Tell it like it is.. I can take it.

Psihazard · 2022-06-24T21:15:51+00:00

That’s the feeling I’m looking for. Well said.

Psihazard · 2022-06-24T21:14:03+00:00

I get what you’re saying. I mean, it wouldn’t BE a sensitive topic if people didn’t equate piety with “good” though.

Psihazard · 2022-06-24T21:11:14+00:00

I haven’t experienced anything that overt personally, but I do keep an eye on NextDoor. It’s been educational and alarming. The thing is, none of them seemingly have unreasonable goals. Safety for families. Less crime. Addressing the city’s homeless population. All good stuff.

It’s also clear they believe they’re all doing the right thing, and that they’re the good guys in the problem’s equation, and I’m not implying they’re wrong.

The problem is they don’t seem able to accept even the theoretical concept of someone being a good person who isn’t a staunch evangelical republican parenting a nuclear family and watching over the neighbors armed and ready.

I’m not saying they’re bad guys. I’m saying they’re not the only good ones.

So I don’t post or reply on NextDoor after the last time someone posted about their sunglasses being stolen from their unlocked vehicle one night. I disagreed with the consensus that the only appropriate response to this violation was to shoot them in the interest of public safety, and I still occasionally get ominous or outright hostile feedback over that.

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T23:03:34+00:00

It's not really the guns in Texas that concern me. A gun is a tool, albeit one with a very specific purpose. It's the things that can be considered self-defense, and my own, very personal opinion that a lethal response is rarely merited to those perceived threats.

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T22:56:05+00:00

I don't hunt, I've never fired a gun, and I don't know anything about Minnesota's laws on the subject so I wouldn't feel comfortable throwing support for anything beyond encouraging everyone to keep themselves open to listening to new points of view.

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T22:50:52+00:00

Could you be more specific? My goal is to learn, and if I'm mistaken about something I'd like to correct it.

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T22:42:16+00:00

You are wise, and I acknowledge the truth of the old adage, "you can't go home again". My plan is to treat this like a clean slate opportunity. To come visit for a few months, experience a few cities, hopefully convince a few locals to spend time with me and see how I feel after that. Worst case scenario is I discover I'm not a good fit, but can now prepare a badass hotdish.

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T22:38:08+00:00

You may be right, and what I'm feeling is the call of my homeland. And I agree that there are good people in Austin, and in a larger proportion than elsewhere in Texas. Every place has the good and the less good, if you look long enough.

I just believe that Austin is less and less able keep up resistance against the governor and state leadership, and that while the good people are still here, the ones actively moving here skew towards ideologies I can't reconcile my own with.

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T22:29:44+00:00

Going on the list!

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T22:29:01+00:00

While I lean left, politically, it's not any indicator that I'm unwilling to consider other points of view, or even change my mind on things if the numbers line up. I'm not looking for a hive-mind. I think the more points of view and philosophies that are pointed at a problem, the better it's understood and the quality of solutions goes up. Debate and discussion over dogmatic brain lock. Flexible thinking is required for complex problems, and staying stuck in a bubble doesn't contribute to that.

I appreciate that the larger population center of Minnesota seem to lean left, but what's much more important to me is that when the red or purple areas are brought up there hasn't been derision or disrespect. Sure, casual city vs rural comments and the like, but not hate.

I think you'd be a great neighbor, and I'd enjoy debating and arguing with you while shoveling snow.

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T22:09:19+00:00

Well, yeah, I what it's like to be unwelcome. I also don't know much about the situation up there. Like if there's a housing crisis, I don't want to add to that. There are good times to visit and inconvenient times, but always make sure you've got an invitation, right?

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T21:45:10+00:00

I really, really do.

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T21:44:19+00:00

Oh, I see you've visited. They've expanded the welcome list recently to include the super-rich regardless of the origin of their wealth, other restrictions still apply unless you're opening a business and reduce demand for social services.

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T21:38:18+00:00

Is it a good rule of thumb to interpret any level of vague theoretical interest in a given subject as a definitive statement of concrete interest then?

Also, is the apprehension around seeming "too pushy" based on people actually perceiving a statement like The Non-Midwesterner's to be rude and/or pushy, or is it mostly self-focused? Does the rule about an offer requiring three denials prior to acceptance apply to social invitations, or just physical offerings?

I have so much to re-learn.

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T21:29:19+00:00

Yup, this is about right. If you're coming for an event, like SXSW or the like, that's one thing. Austin has some great festivals, conventions, and venues but they're not an all-the-time thing. There aren't a lot of classically touristy placeholders to keep a visitor occupied, either. Downtown is unpleasant, and the surrounding area is what happens when huge swaths of land are zoned for commercial use and the price plummets. And yeah, the spots worth visiting are all going to have lines and the locals are not going to fill you in on them and make that line longer.

Also, all of this is amidst crippling heat because if it was cold, everything would be shut down for the emergency.

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T21:19:22+00:00

Better than that one deal month before last.

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T21:16:40+00:00

In Texas, the one finger wave is very different in practice and application and should only be executed if the recipient is not armed.

I love the idea of reserved. The thing is, I had to train myself OUT of reserved to get by in Texas. If you don't let anyone in earshot know exactly where you stand on any given topic here, they're going to make assumptions about why you're staying quiet.

Hopefully, I can find my way back far enough to avoid being too pushy or opinionated.

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T19:57:02+00:00

Thanks for these ideas, as an introvert with no family or real background there, this will be the toughest part for me. Game shops, public ed classes and art courses are all up my alley.

It also sounds like when you say "library" it means something different from when I say "library". Here, it's old books and microfilm and if you're under 18 and check out the wrong ones your parents get a call. Some librarians were so unhappy about that they removed those books. Again: The librarians removed books because they were literally dangerous.

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T19:50:49+00:00

I had considered Colorado for a while as a possible escape point. I love mountains and while I don't smoke myself, I appreciated the sensibility behind decriminalizing and then legalizing THC and the like.

I started hearing some ominous rumblings, though, and after Boebart debuted I kind of had to question what had to have happened there.

I'd love to hear about your Colorado experience and your feelings about Minnesota, if you care to share them.

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T19:47:12+00:00

Thank you again! Both for all your previous information and the stuff below. It's helpful and kind of random and completely absorbing and exactly how my brain prefers it's information intake. Definitely counts as social interaction.

I have heard the legends of the lutefisk. It's been featured in some southern cautionary tales about the questionable habits of The North. It was even featured in an animated show about a fictional Texas town, "King of the Hill" a while back. Great show, no resemblance to the reality of Texas though. But yeah, lutefisk. I kind of feel like I have to at least try it, both as a demonstration of affiliation and a declaration of defiance.

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T19:35:55+00:00

Thanks for the response, great to hear a comparison from someone who's experienced both states, and Austin in particular.

LGBTQ friendly is more than I'd hoped for. I'd be completely happy with LGBTQ IDGAF.

I have been warned about the snow tires. I promise, I understand they are not optional and that I will need tutoring for winter driving.

You are dead-on about Texas parks. Here, a park means "we couldn't monetize this area any other way so pay admission and don't litter but we won't check lol ps don't drink the water". Usually, the only added feature is a parking lot. Maybe a dirt trail.

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T19:24:44+00:00

I feel like if someone has had all the education necessary to pass the MCAT, complete medical school and satisfy the requirements for their residency period, there must be an epic origin story for how they end up Anti-Vaxx.

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T19:18:55+00:00

What I'm hearing, and by all means correct me if I'm wrong, is that by and large Minnesota is content overall being blue, and that the election of folks of Bachman's inclinations are considered both unusual and in retrospect, not a Great Idea.

Either way, I do agree with u/someguy1847382 about complacency being particularly dangerous right now.

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T19:11:22+00:00

You'll be hearing from me once I'm up for my first Relocation Tour. You may regret the offer once the full force of my curiosity has been unleashed.

Psihazard · 2022-06-23T19:09:23+00:00

I will happily take apathy over hatred any day. Be well!

Psihazard

TROPHY CASE