4 ms·

I did not ever expect to see my old hometown of 30k people on HN. Growing up there in the 80s and 90s, it was a nice enough place, but basically 0 tech jobs out

I did not ever expect to see my old hometown of 30k people on HN. Growing up there in the 80s and 90s, it was a nice enough place, but basically 0 tech jobs outside of doing basic IT or support. My parents still live there (my dad an EE at the mentioned Cummins), but the fortunes of the town are tied to Cummins' stock price. They've done a lot to revitalize the downtown in the last decade, it used to be pretty run down. That said, its still in Indiana, with hot muggy summers and wet cold winters where you don't see the sun for 4 months. People are generally friendly, as long as you're "normal". There's a lot of casual racism and homophobia, I didn't even recognize it until I moved away and had my eyes opened. I moved to Indy to get a programming job in the early 2000s, and then to Colorado a few years after that. I'm much happier with the climate, the people, and the tech out here. However, the house I close on this month cost 3x what my parents' place is worth.

drharby 9y ago
Im mexican american, and grew up in a similar town in Missouri. I was 'normal' as I practiced good English and had no accent. But the casual racism was real, and I have trouble explaining it to those who think racism is only an explicit hatred. Its a lifestyle habit for much of America and rather than discuss it I see people just bark and bark about how ignorant it sounds. Tangential rant, but to circle the wagon to the point, these towns have some ways to go and will need a transformation culturally
avenoir 9y ago
Denver and surrounding areas will be unaffordable in the next few years, much like San Francisco today. It's a good time to buy property now and see it double in value.
- psadauskas 9y ago
  Yep! The only way I'm able to afford this house is because I'm selling the house I bought 5 years ago for 50% more than I paid for it. So many of my friends and colleagues, even in the tech industry, the 20% down payment they're saving for is going up faster than they're able to save for it. I don't think this is sustainable for much longer.
ctennis1 9y ago
I think you'd be surprised. I moved to Columbus in the early 2000s after college from another Indiana city. Perhaps I have blinders on, but I don't ever recall any casual racism or homophobia. If anything I'd say it's a more progressive city than many other small conservative midwestern towns. There is considerable diversity in the city, given that many of the engineers who live here have come from other countries. There was a recent presentation about the problems of "conversion therapy", and the presbyterian church a few weeks ago had a day of remembrance specifically for those who are transgender. Not saying it's anything along the lines of Colorado, or the bay area, which I've frequented the past decade - but I think 2017 Columbus IN is vastly different than late 90s Columbus IN. The article really nails it.
- GuiA 9y ago
  Do you identify as LGBT or non white? No dig against you personally, but if so you are most likely not in a good position to judge the state of racism/homophobia/etc.
- psadauskas 9y ago
  Oh sure, Columbus is way more progressive than just about anywhere else in southern Indiana, save Bloomington (home of Indiana University). But still, my high school graduating class of 350 had one black kid and a couple Hispanics. There were more Japanese than any other minority, and that was because Cummins had hired their parents from the manufacturing powerhouses there. Several of my friends had lived their entire lives in the area, the type of family where both of their grandparents lived within 30 minutes, and they had no will or desire to leave and explore the rest of the country. Most of them grew up in racist and homophobic families, so making remarks and jokes was commonplace. It didn't seem so at the time, but now having left I realize just how rampant it was, and I'm actually a little ashamed to have taken part in it.

drharby 9y ago

Im mexican american, and grew up in a similar town in Missouri. I was 'normal' as I practiced good English and had no accent. But the casual racism was real, and I have trouble explaining it to those who think racism is only an explicit hatred. Its a lifestyle habit for much of America and rather than discuss it I see people just bark and bark about how ignorant it sounds. Tangential rant, but to circle the wagon to the point, these towns have some ways to go and will need a transformation culturally

avenoir 9y ago

Denver and surrounding areas will be unaffordable in the next few years, much like San Francisco today. It's a good time to buy property now and see it double in value.

psadauskas 9y ago
Yep! The only way I'm able to afford this house is because I'm selling the house I bought 5 years ago for 50% more than I paid for it. So many of my friends and colleagues, even in the tech industry, the 20% down payment they're saving for is going up faster than they're able to save for it. I don't think this is sustainable for much longer.

ctennis1 9y ago

I think you'd be surprised. I moved to Columbus in the early 2000s after college from another Indiana city. Perhaps I have blinders on, but I don't ever recall any casual racism or homophobia. If anything I'd say it's a more progressive city than many other small conservative midwestern towns. There is considerable diversity in the city, given that many of the engineers who live here have come from other countries. There was a recent presentation about the problems of "conversion therapy", and the presbyterian church a few weeks ago had a day of remembrance specifically for those who are transgender. Not saying it's anything along the lines of Colorado, or the bay area, which I've frequented the past decade - but I think 2017 Columbus IN is vastly different than late 90s Columbus IN. The article really nails it.

GuiA 9y ago
Do you identify as LGBT or non white? No dig against you personally, but if so you are most likely not in a good position to judge the state of racism/homophobia/etc.
psadauskas 9y ago
Oh sure, Columbus is way more progressive than just about anywhere else in southern Indiana, save Bloomington (home of Indiana University). But still, my high school graduating class of 350 had one black kid and a couple Hispanics. There were more Japanese than any other minority, and that was because Cummins had hired their parents from the manufacturing powerhouses there. Several of my friends had lived their entire lives in the area, the type of family where both of their grandparents lived within 30 minutes, and they had no will or desire to leave and explore the rest of the country. Most of them grew up in racist and homophobic families, so making remarks and jokes was commonplace. It didn't seem so at the time, but now having left I realize just how rampant it was, and I'm actually a little ashamed to have taken part in it.