9 Totally True Stereotypes Michiganders Should Just Accept As Fact
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Sophie Boudreau
Author
We Michiganders sure are proud of where we’re from, but that doesn’t mean we can’t poke fun at ourselves from time to time. After all, many stereotypes about people from Michigan are rooted in slivers of truth, and we’re the first to admit that some of our behaviors and interests are amusing. Here are nine stereotypes that people who live in Michigan should simply accept as fact.
Despite our attempts to deny it, it’s true: the Michigan accent exists. We might try to disguise it or pick up new habits upon moving out of state, but that slightly nasally undercurrent can never be fully unlearned. It’s also true that Yoopers have their very own accents, some bordering on Wisconsite-esque.
"Midwest nice" is real, and we Michiganders are living proof. We’re always happy to greet strangers on the street, make small talk in grocery store checkout lines, or wave at neighbors. This is typically a positive attribute, but sometimes we find ourselves holding doors for others just a bit too long or "ope"-ing our way through uncomfortable situations.
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Yes, it’s true: we really do use our hands to point out our hometowns. It’s not our fault that we were born with built-in maps right on our bodies, and we’re just trying to make use of a unique tool. If you see a Michigander hold up their palm, they’re about to tell you a long story about where they’re from, most likely accompanied by a quick referential indication of where Detroit is located.
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We brag about our Great Lakes on shirts, home decor, bumper stickers, and more, and it’s easy to understand why. After all, the beaches of our state are nothing short of magical, whether we’re spending the day along Lake Michigan or dipping our toes in the waters of Lake Superior. We’re proud of our freshwater giants and we’re certainly not afraid to show it.
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Sports rivalries are one thing, but our disdain for Ohio extends beyond college football teams. While we might have friends or family members who live in Ohio, we often poke fun at our neighbors in the Buckeye State. We can’t exactly explain why, but we do know that Ohio is simply the worst.
Soda? What’s soda? Here in Michigan, we’ll never refer to our favorite fizzy drinks by anything other than "pop." There’s not much more to say about this other than that our name is the right name.
When it comes to Detroit, we’ve heard every negative comment in the book. For many Michiganders, particularly those who live in Metro Detroit, this negativity is deeply frustrating. After all, we’ve seen the Motor City overcome plenty of obstacles and rebuilt from the ground up - and we’re proud.
We can’t help but laugh when we hear non-Michiganders complain about snow and cold, especially when "cold" is a mere 45 degrees. Here in the Great Lakes State, we’ve learned to weather subzero temperatures and go about our normal lives in the middle of blizzard conditions. Snow and freezing conditions are just a fact of life, so we rarely let it stand it our way.
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While the Upper Peninsula and Lower Peninsula are both part of Michigan, it’s tough to deny that they feel like two different worlds sometimes. This isn’t necessarily a negative trait: in actuality, we love the fact that Michigan offers a little bit of everything, from rugged cliffs at Pictured Rocks to the busy streets of Grand Rapids. Yoopers and "Trolls" (people south of the Mackinac Bridge) are proud of their respective peninsulas, but that doesn’t mean we lack appreciation for other regions of our state.
Are there any other stereotypes about Michiganders that hold true? Whether they’re funny, frustrating, or something in between, we would love to hear all about them in the comment section below!
Feeling that Great Lakes State pride? Check out some relaxing nature photos from Michigan.
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