Massachusetts loses population (and I do a parody)

Boston Globe ^

[NZerFromHK]

I have been thinking about this: why don't conservatives organize "reverse locust movements" in which they move en masse to blue states and "redden" them in time?

[OldPossum]

Thanks for post 79. I'm an old man (well, maybe there's a little bit of possum in me, too) but I've always understood that "Have a nice day" (since I think you have reference to that particular social expression) is just a rather meaningless--one way or the other--statement (and not confined to those in the South, either), in the same way that "How are you doing?" really is not expressive as regards how the other person is really doing; it too is utilized by many Northerners that I have known.

I think you may be misinterpreting the smile and friendly approach that Southerners use when talking to folks (and not just fellow Southerners). Maybe I'm naive but I think it's a genuine emotion that they feel towards their fellow human beings.

I will grant you that some--and I accent "some"--of the Northerners I have come across (in New York City and Chicago, particularly) are indeed gruff in their "conversations" (usually in reaction to a question you pose) with you. I, unlike you who is a much better position to know, though, having lived your life in the North, don't see it as direct speech; I see it as outright and unnecessary rudeness and would prefer not to deal with them.

Sorry, I don't agree with your premise that Southerners are dishonest because they are chatty and indirect. Just conflicts with what I know them to be, friendly towards their fellow man. (I know this is a generalization and all generalizations are wrong, including that one.)

P.S. My wife is from the Midwest and she frequently strikes up conversations with people she doesn't know and is extremely smiley and friendly to them. Does that make her dishonest?

[TShaunK]

Hate to admit it.But you guys are right.At least we have the Patriots.

[HostileTerritory]

I was saying that it strikes some people as dishonest. I don't believe it is, it's just a different way of interacting. My mother-in-law is midwestern so I know exactly what you mean, she's simply a nice person.

[quant5]

"All these people move here from Mass wanting to escape the bureaucracy they were inundated with"

Isn't it ironic that during the American Revolution that Mass was the hub of major rebellions against King George for such things as taxation without representation?

[april15Bendovr]

Now it has become the capital for corruption in the Democrat party.