OKC the Big Friendly??

[mranderson]

Why can't we just be Oklahoma City. I like the name Oklahoma City. I really do. It works. We will earn our reputation in years to come.

Besides...self-styled nicknames are juvenile...especially patented ones.

To a degree, I agree. We should be the Renaissance city. The name on this thread, to me, is, to be blunt with no offense intended, dumb. Besides that, many people in Oklahoma City are NOT friendly. This city is becoming a very rude city, not unlike the stereotype of New York City.

[PUGalicious]

Besides that, many people in Oklahoma City are NOT friendly. This city is becoming a very rude city...

As spoken by the poster child himself.

[Kerry]

I thought we had a nickname already - Loud City

[okcpulse]

Come on, now. What city really is friendly? There are nice people and rude people everywhere. It just all depends on who you meet or run into. You can't escape evil.

[Rifleman2C]

"The Big Friendly" sounds more like something one would order from a fast food joint rather than a city nickname.

And I'm with okcpulse on this one... how can you truly determine that a city is friendly? And if we do decide to go this route, do all of our 'ambassadors' in businesses throughout the city get some additional 'friendly' training... is there a standard they will need to meet?

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

I don't know where people get NYC is full of rude people. Every time I've been there it's been full of very friendly people. I got invited to dinner at the house of the first lady I talked to on Manhattan Island the first time I ever set foot on it. She was a bus driver and I'd interrupted her lunch with a couple of silly questions.

I also lived in Southern California for the better part of a decade, and those are by far the friendliest and happiest bunch of people I've ever shared space with.

Okay...So maybe the bus driver was going to chop me up and feed me to her cats and Californians are only happy on the outside...But at least they're friendly.

[OUman]

You know, a friend of my sister's was visiting here back in '01 for a week or so, and the very day she came across the people here, she realized and also mentioned to my sister how friendly the people here are, compared to where she was living-Boston. But I've noticed it too, people in Oklahoma City are by far some of the friendliest people, you won't find it getting much better than that. Of course, not every city can have 100% of its population being as being freindly-that would be called utopia, which of course doesn't exist. There are mean people everywhere. You just have to deal with them and move on. That being said, if it's decided that "Big Friendly" be the nickname, I guess I'm fine with it, but either way, what's in a nickname? Just keep building the reputation we have for being one of the friendliest cities and let it speak for itself.

[mranderson]

I don't know where people get NYC is full of rude people. Every time I've been there it's been full of very friendly people. I got invited to dinner at the house of the first lady I talked to on Manhattan Island the first time I ever set foot on it. She was a bus driver and I'd interrupted her lunch with a couple of silly questions.

I also lived in Southern California for the better part of a decade, and those are by far the friendliest and happiest bunch of people I've ever shared space with.

Okay...So maybe the bus driver was going to chop me up and feed me to her cats and Californians are only happy on the outside...But at least they're friendly.

Keep in mind, I said stereotype. Actually, I find people in New York City and New Jersey to be VERY friendly. And for the record. Most in California are also. Plus. I just spent a week in Wichita. Oklahoma City can learn from those people. Not one person was even close to being rude.

[Karried]

It always comes down to how you treat people... they usually respond in like fashion..

I think that people on vacation are typically in a better mood ... so usually, the city residents react to that. When you are doing the daily grind...and aren't all that thrilled about it, people will react to that as well.

"Do unto others" and all that

[Karried]

Actually, this reminded me of something.. in all of my travels and living out of state for 40 years.. I have never, ever come across so many chivalrous gentlemen.. from opening doors and being polite and well mannered to giving up seats for other people.

Hats off to those who offer seats to women or the elderly, and to those to rush to open the doors for others.

[Nixon7]

Seems like The Big Friendly could easily become The Big Phony when visitors have one bad experience.

[CuatrodeMayo]

For what it is worth...

The BFG - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[OKC PATROL]

Loud City- We aint that friendly anymore-thats good. I would take the friendly city- lets not exaggerate the population, too much.

[jbrown84]

It's kind of like why you shouldn't put a Christian fish on your car. It's very easy to do something "unChristian" when driving.

Likewise, on top of the corny factor, I think the "raising the bar too high" issue is a very valid point. I hadn't thought of that.

[SoonerDave]

I don't know why we have to superimpose some silly label on the city. We've made the progress we've enjoyed so far without one.

As far as "relative friendliness" goes, people I deal with from out of state always comment at how friendly the people are here in contrast to where they live. They can't believe someone will just smile and say "Hi" to you without some sinister, underlying motive.

-soonerdave

[jbrown84]

I'd rather us develop a nickname in a natural, organic way, not because Ray Ackerman dictated it so.

[CuatrodeMayo]

I'd rather us develop a nickname in a natural, organic way, not because Ray Ackerman dictated it so.

Agreed!

Besides..."The Big Friendly" sounds like the name of a porn flick.

[dismayed]

Haha I thought I was the only one who thought that. Sounds like something you'd find in Urban Dictionary.

[AFCM]

Besides..."The Big Friendly" sounds like the name of a porn flick.

Which is why we had it trademarked. Gotta get your revenue somehow.

Speaking of which, and without googling it...does anyone know why Kentucky Fried Chicken changed it's name to KFC and the Kentucky Derby changed to Run for the Roses?

[okclee]

Please tell?

[AFCM]

I only know this because I was bored in Iraq and was wanting to learn more about my wife's homestate of Kentucky. In a nutshell, the Commonwealth of Kentucky decided to trademark the name "Kentucky", forcing everyone to pay the Bluegrass State when using the name for commercial purposes.

You can read the rest at...
Source: Urban Legends Reference Page: Lost Legends (Fried and True)

I love useless facts. They make for such great conversation.