Many people distinguish between the Rust Belt Midwest and the rest of the Midwest, and there are good historical, geographical, racial, linguistic, and even agricultural reasons to do so. But the real distinction, experientially, is the prevalence and ideology of Chit-Chat. - ThreadSky

tcarmody.bsky.social • 5 days ago

Many people distinguish between the Rust Belt Midwest and the rest of the Midwest, and there are good historical, geographical, racial, linguistic, and even agricultural reasons to do so. But the real distinction, experientially, is the prevalence and ideology of Chit-Chat.

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rlheppner.bsky.social•5 days ago

This is why Pittsburgh is the perfect balance of Midwest and East Coast: Yinzers mostly have no real expectation of chit chat but are happy to talk if you’ve got a question to discuss.

tcarmody.bsky.social•5 days ago

I am partial to Detroit but Pittsburgh does have a similar vibe

rlheppner.bsky.social•5 days ago

Look, we can get along just fine, as long as we agree to politely ignore Cleveland.

tcarmody.bsky.social•5 days ago

Listen, it’s not their fault; I blame the fallen state of Ohio

tcarmody.bsky.social•5 days ago

The Rust Belt is friendly and avuncular, but generally respects the difference between friend and stranger and the need to kill time vs being in a hurry. The True Midwest sees no such distinctions. Every encounter is an opportunity for chitchat, about virtually any subject at all.

tcarmody.bsky.social•5 days ago

Since arriving in Minneapolis, I have been engaged in full conversations with young men at car rental counters and older waitresses at hotel restaurants. I know all about their families and various household troubles related to the weather. (Years ago the waitress’s thermostat ran out of batteries.)

tcarmody.bsky.social•5 days ago

I have even inwardly seethed as the grocery store cashier proclaimed the wonders of toasted cumin to the couple ahead of us in line. I’m carrying an enormous bag of kitty litter for my father-in-law. It’s time to move things along. Meanwhile, they’re chitchatting like there’s all the time on Earth.

emsetc.bsky.social•5 days ago

I’m from Kansas, but have been on the east coast for ~25 years. Sometimes it’s nice to go home and shift gears. Mostly, I’m standing in line like

tcarmody.bsky.social•5 days ago

However the hotel waitress who told me the story about her thermostat also came over to quietly let me know not to order off the menu, that the buffet was really good, and “the best deal.” Which is not always the case! And she was right, the buffet is quite good.

tcarmody.bsky.social•5 days ago

Both of my parents were born in Detroit, but my dad (child of Irish immigrants) is Rust Belt through and through, while my mom (mother from Indiana, father from MI’s upper peninsula) is much more midwestern. She *loves* to chitchat. She also pronounces “root” and “roof” like a Midwesterner.

tcarmody.bsky.social•5 days ago

Look at that. Here I am fucking chitchatting on main. It’s contagious! I need to get back to Philadelphia where boundaries makes sense

bustedsneakers.bsky.social•5 days ago

this is my evidence for Core Toronto being midwest despite all signs pointing to Rust Belt: the oral history is the only way to know what's going on, and it requires a Time Commitment to do it

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