15 Unwritten Rules Every Arkansan Lives By ‘Til Death

Some rules just don’t need saying out loud. Don’t cut in line. Don’t microwave your fork. There’s a whole list of things you just know you should or shouldn’t do. There are also some unspoken rules that Arkansans abide by. Below you’ll find fifteen of those incredibly important rules all Arkansans follow, but no one needs to mention.

1. Say "bless your heart" instead of rolling your eyes or punching anyone.

2. Mutter "smells like money" to yourself when you pass a pungent chicken truck.

3. Wave at people you pass on country roads.

4. Hold the door, let people who are only buying milk cut the line in the grocery store, generally be kind to strangers.

6. Put on your company manners when you’ve got company.

7. Do express disappointment about the Razorbacks.

8. Never, ever say you don’t like the Razorbacks.

9. Don’t pretend like you think other states are prettier than Arkansas.

13. All major life events must be marked by a flood of casseroles.

15. You can complain about Arkansas, but you better switch gears and defend your home state the very second someone from another state does the same.

For some basic dos and don’ts for living here in Arkansas, read this article. You’ll also want to check out these phrases we all heard growing up.

J.B. VanDyke

J.B. Weisenfels has lived in rural Arkansas for three decades. She is a writer, a mom, and a graduate student. She is also an avid collector of tacky fish whatnots, slightly chipped teapots, and other old things. In her spare time she enjoys driving to the nearest creek to sit a while. If you were to visit her, she'd try to feed you cornbread.