Before going to a new place, it’s always good to learn about the culture there so that you don’t say too many dumb things or ask too many obvious questions. Here at Only In Your State, we thought we would make it easier for you by compiling a list of questions not to ask when you meet someone from the state of Pennsylvania. Here is a list of some things you might say, and the snarky responses that you’d get.

  1. You’re from Pennsylvania? You must be Amish!

Anita Ritenour Um, no. We do have the highest population of Amish people in the world, but chances are every person you meet from PA is not Amish.

  1. Nah, I don’t really feel like going outside for a hike today.

Nicholas A. Tonelli Are you insane? That’s all.

  1. We can just pick some tequila up at the store when we get the taco fixings.

DM No… We can’t. We’ll have to go to a separate store dedicated entirely to wines and spirits. But speaking of margaritas and summery things…

  1. Pennsylvania is SO LAME because it’s landlocked, and there are no beaches.

Jaime Dillen-Seibel FALSE! First of all, the Jersey Shore is super close to residents on the Eastern side of the state. And second, you can go enjoy one of eleven pristine beaches on Lake Erie if you’re on in western PA. Additionally, there are a ton of lakes throughout the state with their own beaches.

  1. Well, at least we know what the weather will be like tomorrow.

Nicholas A. Tonelli That’s really not a safe bet. Summer’s here, but I hope you have a jacket just in case. (As evidenced by the recent moody June weather…)

  1. Back where I come from, we had to treck miles through the snow, uphill, in the winter. It was cold as the dark side of the moon.

Matt Blaze Yeah, so did we. Unless you’re from the tippy top of the planet, around the North Pole, we understand the cold you’re talking about.

  1. Oh, I’ve had a cheesesteak before, from [some place that isn’t Philly.]

Jay Reed A cheesesteak from another town in PA is acceptable, but somewhere out of the state entirely? You’ve got to be kidding me.

  1. Man, taxes are so annoying.

401(K) 2012 We have some of the highest taxes in the country, so chances are they’re more annoying for us.

  1. Who’s this pa I keep reading about, anyway?

Kevin Dooley No, it’s not some old guy. It’s P.A. pee-aye. The abbreviation for our state, because the world Pennsylvania can be such a hassle to spell out sometimes.

  1. Oh, those deer are so cute.

GD Taber Objectively, sure. They have big Bambi eyes and stuff. But deer are quite an obstacle when they unexpectedly jump in front of your car… And it’s kind of a bummer when you wake up to find that your garden has been nibbled away.

  1. Pop? What’s that?

Vox Efx Soda, pop. Water fountains, bubblers. Rubber bands, gum bands. Hoagies, gyros, grinders, subs. We have a lot of names for things here. Better be prepared to hear strange words.

  1. You can always count on your company.

Ethan Hassick Many of our fathers and grandfathers learned that you can’t always rely on your workplace when the steel mills closed unexpectedly, causing many Pennsylvania residents to lose their jobs and pensions.

  1. What did Pennsylvania ever do to contribute to US history?

Bev Sykes If you haven’t taken a trip to Philadelphia, you really should go see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Betsy Ross House, and other historical sites that were so vital to our country’s beginnings.

  1. THERE’S NOTHING FUN OR INTERESTING HERE!

Glenn Marsch The Carnegie Natural History Museum in Pittsburgh has one of the largest and most complete collections of dinosaur bones in the world. That is just one of many fun things you can go do in our state!

  1. Do you have any snacks?

ancient history Yes, in fact. This is one question that will be well-received. Pennsylvania is one of the biggest manufacturers of snack foods in the world.

What would you add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!

Anita Ritenour

Um, no. We do have the highest population of Amish people in the world, but chances are every person you meet from PA is not Amish.

Nicholas A. Tonelli

Are you insane? That’s all.

DM

No… We can’t. We’ll have to go to a separate store dedicated entirely to wines and spirits. But speaking of margaritas and summery things…

Jaime Dillen-Seibel

FALSE! First of all, the Jersey Shore is super close to residents on the Eastern side of the state. And second, you can go enjoy one of eleven pristine beaches on Lake Erie if you’re on in western PA. Additionally, there are a ton of lakes throughout the state with their own beaches.

That’s really not a safe bet. Summer’s here, but I hope you have a jacket just in case. (As evidenced by the recent moody June weather…)

Matt Blaze

Yeah, so did we. Unless you’re from the tippy top of the planet, around the North Pole, we understand the cold you’re talking about.

Jay Reed

A cheesesteak from another town in PA is acceptable, but somewhere out of the state entirely? You’ve got to be kidding me.

401(K) 2012

We have some of the highest taxes in the country, so chances are they’re more annoying for us.

Kevin Dooley

No, it’s not some old guy. It’s P.A. pee-aye. The abbreviation for our state, because the world Pennsylvania can be such a hassle to spell out sometimes.

GD Taber

Objectively, sure. They have big Bambi eyes and stuff. But deer are quite an obstacle when they unexpectedly jump in front of your car… And it’s kind of a bummer when you wake up to find that your garden has been nibbled away.

Vox Efx

Soda, pop. Water fountains, bubblers. Rubber bands, gum bands. Hoagies, gyros, grinders, subs. We have a lot of names for things here. Better be prepared to hear strange words.

Ethan Hassick

Many of our fathers and grandfathers learned that you can’t always rely on your workplace when the steel mills closed unexpectedly, causing many Pennsylvania residents to lose their jobs and pensions.

Bev Sykes

If you haven’t taken a trip to Philadelphia, you really should go see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Betsy Ross House, and other historical sites that were so vital to our country’s beginnings.

Glenn Marsch

The Carnegie Natural History Museum in Pittsburgh has one of the largest and most complete collections of dinosaur bones in the world. That is just one of many fun things you can go do in our state!

ancient history

Yes, in fact. This is one question that will be well-received. Pennsylvania is one of the biggest manufacturers of snack foods in the world.

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