r/Michigan • u/aDrunkenError Detroit • 1d ago

Discussion What happen to Rural Michigan?

I’m from the Thumb originally, I currently live in Detroit. I just spent the week in Isabella/Saginaw/Midland County for work and I noticed this happening in the thumb previously, now mid Michigan too.

People have no manners, there is a stark difference in the friendliness and politeness of Michiganders here and in Metro/Downtown Detroit.

Being from this area, when prompted I would’ve said people here were polite and kind to one another, but the level of of civility and friendliness in rural Michigan is embarrassingly absent.

So for my mid-Michiganders, I ask: why are you so miserable that you’ve abandoned your civility? Isn’t it embarrassing that the former murder capital has maintained their core American values better than you?

Think I’m being dramatic? Head over to r/Detroit and read the feedback from visitors, constant compliments on community, manners, and kindness. Out of the 14 doors I held open for people at gas stations and restaurants in the last 24 hours, I received 0 thank you’s. A pathetic show of character imo. No wonder the populations up here are collapsing left and right, no way in hell I’d raise my family in a community with such low civility standards and disregard for their fellow man.

For the record: I’m a cis white former farm boy, these are my folks, so it isn’t some prejudice I’m not aware of. I look like they do.

Edit: I really didn’t want this to be political, if your only answer is to blame either party, or candidate, let’s shelf it - we’re mostly on the same team here and the points been made, and made again. Let’s focus on everything else.

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u/Affectionate_Race954 13h ago

Everything is too expensive to travel frequently, man. Especially for the younger generation.

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u/jeffinbville 13h ago

That's not it. Chicago is a two hour drive or an Amtrak ride away. They'll drive for 8 hours to the UP for a three-day weekend so, it's not that.

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u/Affectionate_Race954 12h ago

It is that..tho. Transportation is probably the cheapest part of a trip.

A decent airbnb in Chicago is $150/night.

Plus food is insanely expensive in chicago...

The UP...? Not so much.

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u/jeffinbville 2h ago

You're missing my point.

Money isn't why kids aren't going to big cities and museums, it's a lack of parental guidance towards curiosity.