We North Dakotans are generally pretty calm folks who don’t get too worked up about things. However, there are some things you could say or do that simply just hit a nerve. If you want to avoid angering a North Dakotan, definitely avoid one of these 10 sure-fire ways that’ll do it:
- Ask us if we talk like the actors in the movie Fargo.
Fargo-Moorhead CVB/Flickr Yah you betcha… we don’t! Almost all of that movie was in Minnesota, anyways.
- Ask us what it’s like to be in a frozen winter wasteland all year.
Fargo-Moorhead CVB/Flickr By all means, come visit North Dakota during the summer in full winter gear. You’ll sure need it in that 90 degree heat and humidity.
- Tell us it must suck not to have any big national sports teams.
Fargo-Moorhead CVB/Flickr We don’t need an NFL team or something similar when we have some of the very best college sports teams in the country to cheer for.
- Ask us if we all live on farms.
Brandon Hirsch/Flickr Sure, there’s a lot of farms in North Dakota - and we’re proud of that - but hundreds of thousands of people also live within some of our big cities.
- Ask us if we live near Mount Rushmore.
Craig Bennett/Flickr That would be the OTHER Dakota. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve been asked this by out-of-staters…
- Tell us our regional foods are weird.
Stacy/Flickr Sure, lutefisk isn’t for everyone, but what about lefse? Knoephla? Cheese buttons? Kuchen? Those are all fantastic and no one should say otherwise.
- Question whether our state even exists.
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr Believe it or not, but there are actual conspiracy theorists out there who think North Dakota doesn’t exist. Seriously?
- Insist that it’s soda, not pop.
Alan/Flickr Maybe if you were talking about the kind of soda for baking, sure. But the beverage is definitely pop here.
- Tell us that all of North Dakota is flat and boring.
Justin Meissen/Flickr I think the badlands would beg to differ.
- Say that North Dakota is just a fly-over state.
Johnida Dockens/Flickr Unfortunately, those that think this are seriously missing out on unique, fun, and interesting places to see here. Their loss, I guess!
What other things makes you mad as a North Dakotan? We love our state and have plenty of reasons to do so, so we might get a little touchy when people diss it!
Fargo-Moorhead CVB/Flickr
Yah you betcha… we don’t! Almost all of that movie was in Minnesota, anyways.
By all means, come visit North Dakota during the summer in full winter gear. You’ll sure need it in that 90 degree heat and humidity.
We don’t need an NFL team or something similar when we have some of the very best college sports teams in the country to cheer for.
Brandon Hirsch/Flickr
Sure, there’s a lot of farms in North Dakota - and we’re proud of that - but hundreds of thousands of people also live within some of our big cities.
Craig Bennett/Flickr
That would be the OTHER Dakota. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve been asked this by out-of-staters…
Stacy/Flickr
Sure, lutefisk isn’t for everyone, but what about lefse? Knoephla? Cheese buttons? Kuchen? Those are all fantastic and no one should say otherwise.
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr
Believe it or not, but there are actual conspiracy theorists out there who think North Dakota doesn’t exist. Seriously?
Alan/Flickr
Maybe if you were talking about the kind of soda for baking, sure. But the beverage is definitely pop here.
Justin Meissen/Flickr
I think the badlands would beg to differ.
Johnida Dockens/Flickr
Unfortunately, those that think this are seriously missing out on unique, fun, and interesting places to see here. Their loss, I guess!
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