J.A.S.O.N. Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 (edited) Two questions..I got the idea for this topic because of the responses in the "Astrodome" thread. Do you consider yourself a Houstonian before Texan, or is it just one in the same to you?I live in the Metroplex now, but I grew up on the island. I have to say that I have NEVER been exposed to more "Texas" (everything) than I have now. The commercials, the accents, the hair, you name it. The attitude of being a Texan seems more prevalent in North Texas to me also. While I've always been a Texan, it was an after thought until I moved here. Do you guys feel that Houston a city that just so happens to be in Texas, or does the city embrace its "Texas culture"? Edited July 19, 2006 by J.A.S.O.N. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 Two questions..I got the idea for this topic because of the responses in the "Astrodome" thread. Do you consider yourself a Houstonian before Texan, or is it just one in the same to you?I live in the Metroplex now, but I grew up on the island. I have to say that I have NEVER been exposed to more "Texas" (everything) than I have now. The commercials, the accents, the hair, you name it. The attitude of being a Texan seems more prevalent in North Texas to me also. While I've always been a Texan, it was an after thought until I moved here. Do you guys feel that Houston a city that just so happens to be in Texas, or does the city embrace its "Texas" culture?As an eigth generation Texan, with 169 years of roots in Iola, Navasota, Palestine, Houston, Bacliff, Austin, Corpus Christi, and rural Hays County (but not S. Texas because I never really lived there), I consider myself Texan. However, I am partial to those parts of texas that exclude most everything north of Waco, west of Corsicana, east of Fort Worth, and south of the Nueces River. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gonzo1976 Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 I got the idea for this topic because of the responses in the "Astrodome" thread. Do you consider yourself a Houstonian before Texan, or is it just one in the same to you?Heh! Well, when I lived in Houston I considered myself Houstonian before Texan. Now that I live out of state, I keep referring to myself as a Texan rather than a Houstonian. Not sure why because I haven't given it much thought! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 I've never given it any thought either, but now that you bring it up I suppose I consider myself Houstonian before Texan. This is the only city in Texas that I've lived in, so it really seems to be the primary reference point. That said, it is more geographic than cultural. I'm not sure what "Texas culture" or "Houston culture" really even mean, beyond cowboys in car commercials, and stars on hotel furniture, and junk like that. American culture is very homogenous; with a few exceptions it seems pretty much the same anywhere you go. That's why a city as a geographic identifier seems more natural than a state. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 I've never given it any thought either, but now that you bring it up I suppose I consider myself Houstonian before Texan. This is the only city in Texas that I've lived in, so it really seems to be the primary reference point. That said, it is more geographic than cultural. I'm not sure what "Texas culture" or "Houston culture" really even mean, beyond cowboys in car commercials, and stars on hotel furniture, and junk like that. American culture is very homogenous; with a few exceptions it seems pretty much the same anywhere you go. That's why a city as a geographic identifier seems more natural than a state.I have to disagree. There are subtle nuances within cultures that can be picked up on with experience.For instance, within the "poor white households" category, if you drive northeast of Houston, you will come across different mindsets than if you drive southeast or west.And within the entire state, there are subcultures that can often be defined by county. For instance, I perceive Austin County to have a different subculture than Washington County, which has a different subculture than Grimes County. The big stuff is basically the same, and I think that most folks can see in themselves a tiny little bit of Hank Hill...but there are big differences.Zoom out a whole lot more, and you simply can't compare folks that live in Abilene to those that live in Beaumont to those that live in Rio Grande City. Those are some BIG differences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 I only say "Houstonian" when people ask what the leaf is on my windsheild. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 As a native Hosutonian, all I have to say is that Texas needs Houston more than Houston needs Texas, and especially Austin.But North Texas is simply Baja Oklahoma. Full of crazy Okie posers.Real Texas is out near the Pecos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 Real Texas is out near the Pecos.The natives would certainly affirm your statement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trophy Property Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 I only say "Houstonian" when people ask what the leaf is on my windsheild. I always thought the leaf meant you were either Canadian or liked Weed. Or both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmancuso Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 always will be a NY'er first but i will refer to myself as a houstonian but never as a texan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 (edited) I always thought the leaf meant you were either Canadian or liked Weed. Or both. Not the leaf. People usually have a hard time figuring out what it is. Edited July 20, 2006 by Montrose1100 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJones Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 (edited) I would have to say Texan first, because like Niche, I have similar GROUNDED roots here, from Texarkana to Joshua to Baytown to El Campo. My mother's side has generations upon generations because of our Indian heritage. Father's side are some of the first White settler's who helped build the town of Joshua,Tx. I will find the link for my family tree website for everyone. It actually has branches on it.Found it: My Grandfather is Malcolm Amos Jones, my father's side of the family has been here since the 1860's. Some of you will be bored, but there are some pretty AMAZING facts listed the further you go back in my family history. I really had no clue. If you just trace back my grandfather's fathers and read a little it ain't such a bad read.http://www.dfc.cc/cgi-bin/igmget.cgi/n=jones?I336 Edited July 20, 2006 by TJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Timmy Chan's Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 Native Pasadentite, but I consider myself a Houstoner now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houstonian in Iraq Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 When around other Americans I always say Houstonian. When I'm asked by anyone else especially here I now say I'm from TX. I use to say I was from Houston but I would always get a blank look (I think it's the American accent) now I just say TX and most people get that. Some times though I need to defualt to my third answer and say American. Then I just get one of these Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 One time I was on this train in England. We were chatting with a nice old couple opposite. They asked where we were from, and I said "Texas". The lady made a "gun" with her hand, pointed and went, "Oh. Bang Bang!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.S.O.N. Posted July 21, 2006 Author Share Posted July 21, 2006 One time I was on this train in England. We were chatting with a nice old couple opposite. They asked where we were from, and I said "Texas". The lady made a "gun" with her hand, pointed and went, "Oh. Bang Bang!" My boss just returned from the Tuscany region of Italy, and when he told a local he was from Texas, the local replied, "Bush!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 My boss just returned from the Tuscany region of Italy, and when he told a local he was from Texas, the local replied, "Bush!" Just curious, but was it said in such a manner as to communicate "Oh, I know where that is...Bush is from there" or "____ you." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.S.O.N. Posted July 21, 2006 Author Share Posted July 21, 2006 Well, the way he explained it was more like the local associates the state of Texas with President Bush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 I always get asked where my cowboy hat and boots are... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmancuso Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 damn bush! before he came to office, i was supposed to go to china and the chinese were never thrilled wioth americans so we were told to tell people we were from texas becuase everyone loved texas then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MexAmerican_Moose Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 AmericanHoustonianTexas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston1stWordOnTheMoon Posted July 22, 2006 Share Posted July 22, 2006 Houston born, but Texan first. Like others here, on my fathers side of the family--generations of Texans. From Longview, Brenham, Brazoria, Houston, Kerrville and Ft Worth. Pretty scattered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimberlySayWhat Posted July 22, 2006 Share Posted July 22, 2006 Houstonian born, raised and currently living. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.S.O.N. Posted July 22, 2006 Author Share Posted July 22, 2006 (edited) I've never lived anywhere but Texas, but I have lived in other places than Houston. So I guess I'd say Texan before Houstonian? Dunno. Never really thought about it."Old Houstonians have never tended to speak of themselves as Texans. They are Houstonians. This stems from an instinctive awareness that Houston has its own character." --Marguerite Johnston, Houston: The Unknown City, 1836-1946 Maybe it stems from an instinctive awareness that most of the rest of Texas hates us? I swear that same quote could be used for Galveston. You'd think this island was 50 miles from the mainland the way some of the older Galvestonians talk. Edited July 22, 2006 by J.A.S.O.N. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston1stWordOnTheMoon Posted July 22, 2006 Share Posted July 22, 2006 I swear that same quote could be used for Galveston. You'd think this island was 50 miles from the mainland the way some of the older Galvestonians talk. HAHA. Its ok, we still love Galveston Very fond memories coming home for spring break and Christmas break in high school and driving down to Galveston for all-out drunken bruhahas :):) Galveston coast was and still is a much welcomed site to me The New England area has nothing comparable I LOVE TEXAS!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonmacbro Posted July 24, 2006 Share Posted July 24, 2006 I've never given it any thought either, but now that you bring it up I suppose I consider myself Houstonian before Texan. This is the only city in Texas that I've lived in, so it really seems to be the primary reference point. That said, it is more geographic than cultural. I'm not sure what "Texas culture" or "Houston culture" really even mean, beyond cowboys in car commercials, and stars on hotel furniture, and junk like that. American culture is very homogenous; with a few exceptions it seems pretty much the same anywhere you go. That's why a city as a geographic identifier seems more natural than a state.you forgot the longhorns hanging over doors and crystal decanters full of bourbon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted July 24, 2006 Share Posted July 24, 2006 "Old Houstonians have never tended to speak of themselves as Texans. They are Houstonians. This stems from an instinctive awareness that Houston has its own character."--Marguerite Johnston, Houston: The Unknown City, 1836-1946The above quote sums up my feelings during the years I've been here. In my travels through Texas, Houston always seemed different than the rest of the state, especially in North Texas where they really seem to embrace the cowboy culture. I really don''t mean this to be cheesy, but Houston seems to not care that much about Texas culture, it's like a culture in and of itself.For me deffinately a Houstonian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted July 24, 2006 Share Posted July 24, 2006 Being a native North Carolinian (who HATES NASCAR!), I don't really get into the Texas kitsch, or history or whatever else one might call it. I tend to agree with MidtownCoog, in that only the Pecos region seems to fit the Texas mythology. Having called Houston home for 30 years, I have always felt that Houston and Galveston were more oriented toward the Gulf, whereas Texana was more oriented toward dusty ranches and cattle. I feel more in common with other Gulf Coast cities than with other Texas cities. In that sense, I am a Houstonian first, and to some extent, only.Texas is often not kind to Houston. For decades, the legislature has shorted Houston. Rural legislators band together to take care of themselves, and the money left for cities often goes disproportionately to other cities. It is my belief that Houston gets less benefit by being part of Texas than Texas gets by having Houston.I agree with Subdude, that Texana and the Texas 'mystique' provides an easy marketing point for car dealers, even though virtually none of the intended market pulls up to the ranch house in his Ford pickup and pulls a saddle out of the bed. Maybe that is why I drive a Toyota. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeightsGuy Posted July 24, 2006 Share Posted July 24, 2006 TexanHoustonianI love telling people I'm a Texan, it always trips them up later when I tell them I am not a Bush supporter. People outside the state didn't know people like me existed. They look at you not unlike a heterosexual man telling people he is a ballet dancer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston1stWordOnTheMoon Posted July 25, 2006 Share Posted July 25, 2006 Being a native North Carolinian (who HATES NASCAR!), Toyota. This is just wrong! I love NASCAR and my many trips to the Tarheel State Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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