We don’t like to complain – at least not all the time – but there are some things that just really get on your nerves if you’re from Illinois. For instance, if you’re from this state, you know the true name of our tallest skyscraper and you immediately know the most annoying thing about our northern neighbors.
Listen up, out-of-staters – these are the things that drive Illinoisans crazy. Keep scrolling for the full list.
- Pronouncing it Il-eh-NOISE
Pic Server/Nick Youngson The “s” has always been silent. The only person we’ll excuse for enunciating it is your grandmother.
- Using miles to relay distance
Pexels/Unsplash What we really want to know is how long it’s going to take to get there. Miles don’t mean much in this state where some areas are so densely populated it can take 30 minutes to go four miles.
- Calling it Willis Tower
Pixabay/350543 We are aware that the name changed, but it’s still the Sears Tower to us. Let’s just call it that, okay?
- Packers fans
Flickr/Patrick Kuhl Illinoisans generally have something negative to say about out-of-staters but Wisconsin especially makes us cringe. It’s got to be those cheeseheads.
- Orange barrels
Wikimedia Commons/Robert Lawton The only thing Illinoisans hate more than traffic is construction. Those orange dots lining the highway mean two things - summer is here and it’s now going to take another 10 to 20 minutes to get to work every day.
- Claiming most Illinoisans are farmers
Flickr/Tom While there are plenty of fields throughout Illinois, it’s actually not that easy to be a farmer. People in Illinois work the same variety of jobs found in any state.
- Saying Illinois is flat
Wikimedia Commons/M. Readey While the northern part of the state is fairly level, natural sandstone bluffs, cliffs, and hills roam throughout the central and southern regions of the state. The breathtaking landscapes in areas like Starved Rock State Park and the Shawnee National Forest are preserved because the glaciers did not travel down that far.
- Saying another state has worse weather
Wikimedia Commons/Victorgrigas We’ve survived two recent polar vortexes and most of the state is in a tornado alley. Also, Chicagoland gets just about as much rain as Seattle each year - ours just comes down more at once.
- Asking if you’re from Chicago when you say you’re from Illinois
Pixabay/blondestar44 This might be most Illinoisans’ biggest pet peeve. Chicago takes up a very small portion of the state, and there are a wealth of magnificent smaller towns and cities, parks and forests that deserve more attention.
- When you tell out-of-staters the town you live in and they ask if it’s near Chicago
Public Domain Pictures/Petr Kratochvil Of course, as soon as you tell them where you’re really from, they ask if it’s near Chicago because that’s the only area they are (somewhat) familiar with.
- Being told we have an accent
Flickr/Gregory Morris The Midwest is actually known for having the most generic accent. We may use “y’all” but it’s just another contraction like “could’nt’ve.”
For another fun list about Illinois, check out 11 reasons Illinoisans love and hate Chicago.
Pic Server/Nick Youngson
The “s” has always been silent. The only person we’ll excuse for enunciating it is your grandmother.
Pexels/Unsplash
What we really want to know is how long it’s going to take to get there. Miles don’t mean much in this state where some areas are so densely populated it can take 30 minutes to go four miles.
Pixabay/350543
We are aware that the name changed, but it’s still the Sears Tower to us. Let’s just call it that, okay?
Flickr/Patrick Kuhl
Illinoisans generally have something negative to say about out-of-staters but Wisconsin especially makes us cringe. It’s got to be those cheeseheads.
Wikimedia Commons/Robert Lawton
The only thing Illinoisans hate more than traffic is construction. Those orange dots lining the highway mean two things - summer is here and it’s now going to take another 10 to 20 minutes to get to work every day.
Flickr/Tom
While there are plenty of fields throughout Illinois, it’s actually not that easy to be a farmer. People in Illinois work the same variety of jobs found in any state.
Wikimedia Commons/M. Readey
While the northern part of the state is fairly level, natural sandstone bluffs, cliffs, and hills roam throughout the central and southern regions of the state. The breathtaking landscapes in areas like Starved Rock State Park and the Shawnee National Forest are preserved because the glaciers did not travel down that far.
Wikimedia Commons/Victorgrigas
We’ve survived two recent polar vortexes and most of the state is in a tornado alley. Also, Chicagoland gets just about as much rain as Seattle each year - ours just comes down more at once.
Pixabay/blondestar44
This might be most Illinoisans’ biggest pet peeve. Chicago takes up a very small portion of the state, and there are a wealth of magnificent smaller towns and cities, parks and forests that deserve more attention.
Public Domain Pictures/Petr Kratochvil
Of course, as soon as you tell them where you’re really from, they ask if it’s near Chicago because that’s the only area they are (somewhat) familiar with.
Flickr/Gregory Morris
The Midwest is actually known for having the most generic accent. We may use “y’all” but it’s just another contraction like “could’nt’ve.”
What did we leave out? Share with us the things that make you cringe!
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