Some focus groups were gathered to come up with impressions of a couple of states, and they generated a word cloud for each one. Can you guess which state goes with which set of words?
From top to bottom, they are: Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota. Stereotypes FTW!
I found the Wisconsin one most amusing, though: it’s just dominated by CHEESE.
Also, here’s the saddest excuse ever for a state slogan, contrived to counter the notion that the Dakotas are a dead barren wasteland:
You can die on Mars. Or you can live in South Dakota.
South Dakota: It’s nicer than Mars!
I saw the South Dakota commercial. It would have been a great joke commercial on SNL, no changes necessary.
I had to look up Wall Drug. I was disappointed to find out it is a tourist trap, rather than a new way to get high.
Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise the kids,
In fact, its cold as hell!
And there’s nobody there to raise them, if you did.
/ducks and runs
Well, at the very least, it has better atmosphere. Or, at least, more atmosphere.
But they have free ice water! FREE ICE WATER!
I think I’d take my chances with Mars …
Ha! I grew up in North Dakota and now live in Iowa. When people complain about the winters here, my response is usually something like, “Try living in North Dakota!” And, yeah, boring as hell.
Wait. There are two Dakotas? It’s hard to tell at 35000 feet.
So the PR is working! Give those marketeers a big raise!
*ahem*
I too have fallen for the endless marketing, of Wisconsin as the sole source of cheese for America. They even dominate the crowds at football games with those cheesehead hats the Television always focuses on. So, no surprise that Wisconsin word cloud is dominated by CHEESE.
I though, was genuinely surprised, to see Mall of America so prominent in the Minnesota word cloud. Vikings only as strong as Mall of Am.
And not surprised that S. Dakota’s cloud was super-dominated by Mt. Rushmore. Is there anything else there? Oh yeah, the motorcycle guys who ride to Sturgis, annually, for the big motorhead roundup.
Well, none of these are among the seven states whose constitutions bar atheists from holding office, so the states could be worse. Maryland, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas all bar atheists from government office. I confirmed all but Texas’s, which is an unsearchable mess.
Wisconsin is a lovely place, but cheese causes me pain, even though it is delicious. So I am conflicted, there. Still, better than Mars.
I have met people who know nothing of Minnesota but MoA; people who have flown to Minneapolis specifically to visit MoA, and after they were done shopping, flew home.
I don’t get it, myself. It’s just a big honkin’ mall.
Why is the Minnesota cloud lacking Lake Wobegon? That is absolutely the only place in Minnesota that I know anything about. (Never been there, though.)
I’m calling BUNK : nowhere in that WI word-salad is the name Ed Gein
I have made it my life-long ambition — so far realized — to NEVER set foot in the MoA! I came close once, going to the parking garage next to it for a connection between the MPLS-STP airport and the shuttle bus that took me home to Rochester MN, but tha’s not actually going into the mall, so it doesn’t count . . . .
I’m a little surprised that Minnesota was noticeably considered a bastion of activity, lifestyle, jobs and industry, and sophisticated quality of life with the downside of high taxes. And a bit more surprised that the article is written with such an attitude that this attitude was simply presumed. We on the coasts really don’t get the nuances of the midwest and the millions who live there, do we?
Why all the hate on Mars?
I’m amused that Mt. Rushmore made into North Dakota’s cloud.
I would have liked to see Theodore Roosevelt National Park in there, though it is a mouthful.
Mars gets a bad rap. You’re highly unlikely to die there.
I worry that these people may apply their techniques elsewhere – but then again, my home states are Mississippi and Florida…
While I don’t begrudge Wisconsin its cheesy status, as a northeasterner, I have to give a shout-out for Vermont cheese.
I’ll come and visit the MoA when I’ve exhausted the possibilities of internet shopping.
Looking at the Wisconsin cloud closely, I see quite a few references for alcohol. I think if you lumped them all together the word ALCOHOLISM might be a little bigger than CHEESE. I know because I live there.
I’ve been to King of Prussia. Mall of America holds no allure.
I love Pittsburgh, but no way I’d live in Mars and have to commute in every day.
Wall Drug is an amazing thing. Not Wall Drug itself, but the billboards set up 1,000 miles in either direction.
I was once stuck behind a rather unassuming small red car with two bumper stickers. One said “Wall Drug” and the other said “I Stop For Red Lights”. Not being a fan of bumper stickers, myself, I was rather charmed and thought that if I were ever forced to have bumper stickers I should like to have those two.
Maybe. But, people actually want to go to Mars.
First thought on seeing the Mars-S. Dakota comparison was “either way, no one will hear you scream.”
Alas that the “indian reservations,” while on the radar, aren’t grabbing enough attention.
Ah, well …. I guess us East River folk are mostly jealous of all the touristy tourism in touring the Rapid City area.
I’m disappointed that the word clouds weren’t shaped to fit the state borders.
You hear me, Argus Leader? I’m disappointed.
So Wall Drug is basically the South Of The Border of the midwest? Maybe with fewer fireworks and drunk college kids on spring break?
Best description I ever heard of MofA was by a set designer for movies, “This place looks like a bad matte painting on Star Trek.”
Does the Mall of America have any stores in it?
Places to go shopping?
I can’t tell from their web site.
It seems to be all “attractions” and “events”.
There’s an amusement park! And an aquarium! The park is small, though; if a kid barfed on the roller coaster it would spray the people sitting on the deck of the Hard Rock Cafe.
There is also a Peeps store. Like, the little marshmallow creatures. That kind of makes up for it.
Disturbing how big “right to work” is on the Wisconsin cloud. And where is “fascist governor”?
How unutterably sad. I mean, it’s the same shit as all other malls, only more of it.
I can’t see anything about “beer” at this resolution and so am uninterested. :P
much better ad for south dakota: https://youtu.be/1jYBzNhhkig