# Texas: myths dispelled **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 10, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-myths-dispelled/228353 "2004-02-10T00:26:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Mearl\_Dox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Mearl\_Dox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mearl_Dox)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-myths-dispelled/228353/81 "2004-02-11T17:09:19Z")
Relative newcomer to Texas here, happy to be in Austin with all the queers and hippies and college students and what-not. šŸ†’ But I also liked the time I spent in the Dallas-Fort Worth area last summer. Since I moved from a very small town in North Carolina, Iā€™ve actually been pleased to find more diversity than Iā€™m used toā€¦ but Iā€™ve also only stayed in the larger cities. (No more driving 30 minutes just to get to an asian grocery store! Hurray!) All I can say is, buddy, if you think a 135 IQ is something to brag about around _here_, you got a lot of learninā€™ to do. Thereā€™s people around here who could think you under the table. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-myths-dispelled/228353/82 "2004-02-11T18:05:20Z")
Oh, what have we here, another ignorant Texan willing to spread the glory of his state all over the place. Even worse one that claims that bush is a smart guy! I donā€™t really know about his IQ test but without a cite Iā€™m not willing to accept it. I do know that his SAT score was [1206](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010622.html) according to the master. Since we are charged with the task of fighting ignorance around here Iā€™ll also add that his score should be adjusted up some number. He was still only in the 88th percentile though. You still claim his IQ was 147, right? I am no Genius but I made higher than that on my SAT the only time I ever took it in 10th grade. The only problem I have when Texans is when they leave the state or when they talk to me. Then they piss me off. Iā€™m from the ā€œDukes of Hazzardā€ part of the south with in my opinion is a lot more respectable than Texas, dude. Finally I would respect you if you were some old dude, because old Texans tend to know what being a Texan is really about. They parents didnā€™t work in a fucking office park and they sure as hell didnā€™t live in the Suburbs, which is probably likely. Donā€™t act like you are such a hardass man, because everyone knows its just some silly facade. The fact that GWB got into Harvard and Yale doesnā€™t speak very well of those schools considering he was in the 88th percentile. Sure he isnā€™t dumb, but not a genius like your unprovable claim. This was all after having gone to andover, which by all means ought to give him the education to do well on such tests. A genius that made Gentlemanā€™s Cs his entire life? LBJ was a true texan, damnit. Thatā€™s a man I have respect for. Your first post was a little charming, bordering on obnoxious (but what about texas isnā€™t?) but then the more you got into it the more we see the blind stupidity of your post. I donā€™t see how all these losers who live in the suburbs of Dallas and Houston seem to think that they are so different. People from texas are all attitude and not much else. You know what? I have a lot more respect for people that I have met from Georgia and the Carolinas and Lousianna than Texas. Texas folk like you arenā€™t really liked anywhere outside of Texas. Face it, you grew up in California till you were 7, then you spent your childhood playing nintendo in the suburbs. Now you are some young Republican who thinks its soo cool that GWB represents Texan ascendancy. In a way I suppose its good that you consider Texas as ā€œthe Only State Worth Living inā€ This assures me that youā€™ll never be my neighbor. Iā€™m positive that you can find the good things about Texas in other parts of the south minus the attitude. If this were the Pit I would say a lot more, but unfortunately I canā€™t. From your Bio: > [@](#): > > Birthday: > January 28, 1985 > Biography: > Scholar of Military tactics and the history of warfare. IQ 135. > Location: > Texas > Interests: > exercising my god-like intellect > Occupation: > student LMAO. If god-like intellect is what you call failing to convince people of GWBā€™s genius by simply making shit up, then I suppose you deserve a pat on the back. I donā€™t know if you actually do have an IQ of 135, but do us all a favor, put it to better use than this kind of self-seving Texas autofellatio drivel that we are all probably all too familiar with. Or go play some wargames on your PC. ---
**Author:** ![NE\_Texan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e99b99/32.png) [@NE\_Texan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NE_Texan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-myths-dispelled/228353/83 "2004-02-11T19:15:32Z")
> [@The General](#): > > Myth: Houston has roaches that can reach 4 feet long, and are capable of devouring pets and small children. Truth: No, that would be the mosquitos. As for Jones and Wayne: Yuck. > [@Blonde](#): > > Texas myth: All Texan drivers are insane psychopaths, who will run your ass off the road if you look at them sideways. Truth: No, that would be Boston. Texan drivers are friendly psychopaths, who give you a nice wave as they run your ass off the road. Texas Myth: All Texans speak with a Texan twang. Truth: Only when there are tourists around, the rest of the time we go back to normal. No, really, actually there are about 5 distinct accents in Texas, depending on the location. The West Texas Drawl, the faint spanish accent, the East Texas accent, gradually blending into a Southern one, and a straight midwest sounding one. > [@The General](#): > > The panhandle (north part, Yankee) is a little mountainous. No, the Western edge (El Paso, the parts from Van Horn West), is mountainous, all the way down through Big Bend. West Texas, by the way, is East of El Paso by several hours. > [@The General](#): > > The people in the panhandle can deal with snow pretty well, but the rest of the state really canā€™t. One day (many moons ago) I drove from Lubbock (having finished a work assignment of several months there) back to Houston (where I lived more permanently). This was in December. The beginning of the trip, I had to drive slowly and carefully because of the snow. By San Angelo, I had to ditch the jackets. By the time I was in Houston, I had to change into a short sleeve shirt, because it was 70. Very big climate variations across the state. Texas Myth: Weā€™re all Cowboys. Truth: The vast majority if us is city folk. We put on the stetsons and boots for the tourists. (Or for fun). ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-myths-dispelled/228353/84 "2004-02-11T20:14:28Z")
> [@gex gex](#): > > First question: > You guys seem really proud of the size of your state. Does it piss you off that my state (New South Wales) is, I think, the third smallest in my country, but is bigger than Texas?\* I lie awake most nights, literally seething with rage that New South Wales is larger than Texas. God damn that New South Wales! God damn them all! šŸ˜ƒ Truth be known, it doesnā€™t bother us, because weā€™re blissfully unaware. Having been educated in Texas public schools, we canā€™t locate Australia on a map, much less New South Wales. > [@](#): > > \*Second Question: > > How did you guys manage to host South by Southwest Festival? I mean, that thing is really cool. Also, would you be willing to give it up? Cause I sure could use it a little closer to home.\* Thatā€™d be like moving Mardi Gras out of New Orleans (yes I know carnival is not only found in New Orleans, but you see what Iā€™m saying). Having it in Austin is what makes it so cool. ---
**Author:** ![BottledBlondJeanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/0ea827/32.png) [@BottledBlondJeanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BottledBlondJeanie)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-myths-dispelled/228353/85 "2004-02-11T22:10:20Z")
**General** I get itā€“at least I think I get it. Doesnā€™t anyone else? Heā€™s showing yā€™all **Texas State Myths**. Geesh. [sub]However if Iā€™m being whooshed I reservse the right to weasel out of this opinion[/sub] On an interesting Texas note, as a caucasian, Iā€™m now a minority in my South Texas city (and county). I actually got to experience prejudice the other day (ā€œdanged white lawyersā€ was the complaint with a then guilty glance towards me). And thatā€™s no Texas myth. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-myths-dispelled/228353/86 "2004-02-11T22:48:45Z")
Iā€™ve got a Texas myth to ask aboutā€¦ (Well, calling it a _myth_ is a stretch, but I want to make the general happy.) Can any Texans comment on the religious aspects of the state? Specifically, I am a libertarian / conservative type. I hunt, and would probably fit right in there. However, I am an athiest. If I lived and worked in TX, would I be looked at differently because of this? Here in New England, I donā€™t give it a second thought. I mention my atheism the same way a christian mentions which church they attend. My company has an office in Dallas. Austin sounds nice also. Iā€™d like to actually live in a state where I could afford to buy a house with some land. (Currently in MA). ---
**Author:** ![TitoBenito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2acd7d/32.png) [@TitoBenito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TitoBenito)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-myths-dispelled/228353/87 "2004-02-11T23:29:32Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > Iā€™ve got a Texas myth to ask aboutā€¦ > > (Well, calling it a _myth_ is a stretch, but I want to make the general happy.) > > Can any Texans comment on the religious aspects of the state? Specifically, I am a libertarian / conservative type. I hunt, and would probably fit right in there. > > However, I am an athiest. If I lived and worked in TX, would I be looked at differently because of this? Here in New England, I donā€™t give it a second thought. I mention my atheism the same way a christian mentions which church they attend. > > My company has an office in Dallas. Austin sounds nice also. Iā€™d like to actually live in a state where I could afford to buy a house with some land. (Currently in MA). In Austin it shouldnā€™t be a problem. In Dallas they are much more concerned with clothes and cars to care too much about God. Dallas is pretty cosmopolitan so in a social setting it should be just fine, but Iā€™d avoid telling it in a business setting. It could alienate a client, coworker, or boss. Dallas, like most places in the US, does have a few religiously intollerant people. Iā€™d just say Iā€™m not religious if asked what church I went to, and everybody is cool with it. Most of my friends are atheists or agnostics and none of us have had much problems with people in Texas. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-myths-dispelled/228353/88 "2004-02-11T23:44:26Z")
> [@Jaade](#): > > ā€¦As you can see by the many protests here, most people in Texas, and in the South in general do not agree with people who think like **The General**. I hope you enjoy your stay in Texas, and if itā€™s near Houston, maybe we can have a Houdope in your honor! šŸ™‚ > > ~J Well, thatā€™s right neighborly of you! My wifeā€™s relatives are in Fort Worth and Austin, though. They have come to visit us several times and keep begging us to come visit them, and I donā€™t think they are going to buy the ā€œpovertyā€ excuse much longer. I would like to go either this spring or in the fall and will probably start a thread at the appropriate time to get ideas for where we should go. **NE Texan** is right about the Boston drivers. I would recommend NOT looking at them sidewaysā€¦making eye contact on the road is perceived as a sign of weakness around here and will get you cut off immediately šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-myths-dispelled/228353/89 "2004-02-12T04:32:56Z")
Austin isnā€™t _terribly_ far from Houstonā€¦~grins~ Invitation stands! **Debaser** , I havenā€™t had any problems in Texas regarding religion. (Though, Iā€™m not athiest, my family is Pentecostal and that always gets a reaction šŸ™‚ ) I think in most metropolitian areas, itā€™s unlikely that anyone would even ask you. Actually, Southern etiquette would proclaim they **shouldnā€™t** ask at allā€¦ ~J ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-myths-dispelled/228353/90 "2004-02-12T04:48:43Z")
> [@TitoBenito](#): > > In Dallas they are much more concerned with clothes and cars to care too much about God. Whaa? Weā€™ve got churches on every corner of this town, and Iā€™ve never met another agnostic/atheist in Dallas (and Iā€™ve lived here for 39 years). Most folks here drive their nice cars and wear their fancy clothes to church on a regular basis, IMHO. Which would make me, the lone agnostic/vegetarian, a minority! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-myths-dispelled/228353/91 "2004-02-12T06:35:38Z")
> [@The General](#): > > I was dissing UT, not college kids in general. Iā€™m at TTU. > > And seeing as your site lists Bush alongside the greats, and places him in the ā€œPresidents with high SQ, Ambition, and Integrityā€ catagory, I see no reason to complain. > > Besides, when you consider that our last president dropped out of the Rhodes Scholar program (simply stopped going), weā€™re far better off than we were. > > I attended private school because my grandad set up his will so that all his money went towards the education of his grandkids. Thereā€™s a mountain of cash, and my parents can only spent it on tuition. What do you expect, theyā€™re gonna leave it and send me to a public school? My high school and my college isnā€™t costing them a cent. > > Final point to this particular point-dexter, I fail to see the connection between voting and intellegence/perception. Perhaps you have found one. Explain. > > PS. I post my IQ because I am proud of my intellegence. False modesty is for actors and celebrities, and I am neither. > > also PS. Are any of you even aware that the weapons were found in Iraq? I realize that the mainstream media buried it, but people should know this before they talk politics. > > Yet another PS. I apologize for getting irritated when I am confronted with the same points repeatedly. But I will not hesitate to call you a dumbass if you donā€™t see my responses to the last person who said exactly what youā€™re saying. > > **And can you people please stick to the topic? Iā€™m sure that at least one of you forgot; itā€™s state myths.** **The General** , hmm? Well, this is The Moderator, and Iā€™m wondering how someone as intelligent as yourself could make the mistake of posting cheap insults outside of the BBQ Pit. As far as your ā€œtopicā€ goesā€¦ Itā€™s closed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-myths-dispelled/228353.md?page=4)