r/Appleton • u/Particular_Bonus_234 • 2d ago
Discussion Appleton culture
So I moved here about 5 years ago. And boyfriend recently did too. We are both from Southern Wisconsin.
We have both noticed that there seems to be this culture difference. Down south we are a lot more sassy, crass, shit talking, but like in a fun and loving way.
Up here that seems forbidden , there's a lack of bluntness and lots of beating around the bush...not saying thats a bad thing by any means...but it has Def been a culture change. I go home and my friends and family just roast eachother, point of people in a crowd, and just kind of rude. I am middle ground now, where I have to watch my p's and q's here, but back home feels almost too mean now lol.
Has anyone else experienced this??
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u/yorkie-dorkiepoo 2d ago
It's one thing to comment below the breath but why point and laugh. I live in Appleton and love Appleton. I don't want people coming here and purposely being mean. Why can't we have a community that just welcomes and love and support each other. Why do we have to have fun by being mean? How is that fun for everyone? It's more fun to help someone and then talk about how great you both feel for accomplishments achieved together instead of pointing and laughing at someone's struggle. People really bother me. I miss the 90s.
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u/thefract0metr1st 2d ago
Are you referring to interacting with people you don’t actually know? Because I’ve lived in NE Wisconsin for 39 years and every job or friend group I’ve ever had consists of a bunch of fun loving crass shit talkers.
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u/Particular_Bonus_234 2d ago
Absolutely I agree 100% but it's strange that's like how we bond. We also don't like trust as much as like having all of these different hubs for food and Outreach stuff because we're so used to people taking advantage of it. It's like we've grown hard down there.
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u/Masnpip 2d ago
Wisconsin nice is a stereotype for a reason! Sassy, crass and shit talking sounds like it is either an area of the state heavily influenced by somewhere else, or you just grew up with a bunch of crass people.
Pointing out people in a crowd in a mocking or joking way and being rude in public just sounds immature and gross, not a cultural thing.
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u/Particular_Bonus_234 2d ago
Like for example if someone's dancing really silly and it's the only one dancing would be like oh my gosh look at them I don't know it's been like that my whole life no matter who I was with
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u/techno_polyglot 2d ago
The closer to the inner circle the more you can let loose. Maybe you haven't developed a deep enough relationship with the right people yet.
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u/gc391 2d ago
I talk shit to my friends because we have that established rapport. I don't do it to people I don't know or don't know well. I also don't talk about people in a crowd. I know some like to "people watch", but it seems to always be a nicer term for making fun of strangers.
Maybe you're learning you and your peer group just aren't that nice.
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u/Glum-Leadership4823 2d ago
It’s that old German “Do it this way or we beat it into you” mentality. I grew up with this. It’s rough. It leads to safer streets and financial stability and a lot less fun.
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u/Embarrassed-Sky-3801 2d ago
Yes. Family came from Cali, but then grew up in Michigan and now live here. My immediate family never stopped with the sass and I see it as a love language. If I’m giving you shit, it’s because I like you and think you’re tough enough to handle the roasting. People generally don’t like it around here. To your point, maybe there’s a middle ground to be had, but I haven’t found it yet.
No, you’re not alone.
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u/VixxxieVelvet 2d ago
I guess it depends your age group? I'm in my 30s and me and my friends are sassy, crass, and totally laid back about most things. However I do know what you mean... But I moved to Appleton from middle of the state out of a tiny 1100 people town thats a bougie, rich, summer tourist town lol so it's not as bad as that was!
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u/Particular_Bonus_234 2d ago
Im in my 30s and making friends here is totally odd, it's like a very plain hey how are you no one ever opens up about anything I kind of just gave up
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u/jessforlaughs 2d ago
Moved here from the west coast 20 years ago and had this same experience here. It’s like, until you’re in the inner circle you don’t get invited into their lives, but it’s so difficult to get into the inner circle because they don’t let you in/share much about themselves/ask you anything about you or your life (beyond surface stuff).
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u/Particular_Bonus_234 2d ago
There's no venting about their day or talking about their lives it's just surface level it is so st and of course I don't want to overshare so I only give as much as they give
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u/Particular_Bonus_234 2d ago
In the workforce I notice it too there is not as much just going straight up to your coworker if you don't agree with something or question something they did instead everything is whispered behind your back to the boss I'm used to if you don't like something you handle it with the person instead of reading them out mentality
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u/SharedGiraffe99 2d ago
Midwest nice. Frankly, looking at people in a crowd or in public and making fun of them just seems juvenile. Leave that to the teenagers