# Any other place as proud as Texas? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 8, 2019, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721 "2019-07-08T17:04:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721/41 "2019-07-09T16:42:13Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Also no real fighting between indians and white settlers (discounting the small Metis rebellion). Which was also about the closest thing Canada ever had to a Civil War. I think the [Rebellions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebellions_of_1837%E2%80%931838) were somewhat closer to a civil war, even though the rebels had little chance of succeeding. They are certainly remembered today. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721/42 "2019-07-09T16:49:56Z")
Boston is the most pompous city in the USA. I’m Boston born and bred and I still think of myself as a Bostonian, though I haven’t lived there in over 30 years. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721/43 "2019-07-09T17:38:00Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Yeah - was surprised when heading west out of town towards Lakeway, how quickly the expressway ended and became what - around these parts - is a medium-sized suburban thoroughfare. Definitely not sufficient to handle the amount of traffic expected in a metropolis that big. > > The hills and curves on the main drags was quite different for this flat-lander from a street grid. Also thought the apparent sign restrictions curious. The signs were all quite low - which was nice in not distracting from the scenery, but did make it tougher to find some things. > > With the hills and trees, it was often difficult to tell how much development lay how close to the roads. There’s actually quite a bit out that way, but since it’s all in a hilly, forested part of the area, it’s not immediately apparent from the ground. And Austin’s notorious for more or less thinking that if they don’t invest in roads and similar infrastructure, then the population growth will lessen, or something. Which hasn’t been the case at all- they just go on doing moronic stuff like putting a line of high-rises right along S. Lamar, where the traffic was already bad to begin with, and not actually doing anything to relieve the increased traffic. > [@Dinsdale](#): > > Yeah, it was just weird to come upon such a bustling venue. It was nice, but IMO not so incredibly nice as to warrant the throngs. My guess (I’m an out-of-towner married to a woman whose family has lived in Austin for 100+ years), is that it’s about the only real party/dining venue on Lake Travis accessible to most people. That would explain the popularity, which otherwise is as perplexing as you note. I’m not an Austin fan. For one thing, it’s not representative of the majority of Texas- most of the other cities have a very pragmatic streak that doesn’t seem to have taken hold in Austin. For another, the vibe, culture and socio-economic status of the citizens isn’t terribly representative either- it’s very liberal, pretty wealthy, and much more taken with stuff like environmentalism and quirkiness than most other Texas cities, and especially non-college towns. And meanwhile, all we hear about in the rest of the state is people from elsewhere crowing about how “cool” Austin is, when our own cities have a lot to recommend them as well. Houston is as multicultural and diverse as cities get. Dallas has a lot of sophisticated and high-end entertainment and shopping. San Antonio has a huge amount of history and Mexican-Texan culture (it’s the birthplace of chili AND Tex-Mex as we know it). ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721/44 "2019-07-09T20:51:52Z")
In my perception in terms of braggadocio, Texas is to the U.S. what the U.S. is to the rest of the world. I’m sure that almost all places have at least some businesses named after their location. And “Lone Star” is a nice phrase, so it makes as much sense to have a “Lone Star” sandwich shop as to have something in New York named “Big Apple” deli. But does any other state have as many private residences that fly the state flag as Texas does? There are probably countries that don’t have as many country flags flying per capita that Texas does. (And yes, I don’t know when it started, but school kids have to pledge allegiance to the Texas Flag right after doing so to the U.S. flag) ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721/45 "2019-07-09T21:37:09Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Is there any other place in the world so proud of a battle they lost? Sparta, Kosovo, Culloden. > [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Boston is the most pompous city in the USA. I’m Boston born and bred and I still think of myself as a Bostonian, though I haven’t lived there in over 30 years. San Francisco and Los Angeles are in the running. > [@Zyada](#): > > (And yes, I don’t know when it started, but school kids have to pledge allegiance to the Texas Flag right after doing so to the U.S. flag) 1933 ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721/46 "2019-07-09T22:30:23Z")
> [@](#): > > (And yes, I don’t know when it started, but school kids have to pledge allegiance to the Texas Flag right after doing so to the U.S. flag) > [@mbh](#): > > 1933 Not everywhere then, because I grew up in Fort Worth in the 60s and 70s and never even heard of such a thing. Until I was a substitute teacher for a few months 3 or so years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721/47 "2019-07-10T00:51:42Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > You forgot the bit where you say the Texas Pledge right after the Pledge of Alligence. Ha ha ha ha, “Texas Pledge of Allegiance”. \ Oh god. Just another reason I’m glad I left that state. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721/48 "2019-07-10T01:04:01Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Ha ha ha ha, “Texas Pledge of Allegiance”. > > \ Oh god. Just another reason I’m glad I left that state. It’s not even a good one. It reads like a word salad. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721/49 "2019-07-10T02:53:31Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > Do people from other states—Californians don’t do this, IME—when asked by people in another country where they’re from, answer, “(Sir/Ma’am), I’m from Texas.” Strangely, I was in Thailand recently, and sometimes someone would ask where I was from. Answering “California” (where I live) was occasionally more easily understood than “America” or “USA”. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721/50 "2019-07-10T13:24:32Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I have relatives who moved there. Not wealthy by a Jobs were readily available. They live in a teeny little apartment, but say that all they do there is sleep. Why spend time indoors when you step outside and are in paradise?! So CoL depends on how you want to live. > > Not sure why, but for some reason I’m not sure I’d want to live on an island, a 6-hr flight from anyplace else. Would definitely limit the in-person contact w/ my siblings/kids/grandkid. Yes we also have family there and your right about it limiting interaction with family. We have seen them maybe once every ten years here on the mainland. Also when your there living on say Maui then your pretty much stuck on Maui and a trip to say the big island is very rare. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721/51 "2019-07-10T18:01:46Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > …To hijack my own thread - it was fine. We went there for a nephew’s wedding. IMO they chose a RIDICULOUS venue - very inconvenient. And it was HORRIBLY hot. > > Austin itself seems just like a big city. Nice river/riverwalk. We aren’t big on nightlife, so a lot of that was lost on us. Downtown Sunday morning there were TONS of homeless - maintenance crews washing off human feces and such. Yuck. > > What a huge and growing metropolis! I questioned how the roads and infrastructure will serve the influx of people. > > Was confused as to how THE Colorado River made its way all the way over to Texas! 😃 Spent a nice day hiking/swimming at Pace Bend Park. Really enjoyed seeing some different birds (I’m a casual birder.) > > Didn’t see the bats, but my sister did. Said it was very underwhelming. > > Much greener than I expected of Texas. With the ready access to water and electricity, and the lack of winter, I can see the appeal. Seems a shame a place as sunny as that does not invest in solar. Of course, gas was $1.50/gal cheaper than up here in Chicago. > > Thing that blew my mind the most was The Oasis. Wedding rehearsal party was held at the brewery there. Driving through what appeared to be unpopulated wasteland, then you come upon crowds suggestive of Disneyland! When we left, the lots were full and there were cars parked 1 mild along the road. I mean, the view was nice, but it wasn’t THAT nice. Suggested a lack of other amenities to compete. Really confusing to see such bustle in the middle of little else. And the $ reflected in the mansions in the hills! :eek: Thanks for the very indepth response. Bump said a lot of the things I would’ve. Re: renewable energy, I am not certain, I cannot see the Texas government choosing to subsidize one form of energy over another. Well, more than they already do for nuclear. (And just stop with comments about tax treatment of depreciation for the oil and gas industry.) Accordingly, I can’t see a great influx of solar at the present time. There are plenty of wind generators throughout the state though. When solar decreases in cost, I imagine it’ll be ubiquitous throughout the state. I haven’t been to the Oasis since the decks burnt down, and were rebuilt. Decent margarita, helped considerably by the view, don’t eat the food. The houses nearby are awfully gaudy, aren’t they? I’d think a modern Twain could easily redo his Gilded Age critiques in and around Lakes Travis and Austin. They really don’t like to build roads in Austin. Yet advertise for people and businesses to move there. Traffic is the result. It was hideous when I lived there 15 years ago, and in my recent visits, it’s gotten worse. I found the best vantage point for bats watching was the water. Kayak/canoe near the bridge—far enough away to not be gagged by the smell—and watch them fly off as if they were a waft of smoke. Yeah, “Colorado River?” This isn’t the Grand Canyon… Minor adjustment in thinking. It is remarkably green, once you get into the Hill Country a ways. And points East, of course. It was one of the things that really hit us when we drove out to Texas from California. Tan-tan-tan-brown, until you hit Fredericksburg ish and boom! Green thickets everywhere. Coastal California doesn’t do green until you get to the Sierras or the Redwoods. Even there, it isn’t the overgrown lushness that we saw coming into Austin. Glad you had an alright time, but yeah, I wouldn’t have a destination wedding in Austin in July. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721/52 "2019-07-10T18:37:40Z")
In the early 80’s Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe was flooded with “[Buffalo Talking Proud](https://youtu.be/46Ive-dRXVo)” commercials. A typical TV newscast would be: “Fire in Cheektowaga.” “Fire in Tonawanda.” [Buffalo Talking Proud commercial](https://youtu.be/46Ive-dRXVo). “Fire in Lackawanna.” ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721/53 "2019-07-25T21:34:15Z")
For those that think they might know someplace as proud of their place of birth as Texans are, I offer this counter-argument: [Man Spends $200 To Ship Dirt Internationally To Make Sure His Baby Is Born Over Texas Soil](https://kluv.radio.com/blogs/miles-morning/man-spends-200-ship-dirt-internationally-make-sure-his-baby-born-over-texas-soil) :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721/54 "2019-07-25T22:52:52Z")
From “Stupid Texas Song” by the Austin Lounge Lizards: _By God we’re so darn proud to be from Texas - yahoo! Even of our pride we’re proud and we’re proud of that pride, too Our pride about our home state is the proudest pride indeed And we’re proud to be Americans, until we can secede_ ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721/55 "2019-07-26T00:46:07Z")
I was surprised how many Swiss flags I saw around Switzerland. They seemed pretty proud and I don’t blame them. Immaculate city (Zurich), mastery of trains, prosperity all around. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721/56 "2019-07-26T11:16:13Z")
Decades ago, one of my aunts married a Texan and moved there. Years later, when they came to visit with their two teenaged kids, they were all dressed in stereotypical western garb. They looked ridiculous, and everyone laughed at them. How many people wear a 10-gallon hat and spurs in Cleveland? ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721/57 "2019-07-26T13:37:14Z")
Don’t know. How many Texans are there in Cleveland? The answer for the UK is Yorkshire, though they don’t tend to brag about it in such a gauche way as some of the Texan behaviour mentioned in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721/58 "2019-07-26T18:42:58Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Decades ago, one of my aunts married a Texan and moved there. Years later, when they came to visit with their two teenaged kids, they were all dressed in stereotypical western garb. They looked ridiculous, and everyone laughed at them. How many people wear a 10-gallon hat and spurs in Cleveland? Spurs?!?! They wore spurs?!?! I’m not from Texas, but I have been there many times. Granted, I have only been to the “big cities”, but I have seen no one there wearing spurs. [sub]Outside of the bedroom, that is.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721/59 "2019-07-26T20:37:28Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Spurs?!?! They wore spurs?!?! I’m not from Texas, but I have been there many times. Granted, I have only been to the “big cities”, but I have seen no one there wearing spurs. > > [sub]Outside of the bedroom, that is.[/sub] I live in Fort Worth, which is one of the more “horsey/cowboy” cities of Texas, and I work in a small town just outside of FW. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone wearing spurs outside of the rodeo grounds or cattle drive ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721/60 "2019-07-26T20:43:20Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > I live in Fort Worth, which is one of the more “horsey/cowboy” cities of Texas, and I work in a small town just outside of FW. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone wearing spurs outside of the rodeo grounds or cattle drive Go to Uncle Julio‘s during the Stock Show and I guarantee you’ll see spurs at some point. Though you’ll also have to wait 90 minutes for a table. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-place-as-proud-as-texas/836721.md?page=4)