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Gotta agree with MTBoy -- I like the gravel roads. It keeps the pace AND the character of the back country ... well, Montana-like. Western and real, if you get what I mean. Gives you a chance to wave as you go by. Keeps the riffraff out.
Gotta agree with MTBoy -- I like the gravel roads. It keeps the pace AND the character of the back country ... well, Montana-like. Western and real, if you get what I mean. Gives you a chance to wave as you go by. Keeps the riffraff out.
Not good if you have to live on or by them. You should see the poor people that have inches of dirt and dust in and on their houses from the clouds of montana smog errr, dust.
Not good if you have to live on or by them. You should see the poor people that have inches of dirt and dust in and on their houses from the clouds of montana smog errr, dust.
Well, don't build your house so close to the road next time!
1. Mean, hateful people. I have lived here for eight years, I came from New Mexico, ( no I don't wear a sombrero and I'm white.) I have traveled all over the world and I have never experienced such a unfriendly place as Montana.
Coming from the south, I am used to being in a place where people talk to each other or smile at one another when you pass each other on the street. Here if you order something at a drive in window, you are the one to say thank you and they just stuff your food and you and don't say a thing.
People here are extremely clanish, if they think you are not a "Native" they completely alienate you. People always act as if you are trying to infringe upon their " Montananess" I am sure I will get a lot of replies of offended "Montanan's" I have never been in such a state except maybe Texas where people hold them self so highly in comparision to other states.
People are always taken aback when I bring this up here, but I have been all over the world, I am a world traveler and I compare everywhere I go to where I live, how strangers are treated and Montana by far, except for maybe Las Vegas or New York, has the meanest people around.
Don't believe me, next time you go to buy something at a drive in window, do my test, be as nice as pie and see the response you will get.
The only nice people that I meet here, are normally transplants from other states, "native" Montanan's are a bunch of redneck backwards closed minded rude freaks. Don't even get me started on Butte, and the Mutants living there.
2. Lack of industry and resistance to new opportunities. With Helena specifically, I always get excited when I see a new building going up, excited to acutally be getting some businesses that the rest of the world has only to be dissapointed that its yet another bank or auto parts store. Missoula and Bozeman are leaps ahead the Capitol City.
3.Lack of culture, lack of things for young people to do. I grew up in Albuquerque, a very cultured city. So coming to Montana was of course a shock. My husband and I are a young professional couple. There is nothing here to go for young people whatsoever. Before I got married and I was here alone, the only thing for a young person to do was go to a bar, and most of the girls I knew ended up going home with some random guy. Woman are treated like a peice of meat here, if you guys could put a tag on us, you would do that ( I met my husband outside of Montana) Getting drunk or doing drugs, having fliverous sex, or gambeling at the casinos, that pretty much sums up the entertainment options in Montana. You can only go to so many movies before you lose your mind.
People always think that small towns are good for children, I believe quite the opposite. Here, what do teenagers have to do? There are no programs or positive places for them to hang out. So what do they do? They drink, they do meth, that have babies at 16. There is a feeling of hopelessness in the youth here that is so, so sad. I know, because that is my line of work. There is nothing for them to do, they are bored out of their freaking minds, along with the 20 somethings as well!
Oh yeah and lack of good places to eat but that falls under resistance to industry, in my previous paragraph.
The "good" things that keep me here...the beautiful landscape, the animals, I love the deer that you all treat like cockroaches( don't even get me started on hunting season omg, (for a animal lover this place is a nightmare come hunting season), the wildlife, the safety, the small commute times. So don't tell me to go back where I came from ( you love that line) , I have my reasons for staying around you inhospitable bunch.
Ok so now I know the natives will be chomping at the bit because I've insulted their "Montananess" so bring it on!!
Charr, wow I can not believe you stay. I am not nearly as disappointed in where I am, and I can't wait to move.
Now I can't say I have the experience that you do as you have lived there 8 years. But I have been spending as much time as I can in MT over several years. I really found your statement about the rudeness interesting. Last summer I had been in eastern MT. then up to Conrad then down to Great Falls for a few days, then to Helena to meet with a realtor. I was rolling into Helena early that morning about 7 am and pulled off of 15 just north of town to fill up the tank and grab a coffee. Great C store on the west side of 15. The lot was filled with many workers getting ready for the day filling coolers etc. So I roll in with my out of state plates and go in. After the stop I remember calling my wife to comment on the fact that like 3 different people had looked me straight in the eyes and said "good morning". These were not the empoyees of the store, although they were nice too, but the local people. Hmmmmm. ? Now I will admit I was not driving a shiny Prius but rather a dusty Chevrolet truck. So maybe that was it. But then it could be like the ole saying " you reap what you sow" With all the hatred in your post it is evident you have no problem speaking your mind so maybe you could try holding a bit of that in and see if people warm up a bit. Or not??
1. Mean, hateful people. I have lived here for eight years, I came from New Mexico, ( no I don't wear a sombrero and I'm white.) I have traveled all over the world and I have never experienced such a unfriendly place as Montana.
Coming from the south, I am used to being in a place where people talk to each other or smile at one another when you pass each other on the street. Here if you order something at a drive in window, you are the one to say thank you and they just stuff your food and you and don't say a thing.
People here are extremely clanish, if they think you are not a "Native" they completely alienate you. People always act as if you are trying to infringe upon their " Montananess" I am sure I will get a lot of replies of offended "Montanan's" I have never been in such a state except maybe Texas where people hold them self so highly in comparision to other states.
People are always taken aback when I bring this up here, but I have been all over the world, I am a world traveler and I compare everywhere I go to where I live, how strangers are treated and Montana by far, except for maybe Las Vegas or New York, has the meanest people around.
Don't believe me, next time you go to buy something at a drive in window, do my test, be as nice as pie and see the response you will get.
The only nice people that I meet here, are normally transplants from other states, "native" Montanan's are a bunch of redneck backwards closed minded rude freaks. Don't even get me started on Butte, and the Mutants living there.
2. Lack of industry and resistance to new opportunities. With Helena specifically, I always get excited when I see a new building going up, excited to acutally be getting some businesses that the rest of the world has only to be dissapointed that its yet another bank or auto parts store. Missoula and Bozeman are leaps ahead the Capitol City.
3.Lack of culture, lack of things for young people to do. I grew up in Albuquerque, a very cultured city. So coming to Montana was of course a shock. My husband and I are a young professional couple. There is nothing here to go for young people whatsoever. Before I got married and I was here alone, the only thing for a young person to do was go to a bar, and most of the girls I knew ended up going home with some random guy. Woman are treated like a peice of meat here, if you guys could put a tag on us, you would do that ( I met my husband outside of Montana) Getting drunk or doing drugs, having fliverous sex, or gambeling at the casinos, that pretty much sums up the entertainment options in Montana. You can only go to so many movies before you lose your mind.
People always think that small towns are good for children, I believe quite the opposite. Here, what do teenagers have to do? There are no programs or positive places for them to hang out. So what do they do? They drink, they do meth, that have babies at 16. There is a feeling of hopelessness in the youth here that is so, so sad. I know, because that is my line of work. There is nothing for them to do, they are bored out of their freaking minds, along with the 20 somethings as well!
Oh yeah and lack of good places to eat but that falls under resistance to industry, in my previous paragraph.
The "good" things that keep me here...the beautiful landscape, the animals, I love the deer that you all treat like cockroaches( don't even get me started on hunting season omg, (for a animal lover this place is a nightmare come hunting season), the wildlife, the safety, the small commute times. So don't tell me to go back where I came from ( you love that line) , I have my reasons for staying around you inhospitable bunch.
Ok so now I know the natives will be chomping at the bit because I've insulted their "Montananess" so bring it on!!
Sounds like some one is having a bad day!... Yes I am going to jump all over this. Not in a bad way maybe just a description from someone who is a native.
1) IMO you are living in the most cliquish place/town/county in MT. JUST MY OPINION! Come to the eastern part of the state... I think you will change you opinion. Sorry you have felt that way, if you ever get out this way I can show you a good ole MT time.
2) I have said this for a while now. MT legislature just does not promote industry, also we are not really setup with the infastructure for industry, with the large distances between other major cities, the winter driving conditions, etc.
3) There is culture here, just different type. Go to Butte, people still take great pride in their Irish heritage, Red Lodge has a festival of Nations, Crow Agency has the crow fair... As far as lack of things to do, there is plenty if you want to motivate your kid. I was raised in a small town... the kind of which you speak of so horribly..... Here is all the things I did growing up to stay busy........ was involved in bball, fball, track, baseball, student gov't, ffa, was a mentor, worked on the farm/ranch, went skiing, hunting, fishing, 4x4 ing
One thing to add....The deer are like cochroaches in Helena, and if they don't get a handle on it there soon will not be any deer in the area at all. If they would ever to have a run of blue tongue disease or another disease come through that area you would not have any deer at all... trust me I have seen it first hand.
IN MT LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT! NOTHING JUST GET'S HANDED TOO YOU!
1. Mean, hateful people. I have lived here for eight years, I came from New Mexico, ( no I don't wear a sombrero and I'm white.) I have traveled all over the world and I have never experienced such a unfriendly place as Montana.
While this smacks of a drive-by troll post we'll see if you will read the responses and comment further. We've lived all over the country as well and when I was a long haul trucker I spent time in every state. I've been to several places that are unfriendly to new people or what they deem "outsiders" in fact my co-driver and I went to a city where they didn't like us because we had beards and "longish" hair (as in touched the ears and collar). That being said we had our challenges when we moved here and yes people were standoffish for the first couple of years.
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Coming from the south, I am used to being in a place where people talk to each other or smile at one another when you pass each other on the street. Here if you order something at a drive in window, you are the one to say thank you and they just stuff your food and you and don't say a thing.
We've lived in GA and NC and travelled in TN a bunch and you're right they do talk to each other and smile a lot there. They're always saying "hey" to you and willing to wave and such. The thing we found out though is while they do talk to each other it's usually about someone. You see while they're friendly to your face it's quite another thing behind your back. Here it's a little more upfront which I prefer.
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People here are extremely clanish, if they think you are not a "Native" they completely alienate you. People always act as if you are trying to infringe upon their " Montananess" I am sure I will get a lot of replies of offended "Montanan's" I have never been in such a state except maybe Texas where people hold them self so highly in comparision to other states.
People are always taken aback when I bring this up here, but I have been all over the world, I am a world traveler and I compare everywhere I go to where I live, how strangers are treated and Montana by far, except for maybe Las Vegas or New York, has the meanest people around.
Don't believe me, next time you go to buy something at a drive in window, do my test, be as nice as pie and see the response you will get.
Yes they are clannish. They are used to depending on their own family and close friends and have seen what transplants can do to their state and they don't like it so what do you expect?
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The only nice people that I meet here, are normally transplants from other states, "native" Montanan's are a bunch of redneck backwards closed minded rude freaks. Don't even get me started on Butte, and the Mutants living there.
Generally the transplants are nice imo because misery loves company. They don't have anyone to talk to so are happy when someone does talk to them so they can complain that no one is talking to 'em.
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2. Lack of industry and resistance to new opportunities. With Helena specifically, I always get excited when I see a new building going up, excited to acutally be getting some businesses that the rest of the world has only to be dissapointed that its yet another bank or auto parts store. Missoula and Bozeman are leaps ahead the Capitol City.
What you miss is the people that've been here for ages don't WANT what the rest of the world has, they're more than happy to drive to the screwed up cities that do have it and leave the headaches behind when they return home. You see, progress comes with a price and usually drags all the garbage you don't want along with it like crime,traffic etc.
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3.Lack of culture, lack of things for young people to do. I grew up in Albuquerque, a very cultured city. So coming to Montana was of course a shock. My husband and I are a young professional couple. There is nothing here to go for young people whatsoever. Before I got married and I was here alone, the only thing for a young person to do was go to a bar, and most of the girls I knew ended up going home with some random guy. Woman are treated like a peice of meat here, if you guys could put a tag on us, you would do that ( I met my husband outside of Montana) Getting drunk or doing drugs, having fliverous sex, or gambeling at the casinos, that pretty much sums up the entertainment options in Montana. You can only go to so many movies before you lose your mind.
Yep you're right about lack of what a city person would call "culture" and they don't want it either. And yes, there's not a lot of things to "entertain" kids as they're expected to entertain themselves.
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People always think that small towns are good for children, I believe quite the opposite. Here, what do teenagers have to do? There are no programs or positive places for them to hang out. So what do they do? They drink, they do meth, that have babies at 16. There is a feeling of hopelessness in the youth here that is so, so sad. I know, because that is my line of work. There is nothing for them to do, they are bored out of their freaking minds, along with the 20 somethings as well!
We left big towns and cities, at least in a small town I know my kid will come home after school and I don't worry about him being shot in class or walking home. I can let him go out in the morning, not see him 'till nightfall and not worry that someone's going to kill him in a driveby. Yes there's kids that drink,do drugs etc but you know what, in all the cities you've lived in that HAD every type of activity for kids to stay busy the drugs and drinking were as bad or worse not to mention the odds of a kid being shot dead or stabbed or robbed were waaaaaaaaaaay higher so where's the benefit of those programs?
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Oh yeah and lack of good places to eat but that falls under resistance to industry, in my previous paragraph.
You're right, there's very little California foo foo food. After living in the wine country for a good many years and working in S.F. I've been to some of the best eateries in the world and paid the price to eat at them. You right, they aren't here so I had to <gasp> learn to actually cook what I liked. So while I still eat my favorite mexican,italian,chinese and sushi I don't pay $40 a plate for it, I know it's clean and I don't have to leave a $15 tip or risk the "stink eye" from some college kid with metal studs all over his/her face.
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The "good" things that keep me here...the beautiful landscape, the animals, I love the deer that you all treat like cockroaches( don't even get me started on hunting season omg, (for a animal lover this place is a nightmare come hunting season), the wildlife, the safety, the small commute times. So don't tell me to go back where I came from ( you love that line) , I have my reasons for staying around you inhospitable bunch.
All I can say is deer are pests and food for many people so unless 100% vegan you're not that much of an animal lover.
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Ok so now I know the natives will be chomping at the bit because I've insulted their "Montananess" so bring it on!!
All I can tell you is if it's that bad for you maybe it's time to relocate? I hear Nashville or Memphis are real friendly.
1. Mean, hateful people. I have lived here for eight years, I came from New Mexico, ( no I don't wear a sombrero and I'm white.) I have traveled all over the world and I have never experienced such a unfriendly place as Montana.
Coming from the south, I am used to being in a place where people talk to each other or smile at one another when you pass each other on the street. Here if you order something at a drive in window, you are the one to say thank you and they just stuff your food and you and don't say a thing.
People here are extremely clanish, if they think you are not a "Native" they completely alienate you. People always act as if you are trying to infringe upon their " Montananess" I am sure I will get a lot of replies of offended "Montanan's" I have never been in such a state except maybe Texas where people hold them self so highly in comparision to other states.
People are always taken aback when I bring this up here, but I have been all over the world, I am a world traveler and I compare everywhere I go to where I live, how strangers are treated and Montana by far, except for maybe Las Vegas or New York, has the meanest people around.
Don't believe me, next time you go to buy something at a drive in window, do my test, be as nice as pie and see the response you will get.
The only nice people that I meet here, are normally transplants from other states, "native" Montanan's are a bunch of redneck backwards closed minded rude freaks. Don't even get me started on Butte, and the Mutants living there.
2. Lack of industry and resistance to new opportunities. With Helena specifically, I always get excited when I see a new building going up, excited to acutally be getting some businesses that the rest of the world has only to be dissapointed that its yet another bank or auto parts store. Missoula and Bozeman are leaps ahead the Capitol City.
3.Lack of culture, lack of things for young people to do. I grew up in Albuquerque, a very cultured city. So coming to Montana was of course a shock. My husband and I are a young professional couple. There is nothing here to go for young people whatsoever. Before I got married and I was here alone, the only thing for a young person to do was go to a bar, and most of the girls I knew ended up going home with some random guy. Woman are treated like a peice of meat here, if you guys could put a tag on us, you would do that ( I met my husband outside of Montana) Getting drunk or doing drugs, having fliverous sex, or gambeling at the casinos, that pretty much sums up the entertainment options in Montana. You can only go to so many movies before you lose your mind.
People always think that small towns are good for children, I believe quite the opposite. Here, what do teenagers have to do? There are no programs or positive places for them to hang out. So what do they do? They drink, they do meth, that have babies at 16. There is a feeling of hopelessness in the youth here that is so, so sad. I know, because that is my line of work. There is nothing for them to do, they are bored out of their freaking minds, along with the 20 somethings as well!
Oh yeah and lack of good places to eat but that falls under resistance to industry, in my previous paragraph.
The "good" things that keep me here...the beautiful landscape, the animals, I love the deer that you all treat like cockroaches( don't even get me started on hunting season omg, (for a animal lover this place is a nightmare come hunting season), the wildlife, the safety, the small commute times. So don't tell me to go back where I came from ( you love that line) , I have my reasons for staying around you inhospitable bunch.
Ok so now I know the natives will be chomping at the bit because I've insulted their "Montananess" so bring it on!!
Ha Ha Ha is all I can say. I know you don't want to hear it but I'm going to say it. Oh never mind it wouldn't do any good anyway. What a funny post, almost as funny as the one from some troll who claimed that our cities blow up every day and that a white girl was attacked by a few white old timers because she was white. Ha Ha Ha.
Helena area is my home also... I've always thought people here were very kind. Not saying you are wrong but that has not been my experience.
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Originally Posted by charreneemt
People here are extremely clanish, if they think you are not a "Native" they completely alienate you. People always act as if you are trying to infringe upon their " Montananess"
Very true. I don't like this at all. I would like us to be more open to new folks.
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Originally Posted by charreneemt
the only thing for a young person to do was go to a bar, and most of the girls I knew ended up going home with some random guy. Woman are treated like a peice of meat here, if you guys could put a tag on us, you would do that
I don't see a problem with that.
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Originally Posted by charreneemt
Oh yeah and lack of good places to eat but that falls under resistance to industry, in my previous paragraph.
Hello... We have a Burger King, have you ever had a Whopper with cheese?
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Originally Posted by charreneemt
I love the deer that you all treat like cockroaches( don't even get me started on hunting season omg, (for a animal lover this place is a nightmare come hunting season)
We love the deer too! Have you ever had it cooked with onions? Mmmm. Deer jerky is good too.
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Originally Posted by charreneemt
So don't tell me to go back where I came from ( you love that line) , I have my reasons for staying around you inhospitable bunch.
I wont tell you to go back. I just hope you learn to love this place as much as we do. I'm sorry you have found the people to be so rude. Hopefully you can teach us some of your southern charm, maybe it would do us good. Good luck to you.
Heavens to Betsy Charreneemt, you've been hanging around with the wrong bunch. You should come over to the "happy side" on the "Let's Visit" thread. !
Come to our Montana City-Data Picnic that I've been trying to get folks interested in having this summer and you'll meet a bunch of very nice and friendly folks. Bring a brisket for the smoker please ! I'll bring a keg of Samuel Adams Boston Lager. Someone will no doubt provide the entertainment !
Last edited by Rickers; 04-02-2009 at 08:53 PM..
Reason: My cousin made me do it.
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Come to the eastern part of the state... I think you will change you opinion. Sorry you have felt that way, if you ever get out this way I can show you a good ole MT time.
