What are your thoughts on Texas?

"Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)" (6speedhaven)
10/24/2013 at 15:11 • Filed to: TEJAS

This is a question for non-Texans. Really we have our ups and downsides, so I want to know what people who weren't raised in Texas think of this state. A lovely GIF after the jump.

(this not mine, as the watermark at the top right will indicate)

DISCUSSION (42)

pauljones > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 15:14

Like anything else, it's not the geographic location; it's the people. Having been to Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio, I've found people that I liked and people that I disliked. Just like anywhere else.

I think the Tea Party candidates that Texas has put out are morons, but I won't judge the Texas population as whole based simply on a couple of obvious trolls.

$kaycog > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 15:15

I really like Texas and have been there many, many times.

duurtlang > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 15:15

As someone who's never even been on one of the American continents my knowledge mostly consists of some tired stereotypes. Negative stereotypes. I realize the truth is much more nuanced though, it always is.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > $kaycog
10/24/2013 at 15:19

If you've visited Houston, I sure hope you visited when we had Astroworld... :(

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > duurtlang
10/24/2013 at 15:20

We wear cowboy boots and I rode a horse to class everyday in high school.

Also my belt buckle weighs 40 pounds and I drive a F150 now

pdx107 > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 15:21

Went to Austin last December and loved it, however, knowing people that go to other parts of the state on a very frequent basis (Dallas and Hell Paso) the state as a whole doesn't have much appeal to me.

For Sweden > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 15:21

Texas has far too diverse of a population to have a single detailed opinion. I've always enjoyed going there however.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > For Sweden
10/24/2013 at 15:21

Neat! What cities have you visited?

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 15:24

My family has gone to Austin a few times to visit relatives. I know Austin isn't exactly representative of the state as a whole but even on the drive in Texas seemed like a really interesting state. I honestly plan on moving somewhere in Texas once I graduate college. Good weather, good food, and good people can't be beat.

Oh and driving. Sooo much driving. Every town's so damn far away from the others.

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 15:24

You need a new governor.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-july…

Leadbull > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 15:24

My family lived in San Antonio for three years when I was younger—I loved it.

Things are literally bigger there.

PelicanHazard > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 15:28

My thoughts?

Texas is like any other state. Decent people most of the time, with sporadic assholes mixed in. Never visited, wouldn't want to in the summer (can't stand heat all too well), and can't really think of a big enough draw to get me to go in the near future. I'd rather see other cities in the north and farther west. Personal preference, I hope you understand.

I'm not going to judge the entire state after some yahoos because we're no better:

Texas dealers killed Tesla's sales model this legislative session? Our biggest and most profitable healthcare provider defended its nonprofit status in court with a straight face arguing they're a conglomerate with no employees.

Rick Perry saying stupid shit? Tom Corbett defended his office's mishandling of the Jerry Sandusky case.

Texas argues to teach creationism in science class? Philadelphia's poor black schools get underfunded and Pittsburgh closed the one school that started to make a difference for the underpriviledged because it made the other city schools look bad.

Some Dallas jackass kills someone for no reason? A rural Penguins fan killed his wife because she interrupted him watching a game.

Texas is like any other state.

Corey CC97, MAZDA DPI IS STILL BAE JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV VISIT FLORIDA RACING LIVES FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 15:29

To quote Patrick Star, "Uh, stupid?". Honestly though, Texas is pretty cool.

For Sweden > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 15:29

Just Houston so far

ttyymmnn > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 15:30

I came to TX in 1989 for grad school and ended up living here. I've lived in Houston and now Austin, and like both cities very much. Houston has all the negatives of a big city, but it also has a vibrant arts and culture scene (the Houston Symphony is one of the top 5 in the country), great restaurants, and actually a fairly decent transportation grid. Austin is a more liberal city, and shares the good and the bad with Houston, though traffic is a nightmare and public transportation is woeful. As a Democrat, I'm not thrilled with the current state of Texas government or its elected officials. Socially, I think the state is going backwards, with attacks on voting and abortion rights. But jobs are relatively plentiful, homes are affordable and rents are decent. The climate is not to my liking, as I prefer cold winters to long hot summers. But Spring and fall can be glorious, as it is now. I just wish it would rain more. Education is a mess, with the SBOE being run increasingly by religious fanatics. Science and social studies have been hit particularly hard by fundamentalist ideology. All told, though, we've done well here.

Hoccy > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 15:30

Oil, ranches, pickups, and a warm and dry climate. The second largest state in the USA. There are some big cities as well.

I've never been there, or on the American continent, so can't say anything about the people. My impressions come from the media and the internet, and that might not be very reliable..

Jayhawk Jake > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 15:30

I was raised in Houston, and according to people I meet I'm the only person from Texas that doesn't care for Texas.

desertdog5051 > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 15:35

Love Big Bend Nat. Park. Love the drawl. Love the change in people from west Texas to east Texas.

Hates the humidity in most of the state. Hate crossing on I-10. It's like 866 miles across.

pdthedeuce > pauljones
10/24/2013 at 15:38

thank you for your understanding .

pdthedeuce > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 15:40

you made me sad .

More Power!!and also some brakes. > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 15:47

I am a Texan, have been since the day I was born. I know you asked for non-Texans but too bad. I love Texas and always will. However, I am not a fan of our governor and several other aspects of our politics but I like many of them at the same time. The people for the most part are amazing but like any place you have assholes. My wife is Polish, born and raised in Warsaw and she loves Texas and has told me several times that she cannot imagine living anywhere else. So in short, I am a Texan all the way through and love this place.

Tekamul > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 15:59

To be clear, I have not been to Texas. I have multiple friends that have lived there, or that currently live there, and I will try to separate my opinion from the things I have heard them say.

Personally, my opinion is low. I know there are many great things there,

race tracks

music cultures

better weather than I suffer

but the state has a terrible reputation in the the general media for so many things that are important to me

racism

sexism

poor education

extremist politicians

poor health

This, coupled with the seemingly sky high opinion many vocal Texans have about themselves just pushes it further into a pile of states I have no desire to ever enter.

Casper > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 16:09

Texas isn't really like many states where I can have a single opinion because it's so huge and so diverse. There are a lot of things I really like about it, and some things I find really hypocritical and negative. The biggest problem is that they did things right for so long economically that people who ruined their states are flooding over there. Every time I visit it feels like more of the positives are being eroded away.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 16:14

Kinja'd!!!

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > pdthedeuce
10/24/2013 at 16:50

We can be sad together.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > For Sweden
10/24/2013 at 16:52

Oh. Well, as long as you get to Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and Corpus Christi eventually.

I've never been to El Paso. People say it's not even part of Texas. All I know is that I associate picante sauce with El Paso.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > More Power!!and also some brakes.
10/24/2013 at 16:58

Nothing like home state love!

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
10/24/2013 at 17:00

Yep, driving is very relaxing and enjoyable here. Vast open land and you get to see farms and all sorts of cool stuff.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > Hoccy
10/24/2013 at 17:02

Our rural areas are indeed sometimes ranches! hahaha

Maybe some day you will like to visit and check it out for a couple of days when our weather isn't wildly hot. The amount of trucks and SUVs you see here will have you in shock hahaha

SkarTisu > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 17:03

I spent a lot of time in Houston. I loved how friendly the people were, the cheerleader hair and the food. I wasn't a fan of the humidity or the lack of zoning laws, though.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > SkarTisu
10/24/2013 at 17:07

hahahaha The cheerleader hair!!! Wasn't expecting that one!

SkarTisu > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 17:21

Funny story about that. I'm from Minnesota, and was working on a contract gig in downtown Houston. I was waiting in the lobby for an elevator while two old-money Houston women approached. The one said to the other "oh yeah, I've been to Minnesota. You know, the women there are just....notoriously casual." I smiled and nodded my head to myself. A Minnesotan woman's idea of dressing up is wearing the nice plaid flannel shirt.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > SkarTisu
10/24/2013 at 17:26

wow...hahaha

That's a really terrible idea of dressing up. Although not all the women there are like that I imagine!

SkarTisu > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/24/2013 at 17:36

I actually had a second date with someone here who showed up in a flannel shirt. I must have been doing things very wrong. lol

Chuckybas > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/26/2013 at 20:57

Only spent 48 hours, but 10 were driving. Rental car from Dallas to Lubbock 5 hours, and then 5 hours back. Speed limit 75, but basically unlimited. So pretty. SUCH smooth roads. I'm from Mvote yesichigan, so our roads are crap. From a Jalop point of view, I got to speed like a maniac for hours and hours. Saw a lot of farms, some aerobatic cropdusting, windmill farms, and oil wells. Can't wait to go back. Lots of large trucks. A few cowboy hats. Miles of nothing/beauty. I even left the radio off for a few hours. I vote yes Texas.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > Chuckybas
10/26/2013 at 23:03

Be careful with the speeding in some parts of the state though, state troopers are unrelentless and have some crazy hiding spots you sometimes can't see until it's perfectly too late.

Chuckybas > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/26/2013 at 23:50

Well, I averaged 88 and once hit 105, but saved the really fast stuff for wide, wide open. I'm not a speeder typically, favoring MPG. Everybody on my route was kind of close to my speed. I didn't bl

Chuckybas > Chuckybas
10/26/2013 at 23:51

ast past anybody at too large of a difference. (sent before I was done)

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > Chuckybas
10/27/2013 at 00:18

hahaha poo, I'm guessing you wrote that on mobile.

Here in Texas at night time you can do some pretty high speeds on city/urban highways. I saw a Hennessey tuned Viper do upwards of 150mph on the way home from the TX2K13 night meet in March...I can't even imagine what the UGR Lambos, GTRs, and Supras were doing. (I may or may not know what the Supras have been doing)

Chuckybas > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/27/2013 at 17:03

It was mostly early Saturday morning, but I was hoping to see something exotic. No dice. Like I said, beautiful state. I'd love to return and

Chuckybas > Chuckybas
10/27/2013 at 17:04

see more of it.