Texas tops the list of America's 10 worst states for quality of life in 2024 - eviltoast
  • mad_asshatter@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    “10. Arizona”
    “9. Kansas”
    “8. Louisiana”
    “7. Missouri”
    “6. Tennessee”
    “5. Arkansas”
    “4. Oklahoma”
    “3. Alabama”
    “2. Indiana”
    “1. Texas”

    Blue Bad.

    eta - numbering went totally strange, so enclosed each in "

    • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      I’m surprised Mississippi isn’t on that list. I assume this is 1 at worst because while I have no doubt Arizona and Kansas suck major ass, they can’t be worse than Tennessee and Alabama.

      Also surprised Indiana made the list. Godsawful hellhole sure, and impressively so given its neighbors, but I always pictured it as a mundane shittiness. I think of Indiana like I think of Iowa, firstly I don’t, but when I do it sucks but not like, on par with Alabama and texas, more in a “yeah it’s like the bastard child of Michigan and Iowa” there’s nothing to do in the farmland or suburbs, and gang violence in the former industrial areas, all with none of the remotely effective policy of Illinois, Ohio, or Michigan.

      • Riven@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        4 months ago

        I have a bud who lives there. Lots of straight up drugs and bigots, some of the recent laws they passed are straight up backwards. I think it mostly pops up because of the drug issues though, he always talks about seeing people on crack and meth.

        The university there is probably holding the state up a smidge both the others you mentioned.

      • Delusional@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        You can only fit so many shit republican states on a 10 item list. It really seems like they’re racing to the bottom.

      • flames5123@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Coming from MS, yea. Alabama is better. They have better liquor laws and brewery laws, and it shows. Alabama has Huntsville, which is a huge engineering hub that’s being built up constantly. MS has nothing like that.

    • kamenLady.@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      I’ve seen eta used a lot, like you did. For me, it always meant “estimated time (of) arrival”. What does it mean in your context?

          • mad_asshatter@lemmy.world
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            4 months ago

            I learned to touch type on underwood typewriters, learned cobol, basic, pl/1, fortran (watfor/wat5!), and fed a thousand punch cards to a mainframe or something to print 2 words.

            Reddit made me do “eta”.

        • kamenLady.@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          Thanks. It must show my age, that i sometimes don’t think about the obvious googling for anything.

          • jorp@lemmy.world
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            4 months ago

            the only times I do the due diligence and online research I should are when I’m trying to win an online argument, so I can relate. Got lucky with a guess this time :)

    • zeekaran@sopuli.xyz
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      4 months ago

      This homogenizes the entire states. KC, Austin, Bentonville, and Fayetteville are all desirable places to live.

      • eldavi@lemmy.ml
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        4 months ago

        i tried to turn austin into a goot place to live for 5 years; it’s only good if you also believe that the 1990’s were also a good time to live.

      • iheartneopets@lemm.ee
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        4 months ago

        Tulsa and OKC as well. The countryside is flat, windy and hot as fuck, so if you like going outside a lot it’s probably not for you, but both metros in OK are pretty nice.

        As for Arkansas, Little Rock is severely slept on. Not as pretty as Fayetteville and Bentonville, obviously, but I was surprised in visiting recently how much it had grown since I had lived there.

        Of course, in all of those places, the fact remains that you’re living in goddamned Oklahoma or Arkansas, and that’s an experience I simply don’t recommend.

        • tyler@programming.dev
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          4 months ago

          OKC is the worse city I’ve ever visited. Decatur, TX is better and that’s not a compliment to Decatur. Little Rock is nice, and absolutely nothing like god awful OK. I do not understand how people can live there. At least Kansas is pretty.

  • Blackout@kbin.run
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    4 months ago

    What would happen if you give predatory businesses/owners free reign in a US state? What if the laws passed protect them completely from any liability while targeting the rights of you and your family? Ever wanted to live within the blast radius of a chemical plant? Come to Texas, but remember, BYOG!

    *Bring your own generator

      • MiDaBa@lemmy.ml
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        4 months ago

        I should open a mega church. My day gig just isn’t cutting it anymore and I Iike the idea of getting rich while working only Sundays.

        • Telorand@reddthat.com
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          4 months ago

          Don’t forget that you can operate tax-free, as long as you write it off as a church expense. Don’t even have to join a particular denomination and follow their rules. Just start a non-denom, and you too can be God’s special little guy who definitely knows all the secrets.

  • Etterra@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    It looks like Texas is finally beaten Florida to the bottom. I guess we could declare, what’s his name, Greg Abbott the winner of that fucking race.

  • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    They keep saying “inclusiveness” talking about these southern states. That’s really watering down the actual problem which is overt racism. We need words that actually describe what they mean, and the issue in those states is racism.

      • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Then homophobia and sexism too. When I read “inclusivity” I interpret that to mean that the populace isn’t very blended, or that they’re not doing enough to promote every culture. But that’s not what is happening. There’s a big difference between not being inclusive, and being actively exclusive or hostile.

        • eldavi@lemmy.ml
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          4 months ago

          I interpret that to mean that the populace isn’t very blended

          very astute. the gay clubs in austin will play latin music, but they’re very careful not to play too much mexican music because the popular consensus with the managers at all 4 clubs is that mexicans cause property damage.

          selena and other tejanos gets a pass because she’s texan royalty; but that’s the closest thing to mexican music you’re going to hear.

      • eldavi@lemmy.ml
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        4 months ago

        it’s also not just anti-lgbtq; the bigotry has many layers.

        the lgbq people in austin are also anti-chubby, anti-feminine, anti-trans, anti-mature, etc.

        even the liberals in austin are like: “follow the rules, especially the bigotry laden ones”

  • exanime@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Super gross generalization here but I’ve meet a few people from Texas (all immigrants) and they all repeat a version of the same vague comment when asked how is it there: “best place for raising children because of the values”

    When pressed they all avoid giving a single concrete example

    I’ve come to understand it’s just some veiled racism. The whole “here, we get to hurt people I dislike”

    • Delusional@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      When pressed they all avoid giving a single concrete example

      Just like all the brainwashed idiots who say they’ll never vote for a Democrat but they don’t know why. Because conservative propaganda says they’re evil.

    • n3m37h@sh.itjust.works
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      4 months ago

      There are only 2 things that com from Texas and that’s steers and queers, these people don’t look much like steers so that kinda narrows it down…

  • radicalautonomy@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Moving to the PNW next week after over 40 years in this god damned state. Lotta cool people here whom I’ve known over the years, but I’m not participating in my own oppression any more.

    • Drusas@kbin.run
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      4 months ago

      Welcome, neighbor! Make sure to get out and enjoy our beautiful scenery.

      • radicalautonomy@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        First weekend there I am gonna check out the view of Portland from the Pittock Mansion, go to Tillamook to eat some fucking cheese and ice cream, head up to Cannon Beach to stare out to infinity, drive to Astoria to check out The Goonies filming locations, and then spend Sunday in Seattle doing I dunno what yet but it’ll definitely involve coffee and hipsterism. Very excite!

        • Drusas@kbin.run
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          4 months ago

          Sounds like a good plan! If you can fit it in, I would recommend crossing over to Washington from Astoria and checking out the Cape Disappointment area while you’re there. Absolutely gorgeous.

    • eldavi@lemmy.ml
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      4 months ago

      Moving to the PNW next week after over 40 years in this god damned state.

      you’ve got stamina; i could only handle 5 years in austin before it’s conservative bigotry made me leave.

    • Fedizen@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      housing costs here are fucked and traffic is a mess but the scenery, coffee and weather are generally good.

      • radicalautonomy@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        I’m coming from Dallas where the housing costs are fucked and traffic is a mess but the scenery, coffee and weather are as shit as the citizenry.

    • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Welcome to the PNW. We have a lot of transplants, and more come every year. It’s getting pretty crowded, but it sure is beautiful. I hope you like the rain, and won’t miss all that sunshine.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Pretty good. You can even molest one or two of your child relatives and the Governor will pat your back over it and send you on your way.

  • Chozo@fedia.io
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    4 months ago

    Sounds about right. It’s an absolute shame that such a beautiful place can be so inhospitable.

    • MentallyExhausted@reddthat.com
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      4 months ago

      I don’t mean to be a dick, but I was born in and have driven through Texas, and most of the state is a barren wasteland.

  • sunzu@kbin.run
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    4 months ago

    Car depend shitholes do be like that, when your spend a lot of your time in car… how good is your life?

    • radicalautonomy@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      I grew up in Arlington. It is the 50th most populated city in the United States, and it is the city with the highest population that still doesn’t have public transportation. The boomers have voted it down for decades because they wanted to keep it a nice suburb, and they thought buses would bring drug problems. Surprise, motherfuckers, Arlington has a drug problem now anyhow. Let people have their fucking buses.

      • sunzu@kbin.run
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        4 months ago

        This is an american classic that wasted generations of wealth on stupid idea to keep lead imprisoned boomers happy.

    • Today@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      It depends on what you do during that time. Listen to an audio book or learn something. Call a friend or family that you didn’t talk to often. Chat with the passenger. The best of just winding down between work and home, though trains are good for that too.

      • sunzu@kbin.run
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        4 months ago

        More power to you if you feel that way.

        I found sitting in traffic after working to be soul crushing.

        • Know_not_Scotty_does@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          I went from a commute of 1hr 15min each way to 5 min each way and my life improved so much. No activity in the car would make me ever change back to my old setup.

          • sunzu@kbin.run
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            4 months ago

            IMHO commute time overall, car or not, is one of the largest QoL factors after things like money, partner, socials etc

        • Today@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          I borrowed my husband’s phone one day to take a pic. There were dozens of pictures of him making funny faces. WTF? That’s my mad face. That’s my happy face. That’s my 'just learned about aliens ’ face. Again…WTF? He said, “That’s what i do while I’m sitting in traffic.” 🤷

  • root@precious.net
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    4 months ago

    The first paragraph tells you all you need to know about the rankings, “we don’t like their beliefs”.

    It’s ironic that their “quality of life” rankings are linked to the ability to abort a child, the quality of the child’s life clearly isn’t important to their rankings.

    • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Zero chance in hell I’m moving to that piece of shit, no need to use reverse psychology to protect your Stockholm syndrome master

      • eldavi@lemmy.ml
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        4 months ago

        you’re smart; but so many people are moving there that places like california are losing congressional seats due to census numbers shifting towards texas.

        • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
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          Have fun with your gun psychos, failing power grid, and hour of driving everywhere you go. I’m sure some vague sense of “freedom” makes it all infinitely worth it.

          • Today@lemmy.world
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            4 months ago

            We do have our problems, but Texas is in the bottom half of states for gun ownership rate. I’m not sure what the hour driving comment is about - is that supposed to be a traffic or distance jab? Are you legally not allowed to cross city or state lines?

            • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
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              4 months ago

              Well you’re certainly contradicting my experience. And yes in Texas everything is far apart and yes the traffic is pretty bad in the cities I’ve visited

    • YeetPics@mander.xyz
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      4 months ago

      The only “people” moving to Texas are tax mules and corpo scumbags.

      The governor won’t even stay there when the rains kick in. Oh, and how about that grid! 🤣🤣🤣

      • Duranie@literature.cafe
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        4 months ago

        “The only “people” moving to Texas are tax mules and corpo scumbags”

        Or in my brother’s case, following an ex wife who decided to marry someone from Texas and move there with the kids. Sometimes moving is cheaper and less complicated than legal battles with a parent you still have to work with for another 10 years.

        The clock is ticking though. As soon as the youngest graduates high school they’re getting the hell out of there.

        • Telorand@reddthat.com
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          4 months ago

          In my case, I got swindled by a Christian cult. Now that I’m out, I’m stuck here for a while

          • Today@lemmy.world
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            4 months ago

            Congratulations on your escape.

            ETA: do you have advice for others who are in cultlike situations? How should we approach them to best help them find their way out?

            • Telorand@reddthat.com
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              TBH, seeing how other people lived and were happy was one of the biggest proofs that I was in something that couldn’t live up to its promises. When you promise that your way is the best way, yet other people aren’t just happy but thriving, it kind of tends to make the claims ring hollow.

              It took many years for me, though, for all the pieces to finally click that it was just bullshit. There’s no amazing advice I can offer except to be an authentic person and maybe challenge their notions from time to time (if you have a friendly relationship). People who find their way out usually do it on their own, and it can be a jarring and lonely experience; keeping in mind that it was something done to them as much as it was something they did can help navigate how to support someone in that spot.

              There’s thankfully lots of great resources available to catch them, too, like “Recovering from Religion” and the “Secular Therapy Project,” as well as online support communities.