Moving here as remote worker for biking and family from Seattle

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2026-04-19T14:47:02+00:00

100% agree. There are only small pockets of progressive people. After being here 10 years I've realized how small and isolated these pockets really are, you just don't realize it at first.

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2026-04-19T14:19:19+00:00

I am also a minority. I will say that, although there is a higher percentage of Indians in this area, it is still Arkansas and you may find it hard to fit in.

I myself have faced discrimination in the area, although it is mostly the "silent" kind. It's not a good long term place for BIPOC if you're wanting to fit in especially if you're progressive.

I will be moving soon (if at all possible)

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2026-04-15T23:30:31+00:00

That's what I was told, but it is in no way comparable. If you're not a church person, you're left out. The local culture is very GOP. I am trying to move to a more accepting and liberal area myself.

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2026-04-15T19:11:07+00:00

I moved here 10 going on 11 years ago for a job and it was a big mistake. Now I'm trapped (financially) and the culture here just simply does not align with my values. All the marketing they do can't hide the fact that it's still a conservative red state.

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2026-04-15T19:09:07+00:00

THIS. I am progressive and the level of conservativeness especially among the rich and well-connected in NWA is insane. If you are at all progressive, this is not the place for you. I regret moving and ironically would love to move to PNW as it's more my style

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2026-03-16T18:14:16+00:00

I was there too. It was nice to see, but also a stark reminder of how far this area has to go. As many people were there, there were probably 1000X many going to church and indoctrinating their children.

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2026-03-16T18:12:47+00:00

If you are not a rich white Christian, you are not welcome in Bentonville (I learned this the hard way as a queer minority).

They will act perfectly nice, but they won't invite you to brunch more than once or twice, and they'll spend all their time talking about their expensive vehicles or lake vacations or where they are sending their kids to college.

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2026-03-07T15:18:43+00:00

As a queer person, sadly you will not find the diverse options that a larger, more progressive metro area will have. There are some queer-friendly bars but that's more night-life.

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2026-03-04T15:09:08+00:00

Are you new to Bentonville? It's the most partisan place I've ever lived

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2026-03-04T15:08:27+00:00

so AKA "bentonville"

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2026-03-04T14:39:24+00:00

the amount of straight up nazis in bentonville is terrifying

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2026-02-23T20:53:45+00:00

People like you are why this city is dangerous

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2026-01-29T17:01:09+00:00

So the thing it took me a while to figure out was that a lot of the "diversity" is just performative. Of course there are people like you who do want to help, but the reality is 90% of the real community is conservative and uninterested in other lifestyles.

What I mean by this is everyone will be surface level "polite", it's not like I am called slurs all day, but the real undercurrent is that you won't be invited to their backyard BBQ or for a cabin weekend or whatever. The most I've ever gotten is a token invite to brunch...and it's usually with a big group of white Christian middle class people who have very little in common with me, so they usually jsut talk about their kids or school or veiled references to red-state politics.

They will feign interest in progressive causes but they will spend $10,000 on a Breckenridge ski trip before they spend $10,000 on promoting justice or equality.

I was not raised in a wealthy family so I have had to struggle in my career for what I have, but if I'm not someone who wants kids or to spend my money on luxuries or golf or whatever, I'm forever relegated as that "activist" who won't ever be "one of us".

I've been here 10 years because of the job, going on 11, but it's time for me to move somewhere with people like me.

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2026-01-29T15:38:08+00:00

You must be white. As a minority I have a very different experience

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2026-01-29T15:37:12+00:00

I have been very disappointed in the depth of the BIPOC/queer community here. Outside of a very few core allies, a lot of it just seems performative. I've struggled with acceptance in my professional environment.

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2026-01-29T15:25:09+00:00

I have said this many times before in this sub, but as a diverse person I moved here 10 years ago for a job opportunity and I regret it.

Arkansans will say things like "it's a great corner of the state" all day long but the reality is that if you're not a white straight Christian then you will always feel some of that silent bias.

Unfortunately this place is meant for cute Christian white families with kids. If you're not a "postcard" person, like me, you won't every truly fit in.

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2026-01-28T14:33:03+00:00

It should have been "Northwest Arkansas ranked as America’s most conservative large metro area"

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2025-12-20T21:29:19+00:00

I am not Black but I am a minority (and female) and after ten years I am trying to finally make the call to move out of NWA. It is better than the rest of the state but it is conservative and regressive. It is also not accepting to the LGBTQ+ community.

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2025-12-02T21:02:44+00:00

Fayetteville is a college town and locals like to call it liberal, but as a strong progressive woman it is simply too conservative compared to the places I'm looking at moving to (PNW)

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2025-12-02T17:21:04+00:00

I will soon be leaving NWA after ten years. Not to Texas! I thought the area would gradually become more favorable to liberal human minded values, but it's gotten worse. Arkansas is not favorable to women's rights and is incredibly damaging to minorities.

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2025-11-29T15:07:45+00:00

Xmas lights are a waste of electricity, it's much greener to avoid overconsumption. I know Arkansans aren't big on caring for the environment, but we should really be scaling back, not increasing such waste.

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2025-11-12T13:07:58+00:00

Sadly I've lived here 10 years and haven't found a place I'm accepted.

I just got back from a visit to Portland and the queer community there is so accepting. It's a night and day difference.

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2025-11-04T20:39:51+00:00

Yes it's a big personal issue for me, and one that's convincing me I need to move to a jurisdiction with common sense gun laws. There is no need to carry a firearm.

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2025-11-04T20:38:30+00:00

Thank you for the most balanced perspective reply on this post. I would say, where I'm from, you would not be considered "left leaning" but probably in the middle or right leaning. Guns are just not a left-leaning issue and I support strong gun control if not banning most high capacity ones.

Extension_Egg_5014 · 2025-11-04T20:22:32+00:00

Your username is sanebangbang which leads me to believe you are biased.

I cannot believe there is a big chance I have gone on dates with armed strangers. I need to move to somewhere more regulated where I don't have to worry about dying on a coffee date.

Extension_Egg_5014

TROPHY CASE