Many people around the world have herrd of it. But many people in The United States aren't aware of Houston,Texas. What's your mental opinion of Houston? You ever been here? Have you seen it? WHat do you know of Houston?

fluid said:

Humid & racist?

Well...
Yes,I've been there. Its about 5 hours from my house.
On my 27th birthday I almost drowned in a lake there and some news reporter came running to me trying to ask me questions as soon as I got out of the freaking water!
I considered moving there but I changed my mind.

I'm not a huge fan of Texas in general.

I've been to Houston and, for me, the cons out weigh the pros.

It seemed like the roads were constantly under construction, making traffic a nightmare. Some parts of Houston are very dangerous. It's dusty and humid at the same time, which doesn't seem possible but it is.

They have good restaurants though.

All I know is that every person crossing the Gateway Bridge in Brownsville wants to go to Houston. Damn, it must be crowded.

jbchavez said:

Hi jb!!!!

It's not dusty here (dusty is Midland/Odessa)... but it sure is humid... that's why we run the AC in the house, in the car, at most all times...

But having spent a week in L.A. last month... I realized... on a city maintenance level... Houston sure is spic and span and less crumbled and jumbled...

the dollar also gets you much more here as far as a nice place to live and food to eat.. gas... etc. That's what makes it hard to escape.

Houston is also very multicultural... which most people don't realize.

But Houston is very..... flat. No hills.

Never been...but my other half loves it down there. He has lots of family.

Expensive

Exceedingly expensive Folks say NYC is expensive but living in Houston is CRAZY

And even though they're openly racist, I could stomach them and I EVEN have somewhat of a respect for them believe it or not, because they're not hypocrites and at least I know where they stand when I enter the room. Its the closeted "ones" I gotta deal with in my hometown, the so-called centre of the world.

When I think of Texas I think of rednecks, racists and guns.





I know it’s not all like that. I have friends that live there who are most certainly none of the above. One moved to Austin just a year ago and thoroughly loves it there. And I’ve been to Dallas for work and it was pleasant enough. I don’t know a thing about Houston, however.

Nothinbutjoy said:

Hi NBJ!!!

By the way, I am no where near Texas now.

It kills me when people talk about open racism in Texas. I've lived here (in Houston, Killeen, Austin, and Dallas) for 29 years and have seen VERY few incidents of overt racism in any of those places. Matter of fact, I've seen and experienced worse things in NYC and LA. But I'll leave you guys that have never been here to your stereotyping and generalizing.
[Edited 2/12/09 12:14pm]

SCNDLS said:

Trust me Cynda, I AGREE!

Harlepolis said:

what are you talking about? The cost of living is twice as expensive in NYC. Houston is known as one of the least expensive big cities to live in.

I have never thought of Houston as being expensive or racist.

ufoclub said:

In general, Texas is pretty reasonable to live in compared to other states. Dallas, Houston, and Austin don't compare to living in NYC, Chicago,or LA at all.

I'm a native Texan currently living in Dallas. I grew up in East Texas. It is a beautiful part of the state, but also has it's share of Rednecks. Growing up there, I never realized it until I left home. Some parts of the area are worse than others, but it doesn't hinder me from wanting to move back eventually (when I retire...if I'm able to).

To me, Houston is a nice city with good restaurants. The shopping is pretty good and you can find a deal in almost every part of the city. Now, I HATE driving in Houston. It is so fast paced and construction is never-ending. Not to mention, when it rains, the streets have a tendency to flood. Crime is also higher in Houston (at least the last time I checked) compared to some of the other cities/towns in Texas. Especially after Katrina. It's like all of the convicts and hood-rats from New Orleans decided to move to Houston. I remember visiting Houston in 05 and 06 and hearing newscasters report on how to get rid of the Katrina criminals.

I have learned this, people from Houston LOVE Houston. People from other towns across Texas don't care for it. The same can be said for Dallas. However, I do find it interesting that a lot of the students that go to TSU and PV tend to be from Dallas. And a lot of people from Houston go to UNT or some other school in North Texas.

jbchavez said:

Texas is not as racist of a state as Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, or Mississippi.

ufoclub said:

I immediately thought of you.

daPrettyman said:

What part of East Texas DP? All my family lives in or is from Tyler.

Also, you're right about Houston. I love to party in Houston but you couldn't pay to live there. I have a contract with Shell and they offered to move me down there and I was like, "Ummmmm, no thanks, I'd rather be unemployed." And yes the driving sucks, Dallas highways are much easier to navigate. Plus I don't think Houston is as pretty or clean as Dallas, even though Austin is the prettiest by far but cost of living is REALLY high there cuz of UT.

As of Tuesday, I've lived here 50 years.

It's a fantastic city with respect to its citizens. I've never known friendlier people, except maybe in Belize. My theory is that when Houston was settled, there was a lot of heat, humidity, mosquitoes, and no air conditioning. So anyone living here had to be the ultimate optimist. That spirit has prevailed through the centuries.

One of the great things about Houston is that there is nothing that stops you from being whatever you want. I went to college in Dallas, and I love that city, but if you don't go to the right church, live in the right neighborhood, drive the right car, and wear your hair the right way, you will never be accepted socially.

Not true in Houston. Be who you want to be, and if you're honest and smart, you'll get anything you want.

Someone said we're racist here. Bunk. We're pretty darn homogenous any way you want to look at it.

Also, we put a man on the moon, so top that.

Beyonce's from Texas.

ScarletScandal said:

Beyonce is from Houston. She has a house not far from mine, and allegedly Prince owns the one next door. If my parents were still alive, Prince and them would live four houses apart.

I've never seen Prince around here, and whenever I drive by his alleged house, the vehicles in the driveway are very un-Prince-like. Pick-up trucks.

But I know for a fact which house Beyonce owns, and I also know she owns a condo in the building next to ours in Galveston.

SCNDLS said:

I'm originally from Longview and went to Tatum Schools. I know several people from the Tyler area and have some relatives that live in Tyler (mostly outside of Tyler on Hwy 31).

I, too, LOVE Austin. You are so right about the cost of living there. I was down there this past weekend. My brother lives in Kyle (outside of Austin). I find that people that live in that are do wayyy more driving than I do in Dallas. My brother's church is 20 miles from his home, the closest grocery store used to be 15 miles away (unitl Kyle started building their town up). It's nothing for people to live in Round Rock and drive to Killeen or into Downtown Austin for work. The constant driving is definitely a hindrance.

The Hill Country section of Texas is definitely the most beautiful part of Texas. The people there tend to care for nature and its habitat. They have good wine, EXCELLENT food and the people are the friendliest in the state.

RodeoSchro said:

You defiitely summed up Houston well. After all, you did give us Paul Wall and Chingo Bling.

They definitely fit into what you were saying about be whatever you want to be. These guys have gone on to make LOTS of money and are true business men.

I also agree with you about Dallas (in certain parts for sure). Fort Worth is TOTALLY DIFFERENT, but a lot of Dallas people tend to do the "in" crowd thing. I know this girl that owns a beautiful house in a suburb and decided rent her home out and move in the Uptown area because she thought it was the cool thing to do.
[Edited 2/12/09 12:36pm]

daPrettyman said:

And you were also right about a bunch of Houstonians going to UNT. I went to TWU and most of them chicks were from Houston. Then I know tons of people that went to PV but were from Tyler and Dallas. I guess everybody was trynta run away from home. Yeah, I grew up in Austin but wouldn't live there either. All those college kids that don't go home when they graduate keep salaries low and the cost of living high. Plus my allergies ack a fool when I go to visit the Hill Country.

RodeoSchro said:

Prince does not own a house in Harris County.

I did a records search and cannot find a residence for Beyonce, Matthew or Tina. There is a CELESTINE Knowles that owns a house worth $2,144,918. That maybe her house, but I don't know.

daPrettyman said:

I think there are climbers and posers where ever you go in the world. As far as what Rodeo said about going to the right church, school, etc. I think that applies moreso to the white establishment in Dallas i.e. your SMU-going, Highland Park-living snobs. I don't think this attitude is as prevalent in the black community even though we got our own Snooty McSnoots.

The thing that kills me about Dallas is that compared to Austin and Houston, these muthafuckas are seriously nouveau riche. I went to Stephen F. Austin high school, one of the oldest schools in the state with kids descended from the original 300 settlers and they were cooler than a fan and down to Earth. But these Plano soccer mom bitches wanna put on airs cuz they drivin' a Benz. Bitch, please. Dallas, is definitely home of the $30,000 millionaire.

daPrettyman said:

If they have any sense most celebs place the home in a trust not in their own name. I know P has done this with his other homes.

SCNDLS said:

You are right about that. I agree that the majority of black people in Dallas aren't like that. However, you do have some that do. I know people that go to certain churches (Good Street, St. Luke, Pilgrim's Rest, Friendship West, The Potters House, etc.) because the church has clout. I know one girl that goes to the Potters House just so she can say Jakes is her pastor.

I have also found that the black community in Dallas is divided up. If you live in one of the northern suburbs (Allen, Plano, Frisco, etc), people tend to be really into the size of house they live in and the type of car they drive. When people live in the southern suburbs (Cedar Hill, Duncanville, etc.), they tend to be thought of as "hood" or "ghetto". It's crazy. What gets me is how no matter where they live, if they are trying to put on a front, they ALL tend to live beyond their means. That's crazy. My $100,000 house is just as nice as your $300,000 house. At least I'm debt free and u aren't.

SCNDLS said:

The celebrities that live in the Dallas area don't do that. They want everyone to know what their house is worth.