No argument...but for a reasonably large city, I have found the people of Indianapolis the nicest, friendliest folks around.
My old stomping grounds ! The small culture shock is when I moved to Colorado in 1995 and at the time I worked at MCI as a contractor. I had to step out to take my car to the shop and stopped for a bite to eat at a Taco John’s. I ran across a couple of co-workers and kind of got the brush off when I asked if I can join. Kind of odd compared to being in Indy. Back in Indy, if you were out to lunch, it was kind of socially expected to ask someone to join you if you see a co-worker.
But the people who gave me the brush off, as I knew them better later, they were from the East Coast (Maryland & Wash DC) and one of them had the reputation of being into political correctness. After I got laid off, a year after I saw Ms. P.C. when I went to the grocery store to get cigars for poker, she was rather curt with me and asked what I was doing there and basically told me I didn’t belong in Colorado. When I still worked at MCI, that woman told me she didn’t like my accent and remarked she didn’t like rednecks.
Also at the time, the national speed limit was on its way out and there was discussion on a 75 mph speed limit and she of course remarked that we should stay at 55 mph and remarked on how states like Maryland believed in safety and kept it at 55 mph.
But back in Indy, definitely nice folks but it also depends on what part of Indy. The folks on the East-side were not friendly and that area has gone downhill even more since the 1980’s or even late 1960’s.
> I have found the people of Indianapolis the nicest, friendliest folks around.
Its not hard to find nicer folks out here in fly over country, at least away from the big cities.
In 1952 I was an Army Pfc on temporary duty in New Mexico. A couple of days before the Indianapolis 500, I was able to wind up my duty and return to the DC area on government travel papers. I had a ticket to the race, so I got my airline ticket routed by way of Indianapolis and arrived there in early afternoon the day before the race. At the American Airlines counter, they had a list of bed and breakfasts in the racetrack area. I picked one and got a cab ride out there. I got my bed and breakfast for, as I recall, five dollars! I walked down the street that evening to the little 16th street speedway and watched some midget races. Next morning I walked to the 500 Speedway and enjoyed an event of a lifetime, thanks to Uncle Sam, American Airlines and a most gracious and friendly Indianapolis housewife.
I’ve been in Indy about a month now and still can’t quite believe how nice people are here. It’s like a different planet from Baltimore/DC.