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I'd say that people in big cities tend to be friendlier because they are all thrown together and by some human osmosis bond together. If you are unfriendly to people and live in a big city, you are destined to be unhappy. So cities are for outgoing people. If you are shy and retiring and/or misanthropic, then go live in Garretson, South Dakota.
We'd live in SooFoo except our home is Minneapolis. Too much junk to move, our house is paid for and it's not worth the move. Our friends and family are here in Mpls.
If we had a choice of where else we'd live, it would be Central New York, so we could take the train into the City.
I was born and rasied in the Sioux Falls area and moved back after college and know that vast majority of the people in the Sioux Falls area are good-natured and friendly people. A number of people are friendly but are reserved in nature. There are a few unfriendly folks, but that is with all other places in the world.
Jim Stokes is right! People who live in a larger city are forced to be in constant contact with people that they do not know so they usually try to make it as pleasant, yet impersonal as possible. Maybe Sioux Falls is caught in the "in-between" of a small first name basis community and a large city where extreme hospitality is rare.
Maybe you did not realize that Sioux Falls is actually a somewhat large city and that you may not be treated the same way you would be in your small town in Iowa. If you called a hotel in a small town, they would most likely be interested in you and want to know all about the weather where you were and what you do for a living. In a larger city that does not matter. They put up with hundreds of callers per day.
Give Sioux Falls a try, I find that people there are pretty friendly, but I do not expect small town-esque hospitality from them. They're busy!
You think they're short with you, try Denver or Minneapolis!!!
I was born and raised in Sioux Falls, and I can tell you that I'm very surprised to hear what you experienced. The people in SD are no different than those in IA. I've lived in CA, MN, FL and LA, and I will say that people in the midwest are the most helpful out of everywhere I've been. Sioux Falls is a great place to visit (unless you're looking for a dance club or similar night life...).
I have a friend who worked at the front desk of a hotel for many years, and the stories he told me were crazy. It's not an isolated geographical incident. Many people who work at hotels (especially low-end ones) are quite understandably unhappy with their jobs, and it shows. I've experienced that no matter where I've been in the US.
Good luck in the ragbrai!
And Danny's right... If you think people are short and impersonal in SF, come to New Orleans...
Last edited by kaeyil; 09-04-2007 at 02:13 PM..
Reason: agreement with Danny
It's good to hear nice things about Sx. Falls. I agree~they may not be as cordial as they are in small towns, but there HAVE to be a lot worse places in the country then Sx. Falls.
Kaeyil, how long have you lived in N.O.? Did you evacuate and move back? How do you like living down there?
It's good to hear nice things about Sx. Falls. I agree~they may not be as cordial as they are in small towns, but there HAVE to be a lot worse places in the country then Sx. Falls.
Kaeyil, how long have you lived in N.O.? Did you evacuate and move back? How do you like living down there?
I moved here from Daytona Beach a little over a year ago. Luckily I wasn't here for the big one. Frankly, I hate almost everything about this place other than the people (well, most of them). It's mostly just from what the hurricane has done, but it's also because of how some people have taken advantage of the locals. The local branch (let's call it "House Depot") gorged their priced on plywood and sheetrock, while leading an advertising campaign that showed how much they were helping, and rent has gone up at least 40% and in some cases over 100%. America reacted to it positively overall, but it's still devastated and will remain so for at least a decade.
I'm getting out though. This place is literally sitting in a toilet bowl, waiting to be flushed by Lake Ponchartrain again. I really respect the people who stayed here afterwards. I don't have the stomach for it myself.
I'm headed to Everett, WA as soon as I get final clearance from all those pre-employment contingencies from Boeing. I'm hoping to move in about 3 weeks.
My apologies for posting off-topic!
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