Is your city hard or soft?

I heard a saying a long time ago. It has to do with America, and the different attitudes in it. It goes like this: visit the West, but leave before you get soft. Visit the East, but leave before you get hard.

I'm from Oregon. It's a "soft" state, meaning that it votes Democrat, has lots of benefits and aid for its residents, and has low crime levels.

What state are you from and is it "hard" or "soft," and if so, is it too hard or soft?

Wow, this is an interesting question. I live in the middle of the country and have lived on the East Coast, I figured I would add my two cents. I live in Wisconsin that has long been a democratic stronghold but turned red, in my opinion because of the distrust and anxiety over Obama and his administration. Now, in the thick of a budget crisis and a hard-core Republican governor (who wants to end collective bargaining), many are calling for his termination/ a recall to throw him out of office. Not sure if I would call this a soft state or a hard state because one thing that always sticks in my mind is that it is easy to be "liberal" when everyone looks likes you. I also know that it is human nature which makes one more concerned, compassionate and caring when you hit their apple cart (their jobs, their families, their loved ones--which is exactly what is going on now with the chaos happening here surrounding collective bargaining.)

I grew up in Chicago, another democratic stronghold but the state of Illinois itself usually leans Republican (moreso, the politics of the state....Chicago, in and of itself, may as well be its own island). So, I think times are changing and people are identifying more with issues, causes and concerns that are central to their lives and the future of this country. I think there is more centrism (independents, middle of the road democrats and republicans) than ever but I could be wrong, after all, this is the era of the tea party movement.

CA - Hard. Any rushed type or fast paced type city/state is usually viewed as a rude/hard state imo.

FL - Soft. It's that "southern hospitality" type vibe in which I dont cater to. Too soft for my taste. I am considerate to a certain extent. LOL I talk too fast or they hear too slow? LOLs!

I used to live in Oakland, CA. That city is HARD. Cold weather, crime, poverty, low education, lack of community leaders, corrupt public officials, budget shortages, reduced number of police officers on the street, and the list goes on.

I am in South Florida. If you aren't careful and stay too long you will definitely go super soft. You will become intolerably laid back and the average northerner won't be able to stand your ways, lol and you won't be able to tolerate cold winters like you used to either. It is surprising how fast you can become soft.

I am in New York City. There are many stereotypes about this city and a lot of them are true, lol. I have to admit that it can get rude and hard here. I've compared the demeanor of California cities like San Francisco and they are much friendlier and cooler. I'm sure CA has hard cities as well because wherever there is a rush rush environment, there is sure to have frustrations and high pressures.

New Haven, CT. People front hard and there is a lot of violence, but once you get to know people they are pretty chill.

I'd have to say my city is pretty soft. It's out in the middle of nowhere and there's not much that ever happens here. Crime is a rare thing here, but there is a lot of poverty, but that's improving.

See, I don't necessarily agree with this "hard" "soft" stuff b/c I'm in Kentucky, which by all rights,
if you're judging by political association, crime rate, public systems, yadda yadda, we should be
considered hard...but there is absolutely nothing hard about KY. I mean, we were on The First 48,
but I don't necessarily consider that a bragging right. There's a lot of people that try to put on a
good front...but that's all it really is. We are country and proud of it! Hard? Ehhhh...not in this lifetime

I guess soft. But I don't really like the idea of my state being called soft. My city is a hardworking, blue collar city. Though I'm white collar