What do you guys think of Texas and the people who live here?

[Hectix777]

I'm seriously curious about what the Escapist thinks about me and my homeland. I know that this may sound like this is aimed strictly at members of the USA, but I also want to hear some of our European and Australian Escapists thoughts on Texas.

From what you know or hear about Texas, what do you think Texas and Texans are like? DO you think it's the usual stereotype of do you have your on opinion?

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Ugh, state specific threads?

That's like me asking what people think of Nottinghamshire.

 

[Harlemura]

I assumed most of Texas is like the most of anywhere. People live in normal houses, have normal jobs, go to their normal jobs in their normal cars. Nothing fantastically special.
Haven't got much personal experience though, having my ass parked in the middle of England nearly all my life.

However, when someone says "Texas", my mind instantly conjures up images of cowboys and saloons.
I think my subconscious is racist.

 

[Spacewolf]

only thing ive noticed is that alot of the more loud jingoistic americans say there texans. other than that i would imagine there pretty normal?

 

[Mr. Eff_v1legacy]

I'm from Canada, and I don't buy into the whole "stupid American" stereotype so many people seem fond of perpetuating.
I've never been to Texas, but I don't have a negative impression of the people there.

 

[Cowabungaa]

I have no idea as I've never been there and never actually met Texans.

One thing's for sure though; your public image ain't very good. Really, get it fixed or something. That is, if it's not justified. Is it?

 

[Irridium]

I've been to Texas once. And the people were pretty nice there.

So I think of nice people.

Could just be the town I was at though, but still.

 

[unoleian]

It's seemingly nothing but old rich people driving giant trucks and schoolhouse-sized RVs, with a tendency to drive them at about 25mph at all times through congested mountain passes, never pulling aside, gawking at everything in sight while holding up lines of cars for fucking miles.

This isn't my impression of Texas, this is the cruel reality of what I go through every year from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Texan tourists are the bane of my existence.

 

[Fr]anc[is]

I try really hard to remember people all suck equally, but you know that one episode of Family Guy where they move there and they're all professional queer beaters and just generally retarded? That's what comes to mind

 

[ace_of_something]

Ummm my 2nd oldest brother and his family live in El Paso. So... good? I dunno pretty much the only thing I think of when I think of texas is my brother, ball blistering heat, pantera, and...

 

[DesiPrinceX09]

I like Texas personally, I feel welcome (in some parts anyway). Like Houston for example; there is a large population of Indian/Pakistani people like myself as well as lots of Persians, Lebanese, and Syrians. And in Houston exists (a branch of) one of the best Islamic centers in all of America. On top of that, there is lots of Indian and Middle Eastern food shopping centers and restaurants for us to enjoy so it's a place where I can feel welcome and comfortable. My parents live there and I lived there for a while (and I might be returning); Texas is ok in my book (because of it's great diversity).

 

[loc978]

...I've met plenty of people from Texas, and I've been to two bases there. Like anything else, you can't accurately generalize about Texans. They've got their share of loud, wacky, fundamentalist idiots just like the rest of the US... but they've also got plenty of progressives, moderates and even the occasional intelligent conservative (who seem to be getting fewer and further between as the nation polarizes).
In short, I've developed my own opinion here, and it's too complex to express without lengthy discussion.

 

[Chemical Alia]

I moved to the Dallas area from Pennsylvania two years ago.

There's a lot of positive aspects of living here. The job market is much better here than back home (not to mention my industry has a fairly thriving presence), and rent and living expenses are significantly cheaper. The weather is a lot nicer, the winters are warmer and it's usually sunny.

I really don't want to stay here permanently. I don't like being so far inland. It's so flat and nondescript here, and I miss hills terribly. I hate how everything is so new, in my day-to-day life I see nothing but never-ending strip malls, highways and there's not much in the way of historical architecture or interesting old buildings. There's not much nature to speak of, it's something you have to seek out. I'm not sure why, but the character of where I live means a lot to me, and it makes me feel like I'm living in some kind of giant biodome.

Also, terrible, terrible drivers on these highways. And gigantic, expensive cars. I've honestly never seen so many rich people before in my entire life.


Back in 2002, I was in San Angelo for a couple months while in the army, and my Texas experience there was fairly different from living in the Dallas Metroplex. It was a lot more stereotypically "Texasy", and even though there was nothing to do, the town was in some ways more interesting.

 

[Hectix777]

I have no idea as I've never been there and never actually met Texans.

One thing's for sure though; your public image ain't very good. Really, get it fixed or something. That is, if it's not justified. Is it?

No, the myth of the stereotypical Texan as cowboys who ride horses and fires six-shooters is a myth perpetuated by the tobacco industry and Westerns. A stereotype is something society comes up with to label a culture or person of that culture or race, mainly centered on the society or races negative features. Fixing a stereotype is not like painting over a crummy Picaso, it's society's expectation of that people. It can't be fixed

 

[Hectix777]

I moved to Texas from Pennsylvania two years ago.

There's a lot of positive aspects of living here. The job market is much better here than back home (not to mention my industry has a fairly thriving presence), and rent and living expenses are significantly cheaper. The weather is a lot nicer, the winters are warmer and it's usually sunny.

I really don't want to stay here permanently. I don't like being so far inland. It's so flat and nondescript here, and I miss hills terribly. I hate how everything is so new, in my day-to-day life I see nothing but never-ending strip malls, highways and there's not much in the way of historical architecture or interesting old buildings. There's not much nature to speak of, it's something you have to seek out. I'm not sure why, but the character of where I live means a lot to me, and it makes me feel like I'm living in some kind of giant biodome.

Also, terrible, terrible drivers on these highways. And gigantic, expensive cars. I've honestly never seen so many rich people before in my entire life.


Back in 2002 I was in San Angelo for a couple months in the army, and my Texas experience there was fairly different from living in the Dallas Metroplex.

Where do you live? Not like address but like city or region? If you miss hills, center Texas is literally called hill country. I'm sure you know this, but it never hurts.

 

[Hectix777]

Ummm my 2nd oldest brother and his family live in El Paso. So... good? I dunno pretty much the only thing I think of when I think of texas is my brother, ball blistering heat, pantera, and...

really dude?

 

[crimson5pheonix]

It's seemingly nothing but old rich people driving giant trucks and schoolhouse-sized RVs, with a tendency to drive them at about 25mph at all times through congested mountain passes, never pulling aside, gawking at everything in sight while holding up lines of cars for fucking miles.

This isn't my impression of Texas, this is the cruel reality of what I go through every year from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Texan tourists are the bane of my existence.

That's every tourist going anywhere ever. You should see the morons who drive by JSC >.>

 

[troth]

Spoiler

That's about it.