It’s not that we’re exceptionally awkward people, necessarily. It’s that we can tend to get into awkward situations. That might be because of the way we were raised or the way people ask us questions when they find out where we’re from, but there are some moments Arkansans just can’t seem to avoid. Below you’ll find thirteen awkward moments we’ve all suffered through, in no particular order.
- Explaining that no, you don’t know Jim from Pea Ridge, because you don’t have a personal relationship with every single Arkansan.
Flickr/Carol Von Canon For some incredibly bizarre reason, everybody thinks it’s cool to ask you if you know the only other Arkansan they’ve ever met. I mean, we tend to know our neighbors, but 3 million people can’t all be each other’s neighbors at the same time.
- Being overwhelmed by transportation in big cities, especially public transit.
Flickr/sfreimark It’s kind of a “what do you mean we’re not taking a car” situation.
- Demonstrating how to Call the Hogs to out-of-staters.
Wikimedia/Brandonrush Calling the Hogs is all big fun until you have to do it alone in front of people who think you’re crazy.
- Really wanting a beer and then realizing it’s Sunday.
Flickr/D.C.Atty You get mad at yourself, like being mad is going to make it Saturday again.
- Having to explain dry counties.
Flickr/Dan Lynch It’s a tough one, but folks always seem to ask, don’t they?
- Using an expression in front of out-of-staters that they’ve definitely never heard before, bless their hearts.
Flickr/Sebastien Wiertz Nothing is worse than having to explain to someone what the “pee waddlin” is after they’ve already scared the pee waddlin out of you.
- That look on your face when you’re told the restaurant you’re in doesn’t serve sweet tea.
Flickr/MrTinD.C. Sometimes we can’t control our faces, and that horror and despair is written all the way across them when we’re told we have to sweeten our own tea.
- Hearing someone from another region try to pronounce “Ouachita” or “Fouke.”
Flickr/MichelleNMS It’s probably not nice to laugh at them, but boy do you want to laugh.
- Thinking you’ll get away with a quick Walmart trip in your hometown while wearing your pajama pants and a ratty old tee shirt.
Flickr/Random Retail You should have brushed your hair at least, because you’re definitely going to see every single person you’ve ever known.
Pictured above: no Walmart aisle ever if you’re looking really terrible.
- Smiling at someone in a city up north.
Flickr/Andy LoPesto That blank, confused look they get is pretty funny, but it can be awkward as heck too.
- Seeing someone disrespect their elders.
Flickr/mendhak Do you intervene? Do you glare? Are you supposed to ask out loud why their mamas didn’t teach them any better?
- Arguing with someone about whether Arkansas is in the South or the Midwest.
JB Weisenfels Like they know better than we do. Poor fellas are out of their depth.
- When someone makes a really terrible, really awkward joke about Arkansas.
Flickr/Shawn Hayes It’s the worst. There isn’t much you can do but glare, either, because goodness knows you don’t want to deal with the assault charge that would follow actually busting them in the mouth for implying your parents are cousins.
For jokes about Arkansas that might actually make you laugh, click here. To find habits Arkansans will defend until their dying days, try this article.
Flickr/Carol Von Canon
For some incredibly bizarre reason, everybody thinks it’s cool to ask you if you know the only other Arkansan they’ve ever met. I mean, we tend to know our neighbors, but 3 million people can’t all be each other’s neighbors at the same time.
Flickr/sfreimark
It’s kind of a “what do you mean we’re not taking a car” situation.
Wikimedia/Brandonrush
Calling the Hogs is all big fun until you have to do it alone in front of people who think you’re crazy.
Flickr/D.C.Atty
You get mad at yourself, like being mad is going to make it Saturday again.
Flickr/Dan Lynch
It’s a tough one, but folks always seem to ask, don’t they?
Flickr/Sebastien Wiertz
Nothing is worse than having to explain to someone what the “pee waddlin” is after they’ve already scared the pee waddlin out of you.
Flickr/MrTinD.C.
Sometimes we can’t control our faces, and that horror and despair is written all the way across them when we’re told we have to sweeten our own tea.
Flickr/MichelleNMS
It’s probably not nice to laugh at them, but boy do you want to laugh.
Flickr/Random Retail
You should have brushed your hair at least, because you’re definitely going to see every single person you’ve ever known.
Pictured above: no Walmart aisle ever if you’re looking really terrible.
Flickr/Andy LoPesto
That blank, confused look they get is pretty funny, but it can be awkward as heck too.
Flickr/mendhak
Do you intervene? Do you glare? Are you supposed to ask out loud why their mamas didn’t teach them any better?
JB Weisenfels
Like they know better than we do. Poor fellas are out of their depth.
Flickr/Shawn Hayes
It’s the worst. There isn’t much you can do but glare, either, because goodness knows you don’t want to deal with the assault charge that would follow actually busting them in the mouth for implying your parents are cousins.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
