Trust me, I'm not bashing Texas

[CitrusLib]

I happen to have some very lovely (and VERY liberal) friends in Texas, but I have to ask. Is there truly a 'Texas' way of doing things or a 'Texas' attitude? I ask because we have a new VP at my company who doesn't believe the rules apply to him. He makes shit up, sidesteps rules, and goes over other peoples heads when it suits him. If I hear 'my way or the highway' one more time, I'm going to puke. He told another VP she worked too hard - people at their level should be doing as little as possible and just driving the 'little people' to do their jobs.

I was joking around with someone the other day and said, 'Is he from Texas or something?' (his attitude reminds me of the shrub) and sure enough. That's his home state. What gives?

Edited to add: Thank you to all who greeted me this week!

[Sannum]

1. Do you by any chance work at the White House?

[CitrusLib]

2. I work in a big white building, but it's not in DC.

[Justitia]

5. Beat me to it! -eom

[redqueen]

3. There my be a "Texas attitude"...

but if there is, that ain't it.

[jobycom]

9. Word for word what I was going to say

There is definitely a cultivated attitude in Texas. There is a state mystique and once people begin to think of themselves as Texans, they pick it up. It's not really cocky, it's just a sort of pride.

But no, that ass would have a short tenure in most companies in Texas, too.

[SOteric]

4. You've given a perfect description of one of my brothers,

and he was born and raised in Parma, Italy. I don't know if it's Texas so much as a certain inborn arrogance to which some seem more subject.

[NoPasaran]

6. No, you're describing the arrogant shithead attitude

[Justitia]

7. I'm from TX. Not a geographical trait, he's just an asshole.

Before the Shrub came along and ruined our image permanently, we were known as the "friendly" state. Texans are very welcoming and warm as a group. There is a much-quoted saying:

"You may not be from Texas, but we'll claim ya!"

This means you can always become a naturalized Texan, we welcome all as a facet of our pioneering heritage. This used to be (and still is in some respects) a very tolerant state. I have lived in some other "southern" states and they were not nearly as open to newcomers and seem to still be fighting the Civil War. That attitude is not prevalent here in my lifelong experience.

That all being said....we have some very loud and obnoxious characters who like to identify themselves as "Texans" that have put a terrible blight on our state. It is a very sad and tragic state of affairs.

But, it is still a very beautiful state - come on down and visit sometime! :hi:

[luvLLB]

10. I second that...being a 6th genaration Texan, it's not a trait of mine.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

13. Texans were welcoming to me when I moved here

I have to agree that the people here are friendly and welcoming.

Thanks, ya'll. :hi:


We do have jerks here, just like every other state. Fortunately we seem to have exported one more. :)

[yellowdogintexas]

17. wholeheartedly agree. He's just an asshole. He would still

be an asshole if he came from Boston and was a Liberal Democrat, card carrying ACLU CommiePinko ...assholes come in all shapes, sizes, sexes, religious persuasions (or lack thereof), colors and states of origin. Nobody taught the sucker any manners or consideration for others..spoiled brat.

I talk to people from all over the country all day and I get people who will try to beat your brain up over 20 cents who have million dollar houses(assholes) and I also get people who are on their last leg, trying to keep their heads above water, and no matter what awful thing you tell them about their mortgage, they just take it, answer nicely, thank you for your help and make you want to start passing the hat to pay their house note (genuinely nice people who were "raised right").

Biggest asshole I have met in a long time was a guy from California who was sitting behind me on a flight to Denver back in October. He went off on a rant that was unbelievable...big REPUG!!!


Yeah we got 'em down here, just like everybody else, but your guy didn't learn it just because he came from Texas, he learned it from his parents. Maybe his mamma weaned him too soon.

The Texas thing to me is more rooted in the fact that Texas was in fact an independent nation for over 10 years before it joined the United States; the whole wide open spaces/open range/independent/selfsufficient homestead attitude ...
I am not a native Texan, but I do enjoy living here, even if it is a red state. and even if it is hot as hell in July and August.

[bridgit]

8. you bet, you know why they had to take Texas TP...

off'ah store shelves? cause it wouldn't take shit off'ah no one :rofl:

That's the way the girls are from Texas

Well, I met a girl from Texas 'bout a year ago
Hadn't known her for too long when I had to let her go
You see, she had a razor, was ten inches or so
And every night you'd hear her knocking at my door

She said, Baby, I'll give you the clothes on my back
You can have everything that I've got in my shack
But if you ever try to leave they'll take your out in sack
'Cause me and my razor will see to that

That's the way the girls are from Texas
That's the way the girls are from Texas
That's the way the girls are from Texas

I thought about my situation, decided not to tarry
For my own self preservation I decided we should marry
When the preacher started reading 'bout 'till death do us part
I told him, Skip it, we had that understanding right from the start

That's the way the girls are from Texas
That's the way the girls are from Texas (Houston to San Antone)
That's the way the girls are from Texas (Got to love 'em right or leave 'em alone)

Well, we settled down, got me a little old job, '65 Fairlane Ford
Every Friday night I would stop in and cash my pay check down at the grocery store
They had a little girl worked in there, must have been about seventeen

She was the cutest thing I had ever seen
It's the same old story and I'm afraid it wasn't too very long
Before we had fallen deeply in love and I knew it was wrong

I said baby, we got to stop this thing right here
Or my woman is gonna cut my throat from ear to ear, that's right
In tearful supplication, she looked up in my face

I could feel her heart was breaking as these sad words she did say
You should have told me you was married, baby
She pulled out a forty-five and let me have it, right smack between the eyes

That's the way the girls are from Texas
That's the way the girls are from Texas
That's the way the girls are from Texas

She was guilty, I was dead
Now, what'd you think that the old judge said ?
Ah, that's just the way the girls are down here in Texas Case dismissed!

That's the way the girls are from Texas
That's the way the girls are from Texas (Houston to San Antone)
That's the way the girls are from Texas (Got to love 'em right or leave 'em alone, boy)

Ry Cooder ~

[luvLLB]

11. That’s right you’re not from texas

You say you’re not from texas
Man as if I couldn’t tell
You think you pull your boots on right
And wear your hat so well

So pardon me my laughter
’cause I sure do understand
Even moses got excited
When he saw the promised land

That’s right you’re not from texas
That’s right you’re not from texas
That’s right you’re not from texas
But texas wants you anyway

That’s right you’re not from texas
That’s right you’re not from texas
That’s right you’re not from texas
But texas wants you anyway

See I was born and raised in texas
And it means so much to me
Though my girl comes from down in georgia
We were up in tennessee

And as we were driving down the highway
She asked me baby what’s so great
How come you’re always going on
About your lone star state

I said that’s right you’re not from texas
That’s right you’re not from texas
That’s right you’re not from texas
But texas wants you anyway

That’s right you’re not from texas
That’s right you’re not from texas
That’s right you’re not from texas
But texas wants you anyway

Oh the road it looked so lovely
As she stood there on the side
And she grew smaller in my mirror
As I watched her wave goodbye

Those boys from carolina
They sure enough could sing
But when they came on down to texas
We all showed them how to swing

Now david’s on the radio
And old champ’s still on the guitar
And uncle walt he’s home with heidi
Hiding in her loving arms

That’s right you’re not from texas
That’s right you’re not from texas
That’s right you’re not from texas
But texas wants you anyway

That’s right you’re not from texas
That’s right you’re not from texas
That’s right you’re not from texas
But texas wants you anyway

They’re ok in oklahoma
Up in arkansas they’re fair
But those old folks in missouri
They don’t even know you’re there

But at a dance hall down in texas
That’s the finest place to be
The women they all look beautiful
And their men will buy your beer for free

And they’ll say that’s right you’re not from texas
That’s right you’re not from texas
That’s right you’re not from texas
But texas wants you anyway

That’s right you’re not from texas
That’s right you’re not from texas
That’s right you’re not from texas
But texas wants you anyway

So won’t you let me help you mister
Just pull your hat down the way I do
And buy your pants just a little longer
And next time somebody laughs at you

You just tell ’em you’re not from texas
That’s right you’re not from texas
That’s right you’re not from texas
But texas wants you anyway

That’s right you’re not from texas
That’s right you’re not from texas
That’s right you’re not from texas
But texas wants you anyway

[Archae]

12. Someday...

Alaska will be cut in half, then Texas will be the third biggest state! :D

[Jamastiene]

14. Partly Texas with a definite 100% chance of

Repug...

That asshole sounds like a total right wing repug. Bet he's racist, sexist and homphobic too. I know the type all too well. Wish I didn't.

Sorry to hear your stress level at work just went up, whether you realize it or not. Hope your health is strong, because working under that kind of morale killer will make you sick.

[carpetbagger]

15. Yes, this is a very Texan trait.

People act like jerks all around, from New York in-your-facism to it's co-evil alter known as Minnesota 'Ice. There's also Appalachian dumbass, Carolina sugar-sweet-dagger-in-back, and crotchety New England.

This is Texas' version of people who don't play well with others. In the masculine form, these folks take great pleasure in dominance and punishment. The superiority complex basically leads to the attitude that rules and work are for the little people. The feminine form is a little more church-lady-like, and the swagger is replaced by vacuous giggling. Either in swaggering or giggling form, the worst thing about working with them, in a job or otherwise, is that facts, reason, and reality have absolutely nothing to do with how they play and win.

No, I'm not thinking about George Bush when I'm saying this. I'm thinking about the people I know locally. I'd estimate that about 20% of nonhispanic white Texas men act this way all the time, and another 40% do it from time to time, mostly around their spouses and children. One problem with Texas is that there's an unwritten code not to get in these people's way, literally or figuratively, and people don't tell them to go to hell. In fact, they've been trained from childhood to obey them. My wife refuses to back down with these people, and about once every six months she has to call the cops to get them to go away.

You need to go to his supervisor, as a group, with specific allegations of ways he's acted that are contrary to the best interests of the corporation and the supervisor him/herself. Making shit up is certainly something a supervisor would have a low tolerance for, and if you (collectively) state some vague concern about how people are looking at other opportunities due to his behavior. In other words, have him dominated.

[Skittles]

16. I get very tired of Texans whining about bashing Texas

I've lived in this state for 29 f***ing years and I will bash it all I g.d. please.

Yeah, a lot of native Texans have an unbelievable arrogance that makes you want to barf. Sure, they'll claim it's pride but a lot of it is just good old plain ignorance. And those Texans you can BET YOUR LIFE have very rarely ever left Texas, let aloned ventured overseas.

[tibbir]

18. I'm a native Houstonian - the only people I know

who resemble this guy fall into the asshole category. I worked in the financial planning group of a small oilfied company in the '70s. My supervisors were all from various northern states - plus an English fellow. Being an asshole seemed to be in the job description of management there.

[tedoll78]

19. Nah. Just a general ass.

But now that you bring it up.. I don't get people who brag about being "native Texans." What do they want me to say in response..?

"Congratulations on popping outta your momma while she was in Texas. That's quite an accomplishment."

:shrug: