Friendliest/Least Friendly U.S. State you've been to and why

[Oatmeal31]

Curious on what others' experiences are here. I've personally had much better and friendlier interactions in the South or even red states in general. I live in Chicago, IL and I feel like I'm going crazy because people lack manners. I hate it here.

People don't make eye contact, smile, hold the door for others, greet, wave, you name it, etc. They prefer to pretend you don't exist. I plan on moving away end of year because on this. Beautiful city, ugly people.

Funnily enough, the state right next to IL, Indiana, is FAR friendlier. I've never had a bad interaction whenever I go to visit, oftentimes to go to one of their beaches and happen to stop at any store. Everyone is friendly there, EVERYONE. I came from Florida, which has southern hospitality and stays true to it, aside from parts of South Florida.

I've visited Texas briefly and people were very nice. More southern hospitality.

Not into politics at all but ironically, it seems the blue states are the least tolerant by far. Funny how that works. Just an observation.

What states have you visited that give a run for money in terms of friendliness?

 

[BillyPilgrim]

Californians generally suck and tend to be users, narcissists and flakes. People in Virginia were generally friendly (a mix of southern hospitality and east coast realness) when I lived there (Metro DC and Richmond) but it's been a while. Arizonans are generally friendly despite what @SW15 may think, compared to Californians there's a significant difference.

 

[SW15]

I've visited Texas briefly and people were very nice. More southern hospitality.

The smaller towns in Texas have Southern hospitality. The larger cities don't. Dallas is likely the most unfriendly city in Texas and is transplant heavy. The Fort Worth side of Dallas-Fort Worth is somewhat more friendly but not nearly as friendly as the smaller towns.

Arizonans are generally friendly despite what @SW15 may think

Arizona is an interesting place to discuss. Most people living in Arizona didn't spend their formative years in Arizona. There are a lot of transplants to Arizona.

There are plenty of California transplants in Arizona. Those would be more unfriendly people.

When I was in Arizona, I spent time trying to get my penis wet in nightlife venues in Old Town Scottsdale. That's a place where I encountered more unfriendly type behaviors. That's likely the least friendly setting someone could find in Arizona.

In general, Arizona is likely somewhere in the middle of friendly vs. unfriendly.

I live in Chicago, IL and I feel like I'm going crazy because people lack manners. I hate it here.

People don't make eye contact, smile, hold the door for others, greet, wave, you name it, etc. They prefer to pretend you don't exist. I plan on moving away end of year because on this. Beautiful city, ugly people.

Funnily enough, the state right next to IL, Indiana, is FAR friendlier. I've never had a bad interaction whenever I go to visit, oftentimes to go to one of their beaches and happen to stop at any store. Everyone is friendly there, EVERYONE.

I can imagine that being true about Chicagoland. People in Illinois are likely friendlier in the smaller towns. I can imagine Indiana to be friendlier. Indianapolis is likely the least friendly place in Indiana, but likely friendlier than a lot of places.

Californians generally suck and tend to be users, narcissists and flakes.

That's true about the people from Los Angeles' Westside area.

The Bay Area in generally is unfriendly, but with a different vibe than Los Angeles.

I haven't been impressed with the level of friendliness in the San Diego area either.

 

[BackInTheGame78]

Hawaii is friendliest and it's not even close.

 

[Mike32ct]

The northeast is generally not friendly. But Rhode Island is the exception.

 

[Hamurabimbi]

I’ve been to 40+ states & 3 US territories. Most were pretty friendly. We just got back from Houston TX & they’re super-friendly. As for least friendly: SF Bay Area. Especially SF proper.

 

[SW15]

The northeast is generally not friendly.

This is true. Some of this depends on how the word is defined.

I once heard someone describe the Northeast as kind but not nice. This person said that someone in the Northeast might help someone in a bad situation but be rude about doing so. The same person said Californians might be nice but not kind. They'd be more empathetic towards the person's situation but not actually help someone.

In the Northeast, Maine has a reputation for being hostile to outsiders that move to that state. Maine isn't known for getting many transplants, likely due to the cold and this reputation. Massachusetts has the Masssholes reputation, which comes about from a lack of friendliness.

The fast pace of New York City does create some level of rudeness. However, New York City is one of the few places in the USA where street game is possible on city streets. New York City residents aren't the worst because street game is possible there due to more foot traffic and women being decent enough to be receptive to some approaches on city street and in the subway terminals.

 

[Mike32ct]

This is true. Some of this depends on how the word is defined.

I once heard someone describe the Northeast as kind but not nice. This person said that someone in the Northeast might help someone in a bad situation but be rude about doing so. The same person said Californians might be nice but not kind. They'd be more empathetic towards the person's situation but not actually help someone.

In the Northeast, Maine has a reputation for being hostile to outsiders that move to that state. Maine isn't known for getting many transplants, likely due to the cold and this reputation. Massachusetts has the Masssholes reputation, which comes about from a lack of friendliness.

The fast pace of New York City does create some level of rudeness. However, New York City is one of the few places in the USA where street game is possible on city streets. New York City residents aren't the worst because street game is possible there due to more foot traffic and women being decent enough to be receptive to some approaches on city street and in the subway terminals.

Agreed. Connecticut people, for example, are fairly reserved. They’re generally only friendly to people they already know. To strangers, they are businesslike until they get to know you. But they’re not purposely cold.

NYC is a very different animal. New Yorkers love to talk and can be quite chatty if you catch them at the right time and place and they are open to talking to you. I don’t go to the city anymore, but it was one thing I really liked about it.

 

[SW15]

NYC is a very different animal. New Yorkers love to talk and can be quite chatty if you catch them at the right time and place and they are open to talking to you. I don’t go to the city anymore, but it was one thing I really liked about it.

That's why street approaching can work well in New York City. Some street approaches can result in harsh blowouts in NYC. There's almost no pure street approaching in Dallas.

What you say is also true in a non-sexual setting too.

Connecticut people, for example, are fairly reserved. They’re generally only friendly to people they already know. To strangers, they are businesslike until they get to know you. But they’re not purposely cold.

That's true.

 

[eli77]

South Florida sucks love n Carolina heard about Alabama nothing good

 

[Oatmeal31]

South Florida sucks love n Carolina heard about Alabama nothing good

Large part of South FL does suck but the further up north you go the friendlier

 

[BaronOfHair]

D.C.'s pretty friendly, so long as you've got a bribe in your pocket, or a favor to trade

 

[Plinco]

Large part of South FL does suck but the further up north you go the friendlier

I'll attest to that first hand. South Florida has a mix of people, many of whom are from the urban north. The same goes for places like Tampa, the Orlando area, Port St. Lucie, and Port Charlotte. There's a fair number of entitled boomers who live here and there's a relatively high crime rate too state wide, despite the tough on crime attitude. Most people are cool though.

Further north in the deep south, with the exception of Atlanta, people are way nicer in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee. I went up there a couple of years ago and the friendliness was a culture shock, to the point of me being amused.

 

[BackInTheGame78]

Agreed. Connecticut people, for example, are fairly reserved. They’re generally only friendly to people they already know. To strangers, they are businesslike until they get to know you. But they’re not purposely cold.

NYC is a very different animal. New Yorkers love to talk and can be quite chatty if you catch them at the right time and place and they are open to talking to you. I don’t go to the city anymore, but it was one thing I really liked about it.

They can be, but New Yorkers will also tell you to go fvck yourself pretty quickly too if they aren't in the mood.

 

[eli77]

I'll attest to that first hand. South Florida has a mix of people, many of whom are from the urban north. The same goes for places like Tampa, the Orlando area, Port St. Lucie, and Port Charlotte. There's a fair number of entitled boomers who live here and there's a relatively high crime rate too state wide, despite the tough on crime attitude. Most people are cool though.

Further north in the deep south, with the exception of Atlanta, people are way nicer in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee. I went up there a couple of years ago and the friendliness was a culture shock, to the point of me being amused.

Alabama racist?

 

[CoolWave1331]

Friendliest would be my home state: Minnesota. I also have family and spent time (University) in Illinois. Love the Prairie state. Wisconsin was also really hospitable. The big island of Hawaii was wonderful, did not spend too much time but I liked what I saw.

Did not like NYC. I'm not sure how upstate NY is so no comment. Florida (Miami) & Michigan (Detroit) I did not find really friendly- MIA looked very nice for what worth. I live in Mass and some people in Boston are rude overall not too many complaints.

Later this Summer I will be visiting New Orleans (And other parts of Louisiana) - looking forward to it

 

[Travel memoir21]

Come to my part of town the Rio Grande Valley, we may love to eat but we have a diverse group of family oriented people, that love to mingle, have bbqs and play tejano music lol

 

[GoodMan32]

Californians generally suck and tend to be users, narcissists and flakes. People in Virginia were generally friendly (a mix of southern hospitality and east coast realness) when I lived there (Metro DC and Richmond) but it's been a while. Arizonans are generally friendly despite what @SW15 may think, compared to Californians there's a significant difference.

Arizonans are uniquely angry.

Before anyone says "You're annoying; that's why Arizonans appear angry to you," they're angry even compared to other places I've lived. Furthermore, I've heard plenty of others who live/have lived here say Arizonans are uniquely angry too (one explanation I've heard for why is the intense heat that lingers for months at a time)

As for friendliest states, Utah and Oklahoma are tied for the friendliest states I've been to.

 

[SW15]

Arizonans are uniquely angry.

Before anyone says "You're annoying; that's why Arizonans appear angry to you," they're angry even compared to other places I've lived. Furthermore, I've heard plenty of others who live/have lived here say Arizonans are uniquely angry too (one explanation I've heard for why is the intense heat that lingers for months at a time)

Most of Arizona's population lives in the warmer, lower elevation parts of the state (Phoenix and Tucson).

Northern Arizona has higher elevations and less population. The climate is more temperate. Summers aren't as hot.

The heat isn't the only reason for Arizona's less friendly reputation. Southern hospitality occurs in Alabama, Tennessee, and Louisiana. Those places are hot and humid.

the Rio Grande Valley, we may love to eat

The obesity in that area is bad. I would not find as many women attractive in the Rio Grande Valley.

 

[BillyPilgrim]

Most of Arizona's population lives in the warmer, lower elevation parts of the state (Phoenix and Tucson).

Northern Arizona has higher elevations and less population. The climate is more temperate. Summers aren't as hot.

The heat isn't the only reason for Arizona's less friendly reputation. Southern hospitality occurs in Alabama, Tennessee, and Louisiana. Those places are hot and humid.



The obesity in that area is bad. I would not find as many women attractive in the Rio Grande Valley.

90% of it has to be the god awful stoplights. There's a lack of freeways so you're doing a lot of city driving and the traffic lights are the worst in the country. Measurably they're the longest.

https://www.autoblog.com/features/arizona-has-the-worst-road-rage-in-america-study-says

Plus, lots of pickup truck drivers here (the faux country all hat no cattle type). About twice the per capita percentage than California does in my observation