How Midwest Politeness Is as Mean as the Bless-Your-Heart South

As a native Midwesterner, I was led to believe people in Chicago were friendly. That’s what we were told. At least compared to people from New York or Los Angeles. I am beginning to suspect that compliment was a participation trophy. Whenever my LA or New York people visited, they always marveled at how fat and unfashionable we were. They winked at me, “But not you though.” As a consolation, they always said, “But you’re all so friendly here.” When we Chicago folks traveled to their fair cities, we flattered them. “You’re all so pretty. You’re all so cool. You’re all so skinny.” So, yes, by contrast, we were downright Pollyannas. <a href="https://medium.com/the-narrative-arc/how-midwest-politeness-is-as-mean-as-the-bless-your-heart-south-8fc02a6ad7ee">Website</a>