are friendly to outsiders because they are trying to maintain a reputation more than anything else. That's probably nothing but a nit-picky distinction on my part, tho.

The MidWest varies a LOT. I lived in central Indiana for four years, and while people were nice, they wouldn't, say, strike up conversation with a stranger. For some reason that happens all the time in SW PA. The South is tricky because it really does depends on who you are. Straight, white, don't look like riff-raff? You're good. Not to paint the South with a broad brush, but the acceptance level seems a bit lower down that way.

 

[Phantomphan]

The MidWest varies a LOT. I lived in central Indiana for four years, and while people were nice, they wouldn't, say, strike up conversation with a stranger. For some reason that happens all the time in SW PA. The South is tricky because it really does depends on who you are. Straight, white, don't look like riff-raff? You're good. Not to paint the South with a broad brush, but the acceptance level seems a bit lower down that way.

I'm probably just used to the NE. You definitely know where you stand around here, and I can see how that can be considered abrasive. Cos sometimes it is.

 

[forty_three]

I'll probably get slammed for this, but I've noticed that in the south and midwest, some people (not all) are friendly to outsiders because they are trying to maintain a reputation more than anything else. That's probably nothing but a nit-picky distinction on my part, tho.

The MidWest varies a LOT. I lived in central Indiana for four years, and while people were nice, they wouldn't, say, strike up conversation with a stranger. For some reason that happens all the time in SW PA. The South is tricky because it really does depends on who you are. Straight, white, don't look like riff-raff? You're good. Not to paint the South with a broad brush, but the acceptance level seems a bit lower down that way.

My midwest exposure is kind of limited to most of Ohio, parts of Indiana and the city of Chicago, but people are generally far friendlier than I was used to. And it has corrupted me, because now when I go back to the east coast I try to strike up conversations with random people and they typically just ignore me. I had forgotten that it was possible to shop in a big store like Target or Wal Mart and complete the entire experience without a single word from another human, including the cashier (who at the very least should have to tell you the total). Columbus and Cincinnati especially. People are very chatty out in public.

But in the south, I actually tested it. With the exception of Myrtle Beach and outside Raliegh, people treated me far better when I spoke with a southern drawl. And they REALLY did not seem to like me when I spoke with a British accent.

I was going to speak with a Russian accent, but my sister was afraid that there would be gunfire.

 

[dash]

I had a great visit to Montreal and found the locals very friendly. Of course, it could be the case that I looked like a lost puppy dog most of the time.

 

[pixburgher66]

My midwest exposure is kind of limited to most of Ohio, parts of Indiana and the city of Chicago, but people are generally far friendlier than I was used to. And it has corrupted me, because now when I go back to the east coast I try to strike up conversations with random people and they typically just ignore me. I had forgotten that it was possible to shop in a big store like Target or Wal Mart and complete the entire experience without a single word from another human, including the cashier (who at the very least should have to tell you the total). Columbus and Cincinnati especially. People are very chatty out in public.

But in the south, I actually tested it. With the exception of Myrtle Beach and outside Raliegh, people treated me far better when I spoke with a southern drawl. And they REALLY did not seem to like me when I spoke with a British accent.

I was going to speak with a Russian accent, but my sister was afraid that there would be gunfire.

My mom grew up in Chicago, and she said it changed her moving to Pittsburgh. She said the first few times people just randomly chatted with her in the grocery store she was thrown...but now the issue is she does it elsewhere and throws others off. Hah. I like it personally. Makes people seem human I guess, not just tunnelvision'd in on their task. Customer service in the MidWest is hard to beat though. Unless you're in WalMart. Service sucks in there regardless. I worked for GFS in college, and we were drilled on customer service. It was priority. I'd go to Walmart after work to pick stuff up and be genuinely pissed off that workers actually avoided me to make sure I didn't ask a question. Amazing, considering Walmart began on that tennant.

 

[Phantomphan]

My midwest exposure is kind of limited to most of Ohio, parts of Indiana and the city of Chicago, but people are generally far friendlier than I was used to. And it has corrupted me, because now when I go back to the east coast I try to strike up conversations with random people and they typically just ignore me. I had forgotten that it was possible to shop in a big store like Target or Wal Mart and complete the entire experience without a single word from another human, including the cashier (who at the very least should have to tell you the total). Columbus and Cincinnati especially. People are very chatty out in public.

But in the south, I actually tested it. With the exception of Myrtle Beach and outside Raliegh, people treated me far better when I spoke with a southern drawl. And they REALLY did not seem to like me when I spoke with a British accent.

I was going to speak with a Russian accent, but my sister was afraid that there would be gunfire.

For about 5 years in the 90's I traveled all over the US (got to 39 of the lower 48 states) and most people were genuinely nice. There were times, tho, in some places I got a vibe which I attributed to a "You're not from around here are you?" attitude. Of course, people who aren't from the NE probably get the same vibe when they visit here.

 

[pixburgher66]

I had a great visit to Montreal and found the locals very friendly. Of course, it could be the case that I looked like a lost puppy dog most of the time.

I mean...Canada. So, of course. Although, the stereotype is that Montreal is the "meanest" of the Canadian areas.

 

[Phantomphan]

My mom grew up in Chicago, and she said it changed her moving to Pittsburgh. She said the first few times people just randomly chatted with her in the grocery store she was thrown...but now the issue is she does it elsewhere and throws others off. Hah. I like it personally. Makes people seem human I guess, not just tunnelvision'd in on their task. Customer service in the MidWest is hard to beat though. Unless you're in WalMart. Service sucks in there regardless. I worked for GFS in college, and we were drilled on customer service. It was priority. I'd go to Walmart after work to pick stuff up and be genuinely pissed off that workers actually avoided me to make sure I didn't ask a question. Amazing, considering Walmart began on that tennant.

My wife is great at chatting with strangers in our area. Sometimes she starts it and others it's people talking with her. But we are in a small town so that probably makes it easier.

 

[dash]

I mean...Canada. So, of course. Although, the stereotype is that Montreal is the "meanest" of the Canadian areas.

Actually, I think Quebec City lays claim to that title

 

[pixburgher66]

Actually, I think Quebec City lays claim to that title

Well, just Quebec in general, I suppose.


*Don Cherry voice* "Euro-trash"

 

[Phantomphan]

Actually, I think Quebec City lays claim to that title

Over at FN, Toronto was very unpopular with the Canadian posters.

 

[forty_three]

My mom grew up in Chicago, and she said it changed her moving to Pittsburgh. She said the first few times people just randomly chatted with her in the grocery store she was thrown...but now the issue is she does it elsewhere and throws others off. Hah. I like it personally. Makes people seem human I guess, not just tunnelvision'd in on their task. Customer service in the MidWest is hard to beat though. Unless you're in WalMart. Service sucks in there regardless. I worked for GFS in college, and we were drilled on customer service. It was priority. I'd go to Walmart after work to pick stuff up and be genuinely pissed off that workers actually avoided me to make sure I didn't ask a question. Amazing, considering Walmart began on that tennant.

On our "Do we want to move here?" trip to Columbus, I was in the video game section at Meijer with my son (his greatest concern was making sure he retained access to games) and a twenty-something guy came over to us and started asking me and my son (8 at the time) what games he liked because he was going to his nephew's birthday party and didn't know what to get. At first when the guy came up, I almost went into the Karate Kid pose to defend us. I was very much taken aback. Then the next day we were walking around downtown and looking at one of those "where everything is" maps and two ladies on bikes stopped and asked us if they could help us find where we were going.

It was all very weird.

It's also very strange that the best fast food service is in Wendy's. Back in Md, Wendy's is the worst. But they are based here and are the absolute best place to visit. They are friendly, clean and the food is fresh. It's to the point where if we are visiting Md and one of the kids wants Wendy's we're like "NO!".

 

[TheRobotDevil]

Noticed that. Probable comes from a) one state not having a hockey team any more and b) the other state having the Devils to root for.

A lot of New Jersey is split between rangers and flyers fans. They both had fan vases established well before the devils moved in. We still get a lot if rangers and flyers fans at the rock. I think they come to see what a current Stanley cup banner looks like

 

[pixburgher66]

On our "Do we want to move here?" trip to Columbus, I was in the video game section at Meijer with my son (his greatest concern was making sure he retained access to games) and a twenty-something guy came over to us and started asking me and my son (8 at the time) what games he liked because he was going to his nephew's birthday party and didn't know what to get. At first when the guy came up, I almost went into the Karate Kid pose to defend us. I was very much taken aback. Then the next day we were walking around downtown and looking at one of those "where everything is" maps and two ladies on bikes stopped and asked us if they could help us find where we were going.

It was all very weird.

It's also very strange that the best fast food service is in Wendy's. Back in Md, Wendy's is the worst. But they are based here and are the absolute best place to visit. They are friendly, clean and the food is fresh. It's to the point where if we are visiting Md and one of the kids wants Wendy's we're like "NO!".

The best is when you're the chatty person and you can 100000% tell the person isn't local, or simply uninterested. Wendy's in SW PA are pretty solid too. Best fastfood service really is Chik-fil-a though. They take it to another level.

 

[forty_three]

Oh, and I strongly disagree about people in Atlantic City not being friendly.

You can't walk ten feet on the boardwalk without someone asking if you want to come visit some sort of party they are having. And inside a casino? Yeah. People will stand behind you and watch you very intently to make sure (I am assuming) that you aren't getting cheated. I mean they will REALLY stare.

 

[dash]

Just a tip, if you're in Calgary and people ask you if you have been to the Stampede, there's no need to pull out a weapon

 

[Comeds]

I mean...Canada. So, of course. Although, the stereotype is that Montreal is the "meanest" of the Canadian areas.

I was warned about the possibility of people not being friendly in Montreal (though I did hear Quebec City was worse) and I had absolutely no problem with anyone at all when there. I thought people were really friendly.

Then again, I am not usually a dick. Half the people who I hear complain about the niceness of others are assholes who usually bring it on themselves.

 

[Phantomphan]

A lot of New Jersey is split between rangers and flyers fans. They both had fan vases established well before the devils moved in. We still get a lot if rangers and flyers fans at the rock. I think they come to see what a current Stanley cup banner looks like

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

The MidWest varies a LOT. I lived in central Indiana for four years, and while people were nice, they wouldn't, say, strike up conversation with a stranger. For some reason that happens all the time in SW PA. The South is tricky because it really does depends on who you are. Straight, white, don't look like riff-raff? You're good. Not to paint the South with a broad brush, but the acceptance level seems a bit lower down that way.

And the most important consideration according to southerners: WASP.

The big cities are, not unexpectedly, more liberal since they have a lot more transplants, but I've been asked an uncomfortable number of times if I've found a church yet.

 

[dare2be]

And the most important consideration according to southerners: WASP.

The big cities are, not unexpectedly, more liberal since they have a lot more transplants, but I've been asked an uncomfortable number of times if I've found a church yet.

I just tell them no, and ask if they have any recommendations as I pull out my Zippo lighter.