Why do Wisconsin folks dislike us? (Chicago, Geneva: new home, college, price)

[nanannie]

FIB--I agree with the posters who mention biting the hands that feed....but there are MANY MANY wisconsin native jokes arent there??

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by nanannie

FIB--I agree with the posters who mention biting the hands that feed....but there are MANY MANY wisconsin native jokes arent there??

Well, they like the Packers, not much else to say. LOL I think thats bad enough.

[cw68]

I grew up outside of Chicago and for years we had a cottage about 1/2 hour outside of Madison. All the locals called us FIBs or Flatlanders and were quite rude. I think it's because most of those from Illinois had more money and weren't afraid to rub it in the local's faces. There was a big distinction between the two. I then moved to Madison for eight years ('87-'95) and it was more about the driving and the aforementioned gang problems from those moving up from Chicago.

The cops definitely like to pull over those with Illinois plates. I was driving my parents' car back to Chicago one day after borrowing it for a move. I was going 80+ in a 55 zone. The cop really acted surprised when he saw the Wisco drivers license. He asked me if I was a student and I said, "No, I live there and work there, just returning my parents' car that I borrowed." He said, "Oh sorry, I didn't realize you were a Wisconsinite. I've already filled out too much of the ticket so I have to give you one. Here's a ticket for going five over. Sorry."

I moved back to Chicago in '95 and now live in California. Illinois drivers aren't that bad. Boston is the worst and Wisconsin drivers aren't good.

My sister lives outside of Madison and they hate FIBs. They think they are know-it-alls and that they look down their noses at those from Wisconsin. They actually have that last part correct.

[bobsmith319]

Well, I no longer live in Il, but I'll tell you when I did, and when my wife and I took a drive in WI, my wife would say that the state trooper is watching us because we had IL plates.

[skigirl]

I just have to say LOL at people from Wisconsin calling people "flatlanders". But then, I'm from Colorado so I guess my interpretation of the term may be skewed a bit.

[Frank the Tank]

This is just a classic "townie vs. vacation home owner/tourist" divide. Chicagoans go up to places such as Lake Geneva and Door County and buy up the real estate (a similar situation is on the other side of Lake Michigan in southwestern Michigan), which in turn pushes a lot of the locals out. On the other end, Wisconsin's urban areas such as Milwaukee and Green Bay have economies that are stagnant compared to Chicago, so there's a great amount of envy there, as well. So, you've got Illinois people driving up the real estate prices in the most beautiful areas of Wisconsin while the rest of the more northern state isn't keeping up in economic terms with Illinois in general. Even though I'm a Chicagoan, I can understand why Wisconsin natives might be a bit testy toward us.

However, I've got to defend Chicago drivers here. In Chicago, you're expected to know what you're doing and where you're going when you're driving (i.e. get out of the left lane if someone wants to pass you, start moving as soon as the stoplight turns green, etc.). When a tourist is driving around downtown Chicago and there are a millions cars and people milling about, you can't just expect to be able to mosey around. If you don't turn in time when a light changes and a bunch of cars are backed up because of your actions, then you deserve to get honked at. If you want to take a leisurely drive, then feel free to do that in a small town. You just can't and shouldn't do that while driving through Chicago.

[spkrman]

Originally Posted by FB1977

I have to agree that Illinois drivers are some of the worst I've seen. I moved away to Hawaii for a year and a half, and it wasn't until I came back that I realized just how aggressive and rude the drivers are here in Illinois.

Aggressive driving is accepted and basically expected.

There is no such thing as a leisurely drive through the city... at least not anytime during the day. Perhaps 3 am?

IL/WI... I could care less what WI folks think, maybe thats what they dont like? WI feels they are cinderella and IL is the wicked stepmother?

[M TYPE X]

Originally Posted by Drover

Well, the eastern UP is doing OK because it's close enough to Detroit for Detroit money to keep it afloat. The western UP is pretty depressing though -- too far away from Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee and the Twin Cities to have any serious infusion of urban money. It's basically Mississippi with snow and Canadian accents.

That's not being very nice. The western UP is God's country you know, and nothing like the South. Western Yooperland has plenty of tourists/visitors from Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis. Not that many people live there, and I am thinking those that do actually like the rural character.

My parents' vacation home in the eastern UP is not exacting appreciating. Detroit money isn't sustaining much of anything now, maybe the half of Harbor Springs and Petoskey that isn't funded by Chicago money.

Ohio drivers are still the slowest and most clueless anywhere. Wisconsin drivers are definitely slow compared to Illinois or Michigan; Wisconsin drivers are probably similar to those from Iowa and Minnesota, from what I have seen.

[PrinzII]

I have been to WI a lot in my life and never had one single issue. However, the reason the IL folks get targeted because they more than likely do something asinine or are rude as hell to the residents. I have heard stories of how IL folks mistreat the natural resources of WI.

Another reason stems from the expressways. IL charges a toll on I-94 coming out of WI (I believe it's a dollar or more) and many folks do not like that. However, they could always use US 41 to avoid the toll.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by PrinzII

I have been to WI a lot in my life and never had one single issue. However, the reason the IL folks get targeted because they more than likely do something asinine or are rude as hell to the residents. I have heard stories of how IL folks mistreat the natural resources of WI

I am a former resident of Illinois. I remember a Wisconsin guy complaining that the Illinoisans come up and use their parks. Just use them, mind you, like that's a bad thing!