Poll: Stereotypical Texan

[Wadders]

I know that Texas isn't full of redneck or cowboy types, and to be honest I'd kinda like to go there, just so I could wear a cowboy hat and boots and fire rifles, all of which are quite tricky to do where I live

I live in Shropshire, England. In all honesty I don't think people from England or anywhere else know much about Shropshire, and I like it that way. It's a beautiful county, mostly rural with only a few small towns (one of which was the birthplace of Charles Darwin) the people are a mix of everything to be honest, but if people were to guess a Shropshire stereotype it would probably be a dairy farmer, of which we have loads

Most stereotypes about England (we're all posh, drink tea and ride horses etc) are sadly not true. The reality is that English people are miserable, unsociable, racist, sexist and angry. They're also all football-obsessed and fairly ugly. Yeah, I hate it here

I wanna move to Canada

hey, I resent that! I'm not racist! The rest could probably apply to me though

There are good people here though. I'm just glad that because I live half my time in the countryside, and the other half at uni, I'm not exposed to most of societies assholes

 

[RegalBacon]

I'm from England. I think in general, the way we view our own nation can be nicely described by the (joke) proposed 'national motto's:

"Yeah, we're rubbish!!!"
"At least we're not French"

In short, I think the only thing we're really proud about as a nation is our complete lack of national pride XD.

Trust me, come 2012, we'll be making fun of our hosting of the Olympics more than any other country

 

[Pojo-san]

I'm from Texas myself. I love Texas and it would pain me if I ever have to move. The biggest thing I love about Texas is how our state government is set up. The state of Texas will not tax your income (ever since Obmamcare came out that might change but I don't think it will). You will have to pay for federal income taxes but you don't have to pay for state level. Legislators only meet for 3 months every two years. This is a good idea because legislators have time to come up with a bill, send it to be reviewed by everyone, and then they can vote when the meet. It's gets stuff done fast. Government officials do not get paid much, so they do have day jobs. Texas is the only state in the country that fly their flag at the same level as the US flag. Other states must fly theirs at a lower level. The state cannot legally go into debt without permission from the voters, and if they do get permission it's just for infrastructure or other buildings. Depending on where you are going, it can take an entire day. For example, if you are driving from El Paso to Beaumont (both are at the farthest ends of the state) it would take at least 10 hours, maybe even more, to drive that because that's over 1,000 miles. If you were just driving through the panhandle that would still take at least three hours. Texas is huge. It is the second largest state after Alaska. People from California always argue that they are larger than Texas and they are not. Yes, they have a longer coastline than us, but area wise they are smaller.

The stereotype does upset me a little because people assume that we all live on ranches, have livestock, and so on. I live in the suburbs right outside of Houston. I do have to admit though, I did take horseback riding lessons. I do not have cows, horses, longhorns, or any kind of livestock. I do not drive a truck, but there a lot of people who do. Those stereotypes do bother me, but I just shrug it off because there are some that are true. Almost every family in Texas, has a gun. Mostly rifles and shotguns, but that's just me saying it. We love barbecues, and it's considered a crime to season your meat with sauces and not herds and spices. Everything is bigger in Texas. The steaks here can be thicker than your fist if you want it. Texas is the only place where you can find a Whataburger. That is best burger joint ever, and it's only in Texas. Then there is Freebirds which is only in Houston. It's like Chipolte but it has way better food.

I think I have rambled on for far too long now. So here's a every wrapped up. I love Texas. I was born and raised here, and I don't plan on leaving anytime soon.

I do have a question though. I have heard that if you went to another country and you said you were from America you would get the typical cold shoulder response. However, if you said you were Texas the reaction is completely different and people are really friendly towards you. Is this true?

 

[Dfskelleton]

I just like my state (Kansas) because it's calm here.
We've got a pretty low crime rate, a generally peaceful reputation (I don't know if it's southern hospitality since we're in the middle of everything.), our only stereotype is the hillbilly/farmer, which has some true roots but doesn't stay true to this day, and we have a nice climate: Snow in the winter (but apparently not this winter, stupid nonexistant snow), and hot in the summer. We have a pretty landscape, and we have a fine amount of modern shops mixed with local stuff.
I wouldn't say we're the best, but hey, I like it.

 

[park92]

I live in Alberta,Canada. This is the texas of Canada.

 

[drisky]

Four "its the best" choices and one "it sucks", Thats a big ego right there. I've never been to Texas so I can't much much of an opinion other then the fact they are third in the country for bragging about their states, behind California and New York.

Spoiler: *whips out my map of America*

Hmm, according to this you're a redneck, hillbilly, yokel, and/or a sister-fucker. And I'm in the greatest place in the world. Sorry bub, the map doesn't lie.

What a you fackin' rataded, GO SOX!

 

[Naeo]

There needs to be more diversity than "it rules and is the best" and "it sucks" in the options.

Being myself a native Texan (Houstonian, specifically) I rather dislike the state for its politics. I simply cannot stand the tendency towards being as conservative, fundamentalist, and right-wing as possible (especially with the fucking State Board of Education, which is a several-page rant of itself). The people are fine, and if you get out to rural/west Texas you meet some of the nicer, more hospitable people you're likely to come across. Southern hospitality is a pretty accurate stereotype in some parts. Austin is a cool city, Dallas is...meh, Houston is alright (some of the best schools in the state/country, very diverse, strong economy, but shit-tastic weather. It's 75 fucking degrees out right now).

I would put myself somewhere in the "It's alright" area because the politics grate against me unbelievably hard and one member of the SBOE has gone on official record as saying "Someone needs to stand up to these [History and Science] experts" when there was a discussion about mandating intelligent design in the classroom and the row over adopting textbooks that basically say "yeah America is the best and John McCarthy was cool and separation of church and state wasn't and never will be important". But culturally, I really like Texas.

 

[Mr.PlanetEater]

I think of Texas as being King of the Hill mixed with Glenn Beck mixed with a slight Broke Back Mountain Homoerotic undertone.

But most people I know from Texas are pretty tolerant, it's just Southern and Western Texas that are Racists dips.
Sadly I'm from Utah which I guess means I'm a member of a Cult that hates homosexuals, loves jell-o and I shall have 7 wives.

 

[Mr.PlanetEater]

[edit] MODS DELETE THIS POST MY INTERNET IS BEING EVIL AGAIN.

 

[WorldCritic]

I've been to Texas once and it seemed mostly normal except from the FREAKING HEAT! Seriously, I live close to New England and I think my state is ok, but for crying out loud I don't want to go back to Texas if it's usually that hot.

 

[antidonkey]

I too call Texas home. Just like most places there's things that I both like and hate about this state but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. While we get lumped in the stereotypical southern types Texas is actually very welcoming of people and we are one of the most advanced states in terms of technology. Yes, we do like our guns, bbq, and republicans but you can easily get along with anyone down here.....just don't talk religion or politics....just like everywhere else. Hell, an Iraqi family just moved to my city and opened a restaurant that's doing quite well.

Also, Whataburgers are all over the south and Freebirds isn't just in Houston. I've eaten at one in Austin.

Overall, it's a great state with a relaxed pace to life. Plus, you get to wear boots which just plain kick ass. As with most cases, the stereotypes are a small percentage of the population that happens to get lots of media exposure.

 

[rutger5000]

I'm from Canada. When I think of Texas, I think of cowboys, guns and love for the death penalty. This is probably horribly misinformed, but that's what happens when you live across the continent.

What do I think people think of Canada? We live in igloos and guzzle maple syrup. Also horribly misinformed.

What are ye talking aboot? We're awesome!

and we've elvolved! We hold our igloos together with melted-then-frozen polar bear fat! Inovationz for th' win eh?

Yeah, I'm from Montreal in Canada. It's always great when you have a tourist walk up to you and say (with a little shock and awe) "'Scuse ME Ser? Where might I be finding all them igloos I heards so much 'bout?"

I think the best way of dealing it is to just stare at them fro about 5 seconds before exploding into unbridled laughter

You want to talk about funny tourist, I'm from Amsterdam. Beat that!
Honestly though Amsterdam gets the funniest tourists in the world, and being a tourist is the most fun when you're from Amsterdam.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

You think you have a stereotype problem? I'm from Ireland and I live in England.

Unfortunately I do drink quite a lot so I guess I fit the stereotype. But I won't bomb anyone, and I'm not that big on potatoes.

 

[LCP]

Too bad my country's stereotype is a crack dealer. Which is completely wrong

 

[Triarii]

I'm from Scotland and if I was to think of a Texas stereotype it would be very religous, gun nuts and all that jazz(or country should I say?). I know it probably isn't all like that but when someone says Texas that is what I think of

I'm from Canada. When I think of Texas, I think of cowboys, guns and love for the death penalty. This is probably horribly misinformed, but that's what happens when you live across the continent.

Lulz on that one.

I'm from America, and that's what I think.

 

[Wharrgarble]

I do have a question though. I have heard that if you went to another country and you said you were from America you would get the typical cold shoulder response. However, if you said you were Texas the reaction is completely different and people are really friendly towards you. Is this true?

I just called up my cousin from Dallas to ask her that very question. She just recently got back from a trip with friends visiting Spain, Italy and France.

Apparently? "No, it only got worse. We decided to pretend we were from Canada."

 

[seryoga]

I live in California and whenever I think of Texas I think of that douchebag who moved here from Texas, hes such a smug little ass, nobody here tried to convert him but he just wont stop.

 

[BENZOOKA]

In all kindness, we don't really care a rat's ass about Texas, but I'd suppose the usual stereotypes: oil, cowboys, guns, desert and "everything big" are the ones that come first to mind.

And of course the Texas guy from The Simpsons. You have much to thank to him for.

The only mention of Texas in school that I can remember was a demonstration of the size of THe US by thought when saying that Texas alone is twice as big as Finland.

I know of a few Houston, Texas rappers and a bunch of little things.

I'm from Finland. The land of *, * and *. Also *, and a bit of *

 

[Mistermixmaster]

I'm sorry if this is offending, but that's more or less what I think of when I hear about Texas. Well, that and those big-shot Ranchers

I dunno, do us Norwegians have any stereotypes that aren't made from Swedes or Danes?

Ah, stereotypes, they're great fun if you're able to see the humour in 'em

 

[BENZOOKA]

You think you have a stereotype problem? I'm from Ireland and I live in England.

Unfortunately I do drink quite a lot so I guess I fit the stereotype. But I won't bomb anyone, and I'm not that big on potatoes.

I'd say the (Finnish) stereotype of an Irishman would be the accent (not necessarily always the right one even), Guinness, and most of all: pubs. Not that heavy drinkers though. Those would be the Russians, and ourselves of course.