Anybody from San Angelo Texas on here? (Abilene, Midland: live, shop)

[Two4damoney]

Originally Posted by cobolt

I moved to San Angelo in April and LOVE it here. I used to live in the Panhandle for about 13 years. San Angelo is small but has everything you need, it's green, it's pretty, low cost of living, great people! I never want to leave!

I totally agree. +rep

[Heimdall]

Originally Posted by Two4damoney

If there are then tell us what you like or dislike about San Angelo.

It's uh... "family oriented town" which is just a fancy way of saying "it's boring as hell." When you got used to living in places with lots of entertainment, moving to a place like San Angelo is like switch from a color TV to black and white.

The town also has strong "conservative values" which is another way of saying that it's full of racists and bigots. Normally I don't expect a city that has more Baptist churches than convenience stores to be very open-minded, yet still, I was pretty amazed by how many complete strangers with whom I just happened to strike a conversation after finding out that I was from Corpus Christi would ask me in a really concerned tone: "How do you live over there with all them messicans around?" or "Thank God we don't have a lot 'em here!"

I remember shopping at the local H-E-B with my Hispanic girlfriend, and judging by dirty looks people were throwing at us I figured they just weren't too fond of mixed relationships.

[Rakin]

Originally Posted by Heimdall

I remember shopping at the local H-E-B with my Hispanic girlfriend, and judging by dirty looks people were throwing at us I figured they just weren't too fond of mixed relationships.

San Angelo has had a very large Hispanic community from the beginning of it's history. I managed a company and 2/3 of our staff was Hispanic. They & most Texans are very accepting of the Hispanic community and our roots go back to a very mixed community.

Maybe your appearance and attitude brought on the wrong attitude of others ?

People always blame others when they should look inside themselves.

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by Heimdall

It's uh... "family oriented town" which is just a fancy way of saying "it's boring as hell." When you got used to living in places with lots of entertainment, moving to a place like San Angelo is like switch from a color TV to black and white.

The town also has strong "conservative values" which is another way of saying that it's full of racists and bigots. Normally I don't expect a city that has more Baptist churches than convenience stores to be very open-minded, yet still, I was pretty amazed by how many complete strangers with whom I just happened to strike a conversation after finding out that I was from Corpus Christi would ask me in a really concerned tone: "How do you live over there with all them messicans around?" or "Thank God we don't have a lot 'em here!"

I remember shopping at the local H-E-B with my Hispanic girlfriend, and judging by dirty looks people were throwing at us I figured they just weren't too fond of mixed relationships.

waddaya talking about? San Angelo has a hella lot of Messicans. A lot of them are mixed though

[cobolt]

Good grief, there are mixed couples all over San Angelo, especially with the presence of the military and most people don't give it a second thought. Geez. I'm from Chicago and guess what? There are prejudiced people there too. Fancy that.

[Two4damoney]

Originally Posted by Rakin

San Angelo has had a very large Hispanic community from the beginning of it's history. I managed a company and 2/3 of our staff was Hispanic. They & most Texans are very accepting of the Hispanic community and our roots go back to a very mixed community.

Maybe your appearance and attitude brought on the wrong attitude of others ?

People always blame others when they should look inside themselves.

I totally agree.

[Heimdall]

4 against 1... Well, there's really only two explanations:

1) I accidentally went to San Angelo in a parallel universe.
2) Things I described are present but you guys just don't really notice them.

Which explanation do you think is most probable?

[Heimdall]

Originally Posted by HtownLove

San Angelo has a hella lot of Messicans.

1/3 of the population if I'm not mistaken. Yet they're nowhere to be found, so I can only assume the place is segregated (implicitly ). In fact one of the local sweet old ladies was kind enough to suggest not to shop at certain places because that's "where beaners go to."

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by Heimdall

4 against 1... Well, there's really only two explanations:

1) I accidentally went to San Angelo in a parallel universe.
2) Things I described are present but you guys just don't really notice them.

Which explanation do you think is most probable?

Neither. You just don't want to admit that either your experience was unusual....or you're seeing things that just aren't there. If you're looking for predjudice or whatever, you're likely to find it.

Your attitude probably had a WHOLE LOT to do with the reactions you think you got.

Interracial couples are commonplace these days; few people give them any notice, and that includes West Texas.

And yes, I know something about West Texas/San Angelo, because I grew up not far from there.

[Heimdall]

Originally Posted by Rakin

Maybe your appearance and attitude brought on the wrong attitude of others ?

At first I thought of putting on a shirt that says "Hello there puny-minded West Texas yokels! Aren't you happy that my girlfriend and I decided to grace y'all with our presence?!" But then I decided against it and left that shirt at home instead putting on a regular white t-shirt with my regular summer clothes. So I rule out the appearance.

Attitude? I admit I can be an ass on occasion, but I hardly interacted with the locals, and even when I did they were really nice to me, until they'd see my girlfriend.

So my only guess is, mixed couples make locals uneasy.