Anonymous wrote:All the people I know like this are this way, IMO, because of a lack of travel.
My parents are both from WV. They moved to VA in the 80s and had my siblings and I here. 99% of my relatives are still in WV. They're very much like this with the WV pride because they know of no other places, for the most part. Many have been to visit us in VA and they absolutely hate it here and in DC. Other than that, they go to Myrtle Beach in SC for vacation. A motorcycle event in OH. None of them have passports or any desire to ever travel internationally.
Anonymous wrote:I have never understood this, but I also don't get being really into where you went to college. I love where I'm from and have fond memories of college, but I don't find either of these things defining aspects of my personality.
And I guess that's my read -- people who get really into their state/city of origin or their alma mater are using it as a proxy for developing actual interests or personality traits. It's just easier to decide early on "I'm a Texan! I love hot sauce and big hats! This is my identity!" than to spend some time figuring out who you really are underneath. And I say that as a Texan (and UT grad who loves both hot sauce and solid cowboy hat. It's just those things don't define who I am.