10 Things You Don’t Say To a Texan
If you're traveling to Texas or have the chance meeting with a Texan in the wild, here's what not to say. These 10 things you don't say to a Texan are phrases to avoid if you want to keep the peace.
Related: 10 Things You Shouldn't Say to Someone From Florida
1. Talk About How Hot Your Minnesota Summer Is
Or your Oregon summer or your Nebraska summer. It's just not the same. Come visit San Antonio in the middle of July and learn what real hot is.
2. Ask Us If We Ride A Horse to Work
We probably don't and that question makes you sound ignorant. Asking every Texan if they have an oil well or why they're not wearing a cowboy hat or cowboy boots is equally annoying.
3. Making Fun Of Us For Closing Our Schools For a Little Bit Of Sleet
We're not used to it and trust me – You don't want to see Texans try to drive on the ice. Besides, most Texas cities don't own salt trucks or any sort of ice or snow removal equipment and things pretty much shut down until the wintry weather abates.
4. Telling Us You've Had Great Tex Mex in Wisconsin, Montana, Oregon, or Anywhere Besides Texas
The Tex is in Tex-Mex for a reason, y'all. I once had nachos with carrots in Montana. Carrots, y'all. And, I'm a huge fan of the state of Montana but I think they need to leave Tex-Mex to the experts.
Also, Chipotle and Taco Bell are not Mexican food.
5. Telling Us Tea Sweetened With Sugar Is the Same As Sweet Tea
No. There's a difference. A big one.
6. Going the Speed Limit in the Slow Lane
It's OK to drive slowly. In the right lane.
7. Telling Us Your BBQ or Tacos Are Better
Because they're not. End of story. I did have some respectable tamales in Union Gap Washington but true Tex-Mex is in Texas.
8. Saying You've Been To Texas If You've Only Been Here
Because that's a lot of nope. Even people who live in Austin will tell you it's not really Texas.
9. Insult Whataburger and/or Blue Bell
No, it's not just another fast food chain, and yes, we all know about Bluebell's 2015 listeria outbreak. We don't talk about that and it's still the “best tasting ice cream in the country” and we're genuinely sad for everyone who can't buy it in their local grocery store.
And, if you don't like our burgers or ice cream, that's fine. Just keep quiet about it, please, and thank you.
10. Reminding Us That We Lost the Battle of the Alamo
We know this. To our chagrin, the Mexican Army prevailed at the Battle of the Alamo. “Remember the Alamo” became our battle cry as we continued to fight for the independence we eventually won. “Remember the Alamo” is what motivated us to keep fighting.
