Nine Misconceptions Only People From Oklahoma Understand | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Nine Misconceptions Only People From Oklahoma Understand

I'm proud to be an Okie y'all!

249
Nine Misconceptions Only People From Oklahoma Understand
Pastposters.com

Oklahoma has been my home for almost 20 years and it has taken pretty the entire time I have lived here to appreciate the great state of Oklahoma. Sure, we don't have white sand beaches, or 14,000 foot mountains, or lakes so clear you can see the bottom, but we do have state pride and that is enough for me.

So let's get a few things straight about my great state. Here are 9 misconceptions about Oklahoma that we Oklahomans are tired of hearing!

1. We are not all cowboys.

Oklahoma may have been founded by cowboys, but that doesn't mean we are all still cowpeople. Oklahoma, like the rest of America, is a melting pot of people. We are cowboys, hipsters, environmentalists, artists, musicians, athletes, businessmen, researchers, farmers, writers and so much more

2. We do not all own horses.

No, I do not ride my horse everywhere I go. I don't even own a horse. People do own horses, but they typically live outside of the city and they ride their horses on their own property. I did see someone riding a horse in front of Target once, but she was the exception.

3. We do not live in teepees.

Yes, Oklahoma was once Indian territory and Native American culture is still thriving in parts of Oklahoma, most of us live in houses or apartments. Someone actually asked me if I lived in a teepee once and the memory still haunts me today.

4. Our region is a mystery even to us.

Some say we are a Southern state. Some say we are a Midwestern state. It just depends on who you talk to, but we do know we are above Texas, a Southern state, and below Kansas, a Midwestern state. I was in California a few years back and someone asked me if I had jet lag from the flight because she thought Oklahoma was on the East Coast.

5. We are not crazy, we are just amateur meteorologists.

Oklahoma is lucky enough to be a part of "Tornado Alley." During the April and May, we are used to dark skies and gusts of wind, but we know something severe is stirring when the sky turns green and the air becomes calm. Many Oklahomans like to stand on their front porches and watch the storms, but they know when the sirens start sounding it is time to take cover inside.

6. We do know proper English.

I promise you, we know English. It just might be hiding behind our Southern drawls. Sometimes we choose to forgo our English and speak Oklahoman. The word "y'all" may occasionally find itself in one of our sentences, but "y'all" is much easier to say than "you all."

7. Oklahoma HAS natural beauty.

Just about every evening, we get to see a water color painted sky more commonly known as a sunset. I'm not really sure what it is about Oklahoma, but we have some of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. In southwest Oklahoma, we have the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Reserve where hundreds of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish live in the beautiful 59,000 acre reserve. Those are just two of many natural beauties found in Oklahoma

8. We don't all live on farms.

I do have some friends who live on ranches or farms (yes, there is a difference), but most of the people I know live in a city or suburb. No, Tulsa and Oklahoma City are nothing like L.A. or N.Y.C., but they have their own urban atmosphere. Tulsa has all the amenities of a big city without all the traffic. Oklahoma City has professional sports and a small town feel. Both cities have pretty booming downtowns especially on weekend nights.

9. We are proud to be Okies.

For some reason, people pity Oklahomans and I don't know why. We are down-to-earth people who know how to have fun, even when everything closes by 11 p.m. The term "Okie" used to be an disparaging name to call someone, but now it is a title we wear proudly.
Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Health and Wellness

To The Cheerful Person On Their Rainy Days, You Are Valid

The world is not always sunshine and rainbows, and you do not have to be, either.

174
pug covered with blanket on bedspread
Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash

Ask friends of mine to name a quality about me, and one a lot them will point out the fact that I am almost always smiling. I like to laugh and smile -- not to quote Buddy the Elf in April, but smiling is my favorite! It is probably my favorite go-to expression. However, what a lot of people do not see is that I have my down days. I have days when smiling and laughing is a real struggle, or when I have so much on my plate that going out of my way to behappy takes more effort than I have stored in me. Be it a symptom of college and growing up or a facet of life, I cannot always be content.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

11 Struggles of Packing for College

It would be so much easier to just pay someone to do it for you

245
a room with boxes and a window

1. Figuring out when to start

Timing is key, you don’t want to start too early or too late.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

15 Times 'Parks and Recreation' Has Summed Up Your Life

Relatable moments from one of the best shows I have ever watched.

200
parks and rec
Liz Keysmash

Amidst my hectic college career, I always find time for one thing, even on the busiest weeks: Parks and Recreation. This show has made me laugh and has made me cry, but most of all I have related to this show more than I would like to admit.

Here are some "Parks and Rec" moments that relate to life struggles that just about everyone faces.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

11 Ways To Live The Best Life You Can

Life is full of twists and turns, but you have to keep going.

41
girl bike

Life is all about twist and turns, sideways and which ways. Nothing is permanent, so we should take risks, and chase our dreams. We are taught at a young age many lessons that will follow us into adulthood. What we aren't taught is how to feel, and how we handle those emotions. We just have to figure them out ourselves, and that's not fun. In my 21 years of living, I have come to know that way too many people can't handle emotions, or the fact that not everyone is dead inside like them. When you're like me, and you have zero control over your emotions, it's hard to feel comfortable around people who aren't so in touch with themselves. As much as I would like to feel nothing at times, I've accepted who I am and the fact that I can cry over practically nothing. So, there are some things in life that you just have to do.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl running late to class
StableDiffusion

Why are girls consistently so late? They just can't help it. Our internal clocks are always just a few minutes behind, or maybe more for some of us. Arriving on time to class is a challenge every morning. If you're continually finding yourself being the last one to walk into class, here are 13 possible reasons why you didn't quite make it on time.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments