Does it annoy you that Texas/Texans act like the epitome of America?

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Yes.  When I think of America, Texas might be one of the last places I think of.  Texas would like to change America to resemble THEM, not the other way around. 

[traininthedistance]

This of course raises the question: what state is closest to the "epitome of America" these days?

I think I'd go with Virginia- though that's a rather recent development. 

[memphis]

New Yorkers and Texans both have an insufferable affection for their home states. They spend half their lives jumping up and down screaming how great New York/Texas is and how the rest of the country doesn't measure up. And it's not just the locals. Both attract huge numbers of people from all over the country who come back to their places of birth for Christmas if only for the chance to remind the rest of us how great New York/Texas is. Sometimes I think both states have narcissistic personality disorder.

[opebo]

Well when I think of 'America' and 'American's I certainly think of something rather Texan.  It seems to me to be the most typical state.  Fat, poor, right-wing, etc.  Full of exploited, disenfranchised browns; 'growing' but though pure destruction/consumption of human beings.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Well when I think of 'America' and 'American's I certainly think of something rather Texan.  It seems to me to be the most typical state.  Fat, poor, right-wing, etc.  Full of exploited, disenfranchised browns; 'growing' but though pure destruction/consumption of human beings.

It certainly epitomizes BAD America.  When I say they act like the epitome, it's the epitome of GOOD America (I understand that in your opinion this does not exist).  Believe it or not, there are plenty of Americans who are left-wing, socialistic, and hate country music and religion.  In fact, a majority of Americans are nothing like the good ol' country cowboy that Texas likes to portray as your average citizen. 

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

New Yorkers and Texans both have an insufferable affection for their home states. They spend half their lives jumping up and down screaming how great New York/Texas is and how the rest of the country doesn't measure up. And it's not just the locals. Both attract huge numbers of people from all over the country who come back to their places of birth for Christmas if only for the chance to remind the rest of us how great New York/Texas is. Sometimes I think both states have narcissistic personality disorder.

I can see your point, but I can't completely agree.  Why?  New York IS THAT GREAT.  Sorry, but they have something to brag about.  Now, to excess this is completely insufferable, but NYC is beyond wonderful and truly has something for everybody.  And by everybody, I mean EVERYBODY.  On the contrary, I'd hate to be a non-white or non-Christian and wander out of the few enclaves of tolerance that exist in the Holy Texan Empire.   

[Swedish Rainbow Capitalist Cheese]

I think Memphis' point was just proven.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

I think Memphis' point was just proven.

I agreed with it!  NY is super mega wondatacularly amazing!

[politicus]

I think Memphis' point was just proven.

I agreed with it!  NY is super mega wondatacularly amazing!

And filled with rude and arrogant people.

When I think of typical America its the Midwest that comes to mind. Texas and California are more like separate countries that just happens to be members of the USA.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

It's a shame that western NY takes a hit for NYC......Areas like Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo are quite normal towns.  Some of western NY is also qutie beatiful.  But when you say NY, everyone thinks NYC and the whole state sucks simply because NYC sucks, which in my opinion, it does.

[Beet]

Well when I think of 'America' and 'American's I certainly think of something rather Texan.  It seems to me to be the most typical state.  Fat, poor, right-wing, etc.  Full of exploited, disenfranchised browns; 'growing' but though pure destruction/consumption of human beings.

Yeah, pretty much this. Texas is America with all of America's unique aspects accentuated. Big, southern, arrogant, individualistic, big, gun obssessed, right wing, did I say big?

On the other hand, New York City also epitomizes America in its own 'nation of immigrants/center of capitalism/inequality' kind of way.

[traininthedistance]

It's a shame that western NY takes a hit for NYC......Areas like Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo are quite normal towns.  Some of western NY is also qutie beatiful.  But when you say NY, everyone thinks NYC and the whole state sucks simply because NYC sucks, which in my opinion, it does.

I think it's your opinion that sucks instead.  Well, your opinion and Buffalo.

NYC is indeed super mega wondtacularly amazing.  I won't go so far as Hockey and say it has "something for everyone", because it doesn't.  If you're a super outdoorsy type or a farmer it's not for you.  And the rent is, as they say, too damn high.  But if you have any desire for metro area living, it's still the best America has to offer.

[angus]

Does it annoy you that Texas/Texans act like the epitome of America?  

Not particularly.  Texas seems to be one of the three places everyone in the world has heard of.  The other two being California and New York.  When they ask where you're from, just pick the closest of those three places and say that's where you're from and you'll get a nod of approval.  If you say something like Massachusetts or Pennsylvania or Iowa or Wyoming, you'll just get a confused look that says "where is that?"

Also, Texans see themselves as rugged, individualistic, egalitarian, and those are the same qualities all Americans preach.  It's the same sort of stereotype.  When you look at children's books and they show a little character for each country, the Russian with a big fur winter hat, the Japanese as geisha girl, the Swiss in lederhosen blowing that big alpenhorn, the French with a pencil mustache and beret, and the American is always wearing chaps, spurs and a ten-gallon hat.  Such stereotypes are also applied within the US of Texas, so it's not a stretch that Texans would then conclude that they epitomize the US.  In a very real sense, they do.
 
It'd be one thing if we were stereotyped as Geisha girls.  In that case I'd find it annoying if the state with that stereotype epitomized us, but given the stereotypes we are typically assigned, I don't find it particularly annoying.  

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

It's a shame that western NY takes a hit for NYC......Areas like Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo are quite normal towns.  Some of western NY is also qutie beatiful.  But when you say NY, everyone thinks NYC and the whole state sucks simply because NYC sucks, which in my opinion, it does.

I think it's your opinion that sucks instead.  Well, your opinion and Buffalo.

NYC is indeed super mega wondtacularly amazing.  I won't go so far as Hockey and say it has "something for everyone", because it doesn't.  If you're a super outdoorsy type or a farmer it's not for you.  And the rent is, as they say, too damn high.  But if you have any desire for metro area living, it's still the best America has to offer.

Yes, I am not wowed by NY as most others are.    Like politicus noted, most NYC'ers are obnoxious rude pains in the ass. 

[traininthedistance]

Does it annoy you that Texas/Texans act like the epitome of America?  

Not particularly.  Texas seems to be one of the three places everyone in the world has heard of.  The other two being California and New York.  When they ask where you're from, just pick the closest of those three places and say that's where you're from and you'll get a nod of approval.  If you say something like Massachusetts or Pennsylvania or Iowa or Wyoming, you'll just get a confused look that says "where is that?"

Also, Texans see themselves as rugged, individualistic, egalitarian, and those are the same qualities all Americans preach.  It's the same sort of stereotype.  When you look at children's books and they show a little character for each country, the Russian with a big fur winter hat, the Japanese as geisha girl, the Swiss in lederhosen blowing that big alpenhorn, the French with a pencil mustache and beret, and the American is always wearing chaps, spurs and a ten-gallon hat.  Such stereotypes are also applied within the US of Texas, so it's not a stretch that Texans would then conclude that they epitomize the US.  In a very real sense, they do.
 
It'd be one thing if we were stereotyped as Geisha girls.  In that case I'd find it annoying if the state with that stereotype epitomized us, but given the stereotypes we are typically assigned, I don't find it particularly annoying.  

I dunno, I find it mighty annoying that my nationality is stereotyped like a rural cowboy.

This calls for a poll.

[traininthedistance]

It's a shame that western NY takes a hit for NYC......Areas like Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo are quite normal towns.  Some of western NY is also qutie beatiful.  But when you say NY, everyone thinks NYC and the whole state sucks simply because NYC sucks, which in my opinion, it does.

I think it's your opinion that sucks instead.  Well, your opinion and Buffalo.

NYC is indeed super mega wondtacularly amazing.  I won't go so far as Hockey and say it has "something for everyone", because it doesn't.  If you're a super outdoorsy type or a farmer it's not for you.  And the rent is, as they say, too damn high.  But if you have any desire for metro area living, it's still the best America has to offer.

Yes, I am not wowed by NY as most others are.    Like politicus noted, most NYC'ers are obnoxious rude pains in the ass. 

Yeah, well, I moved here from Philly, so if anything my neighbors are friendlier now!

[Lief 🗽]

if you don't love Texas then you can kindly gtfo

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Yeah, well, I moved here from Philly, so if anything my neighbors are friendlier now!

If you lived on J.J.'s street you're lucky you made it out of Philly alive. 

[traininthedistance]

if you don't love Texas then you can kindly gtfo

They have good barbecue, and Spoon.

The rest of Texas can kindly go rot, sorry.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

if you don't love Texas then you can kindly gtfo

They have good barbecue, and Spoon.

The rest of Texas can kindly go rot, sorry.

SATX is awesome.  I want to go back....and bring my golf clubs next time.

[memphis]

if you don't love Texas then you can kindly gtfo

The rare Texas to New York transplant. Very tricky scenario. If Lief is not careful he may destroy the fabric of the space/time continuum. As an outsider to both states, I must admit that I don't understand the kneejerk uber-nationalism one bit. I can see my state for what it is, good and bad. Not all that hard a task. Why can't New Yorkers see that paying $2000/month for a hundred year old studio apartment with weak plumbing that can't support a washing machine is insane. Similarly, why can't Texan see that hundred degree weather and endless interstate off ramps isn't all that appealing either?

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

New Yorkers and Texans both have an insufferable affection for their home states. They spend half their lives jumping up and down screaming how great New York/Texas is and how the rest of the country doesn't measure up. And it's not just the locals. Both attract huge numbers of people from all over the country who come back to their places of birth for Christmas if only for the chance to remind the rest of us how great New York/Texas is. Sometimes I think both states have narcissistic personality disorder.

^This.

[Lief 🗽]

if you don't love Texas then you can kindly gtfo

The rare Texas to New York transplant. Very tricky scenario. If Lief is not careful he may destroy the fabric of the space/time continuum. As an outsider to both states, I must admit that I don't understand the kneejerk uber-nationalism one bit. I can see my state for what it is, good and bad. Not all that hard a task. Why can't New Yorkers see that paying $2000/month for a hundred year old studio apartment with weak plumbing that can't support a washing machine is insane. Similarly, why can't Texan see that hundred degree weather and endless interstate off ramps isn't all that appealing either?

Texas obviously has unappealing aspects, but it's still has the correct version of BBQ and the Alamo, something no other state can say.

[traininthedistance]

if you don't love Texas then you can kindly gtfo

The rare Texas to New York transplant. Very tricky scenario. If Lief is not careful he may destroy the fabric of the space/time continuum. As an outsider to both states, I must admit that I don't understand the kneejerk uber-nationalism one bit. I can see my state for what it is, good and bad. Not all that hard a task. Why can't New Yorkers see that paying $2000/month for a hundred year old studio apartment with weak plumbing that can't support a washing machine is insane. Similarly, why can't Texan see that hundred degree weather and endless interstate off ramps isn't all that appealing either?

Texas obviously has unappealing aspects, but it's still has the correct version of BBQ and the Alamo, something no other state can say.

Texas BBQ is tasty, but there's no way I'm going to call it "the correct version" when pulled pork is a thing that exists (and that, unlike brisket, my GF will eat).

[Lief 🗽]

We Texans eat most of our pulled pork in Tex-Mex dishes, another great invention of the greatest state.