What are your perceptions of each state?

[AliP]

I wasn't exactly sure how to put the subject line, so sorry if it was confusing...but anyway here is my question in clearer terms:

When you think of a particular state...for instance, we'll use my home state of Idaho what are your perceptions of that state?? I already know what most of you are going to say: Potatoes. yeah, yeah, we grow potatoes here. And just for the record they send all the good, big potatoes elsewhere and we get the crappy small ones here But what else do you think of...do you think people from Idaho are rednecks, no running water etc.(heard that before) lol. And for those of you who think Idaho is by Ohio, um, you're wrong! LOL. Anyway, I'm just curious is all. Perhaps, some of us can clear up the common misconceptions about our state.

So pick a state, perhaps a state that other ledgies are from, and let us know what you think. I'll keep it pretty simple...(though it would be great to get more in depth) when I think of Massachsetts, I think of really bad accents (sorry dissention!) And yeah, I know not all people from MA have bad accents. I just think of that guy from Average Joe (second season) who was from Boston, and man, he had one huge accent!

And international ledgies, feel free to pipe in as well. It would be interesting to hear your perceptions as well!

[DrummerDeanna]

Yeah - upon reading your subject line I though, "each state!?! Man - that's going to take a while..." meaning I thought you wanted each person to speak of their perceptions for each state...um anyway I'll shut up about that now

So lets see..hopefully I won't offend...

Perceptions...Utah...

I've never been - but what I always think of when I think of Utah are...Mormons.

That's right - it's like someone says they're from UTah and i think, "Ah - you're mormon?" haha...I know the WHOLE state can't be mormon...but yeah - I guess there are a high number of mormons in the state...I know a good friend of mine from high school goes to school up there...she's mormon lol....so that's my perception of Utah

[AliP]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Yeah - upon reading your subject line I though, "each state!?! Man - that's going to take a while..." meaning I thought you wanted each person to speak of their perceptions for each state...um anyway I'll shut up about that now

So lets see..hopefully I won't offend...

Perceptions...Utah...

I've never been - but what I always think of when I think of Utah are...Mormons.

That's right - it's like someone says they're from UTah and i think, "Ah - you're mormon?" haha...I know the WHOLE state can't be mormon...but yeah - I guess there are a high number of mormons in the state...I know a good friend of mine from high school goes to school up there...she's mormon lol....so that's my perception of Utah

Actually, I think that perception is true!! I grew up very near to Utah. Southern Idaho is very mormon as well, where I grew up, but I'm not mormon. Let's just say it was difficult, to say the least!

[GateandGarden]

I tend to think people from Utah are Mormons, too, but when I finally met someone who was raised in Utah, it turned out she was Episcopalian. Of course, she's only one person.

I always thought Florida would be really liberal. Well, I used to think that--now I know better. But I figured it was a really liberal place because of Miami, andbecause of so much of the population being Hispanic. When I was a kid, that just meant "liberal" to me.

I felt the same way about Montana, but a friend of mine with relatives in Montana set me straight and told me that was not the case at all. And her perception is that there's a lot of racism because there are so few black people there, compared to Louisiana.

I have had so many bizarre ideas about other states over the years, and this is probably due to the fact that I've only visited Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Texas. That's it. I don't get out much, clearly. But then again I get antsy when I have to travel at all. I'm like a six-year-old in that way.

Hillary

[DeadliestPoison]

No one lives in Montana, North/South Dakota, or Wyoming.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by DeadliestPoison

No one lives in Montana, North/South Dakota, or Wyoming.

Seriously. I don't think I've ever met anyone from those states..hmmm...hehehe...

I spent my whole life (up until about 7 months ago) in New Mexico - and some of the things I've heard in my travels have been great...

"Oh you're from New MExico? WOW - your English is really good!" um....

"Oh New Mexico - do you travel to the United States often?"

Luckily it's been years since I've had those mishaps - seems people didn't even realize New MExico was a state until recently

Movies tend to perpetuate the New Mexico stereotype something awful...believe it or not it's not just a huge barren land w/ nothing but old saloons, ghost towns and dirt roads...

A movie I LOVE but it always bugs me is Boys on the Side...they make Tucson out to be this total nothing antiquated place - house all secluded in the dessert, the festival they go to and the bar in which Jane works...Tucson is actually a city lol....I don't know things like that bug me...

[AliP]

Originally Posted by DeadliestPoison

No one lives in Montana, North/South Dakota, or Wyoming.

The thing about Montana though is they are very granola-type people. Very outdoorsy - but those people are located in the more ritzy touristy areas of Bozeman, Missoula etc. (I went to a concert in Bozeman with my brother once and all he complained about was that the girls were all ugly Gotta love the shallowness in that) The other people I think are more redneckish. But yeah, the one thing I love about Montana is it truly is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. They don't call it the 'Big Sky' state for nothing.

And..poor little Wyoming. I have to say that Wyoming is one of the ugliest states I have ever had the displeasure of visiting. Nothing but a barren, windy, snowy state (sorry!) The only nice place is Jackson Hole - where Harrison Ford and all the richy rich people live.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by Lux

I thought it was a myth but as soon as I got out of the car having crossed over into Utah, the first person I encounted walked up handing me a Book of the Mormon. Religion is far nowhere near as prevalent here which made it even more startling to me and I realise I probably shouldn't have laughed at him. Of course as soon as I opened my mouth the conversation, like the entire trip, revolved around the fact that I'm Australian.

I used to work for a company that was very liberal because it started in "The People's Republic of Cambridge" which is a somewhat derogatory name for Cambridge, MA. Then, we were bought by a company from Provo, Utah. Yes, they all seem to be Mormon! It is a very different religion/lifestyle from anything I am used to.

When the Olympics were in Utah, SNL did this hilarious skit with Mormon guys in suits skiing next to the competetors with the book trying to make converts. It was great!

[dissention]

Originally Posted by AliP

So pick a state, perhaps a state that other ledgies are from, and let us know what you think. I'll keep it pretty simple...(though it would be great to get more in depth) when I think of Massachsetts, I think of really bad accents (sorry dissention!) And yeah, I know not all people from MA have bad accents. I just think of that guy from Average Joe (second season) who was from Boston, and man, he had one huge accent!

Everyone from the northeast has an accent, IMO. Some (like people form Boston) don't pronounce R's very well and empahsize "ah" when there isn't one in a word. Others pronounce words so well that it doesn't seem like they have an accent, but their pronunciations are very sharp and abrupt. Personally, I have a very rich voice and I sound like I'm from England.

Let's see...I'll go with Nevada. I always thought that was a hedonists haven, but not after the election results!

[AliP]

Originally Posted by dissention

Everyone from the northeast has an accent, IMO. Some (like people form Boston) don't pronounce R's very well and empahsize "ah" when there isn't one in a word. Others pronounce words so well that it doesn't seem like they have an accent, but their pronunciations are very sharp and abrupt. Personally, I have a very rich voice and I sound like I'm from England.

I agree. My mom is from New York and everyone out here immediately picks up on her accent even though she hasn't lived there for 35 years.

*****
The thing that bugs me is everyone assumes she is from New York City. Everytime I would tell people I was going to visit New York, they are like 'go see the statue of liberty' or are like "goin' to the Big Appla (they will be trying to copy a New York accent - annoying) or something. Plus, she doesn't have a Brooklyn accent...it's a Buffalo/Rochester accent. There's a difference, I think. People just don't realize that that there is more to New York than just the City. People out here can be soo dumb.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by AliP

The thing that bugs me is everyone assumes she is from New York City. Everytime I would tell people I was going to visit New York, they are like 'go see the statue of liberty' or are like "goin' to the Big Appla (they will be trying to copy a New York accent - annoying) or something. Plus, she doesn't have a Brooklyn accent...it's a Buffalo/Rochester accent. There's a difference, I think. People just don't realize that that there is more to New York than just the City. People out here can be soo dumb.

I'm starting to see this now that I've moved to Rochester.

It started early with many members of my family always so interested in my moving to New York - "Will you be close the Statue of Liberty?" "Oh - I've always wanted to see New York City - how exciting to live there..."

Um...yeah - I have told them over and over that Rochester is at least 5 hours from NYC - does no good...

When I got here I called my grandma who immediatly said, "Did you see the Statue of Liberty??"

Then I talked to my uncle who said "Hey - how YOU doing" All Joey like....I'm like..."Dude - I didn't move to Brooklyn here...I live in Rochester...

Anyway - it's driving me nuts...

[GardenStateGirlie]

Originally Posted by dissention

Others pronounce words so well that it doesn't seem like they have an accent, but their pronunciations are very sharp and abrupt. Personally, I have a very rich voice and I sound like I'm from England.

:raises hand:

Me too. I'm not so sure if that's a good thing or if that makes us "fancy pants" elitist's

When you get my mom riled up or laughing maniacally, she sounds like a Jewish woman from the Long Island. However, she grew up 15 minutes from here and has never visited Long Island...go figure

[Jessica Leigh]

here are some perceptions about the states i have lived in... in alphabetical order...

Arizona-
lots of old people... young people drink a lot! i found that many young adults are transplants trying to make a new life away from (in most cases) cold states... a lot of kids from minnesota especially! in scottsdale there is a HUGE amount of ladies who either don't work (supported by rich husbands) or make it look like they are one of those spoiled ladies... with bleached hair... LOTS of TERRIBLE boob jobs... we're talking cantelopes that appear to float in mid air... and they go out to lunch together and if they have a baby they have a nanny who sits with them and when the kid cries the mother barely blinks and the nanny gets up with the child and takes him/her outside. fair amount of cowboys in big trucks (it is the old west afterall) and it's normal to see a gun sticking out of the back pocket of the guy standing in front of you in the starbucks line. Tucson is, well, i call it the armpit of arizona... it smells... it really does... the only thing i have found cool about Tucson is that on the drive from Phoenix to Tucson there is an ostrich farm on the side of the road... and you don't see ostriches very often... and in arizona people decorate cacti with lights for christmas (the deserts parts, at least)

California-
it's hard to really describe california... it's got everything... laid back people, uptight people, hippies who won't touch meat or hair dye, cowboys, surfers.... hell california has tv shows take place there so much i think we all know about california

Montana-
YES I AM ONE PERSON WHO HAS LIVED IN MONTANA!!!!!!!!! they've got some inbreeding problems... SERIOUSLY!!! i was there for less than a year and met so many people who confused the **** outta me cause i wasn't sure if they were for real or not... but yes, many of them were slightly off when it came to mental capacity and whatnot... i could go on with this but i might offend people... Yes bozeman has a lot of hippies... from what i experienced, bozeman was mostly students from out of state who went to school there cause it was up in the mountains and it was nature etc... so yes... hippies... the same kind of kids who decide to leave the big city and go to school in Boulder CO. the rest of montana is a bunch of right wing, gun totin', cultish religious, red neck, fly fishing, deer hunting, live off the land type of people. people rarely fly in or out of that state... it's a good $500 for a cheap ticket to like, LA or Seattle... how do people travel? GREYHOUND!!!!!!

North Carolina-
I REAAAAAALLY don't remember a whole lot about this time in my life. but i remember very kind, sweet old southern ladies.

TEXAS-
(always has to be big letters cause everything's bigger there) I love Texas... it's like the old west... like Arizona... but it's also like the show Dallas to me (i just watched the Dallas reunion on my friend's Tivo so i'm pumped on it right now) i remember it being very hot and humid there.... and San Antonio (where i lived) stunk sort of.... at least by the river it did... Austin is different from the rest of Texas... Livia can tell you about that- it's a cool city- in this month's southwest airlines magazine they have a little thing describing Austin... "most people's CD collections are all unknown local bands... you'd better have a favorite football team and that team had better be the longhorns" etc... there were more but i can't remember it all... and of course the football thing... how many movies have been made about the obsessiveness of high school football there? lots.

Washington-
gosh... thick white socks that go halfway up your calves with birkenstocks... hippyish people... silicon valley type people (who are being safer than silicon valley was) lots of seafood... people eat salmon for dinner at least once a week i swear. clam digging... fishing... lots of seafood that people go get themselves unlike places like san fran where people just go to a market by the bay and buy it off of an icepack. eastern washington (once you get over the cascade mountains) you find a lot of bored people... meth is big... and so is white eyeliner and blue mascara. YIKES!!! to go have ANY fun you either have to travel into spokane (EWW EWW EWWWWW) or over the pass to Seattle (which can be very dangerous in winter) Washingtonians are water people... ocean, lake, river... doesn't matter... most people learn how to drive motorboats and jetskiis before they go through puberty... oh yeah.. and the apples... APPLES! lots of agriculture in WA. fresh fruit stands all over the place on the sides of the roads. apricots are big, too. anyone ever heard of Applets and Cotlets? look 'em up. they are so nasty yet so good!

[amber]

Originally Posted by Jessica Leigh

California-
it's hard to really describe california... it's got everything... laid back people, uptight people, hippies who won't touch meat or hair dye, cowboys, surfers.... hell california has tv shows take place there so much i think we all know about california

Word. We really do have everything. you forgot to mention ghetto ass mofos, tons of different cultures, and almost every kind of weather/landscape you could want Not to mention every kind of food...