Minnesota Nice

The following piece of writing has an appeal to me and hope that those of us with some Minnesota connection will find it interesting.

Minnesota Nice

Minnesota Nice is stereotypical behavior of Minnesota residents to provide hospitality and courtesy to others. In recent decades, many have said their Minnesota nice is not as prevalent as it one was, although many visitors from outside the state still report that Minnesotans are generally nicer than other around the United States. A particularly common story is that of a Minnesotan doing his or her best to help a lost traveler, giving precise instruction rather than just the wave of the hand---even mapping a route on a sheet of paper in some cases.

Stereotypes of Minnesotans often overlap with qualities of other Midwesterners, including the perception that many are quiet and do not wish to often others or cause a disruption. Sometime area residents who move away, or otherwise come in contact with others who don’t subscribe to the ideal, say that they have to shed their Minnesota nice in order to interact properly with others to get out troublesome situations.

Minnesotans also tend to have a fairly quirky sense of humor, laughing and smiling easily. This may help to diffuse tense situation and add to politeness of state residents.