I'm from Louisiana. It's probably the most catholic state in the country. You could not be more innacurate.
You'll find a lot of Catholics in the "older" parts of Louisiana like Ville Platte, maybe up around Lafayette, and probably a bit in New Orleans. But look in the center of the state and you'll hardly find any. Just a little bit of google fu shows that 26% of Louisiana identifies as Catholic and 22% as Baptist. That still reflects my statement about a largely Baptist population (and I didn't even say anything about the teachings of Cathol). It doesn't even rank in the Top 10 for most Catholic states in the country. The double negative isn't endearing, either. Source: Lived in Watson and went to church in Baton Rouge for 14 years.
I doubt that. Places with a significant Hispanic population, like Florida or New Mexico, would be higher for sure. Only 1 million(or 28% of the state population) people in Louisiana identify as Catholic as opposed to roughly 8 million(or 40%) people in New York.
I think this is the bottom line. Honestly Kraken, I don't think you are going to truly escape your own perceptions. You'll see it no matter where you go, or you'll end up living in a community that's so homogeneous that you don't really fit in. Don't fall into the trap of believing the 'grass is always greener' elsewhere. It's kind of funny, where in Maryland it's such a perfect mix of heavy conservatives and liberals that both believe it's the other's paradise.
Funny, because I don't recall calling out "everyone" who has criticized me in this thread, as some people have some valid points to bring.
But you on the other hand, have said I was a horrible person from the start, so it's pretty obvious you've come to picture me in devil's horns and pitch fork.
You've got your own victim blaming picture in your head about how I'm just a bigoted privileged white guy who shouts his faith from the roof tops on a daily basis waiting for the stones to fly in my direction, so that's how you're going to perceive me and treat me.
And I'm telling you, that you're nothing special. Your reaction to me is the same reactions I get from customers and strangers on a daily basis.
So this is the part where you realize you've made your point, I've told you you're wrong, and there's nothing left for you to say. So there's the mature path of moving on and realizing that you're not getting through to this particular individual, or theirs the other path where you stick around and keep stamping your feet insisting that I'm a witch hunting, gay bashing, segregationist bigot who deserves what's happening to him, while the rest of us move on without you.
If THAT ^^ is what you took away from my posts, than you have some MUCH deeper issues to work on than where you live. MUCH deeper.
Thinking I have any "reaction" to you at all is ludicrous to the extreme. I don't give a whoot about you, you are an anonymous person on the internet. You asked for some feedback and I gave it. If you are simply unable to accept feedback that does not fit in with what you want to hear, and you think it makes me believe you are the devil, then I think you need to seek some professional help. And I'm not saying that as derogatory thing, I see a therapist on a regular basis for my issues as well, but if you think anything I posted was me calling you a "bigoted privileged white guy who shouts his faith from the roof tops on a daily basis waiting for the stones to fly in my direction", then you don't have issues, you have subscriptions.
You seem to be suffering from a pretty strong desire for victimization, if I had to guess I would bet on some early family trauma that is manifesting itself as some severe self loathing/self hatred. Just a hunch, I'm no MD, but you need to get yourself some help, son. Seriously.
Feel free to move on down, but anyone under the impression that it's just conservative white folk country has about no clue what they're talking about.
I'd suggest maybe visiting some areas before you decide to pack up and move, but if all you're looking for is the ability to go to church, own/carry a gun, and be a straight white man without catching flak about it then I can tell you that I've personally never had an issue with any of that.
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redthirst is redthirst, fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse. He was the leader of the Fires of Salvation, the only clan I'm aware of to get modded off the forums so hard they made their own forums.
Degenerate? Sure. Loudmouth? You bet. Law abiding? No ****ing way.
OP you mentioned living in the pacific northwest...if you're really looking to live somewhere more "red" just move to the Spokane/Coeur d' alene area. It's much closer than the bible belt and you'll get all the conservative mindset type people you could ask for.
It's also close to where magic started so there's lots of old school players in the area and an overall good magic community.
Kraken I live in Huntsville, AL. We are a nerd city. Probably one of the more liberal cities in Alabama, but still very conservative (I think the voting was around 40% obama?)
There are at least 5 game shops in the area. And the one I frequent has free custom tabletops to play minis on, frequent magic, runs all sorts of board games, and rpgs.
It is also a city of engineers so it's very pragmatic? It is less red/blue and much more moderate/libertarian.
EDIT: On the guns/church thing, there is a church on most every corner and enough guns to put on in every hand.
You cannot move from your problems because they will move with you. If you truly desire a location change feel free to do it, but don't think it will be a panacea. Trying to escape from what you consider bigoted behavior isn't going to be possible because bigots exist everywhere.
You'll find a lot of Catholics in the "older" parts of Louisiana like Ville Platte, maybe up around Lafayette, and probably a bit in New Orleans. But look in the center of the state and you'll hardly find any. Just a little bit of google fu shows that 26% of Louisiana identifies as Catholic and 22% as Baptist. That still reflects my statement about a largely Baptist population (and I didn't even say anything about the teachings of Cathol). It doesn't even rank in the Top 10 for most Catholic states in the country. The double negative isn't endearing, either. Source: Lived in Watson and went to church in Baton Rouge for 14 years.
This.
How many people in rural Louisiana do you think answer surveys about religion? Louisiana is certainly the most catholic state in the south, the majority of the schools are catholic. Probably find a bit in New Orleans? Do you even pay attention in Louisiana? You lived in bloomin watson, what a source, the burbs of Baton Rouge! My source: lived in Houma, Luling, New Orleans, Algiers, Baton rouge, and Thibodeau, have family all over the state, and went to LSU for two years before transferring out here to Georgia. But please, out Louisiana me. Try not to have a boude face on
Edit: sure, its less catholic than it was 100 years ago, but to exclaim Louisiana as a baptist state is just so wrong that something has to be said. While roman catholicism is no longer a hard majority in Louisiana in is certainly the plurality.
I think you will find that many of the ideas you hold are slowly consigning their way to irrelevance.
I usually go to the Carolinas in the summer, touristy-areas and we usually take a ride into the country at some point too. Personally it's not my thing, but the family likes it. So I'm in the land of Pulled Pork and V8 engines and Jesus and tractors and country music and people saying ya'll at the farmers market.
Well last year we decide to check out Charleston and what happened next completely blew my mind. Liberals, liberals everywhere Head shops and surf shops, stoner rock bands playing at the bars, people driving Smart cars and while it's no big deal to me here in NJ, I even saw an openly gay kid working at an Urban Outfitters.
So long story short, maybe if you move into the backwoods you will find a more "pure" conservative experience, but it seems even parts of the south are changing.
Yeah, move to Redding. It's the Bible Belt of California, and rents are unbelievably cheap.
And as long as we're speaking our minds with no filters, just don't move to a swing state. Saving western civilization is hard enough already.
The only real problem with Redding is that it still has double-digit unemployment due to the fact that the timber industry is a shell of its former self. I wouldn't recommend moving to somewhere like Redding unless you have a job lined up there.
It is in the "Jefferson" region though, so it might be what Kraken is looking for.
I lived in Sulphur, Louisiana for a year working with a church down there and loved nearly every minute of it. It's a town of about 30k, with Lake Charles, a city of roughly 80k about 10 minutes away. You're also a fairly short drive from Galveston Texas, and about 2 hours from Baton Rouge. Might be a bit further South than you were thinking, but it may be worth checking out.
If all you are looking for is to have you views be tolerated the Midwest might not be a bad option.
I live just outside Minneapolis and I work with 1 guy that is a 32 year old Catholic that fits the very definition of religious conservative (his future wife is also going to stay home with the kids after they have some) and I also work with a 25 year old guy that meets the very definition of hipster liberal... and we are all friends. We also manage to have debates at lunch over politics and religion and nobody goes away feeling pissed and attacked. I love it because it creates a setting where I feel I can actually listen to and try to understand both sides of an issue.
I'm tired of hearing about all the decrying of white people and Christians. I'm done talking to people about how racist all white people are, or how much men are the cause of all evil and rape culture, or how oppressive and privileged straight people are to homosexuals and transgendered people.
I'm done with the Bible Bashing, finished with the Man Hating, tired of the Straight Shaming.
I just want to move to the only region left in America where people can just be people, I can read my Bible in peace, register for a gun real easy to help defend my family from all the crazies in life, where men are respected and not vilified. And yes, where I can be near people who think like myself and don't give a damn about issues involving race, sex and religion, because we all feel the same way and those issues don't effect us and we don't want to care about them anymore.
Sure, that may be just because they are all mostly white, straight, Christian people. But that just sounds like paradise to me right now. And I don't care if it makes me sound bigoted, I want to be around people who agree with my world view so I don't have to be ashamed to be a white, straight Christian man anymore.
With the caveat that I think you're exaggerating here, I get ya but I think it would be nice if there was a middle ground somewhere..
You mean where white straight conservatives don't have to see anyone who isn't a white straight conservative.
How much do you think you know about the American south? Your claim that it is a place where you "don't have to see anyone who isn't a white straight conservative" is wildly inaccurate.
Quote from Chilling Apparition »
Well last year we decide to check out Charleston and what happened next completely blew my mind. Liberals, liberals everywhere Head shops and surf shops, stoner rock bands playing at the bars, people driving Smart cars and while it's no big deal to me here in NJ, .
How much do you think you know about the American south? Your claim that it is a place where you "don't have to see anyone who isn't a white straight conservative" is wildly inaccurate.
Not to put words in Tuss' mouth, but I think he meant that as KBT's motivations for moving, not as a declaration about the region he wants to move to. At least that's how I read it.
If all you are looking for is to have you views be tolerated the Midwest might not be a bad option.
I live just outside Minneapolis and I work with 1 guy that is a 32 year old Catholic that fits the very definition of religious conservative (his future wife is also going to stay home with the kids after they have some) and I also work with a 25 year old guy that meets the very definition of hipster liberal... and we are all friends. We also manage to have debates at lunch over politics and religion and nobody goes away feeling pissed and attacked. I love it because it creates a setting where I feel I can actually listen to and try to understand both sides of an issue.
Just throwing it out there.
See, that's kind of what I am talking about. From his responses here, KBT doesn't seem like he is able to tolerate or have those kind of discussions without deciding that he is being victimized and persecuted. He doesn't seem to be looking for a homogenous environment because he wants to fit it, h seems to be looking for a homogenous environment because he can't tolerate people who don't fit into his idea of what things should be.
He's going to carry that baggage wherever he goes, so I would save the $$ that would be used on moving and use it on some counseling. He doesn't sound like a happy person to me.
Have you considered a different country? In my culture, I don't have to worry about political correctness, or tolerate anything that isn't a straight person. Guns aren't as easy, but there are "ways". The only thing would be the overwhelmingly majority of Catholics, but the religion subject is not as harsh this side of the Usumacinta river. You could even become a successful pastor of whichever denomination you profess.
redthirst is redthirst, fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse. He was the leader of the Fires of Salvation, the only clan I'm aware of to get modded off the forums so hard they made their own forums.
Degenerate? Sure. Loudmouth? You bet. Law abiding? No ****ing way.
No, Fluffy Bunny and Sunshine Dan are pretty much spot on with the kind of places I'm looking for and my goals of what I wish to obtain from those places.
I wont be replying to Valarin anymore, since it's become obvious to me he's just trying to bait me into flaming him so I get infracted as his way of silencing my voice. But that aint gonna happen. Nice try.
I've considered moving to some place like Lebanon or the Philippines in the past because in Lebanon men are respected more and my dollar would go miles farther in the Philippines. But other than that, no Islamic Extremist Countries for me thank you.
Have you considered Cyprus? It's like the less muslim Turkey.
Edit: I want to reiterate that I'm dead serious because you're not going to find a place in America with more than one red light that meets your qualifications of "normal" (and hahahahaha at this "normal" btw).
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San Antonio is really nice as far as cost of living and amenities, in my opinion. I lived there growing up, and my mother still lives there (in a neighborhood called Alamo Heights).
and here it is, out in the open. Either you have no knowledge of Lebanese culture, or you aren't so much about equality as you are about male-dominance.
in Lebanon, women are barely treated better than in the areas surrounding it; lebanon is not at all a place where women can speak freely or walk in public alone without fear.
finally you stated without any way around it that you feel men should be held in higher regard than women.
by this way i say please do move to Lebanon; you will not be missed.
To defend Lebanon, that nation is perhaps the most liberal Middle Eastern country I've ever visited. When I lived in Beirut, I honestly thought I was in a European city...clubs (including gay), beach parties, skimpy girls, high fashion, etc. Of course it's about 40% Christian, but even the Muslims were MUCH more "westernized" than their Middle Eastern counterparts; ladies are treated fairly highly (although traditional roles are still expected) and Beirut is way more liberal than a bunch of areas here in the US. It's a really beautiful country with some seriously interesting internal dynamics.
Based on his needs, I highly doubt that the OP would fit into Lebanon (or at least Beirut) lol.
edit:
Quote from Oddly Specific »
lebanon is not at all a place where women can speak freely or walk in public alone without fear.
Kraken:
First off, don't take this the wrong way, but your OP easily gives the wrong idea. I understand that you are quite frustrated by your current circumstances, but given that you claim to have come here for advice you could have very easily taken a more gentle/calmer approach.
That being said, I'm tempted to agree with those saying that moving to a more conservative part of Oregon or California would likely be a lot cheaper than migrating cross-country. As has already been mentioned, the high level of religious involvement that your are seeking in your community is likely going to be somewhat difficult to find no matter where you go (the country is growing increasingly secular, that's just how it is). I think that you should be able to find somewhere close to home though that has a more like-minded worldview that you can feel at least somewhat more at home at. You won't find perfect fit, but you can get close, and that's generally the best you can expect in life.
Best of luck!
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You'll find a lot of Catholics in the "older" parts of Louisiana like Ville Platte, maybe up around Lafayette, and probably a bit in New Orleans. But look in the center of the state and you'll hardly find any. Just a little bit of google fu shows that 26% of Louisiana identifies as Catholic and 22% as Baptist. That still reflects my statement about a largely Baptist population (and I didn't even say anything about the teachings of Cathol). It doesn't even rank in the Top 10 for most Catholic states in the country. The double negative isn't endearing, either. Source: Lived in Watson and went to church in Baton Rouge for 14 years.
This.
I think this is the bottom line. Honestly Kraken, I don't think you are going to truly escape your own perceptions. You'll see it no matter where you go, or you'll end up living in a community that's so homogeneous that you don't really fit in. Don't fall into the trap of believing the 'grass is always greener' elsewhere. It's kind of funny, where in Maryland it's such a perfect mix of heavy conservatives and liberals that both believe it's the other's paradise.
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If THAT ^^ is what you took away from my posts, than you have some MUCH deeper issues to work on than where you live. MUCH deeper.
Thinking I have any "reaction" to you at all is ludicrous to the extreme. I don't give a whoot about you, you are an anonymous person on the internet. You asked for some feedback and I gave it. If you are simply unable to accept feedback that does not fit in with what you want to hear, and you think it makes me believe you are the devil, then I think you need to seek some professional help. And I'm not saying that as derogatory thing, I see a therapist on a regular basis for my issues as well, but if you think anything I posted was me calling you a "bigoted privileged white guy who shouts his faith from the roof tops on a daily basis waiting for the stones to fly in my direction", then you don't have issues, you have subscriptions.
You seem to be suffering from a pretty strong desire for victimization, if I had to guess I would bet on some early family trauma that is manifesting itself as some severe self loathing/self hatred. Just a hunch, I'm no MD, but you need to get yourself some help, son. Seriously.
I'd suggest maybe visiting some areas before you decide to pack up and move, but if all you're looking for is the ability to go to church, own/carry a gun, and be a straight white man without catching flak about it then I can tell you that I've personally never had an issue with any of that.
—Jaya Ballard, task mage
It's also close to where magic started so there's lots of old school players in the area and an overall good magic community.
There are at least 5 game shops in the area. And the one I frequent has free custom tabletops to play minis on, frequent magic, runs all sorts of board games, and rpgs.
It is also a city of engineers so it's very pragmatic? It is less red/blue and much more moderate/libertarian.
EDIT: On the guns/church thing, there is a church on most every corner and enough guns to put on in every hand.
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How many people in rural Louisiana do you think answer surveys about religion? Louisiana is certainly the most catholic state in the south, the majority of the schools are catholic. Probably find a bit in New Orleans? Do you even pay attention in Louisiana? You lived in bloomin watson, what a source, the burbs of Baton Rouge! My source: lived in Houma, Luling, New Orleans, Algiers, Baton rouge, and Thibodeau, have family all over the state, and went to LSU for two years before transferring out here to Georgia. But please, out Louisiana me. Try not to have a boude face on
Edit: sure, its less catholic than it was 100 years ago, but to exclaim Louisiana as a baptist state is just so wrong that something has to be said. While roman catholicism is no longer a hard majority in Louisiana in is certainly the plurality.
Where I live we have churches on every other corner. The other corner is generally a liquor store or bar.
I usually go to the Carolinas in the summer, touristy-areas and we usually take a ride into the country at some point too. Personally it's not my thing, but the family likes it. So I'm in the land of Pulled Pork and V8 engines and Jesus and tractors and country music and people saying ya'll at the farmers market.
Well last year we decide to check out Charleston and what happened next completely blew my mind. Liberals, liberals everywhere Head shops and surf shops, stoner rock bands playing at the bars, people driving Smart cars and while it's no big deal to me here in NJ, I even saw an openly gay kid working at an Urban Outfitters.
So long story short, maybe if you move into the backwoods you will find a more "pure" conservative experience, but it seems even parts of the south are changing.
The only real problem with Redding is that it still has double-digit unemployment due to the fact that the timber industry is a shell of its former self. I wouldn't recommend moving to somewhere like Redding unless you have a job lined up there.
It is in the "Jefferson" region though, so it might be what Kraken is looking for.
I live just outside Minneapolis and I work with 1 guy that is a 32 year old Catholic that fits the very definition of religious conservative (his future wife is also going to stay home with the kids after they have some) and I also work with a 25 year old guy that meets the very definition of hipster liberal... and we are all friends. We also manage to have debates at lunch over politics and religion and nobody goes away feeling pissed and attacked. I love it because it creates a setting where I feel I can actually listen to and try to understand both sides of an issue.
Just throwing it out there.
With the caveat that I think you're exaggerating here, I get ya but I think it would be nice if there was a middle ground somewhere..
How much do you think you know about the American south? Your claim that it is a place where you "don't have to see anyone who isn't a white straight conservative" is wildly inaccurate.
Puke! LOL.
Not to put words in Tuss' mouth, but I think he meant that as KBT's motivations for moving, not as a declaration about the region he wants to move to. At least that's how I read it.
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See, that's kind of what I am talking about. From his responses here, KBT doesn't seem like he is able to tolerate or have those kind of discussions without deciding that he is being victimized and persecuted. He doesn't seem to be looking for a homogenous environment because he wants to fit it, h seems to be looking for a homogenous environment because he can't tolerate people who don't fit into his idea of what things should be.
He's going to carry that baggage wherever he goes, so I would save the $$ that would be used on moving and use it on some counseling. He doesn't sound like a happy person to me.
Unless you hate Hispanic people as well...
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I wont be replying to Valarin anymore, since it's become obvious to me he's just trying to bait me into flaming him so I get infracted as his way of silencing my voice. But that aint gonna happen. Nice try.
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Edit: I want to reiterate that I'm dead serious because you're not going to find a place in America with more than one red light that meets your qualifications of "normal" (and hahahahaha at this "normal" btw).
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and here it is, out in the open. Either you have no knowledge of Lebanese culture, or you aren't so much about equality as you are about male-dominance.
in Lebanon, women are barely treated better than in the areas surrounding it; lebanon is not at all a place where women can speak freely or walk in public alone without fear.
finally you stated without any way around it that you feel men should be held in higher regard than women.
by this way i say please do move to Lebanon; you will not be missed.
Based on his needs, I highly doubt that the OP would fit into Lebanon (or at least Beirut) lol.
edit:
That's completely untrue.
First off, don't take this the wrong way, but your OP easily gives the wrong idea. I understand that you are quite frustrated by your current circumstances, but given that you claim to have come here for advice you could have very easily taken a more gentle/calmer approach.
That being said, I'm tempted to agree with those saying that moving to a more conservative part of Oregon or California would likely be a lot cheaper than migrating cross-country. As has already been mentioned, the high level of religious involvement that your are seeking in your community is likely going to be somewhat difficult to find no matter where you go (the country is growing increasingly secular, that's just how it is). I think that you should be able to find somewhere close to home though that has a more like-minded worldview that you can feel at least somewhat more at home at. You won't find perfect fit, but you can get close, and that's generally the best you can expect in life.
Best of luck!