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The urban bubble is definitely a problem. There are so many people who simply do not understand life outside of that bubble and who dismiss anyone not part of i

The urban bubble is definitely a problem. There are so many people who simply do not understand life outside of that bubble and who dismiss anyone not part of it. Their solution for most problems rural people have is "move to a city", which rural people who enjoy their way of life but may still suffer from some challenges understandably find offensive and dismissive. I say this as a somewhat left-leaning person who lives in an extremely rural area, in my own little bubble of mostly liberal people. The thing is, however, that there are a lot of ignorant, racist and proud people in rural areas. Some of them are people I know. It can be overwhelmingly offensive being around them in groups as they reveal just how racist they actually are, with a smile and a laugh, either not caring how others might think about them or not realizing why what they just said is offensive. Go to a gas station or small store or mechanic around where I live and you'll encounter people standing around and talking about how Trump's going to round up all the Mexicans and Muslims and kick them out finally, or celebrating the fact that "Trump's going to finally lock up Hillary". So, I'm torn. It's a stereotype of rural life that people are ignorant and racist, but it does in fact describe a lot of people. And post-Trump, they've been emboldened to speak their mind more openly.

DamnYuppie 10y ago
I am not disagreeing with your comment. I too know many rural people who are very opinionated in matters of race. Yet I am very frustrated that the concept of racism is a one way street from white people to everyone else. I have spent plenty of time in urban environments across north America and many of their inhabitants exhibit the exact same behaviors. If we are to improve we need to accept that we all have prejudices and need to be candid about them. It is okay not to like everyone, yet it isn't okay to persecute, demean, ostracize, or otherwise oppress them. This needs to be a mindset across the political, social, and racial spectrum.
maxsilver 10y ago
> Their solution for most problems rural people have is "move to a city" Which is doubly troubling, since nearly every major city is massively rejecting new residents, either through insane cost-of-living rises, or through literal persuasion from residents admonishing them "Don't move to Portland / Seattle / Denver / Austin / wherever". You can't tell rural people "you must move to a city to survive" and then also tell them "screw you, we don't want you in our city"
lightbyte 10y ago
>Their solution for most problems rural people have is "move to a city", which rural people who enjoy their way of life but may still suffer from some challenges understandably find offensive and dismissive. At some point you need to accept reality and move on
- waterphone 10y ago
  And that's the attitude many rural voters are revolting against, right there. Tired of being told how to live their lives by arrogant city dwellers who don't understand or have any experience with rural life at all, yet see themselves as smarter and better and qualified to tell rural people what to do and assuming their way of life is suitable for everyone.

DamnYuppie 10y ago

I am not disagreeing with your comment. I too know many rural people who are very opinionated in matters of race. Yet I am very frustrated that the concept of racism is a one way street from white people to everyone else. I have spent plenty of time in urban environments across north America and many of their inhabitants exhibit the exact same behaviors. If we are to improve we need to accept that we all have prejudices and need to be candid about them. It is okay not to like everyone, yet it isn't okay to persecute, demean, ostracize, or otherwise oppress them. This needs to be a mindset across the political, social, and racial spectrum.

maxsilver 10y ago

> Their solution for most problems rural people have is "move to a city" Which is doubly troubling, since nearly every major city is massively rejecting new residents, either through insane cost-of-living rises, or through literal persuasion from residents admonishing them "Don't move to Portland / Seattle / Denver / Austin / wherever". You can't tell rural people "you must move to a city to survive" and then also tell them "screw you, we don't want you in our city"

lightbyte 10y ago

>Their solution for most problems rural people have is "move to a city", which rural people who enjoy their way of life but may still suffer from some challenges understandably find offensive and dismissive. At some point you need to accept reality and move on

waterphone 10y ago
And that's the attitude many rural voters are revolting against, right there. Tired of being told how to live their lives by arrogant city dwellers who don't understand or have any experience with rural life at all, yet see themselves as smarter and better and qualified to tell rural people what to do and assuming their way of life is suitable for everyone.