Why are Texans so proud to be from Texas?

whirledpeas wrote:

the dumber you are, the smaller your radius of self-identification.

And the more hopelessly idealistic you are, the wider your radius of self-identification..

wizardstaff wrote:

And the more hopelessly idealistic you are, the wider your radius of self-identification..

Not sure what a "radius of self-identification" is, but if it means perspective, I think the opposite is true. Broad perspectives--arising from broad experiences--breed realism. The most hopelessly idealistic people I've met have tended to be poorly read (or, worse, mildly well-read) and poorly traveled. Their assumption, generally speaking, is that the world ought to conform to their own world view, which they believe to be ideal, or approaching it. It's a defining characteristic of provincialism.

We are proud that we have a terrible Olympic Track and Field Coach from Keller, Texas.

fitting for this thread

Two lousy Jackass prezs are from Tx, LBJ, and W. Bush.

Two lousy Jackass prezs are from Tx, LBJ, and W. Bush.

Guadalupe Peak is a part of the Rockies, which means that Texas' highest peak is the lowest among all the Rocky Mountain States.

Honestly. This is pathetic. I've lived all over the place, but I'm a Texas resident. I like Texas, but I don't really think it's something to flaunt all around.

But what is the incredible hate for? To the guy who said something like 'we burned Texas down and would do it again', what is your problem? You seriously can't accept that a few people take pride in their state (whether justified or not)? Get over yourself, you worthless piece of shit.

Let me clear this up. I love some things about Texas, but it's no utopia. Some beautiful landscape, some ugly flat landscape. Some of the nicest people you'll ever meet, some of the most ignorant, retards you'll find. I think the majority of the population will soon be Mexican. Not trying to be racist (although I probably am just a bit, sorry), but I can't help but regard that as a bad thing.

Texas has its ups and downs like any state.

Beg your pardon! Please review your geography...Guadalupe Peak is NOT part of the Rockies.

What you do to me wrote:

I like Texas, but I don't really think it's something to flaunt all around.

I think you've put your finger on it. I know some pretty nice people from Texas, but even the best of them at times can't help but try to convince you that their state is, as you put it, a utopia. And these are people with fairly decent social graces. It gets tiresome, and after a while the listener's indifference turns to annoyance.

Geog Prof wrote:

Beg your pardon! Please review your geography...Guadalupe Peak is NOT part of the Rockies.

My mistake. I guess I'm just a dumb Dallasite. But I think I can at least explain how Dallas got to be the way that it is.

No one has mentioned the fact that a lot of Texans got rich off of oil discoveries in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. It wasn't just the independent oilmen who got rich. It was also farmers and ranchers.

Dallas prospered from oil money, the cotton industry (which later inspired the fashion industry), and regional banking. Unfortunately, the education levels didn't match the wealth. So you had a lot of crude ranchers and wildcatters turning into loud, obnoxious millionaires. You were measured by your wealth, your ranch, your jet, and your mansion. That mentality exists even today.

Since Texas was still an agrarian economy even as the oil was coming on line in the middle of the 20th century, a lot of farmers were praying for rain. And they all went to church to make an offering so their crops wouldn't fail. That explains our Bible-thumping culture today.

All that new money was looking for a taste of high society, so they created exclusive dance clubs that gave rise to the debutante culture and the importance of fraternities and sororities.

One of the positive things to come from the charity scene was the large number of 5k and 10k road races in Dallas in the 1980s and 1990s that were tied to some charitable cause like the Susan Komen Foundation. That helps explain the vibrant running scene in Dallas back then (not to mention the strong local talent). There were lots of great running events in Dallas near the tail end of the running boom.

Hope that helps.

I didn't feel like reading the thread so this might have been mentioned before but, people need to feel like they belong, like they are part of a group. This gives them a way to connect with people such as, "I'm from Dallas. What's that you say, you're sister used to live in Fort Worth! Isn't this a small world?" People want to relate and feel they are part of a group or extended family. Same reason some people are proud to be Hoosiers, they same reason people are proud to be American, or Latino, or anything else. It is for a common bond.

Been all over Europe, Asia, South America, West Indies, etc. I never once had to explain where Texas was. The people traveling with me would interject "Oh, I'm from (another state) have you heard of it?" The local would, 99 times out of 100, say 'no'.

Then the conversation would turn back to me and Texas asking me to give a few "Hiddey, ma'am" or nod my head to their talk of cowboys and indians.

My dad once told me, "Son, never ask a man if he's from Texas. If he's a Texan, he'll tell you. Otherwise, why embarrass him?"

AtTheBeach wrote:

I was [a] little disappointed by Austin. I came with high expectations as many of my friends love it, but aside from counter culture and bar scene (which is amazing and probably the coolest cluster of bars in the US) I found the city to boring and aesthetically dull. Maybe I'll give it another shot sometime.

Virtually every American town is aesthetically dull. A few exceptions are San Francisco and Santa Fe. Austin has some funky neighborhoods close to downtown that a tourist might not see. I went to college in Madison, Wisconsin, and the two towns have a similar vibe in the neighborhoods.

Austin has horrible suburbs. And the farther out you go, the more church-oriented the people are.

Living in the Past wrote:

And the farther out you go, the more church-oriented the people are.

And you say that like it's a bad thing.

Moes Tavern wrote:

And you say that like it's a bad thing.

It depends on whether you think Texas schoolchildren should learn about intelligent design and take the Bible course curriculum.

let's see what lyle lovett has to say about it:

You say you're not from Texas

Man as if I couldn't tell

You think you pull your boots on right

And wear your hat so well

So pardon me my laughter

'Cause I sure do understand

Even Moses got excited

When he saw the promised land

That's right you're not from Texas

That's right you're not from Texas

That's right you're not from Texas

But Texas wants you anyway

That's right you're not from Texas

That's right you're not from Texas

That's right you're not from Texas

But Texas wants you anyway

See I was born and raised in Texas

And it means so much to me

Though my girl comes from down in Georgia

We were up in Tennessee

And as we were driving down the highway

She asked me baby what's so great

How come you're always going on

About your Lone Star State

I said that's right you're not from Texas

That's right you're not from Texas

That's right you're not from Texas

But Texas wants you anyway

That's right you're not from Texas

That's right you're not from Texas

That's right you're not from Texas

But Texas wants you anyway

Oh the road it looked so lovely

As she stood there on the side

And she grew smaller in my mirror

As I watched her wave goodbye

Those boys from Carolina

They sure enough could sing

But when they came on down to Texas

We all showed them how to swing

Now David's on the radio

And old Champ's still on the guitar

And Uncle Walt he's home with Heidi

Hiding in her loving arms

That's right you're not from Texas

That's right you're not from Texas

That's right you're not from Texas

But Texas wants you anyway

That's right you're not from Texas

That's right you're not from Texas

That's right you're not from Texas

But Texas wants you anyway

They're OK in Oklahoma

Up in Arkansas they're fair

But those old folks in Missouri

They don't even know you're there

But at a dance hall down in Texas

That's the finest place to be

The women they all look beautiful

And their men will buy your beer for free

And they'll say that's right you're not from Texas

That's right you're not from Texas

That's right you're not from Texas

But Texas wants you anyway

That's right you're not from Texas

That's right you're not from Texas

That's right you're not from Texas

But Texas wants you anyway

So won't you let me help you Mister

Just pull your hat down the way I do

And buy your pants just a little longer

And next time somebody laughs at you

You just tell 'em you're not from Texas

That's right you're not from Texas

That's right you're not from Texas

But Texas wants you anyway

That's right you're not from Texas

That's right you're not from Texas

That's right you're not from Texas

But Texas wants you anyway

I love reminding Texans how much bigger Alaska is.