Talk:Minnesota nice

Comments
Funny article. Being Swedish I see the Swedish heritage you guys have...

--Fred-Chess 13:29, 18 May 2005 (UTC)

--I really didn't understand Minnesota nice being from the state, until I started traveling. I can't beleive how offensive, loud, and rude people from other states can be. Also I have in fact spent more than a few minutes explaining directions to people. Ravedave 03:56, 27 August 2005 (UTC)

I had never noticed Minnesota nice being a particularly unique outstanding trait until moving out of the state to Chicago. I have wanted to move out of MN my entire life and within the first day I wanted to move back! I cannot believe how confrontational, blunt, rude, selfish, and offensive people are! Minnesotans are good hearted and kind individuals to even strangers. I had expected others to possess these same values but found that out the hard way. Minnesotans in majority do not honk, cut in line, confront others, or act obnoxious. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.146.221.203 (talk) 00:31, 15 September 2010 (UTC)

Is this page a joke? Minnesotans are the rudest F'ks EVER!
Is this page one of those April 1st jokes/hoaxes that someone forgot to delete?? I worked in a call center and for a week was assigned Minnesota. Now, we're talking BEFORE cellphones so before caller ID even existed! I worked a business office. I would call and politely inquire: "Hello, may I speak with Roger, please?" and it was HORRIFIC how rude, time and again, EVERY SINGLE person was. The tone was angry, demeanor rude, inflections like you were bothering them. Yelling angrily, exasperation sighs, the works and by EVERYONE OF THEM! "YA!" silence leaving me hanging, no "please hold on", no "May I please inquire who's calling?" NOTHING. Minneasota almost had me quit my job in tears. Sometimes, they yelled at my ear "MOOOOOOOM! It's for you!" Sometimes it was downright hostile asking me who I was. Rude, rude, RUDE people.

I ran this by other workers at break, and EVERYONE HATED MINNESOTA!!!! My health deteriorated that week when I worked it, and again it popped up on my call list. I NEVER EVER got a week of Texas but randomly got a few folks in Texas: the most polite people ever in the entire nation. EVERYONE was praying to get Texas. So WTF is this joke of a page for?? Minnesotans are the rudes F ks ever in the entire US of A, period! NO ONE out of your miserable state thinks you're "nice". Not by a hundred thousand miles! And I would NEVER step foot in your godforsaken state! §HateMinnesota  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.53.45.179 (talk) 00:39, 25 July 2023 (UTC)

minnesota
it is a nice state when it is summer out for paintball or baseball and the winter is good snow for boarding — Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.199.196.131 (talk • contribs) 13:58, 17 May 2006

Needs references
I am from Minnesota and I believe in some aspects of Minnesota nice. However, this article throws around a lot of claims without references-- for example that drivers are more aggresive than elsewhere. This may or may not be true, but is strong enough to deserve a reference. dfrankow 00:18, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

-- I agree - the paragraphs about racism and the examples need some references. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 166.209.158.50 (talk • contribs) 05:03, 10 September 2006


 * Apparently some people really hate Minnesota. I trimmed down the article heavily. Ashi b aka tock 16:58, 26 October 2006 (UTC)

I have lived in Minnesota my entire life and think the phrase is ridiculous. I believe the line about Minnesotans using the phrase themselves ought to stay; it's bandied about so much in the state, despite the reality of the coldness of many of its citizens. That's not out of "really hate" for Minnesota - that's perception. User:RiverBlue22 — Preceding undated comment added 14:42, 14 November 2006

-- I think it's impossible to reference something like this - it's just a phrase that people wouls look up if they heard it used and need some idea of what it means. Perhaps it would be more appropriate on urbandictionary, but i'm glad it's here for those of us who aren't from Minnesota. Anonymous. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.25.205.90 (talk • contribs) 01:22, 8 February 2007


 * I've just created a Wiktionary article on "Minnesota nice" and loaded it with context-providing quotations from reliable, published works, in part to address the above concern. ~ Jeff Q (talk) 10:03, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

Reword
Are the quotes in this sentence: Many from out of Minnesota will state that "MN Nice" is actually "Passive Agressive", actual quotes? Otherwise I'd like to reword them slightly.--Daveswagon 16:52, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

People in minnesota (minneapolis) are indeed pasive agressive. they are unable to take constructive criticism or being called out on their inconsideration, grown adults often saying "i dont like to be yelled at" even when you speak to them in a civil tone. people in minneapolis, pretensious and phoney and not to be trusted. Did i mention that peopl in minnesota dont know how to merge onto highways either. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 161.225.1.12 (talk • contribs) 20:58, 15 March 2007


 * Your comment doesn't leave me with the impression that your criticism was constructive at all. And how were they inconsiderate? I'm further in doubt that you were being "civil". The raving about people from Minneapolis is nonsense. And I've never observed that people were any better on the highways elsewhere than they were here.--RLent (talk) 20:45, 5 August 2010 (UTC)


 * I've heard essentially the same complaint about "Minnesota Nice" from several different people who moved here from out east. "I don't like to be yelled at" is a frequent complaint from Minnesotans and doesn't refer so much to the loudness or literal tone of voice as to the tone of the words used, being overly blunt or harsh.  It's a culture clash -- what's simply considered being open and honest in one part of the country is considered shocking and rude here.  In the reverse direction, the Minnesotan, trying to be polite and non-confrontational is likely to be seen as passive-aggressive or even "phoney".  Alas, there seem to be a lot of people who don't understand that what constitutes a "civil tone" is culturally relative.  I rather imagine the author of the comment above finds himself constantly confronted with overtly polite but in fact somewhat hostile neighbors in Minneapolis regularly.  If you run around displaying the kind of attitude he does, you're going to offend, and people will react accordingly.


 * Minnesotans can take constructive criticism, but not if it's offered poorly. As as for being "called out", well, no, not many Minnesotans are going to react well to someone acting like they have the right to pronounce judgment on them in that way.  That kind of arrogance doesn't sit well with most Minnesotans.  --68.187.144.197 (talk) 09:43, 18 November 2007 (UTC)


 * There is that very common arrogance that people have that their cultural traits are universal norms. If you come to Minnesota, you just might have to deal with Minnesotans. If I go to Texas or New York, I have to deal with the cultural norms there.--RLent (talk) 20:45, 5 August 2010 (UTC)


 * As for the merging, it's not so much that Minnesotans don't seem to merge correctly, it's that they don't *let* others merge onto the highway. That may be an actual education deficiency though, I never learned to move over to the other lane (if possible and safe) to let people merge in in my MN driver's ed. I'd never even thought about it until ten years later when my friends in Wisconsin pointed it out. Geez, guys, even the people in Chicago will move over for you if there's room. 69.95.233.209 (talk) 02:11, 14 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Hey, folks, this isn't a page to chat about one's experiences with "Minnesota nice". It's a page to discuss what the article content should be, based on cited reliable sources, not personal anecdotes and observations. ~ Jeff Q (talk) 09:46, 14 August 2008 (UTC)

Iowa Stubborn?
Would anyone like to explain why Iowa stubborn is in the See Also section. It has nothing to do with Minnesota Nice and I assume it was put their due to some rivalry between the states. --Ndstate 06:30, 23 March 2007 (UTC)
 * To tell you the truth, I'd say that there is a relationship. Looking at the current page for Iowa Stubborn, a song from the Music Man, it's describing an attitude very much like Minnesota Nice. And, of course, the Music Man is only set about thirty miles from Minnesota. 69.95.233.209 (talk) 02:08, 14 August 2008 (UTC)

This is Only Half of the Definition (or less)
The phrase, as defined here, suggests that its significance is based as much on character as behavior.

The phrase is generally used by outsiders to define the irony of Minnesota culture (being a culture that is at least deceptively hospitable, and often overtly passive agressive). However, many Minnesotans have ignored the accusatory nature of this phrase and essentially hijacked it.

The problem with this definition, of course, is that it is written from the the much smaller, less relevant, far more biased Minnesota point-of-view that the phrase is bestowed upon both our culture's behavior and character. Unfortunately, that's not what the phrase means (outside of the very small self-congratulating group of Minnesotans that hikacked the phrase).

The 1996 Motion Picture "Fargo" was the most popular depiction of the ironic humor of "Minnesota Nice" in all of popular culture. (Anyone care to point to something more widely-consumed?) And while you may not like this film, and may think it portrayed "Minnesota Nice" in the most negative ways possible (depicting very friendly Minnesotans that would actually rather kill you than be friends with you), it did more to spread the understanding of what "Minnesota Nice" is outside of Minnesota than any piece of media has to date.

It is odd, therefore, to have an enry for "Minnesota Nice" that doesn't in some way mention "Fargo" or at least the more common, accusatory definition that suggests Minnesota culture is very shallow in its friendliness. This would fully contradict the very favorable (and biased) definition offered here. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 63.231.224.72 (talk) 21:18, 27 March 2007 (UTC).


 * geez that wasn't very nice, eh?Gabenowicki 20:14, 12 May 2007 (UTC)


 * The claim that Minnesota Nice was originally meant perjoratively is asserted, but this article lacks evidence. When and where was this term first used? --RLent (talk) 19:39, 26 August 2010 (UTC)

california
I think ill stick to sunshine, warm weather and beaches thank you very much! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 134.121.247.116 (talk) 06:11, August 27, 2007 (UTC)

I'll second that as a Minnesota expat. After moving to San Francisco a few years back, I'm done with the half-hearted, characterlessness that I found back in Minneapolis/St. Paul. I'd take the honesty of the folks out here any day. Hell, the fellow young people out here are so inviting. Family and friends: There's practically no partitioning at all. Can MN nice really compare? --69.12.157.148 (talk) 07:45, 9 March 2009 (UTC)

Live wherever you want. This isn't an article about where you prefer to live. But do try to understand that people just might want something different than what you want.--RLent (talk) 19:40, 26 August 2010 (UTC)

MINNESOTA
minnesota nice is BS ..hell.. how many paintball fields have they shut down in the last year.. assholes — Preceding unsigned comment added by 97.114.60.165 (talk • contribs) 06:36, 3 December 2009

Not passive-passive aggressive
The term passive-aggressive gets thrown around a lot by people who really don't understand what it means, but just taking a look at the passive-aggressive article, you can see that the term really doesn't apply. Every culture asks people not to be arrogant. What constitutes arrogance varies from culture to culture. Some people get very irate that what isn't arrogant elsewhere is arrogant in Minnesota, and of course vice-versa. That says more about the inflexibility of the person who is asking an entire state to bend to suit them. If "Minnesota Nice" was really so malfunctional, then Minnesota could not function at all.--RLent (talk) 19:39, 26 August 2010 (UTC)

As a transplant to the Minnesota and Midwestern region generally, it is fair to characterize a significant percentage of certain demographics as "passive-aggressive" even using the definition of the sited in the related Wikipedia article. I think the preceding comment demonstrates quite well the handicap many Minnesotans have in receiving and processing criticism constructive or otherwise and at the time of my writing my comments the Minnesota Government has shut down (or otherwise "not function at all") due to an ability to compromise or perform activities assigned to them. I think this is a pretty good indication that passive-aggression (otherwise called "Minnesota Nice") is a core component of the Minnesota cultural and behavioral makeup. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 4.26.46.222 (talk) 19:30, 5 July 2011 (UTC)

I have beefed-up the comments and references to passive-aggressiveness, and yes, it is genuine passive-aggressiveness and to say it isn't is more of the state's denial-culture. I grew up in Michigan, lived in Minnesota for ten awful years as an adult, and have now lived happily near Philadelphia since 2001. I would take Philly over anywhere in Minnesota. Here you know where you stand with people. I worked for the ten years at one of Minnesota's biggest and best-known workplaces (it's in Rochester), and the amount of "nice-to-your-face-but-stab-you-in-the-back" by the life-long Minnesotans was staggering. All of our friends were other transplants; the "natives" never even made an attempt to get to know our family no matter how hard my wife and I tried. It was far worse then anything I encountered in Detroit or Philly. After ten years of that behavior (and the unspeakable weather) we fled. Here in Pennsylvania we have met several other couples who lived in Minnesota for only a few years before leaving, and for the same reasons. Anyone thinking of moving to Minnesota and consulting this article should be fairly warned. Scribley (talk) 01:08, 11 May 2019 (UTC)

Wisconsin?
Minnesota nice is the stereotypical behavior of long time Minnesota residents, and perhaps Wisconsin residents While the phenomenon doesn't stop at the border, this gives the impression that the sterotype crosses the border. People would be unlikely to describe Wisconsinites as "Minnesota Nice", even if they are. I think it is worthwhile to mention that these traits don't stop at the border, but we should do it in a way which doesn't suggest that the sterotype crosses the border. And if we're going to mention Wisconsin, shouldn't we also mention the other neighboring states?--RLent (talk) 13:05, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Scandinavian?
As a Scandinavian reader, I recognise this stereotype as one that could be applied to Scandinavian culture as well: non-confrontational behaviour, understating ones own acheivements and abilities, reservedness, and so on.

Given Minnesota's tradition of Scandinavian immigration, would it be correct and appropriate to mention this connection? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.10.51.14 (talk) 08:29, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

Syl Jones
The lengthy reference to Syl Jones is very odd. The source is a half-page tongue-in-cheek comment of his on Minnesota Public Radio. It basically consists of his unsourced opinions. I don't see why they are more legitimate on wikipedia than any random person's unsourced opinions, and the whole bit should probably be removed. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 27.32.110.51 (talk) 08:37, 6 December 2011 (UTC)

What about Canada?
"The positive traits of civic mindedness and social tolerance are also generally applicable to neighboring Canadians." I personally think that the negative features also apply to Canadians. Anyone else seen this?176.182.174.250 (talk) 09:44, 3 November 2015 (UTC)

So much for Minnesota Nice
It's happened often enough now that there's a style of commentary pointing out nasty behavior by Minnesotans and especially progressives from the state to illustrate that Minnesota Nice is something of a sham. I'm setting the talk section in the hopes of people giving enough examples to justify inclusion in the article. TMLutas (talk) 19:15, 16 October 2018 (UTC)