Yes, but there are knowledge based rational opinions and then there are total wild ass speculation opinions.

Yes, but there are knowledge based rational opinions and then there are total wild ass speculation opinions.

+1

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but informed opinions should carry more weight. Slater is a professional whose opinions come from deep NBA knowledge. Of course, fans can disagree with his conclusions, but you should have a lot of knowledge if you're going to enter the fray. Attacking Slater's knowledge just shows ignorance because he *is* knowledgeable. Some of the speculative stuff up thread that lacks any supporting evidence should be treated as such.

+1

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but informed opinions should carry more weight. Slater is a professional whose opinions come from deep NBA knowledge. Of course, fans can disagree with his conclusions, but you should have a lot of knowledge if you're going to enter the fray. Attacking Slater's knowledge just shows ignorance because he *is* knowledgeable. Some of the speculative stuff up thread that lacks any supporting evidence should be treated as such.
No, I don't have any evidence, it happened last season. I guess I could look around the internet and try to dig some up. It was fairly common knowledge at the time, though.

And this dude may be knowledgeable about other things but he seems to be tone deaf on why OKC is upset about how Kevin handled things. Just because someone covers a sport or writes opinion pieces about the sport doesn't mean they always know what's going on. It's the same kind of thing when a "knowledgeable" sports media person says Sam Bradford is a bust. But the person who says that doesn't understand the situation and is just looking at the surface. Just because someone writes about something doesn't mean they understand it.

In lieu of telling the Thunder fans to take it outside, here's a blurb about 21C which Travel and Leisure magazine has listed as one of the best new hotels in the world!

http://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/it-list-the-best-new-hotels#usa-and-canada-21c-museum-hotel-oklahoma-city

At the end of every year, we at Travel + Leisure are busy taking stock of the past 12 months and putting together the It List, our annual collection of the best new hotels around the globe. This year, the competition was fiercer than ever. The 44 hotels and resorts ahead are making waves for different reasons—some for killer design, others for culinary bona fides or an unbeatable location—but all are inspiring the rest of the hospitality world to take note.

The 2017 It List covers 31 countries and six continents. It took us to dizzying new heights (the Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar in Oman sits on a canyon rim a mile above sea level), pristine private islands (like Félicité, where Six Senses Zil Pasyon is nestled among hulking granite boulders), and even the back of an elephant (at Meghauli Serai, a Taj Safari Lodge in Nepal, that’s the transportation method of choice for rhino-spotting). There are several closer to home—11 standout properties are represented in the United States.

Despite the stellar field of competitors—or perhaps because of it—choosing the best of the best is no easy feat. It starts with our master list: more than 400 of the most exciting major hotel openings and renovations of 2016. Our team combs through it, debating the merits of each and selecting a (relatively) short list of about 100 places. Even then, the work’s not done until we’ve gotten a firsthand account of each property: Is the service up to snuff? The décor on point? The amenities so thoughtfully selected that a stay feels not just relaxing, but indulgent?
That’s not to say it’s just about luxury. Fancy soaps and 600-thread-count sheets are nice, but they’re not what make your stay memorable. What we’re looking for is that extra something special, that particular alchemy that happens when a carefully considered guest experience, a strong sense of place, and a distinct, even risk-taking brand identity meet. That’s why you’ll find budget-friendly upstarts—such as the design-forward Robey in Chicago, or the gallerylike Atix Hotel in La Paz, Bolivia—alongside ultra-luxe grande dames like the revamped Ritz Paris.

The list that follows is our definitive guide to the hotels that aren’t just gateways to a place, but destinations in their own right. Find your next vacation stay in the slideshow ahead, then share your favorites with us on social media using #TLItList.

No, I don't have any evidence, it happened last season. I guess I could look around the internet and try to dig some up. It was fairly common knowledge at the time, though.

And this dude may be knowledgeable about other things but he seems to be tone deaf on why OKC is upset about how Kevin handled things. Just because someone covers a sport or writes opinion pieces about the sport doesn't mean they always know what's going on. It's the same kind of thing when a "knowledgeable" sports media person says Sam Bradford is a bust. But the person who says that doesn't understand the situation and is just looking at the surface. Just because someone writes about something doesn't mean they understand it.

First, if you can't find evidence that Draymond Green and Kevin Durant spent more time together than KD did with the team from a credible source *anywhere on the internet* then that is not called "common knowledge," that is called an unsubstantiated rumor.

Second, sure, it's your perspective that Slater's tone is off-base and that's a fair point of disagreement. However, I don't think there's any way you can argue Slater is just looking at this from the "surface level" considering he was literally the closest reporter to the situation as the Oklahoma's lead Thunder beat writer all the way through KD's announcement. You can say you disagree with his assessment, but saying *he* doesn't understand it, seems hard to argue. Personally, I have read pretty much all of Slater's stuff and listened to him talk about the KD situation on a couple podcasts. I think he has a really good grasp on KD and the OKC fanbase, but that's just my opinion.

And, sorry for the off topic posts, this will be my last one on this topic on this thread. I'll take it outside. ;)

But...but...many people say

Not commenting on this issue in particular, but as far as I'm concerned Slater was never that great of a reporter. Pretty much wrote the same generic drivel we get from every sportswriter at the Oklahoman save Berry, a nut (but an entertaining one); and Jenni, a clown who'd rather write about some OSU player and his mom and fried chicken or whatever it was than do any real reporting.

I'm sure he's a fine person, but his utterly bland coverage of the Thunder while he was here didn't do anything for me. I see no reason why we should give any credence or thought to what he has to say about anything, let alone Oklahoma City and its residents.

Not commenting on this issue in particular, but as far as I'm concerned Slater was never that great of a reporter. Pretty much wrote the same generic drivel we get from every sportswriter at the Oklahoman...

Slater wrote detailed high-quality video breakdowns of specific sets and tendencies in the Zach Lowe mold. I don't think anyone else at the Oklahoman was doing writing anything like it. Not only were the articles different, but they were really sophisticated. I found his coverage detailed and unique.

Blah! I said I wouldn't comment again. Sorry!

First, if you can't find evidence that Draymond Green and Kevin Durant spent more time together than KD did with the team from a credible source *anywhere on the internet* then that is not called "common knowledge," that is called an unsubstantiated rumor.

Second, sure, it's your perspective that Slater's tone is off-base and that's a fair point of disagreement. However, I don't think there's any way you can argue Slater is just looking at this from the "surface level" considering he was literally the closest reporter to the situation as the Oklahoma's lead Thunder beat writer all the way through KD's announcement. You can say you disagree with his assessment, but saying *he* doesn't understand it, seems hard to argue. Personally, I have read pretty much all of Slater's stuff and listened to him talk about the KD situation on a couple podcasts. I think he has a really good grasp on KD and the OKC fanbase, but that's just my opinion.

And, sorry for the off topic posts, this will be my last one on this topic on this thread. I'll take it outside. ;)
Just because someone is a beat writer and close to the team/situation etc. doesn't mean they get it. I've read plenty of beat writers for OU and the Thunder who have had articles that were off base because they didn't understand or get it.

No one ~*gets it*~. Only traxx.

http://thebiglead.com/2016/07/06/kevin-durant-draymond-green-oklahoma-city-golden-state-warriors/


“I know Russell (Westbrook) was bothered by — and some other teammates were too — of, like, there was some knowledge there that Draymond (Green) was in contact with Kevin (Durant) all season long and they’re in a playoff series and I know there was some conversation around the Thunder team of ‘Hey man, this guy kicked Steven Adams in the nuts twice in this series and what are you doing hanging out with this guy? What’s the relationship? We’re trying to beat these guys.’”


it also shows the difference between someone like Durant competing for a championship and someone like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant doing the same.

Another example of our lawmakers promoting Oklahoma to the nation...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/john-bennett-islam-questionnaire-us_us_58b9f87de4b05cf0f400bebc

Another example of our lawmakers promoting Oklahoma to the nation...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/john-bennett-islam-questionnaire-us_us_58b9f87de4b05cf0f400bebc

Him, Brecheen, and Silk are the 3 worst legislators now that Kern's gone, not a surprise. I'm planning on writing to my Sen and Rep this weekend asking him to vote no on tons of bills, most of them authored/sponsored by these a-holes.

Him, Brecheen, and Silk are the 3 worst legislators now that Kern's gone, not a surprise. I'm planning on writing to my Sen and Rep this weekend asking him to vote no on tons of bills, most of them authored/sponsored by these a-holes.

But they are who the voters want to represent them in their districts. Bennett won reelection 54 to 46%, Silk 57 to 43%, Brecheen by 53.6%.

It looks like Oklahoma City finally made it on the GaWC Sufficiency List. For years I wondered why Tulsa was on the list but OKC was not.

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2016t.html

That's a nice list of peers.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/22/science/march-for-science.html

"Many at the Oklahoma City march seemed motivated by local issues. Lisa Pitts, a teacher, said she was marching because of concerns about the state’s education budget and to support science education.

“We are not a poor state,” she said. “We should not be 50th in everything.”

But concerns about the country’s direction under Mr. Trump were present there, too.

“I don’t want to go back to having dirty air and water,” said Rene Roy, who formerly worked for the state’s environmental regulator and was concerned about Mr. Pruitt’s plans for the E.P.A."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/why-are-travelers-going-crazy-over-this-museum-hotel_us_58fe923de4b0f02c3870edbe

A rare complimentary description of OKC (albeit a very small subsection of the yuppiest parts of it) which I think does more good than harm. Unfortunately the writer's preconceptions about the city are still the norm in most of the country.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/why-are-travelers-going-crazy-over-this-museum-hotel_us_58fe923de4b0f02c3870edbe

A rare complimentary description of OKC (albeit a very small subsection of the yuppiest parts of it) which I think does more good than harm. Unfortunately the writer's preconceptions about the city are still the norm in most of the country.

Actually I think her prose is more helpful than if it read like a Chamber of Commerce piece. She pretty much torches her own misconception in the article.

Actually I think her prose is more helpful than if it read like a Chamber of Commerce piece. She pretty much torches her own misconception in the article.

Definitely agree, but it does seem like she could have gone with "Hey, you probably don't know anything about Oklahoma City, right? Well it's actually alright" rather than "So like you I thought Oklahoma was a godforsaken hellhole. But it's actually alright"

But maybe it is better this way. It is in HuffPo after all, and many of her readers are likely starting with negative pre-conceptions instead of admitting they don't know anything about OKC.

Minor point, but is anyone else a tad annoyed at being referred to as "Oklahoma City, Oklahoma"? It just seems so unnecessary, and we're one of the domestic cities for which the AP Style Guide recommends omitting the state from the end. Not a huge deal, but as we're in the stages of building a brand and conveying our identity to the rest of the country it would be nice to be recognized as "Oklahoma City" as opposed to a town that happens to be in Oklahoma.

Certainly not complaining about the article though. One of the more positive one's I've seen from a national publication that doesn't read like a puff piece.

...
Minor point, but is anyone else a tad annoyed at being referred to as "Oklahoma City, Oklahoma"? It just seems so unnecessary, and we're one of the domestic cities for which the AP Style Guide recommends omitting the state from the end. Not a huge deal, but as we're in the stages of building a brand and conveying our identity to the rest of the country it would be nice to be recognized as "Oklahoma City" as opposed to a town that happens to be in Oklahoma.
...

While that may be what the style guide calls for and more redundant than most with us; the City, State format is common enough you see it with far larger cities than us with unique names all the time.

Minor point, but is anyone else a tad annoyed at being referred to as "Oklahoma City, Oklahoma"?

New York, New York. The city so nice, they named it twice...and wrote countless songs about it. Seems to have worked out well for them.

While that may be what the style guide calls for and more redundant than most with us; the City, State format is common enough you see it with far larger cities than us with unique names all the time.

Oklahoma City is one of the few smaller cities that the AP Style Guide recommends omitting the state's name from the end, and that is because the state's name is the city's name. Indianapolis and Minneapolis are also on the list likely for the same reason. The others on the list are major cities that everyone is familiar with. Only 29 cities, including OKC, are on the list.

ATLANTA BALTIMORE BOSTON

CHICAGO CINCINNATI CLEVELAND

DALLAS DENVER DETROIT

HONOLULU HOUSTON INDIANAPOLIS LAS VEGAS LOS ANGELES

MIAMI MILWAUKEE MINNEAPOLIS NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK

OKLAHOMA CITY PHILADELPHIA PHOENIX PITTSBURGH

ST. LOUIS SALT LAKE CITY SAN ANTONIO SAN DIEGO SAN FRANCISCO SEATTLE

WASHINGTON

Oklahoma City is one of the few smaller cities that the AP Style Guide recommends omitting the state's name from the end, and that is because the state's name is the city's name. Indianapolis and Minneapolis are also on the list likely for the same reason. The others on the list are major cities that everyone is familiar with. Only 29 cities, including OKC, are on the list.

ATLANTA BALTIMORE BOSTON

CHICAGO CINCINNATI CLEVELAND

DALLAS DENVER DETROIT

HONOLULU HOUSTON INDIANAPOLIS LAS VEGAS LOS ANGELES

MIAMI MILWAUKEE MINNEAPOLIS NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK

OKLAHOMA CITY PHILADELPHIA PHOENIX PITTSBURGH

ST. LOUIS SALT LAKE CITY SAN ANTONIO SAN DIEGO SAN FRANCISCO SEATTLE

WASHINGTON
So Tulsa is not on that list?

Conversationally, I hardly ever hear anyone say Tulsa, Oklahoma. Not on TV or in movies. As far as I know, there's only one Tulsa and that's why people don't put the state after it.

So Tulsa is not on that list?

Conversationally, I hardly ever hear anyone say Tulsa, Oklahoma. Not on TV or in movies. As far as I know, there's only one Tulsa and that's why people don't put the state after it.

In journalism, it's almost always "Tulsa, OK", at least from what I've seen.

and we're back to our city's dirty laundry gracing the national newswires... https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/oklahoma/articles/2017-04-27/oklahoma-city-based-feed-the-children-names-new-president

If Feed the Children rings a bell but you can't place it, it's the "non-profit" that's tied up in the questionable ownership transactions that almost sunk the sale of the First National building. (http://newsok.com/article/5513064)

and we're back to our city's dirty laundry gracing the national newswires... https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/oklahoma/articles/2017-04-27/oklahoma-city-based-feed-the-children-names-new-president

If Feed the Children rings a bell but you can't place it, it's the "non-profit" that's tied up in the questionable ownership transactions that almost sunk the sale of the First National building. (http://newsok.com/article/5513064)I don't know that I would label it the city's dirty laundry. It's a troubled business in Oklahoma City. For instance, when the whole Enron thing broke, people didn't jump to the conclusion that Houston was a bad city just because Enron had problems. Saying this is OKC's dirty laundry is a stretch and seems as if you're just looking to be negative about OKC.

I don't know that I would label it the city's dirty laundry. It's a troubled business in Oklahoma City. For instance, when the whole Enron thing broke, people didn't jump to the conclusion that Houston was a bad city just because Enron had problems.

Houston is World Class and has so many major corporations that one or even 3-4 is simply not enough to tarnish the city. Oklahoma City well?

People don't know much about OKC so any mention of the city in national news is significant. It shapes what people think about us and about what's happening here. That's why it's so bad for us when the news that people hear is about earthquakes, about budget issues, about corruption, and not about new development or investments. That's why I have alerts set up about news of OKC, and why I follow this thread. I'm not negative about the area, I think we need to know and understand why people have a stereotype of it and change that.

So Tulsa is not on that list?

Conversationally, I hardly ever hear anyone say Tulsa, Oklahoma. Not on TV or in movies. As far as I know, there's only one Tulsa and that's why people don't put the state after it.

If you live in Oklahoma, you know where Tulsa is located. If you don't live in Oklahoma, that's probably because some people think Tulsa is in Texas.

Recall when I lived in Fort Worth; friend asked me about Tulsa where my conference was held, he wanted to know if it were closer to Houston or San Antonio.

People don't know much about OKC so any mention of the city in national news is significant. It shapes what people think about us and about what's happening here. That's why it's so bad for us when the news that people hear is about earthquakes, about budget issues, about corruption, and not about new development or investments. That's why I have alerts set up about news of OKC, and why I follow this thread. I'm not negative about the area, I think we need to know and understand why people have a stereotype of it and change that.
Maybe people just think differently than I do. If I read about a company that had dirty dealings in say Omaha, I think that's a reflection on the company and not the city. I don't jump to the conclusion that Omaha must be a bad city. I would like to think that people in other cities around the country are smart enough to separate the two, but maybe they aren't.

Houston is World Class and has so many major corporations that one or even 3-4 is simply not enough to tarnish the city. Oklahoma City well?

I don't think a corrupt corporation has any impact on people's perception of the city.

OKC's negative national perception primarily comes from tornadoes, earthquakes, incompetence at 23rd and Lincoln, and crazy religious legislators like Sally Kern and John Bennett. Also contributing is the opinions of people who may have passed through here 15 years ago and aren't aware of how much things have changed.

After slashing taxes, Okla. struggles to fund schools, other services - Boston Globe (https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2017/04/27/after-slashing-taxes-oklahoma-struggles-fund-schools-other-basic-services/d3Z4z26eF7cXbN2Wgs5LzI/story.html#comments)

This is about Tulsa, but from an international new outlet so I thought it relevant.

http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21721646-philanthropy-helps-its-still-painful-how-one-american-city-coping-broken

Among other things this article mentions the possibility of changing the laws to allow cities to levee property tax for public safety--a movement that Tulsa seems to be leading the charge on but that I have heard crickets in regards to OKC.

On a related note...

https://apnews.com/68994fdbd6c94cd9a773aa479cee4c7d/Lawmaker:-Vet-citizenship-of-non-English-speaking-schoolkids

After slashing taxes, Okla. struggles to fund schools, other services - Boston Globe (https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2017/04/27/after-slashing-taxes-oklahoma-struggles-fund-schools-other-basic-services/d3Z4z26eF7cXbN2Wgs5LzI/story.html#comments)

Very novel article, here. Surely the Globe has more interesting subjects to cover than poor, little Red states like us. But, then again, I can appreciate the ego boost this article might provide for the Bostonians.

Very novel article, here. Surely the Globe has more interesting subjects to cover than poor, little Red states like us. But, then again, I can appreciate the ego boost this article might provide for the Bostonians.

This was an AP article which means that a local reporter probably wrote it and any of the member newspapers, tv stations, or radio stations can pick it up and publish it. The Associated Press has worldwide reach so whenever that happens, it turns the story into a big deal.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Associated_Press

"Oklahoma City is the Silicon Valley of the U.S. oil and gas industry"

https://amp-timeinc-net.cdn.ampproject.org/c/amp.timeinc.net/fortune/2017/05/12/warwick-energy-kate-richard/?source=dam

"By contrast, none of the places where sprawl increased most between 2010 and 2016 — Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Oklahoma City — had been especially urban even in 2010."

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/22/upshot/seattle-climbs-but-austin-sprawls-the-myth-of-the-return-to-cities.html?_r=0

OKC and Broken Bow in D Magazine's 10 Surprising Summer Escapes:

https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2017/june/10-weekend-getaways-summer-travel-dallas/?ref=fw-widget

https://www.dmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/dmagazine-june-cover-2017-330x495.jpg
Broken Bow on the cover

Cheapest U. S. Cities to Live in... http://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/real-estate/T006-S001-cheapest-u-s-cities-to-live-in-2017/index.html

07. Norman, Okla
10. Oklahoma City


https://us.123rf.com/450wm/f11photo/f11photo1612/f11photo161200003/66970624-aerial-view-of-downtown-memphis-skyline-in-tennessee-usa.jpg?ver=6
Memphis .04

https://thumb7.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/4479919/464971109/stock-photo-indianapolis-in-august-indianapolis-skyline-seen-from-canal-walkway-on-august-464971109.jpg
Indianapolis 06

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/e6/35/73/e63573b9fef20266db13f4ec672c96b2.jpg
& Oklahoma City 10

were the only top 50 cities areas to make that list.

Article excerpt: . A low cost of living is attractive, but the allure lessens if jobs are hard to come by, paychecks are small or the town offers little to do.

The largest city in Oklahoma offers remarkably affordable prices for its size. The biggest reason: Housing costs run 28.8% below the national average, according to the housing component of the Cost of Living Index, which takes into account both home prices and apartment rents. And yet as a metro area with 1.4 million people, Oklahoma City offers a lot of big-city attractions, from a philharmonic orchestra to the National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum. At the professional sports level, the Oklahoma City Thunder remains one of the most competitive teams in the NBA.

OKC ranked 2nd to last (behind only Birmingham) in the 2017 City Energy Efficiency Scorecard.

http://aceee.org/local-policy/city-scorecard

Not exactly in the press...but a press release......about our City Treasurer
https://www.okc.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2385/

Nice little OKC feature in Food and Wine Magazine. Seems like we're starting to build some street credibility:

http://www.foodandwine.com/travel/we-cant-believe-how-cool-oklahoma-city-being-right-now

New York Times. Any publicity is good publicity. Right??

https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/09/13/us/politics/ap-us-oklahoma-capitol-sex-scandals-glance.html?mcubz=3

Nice little OKC feature in Food and Wine Magazine. Seems like we're starting to build some street credibility:

http://www.foodandwine.com/travel/we-cant-believe-how-cool-oklahoma-city-being-right-now
The title of the article made me chuckle.

"We Can't Believe How Cool Oklahoma City is Being Right Now"

It sounds like something a teen says when they don't get in trouble for coming in drunk at 3am, "I can't believe how cool mom is being right now."

Pretty cool, not just any city makes Food and Wine's pages.

The title of the article made me chuckle.

"We Can't Believe How Cool Oklahoma City is Being Right Now"

It sounds like something a teen says when they don't get in trouble for coming in drunk at 3am, "I can't believe how cool mom is being right now."

Oklahoma City's stereotypes are somewhat of a yin and yang thing in my opinion. On one hand, when many people hear "Oklahoma City" they ponder up a mental image reminiscent of how things actually were here in the 1980s. On the other hand, when people actually visit with an open mind they are blown away by what they find because its quite a bit different than what they were expecting, resulting in positive articles such as this one.

Oklahoma City's stereotypes are somewhat of a yin and yang thing in my opinion. On one hand, when many people hear "Oklahoma City" they ponder up a mental image reminiscent of how things actually were here in the 1980s. On the other hand, when people actually visit with an open mind they are blown away by what they find because its quite a bit different than what they were expecting, resulting in positive articles such as this one.
I don't think many actually know how things were here in the '80s. Most either have no clue and therefore no real preconceived notion of OKC or they're way off. In high school, given this was 30 years ago, a national education summit of some kind (can't remember if it was national honor society or what) was held here. I knew one of the student organizers and she said that they got calls from concerned parents of visiting students from the east coast asking if we still had problems with Indian attacks, if there was in-door plumbing, if their students would be staying in teepees etc.

I was at a banking conference in San Diego about 10 years ago and started talking to a lady from San Francisco. When she learned I was from Oklahoma City, she was truly at a loss for words. She finally asked how far I had to drive to an airport. Then "was Dallas the closest airport to Oklahoma?" This was at the time ExpressJet was flying nonstop from OKC to San Diego, and I told her you could fly nonstop from OKC to San Diego. She was just floored there were airports in the state of Oklahoma. I decided I'd go talk to someone who had a clue.

I was at a banking conference in San Diego about 10 years ago and started talking to a lady from San Francisco. When she learned I was from Oklahoma City, she was truly at a loss for words. She finally asked how far I had to drive to an airport. Then "was Dallas the closest airport to Oklahoma?" This was at the time ExpressJet was flying nonstop from OKC to San Diego, and I told her you could fly nonstop from OKC to San Diego. She was just floored there were airports in the state of Oklahoma. I decided I'd go talk to someone who had a clue.

I remember talking to someone in Hawaii that seemed to imagine that the level of technology here was still around 1900 and have heard others have similar encounters, I kind of wonder if somes only impression comes from seeing the play Oklahoma! and something about that can just get stuck in people's mind as what it is like here even though it was always a period fiction.

I don't think many actually know how things were here in the '80s. Most either have no clue and therefore no real preconceived notion of OKC or they're way off. In high school, given this was 30 years ago, a national education summit of some kind (can't remember if it was national honor society or what) was held here. I knew one of the student organizers and she said that they got calls from concerned parents of visiting students from the east coast asking if we still had problems with Indian attacks, if there was in-door plumbing, if their students would be staying in teepees etc.

I got the same kind of thing from people when I lived in Charlotte and this was 2012. Somebody asked me if there was even Internet or computers in Oklahoma City. I understand people have a certain perception of flyover country, especially outside of the major cities like Dallas, KC, Omaha, etc, but some people on the coasts act like its still the 19th century here. I always assumed that OKC was known more for being a stopover destination for cross-country travelers on I-40. As far as the 1980s, I think the "boring" and "run down" stereotypes that a lot of people who haven't been here (or haven't recently) still believe about OKC originate from that time period.

I remember talking to someone in Hawaii that seemed to imagine that the level of technology here was still around 1900 and have heard others have similar encounters, I kind of wonder if somes only impression comes from seeing the play Oklahoma! and something about that can just get stuck in people's mind as what it is like here even though it was always a period fiction.

I went to Hawaii and people wondering how I had no accent. They thought people had accents like the rural South here. I told them I grew up in a decent sized city and bucked the accent of my parents (they had a minor Texas one). Of course this was pre-Thunder era. Now everywhere I go people know the Thunder. Gives us a better rep.

Deleted previous comment.

I don't think many actually know how things were here in the '80s. Most either have no clue and therefore no real preconceived notion of OKC or they're way off. In high school, given this was 30 years ago, a national education summit of some kind (can't remember if it was national honor society or what) was held here. I knew one of the student organizers and she said that they got calls from concerned parents of visiting students from the east coast asking if we still had problems with Indian attacks, if there was in-door plumbing, if their students would be staying in teepees etc.

My favorite part of landing at Will Rogers is when the Indians shoot their arrows at the plane. Good times.

I don't think many actually know how things were here in the '80s. Most either have no clue and therefore no real preconceived notion of OKC or they're way off. In high school, given this was 30 years ago, a national education summit of some kind (can't remember if it was national honor society or what) was held here. I knew one of the student organizers and she said that they got calls from concerned parents of visiting students from the east coast asking if we still had problems with Indian attacks, if there was in-door plumbing, if their students would be staying in teepees etc.

I've always said comments like those referenced above say a lot more about the people asking them than it does the State of Oklahoma. You have to be a complete f'ing dolt to think some of this stuff. It shows how insular and excruciatingly dumb some people are who consider themselves enlightened.

I've always said comments like those referenced above say a lot more about the people asking them than it does the State of Oklahoma. You have to be a complete f'ing dolt to think some of this stuff. It shows how insular and excruciatingly dumb some people are who consider themselves enlightened.

This is very true. However, I think we all think this way about places we are unfamiliar with to some extent. How many Americans for instance assume that everyone in Africa or the more primitive regions of Asia still live in huts, have no electricity, and live a hunter/gatherer lifestyle? How many people think that Eskmos in Alaska still live in igloos? There are some indigenous tribes that still live that way but a vast majority of the second and even third world is still more advanced than people typically give it credit for.

My favorite part of landing at Will Rogers is when the Indians shoot their arrows at the plane. Good times.

I wish we still had the like button because this really amused me.

I wish we still had the like button because this really amused me.

I loled