Current Events > I'm in Fort Worth, Texas, and America is weird

(+) Yeah! (+)

First night we went to a sports bar to eat, and the waitresses all had half their butts hanging out and really generous cleavages. Still the customers were families, couples, etc. It felt very weird being waited on by essentially strippers in such a place.

Downtown is literally just a couple of blocks of restaurants.

Despite being a huge three-cities-merged, public transportation is shit. The way to get around is cab or Uber. I actually wanted to go to the Rangers game yesterday, but forking out like 50 bucks for Ubers back and forth felt excessive. And no one wanted to come with.

Everything costs extra. Breakfast at the hotel, Wi-Fi, whatever. There are people whose job seems to be holding the front door at the hotel. Am I supposed to tip them?

The customs officer asked if I believe in extraterrestrial life. And pressed me on it when I said no.

There are so many preachers on tv. And pundits. Back home we don't have pundits.

I haven't been to America since I was ten, and even though I was kinda prepared for a lot of this, I'm still a little shocked. Life here is really, really different. I guess some of these things could be Fort Worth-specific, but still.
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I hope you tipped those girls after you had your way with them
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foreveraIone posted...

I hope you tipped those girls after you had your way with them

Of course I tip, I'm in Texas. I don't want to get shot and deported.
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All that seems pretty normal to me.

Where are you from?
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Where are you from?

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eston posted...

Where are you from?

iirc some third world country in europe.
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scar the 1 posted...

I guess some of these things could be Fort Worth-specific, but still.

Public transport here is shit because there's so much urban sprawl that making a network isn't cost effective, it's been sabotaged/defunded to the point where it's unreliable and people already have sunken costs into their cars leading to less funding and a cyclical problem, and everyone driving personal vehicles increases oil/gas consumption, which the local industry loves and lobbies for. This is almost all of texas, btw. Some places with higher urban densities have decent trains or something (boston, new york, chicago, etc).

Sports bars with scantily clad hostesses is semi-normal. There's a few chains that specialize in that (namely, Hooters and Twin Peaks), but any sports bar that is technically more restaurant than bar is going to lean that way.

You rarely/ever need to tip the doorman, if that's all he does. But luggage carriers and maid service enjoy small tips.
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I'm from Sweden. When it comes to the city layout, I'm comparing with other cities I've been to, mostly in Europe.
America is very weird. Oh and I tried to pay for two Gatorade with two dollars, because the sign said so. Of course I forgot the tax. The cashier was like "they always gotta add tax don't they". And I thought to myself that there's nothing stopping them from putting the price including tax on the sign. So silly.

And I really wanna try Taco Bell but there doesn't seem to be one close by and when I asked the hotel receptionist about fast food she seemed offended. "But... we have restaurants!"
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You think that's weird go to LA.
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There is a bus system and train system from Fort Worth to Dallas.

There's also plenty to do in downtown Fort Worth.

Also I HATE when foreigners complain about public transportation. When I live in Germany, I literally had to take a Taxi wherever I had to go, and it cost a shitload of Euros.

Sure I could take a train from Ramstein to Frankfurt, but I also can take a train from Fort Worth to Dallas.
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hyperpowder posted...

There is a bus system and train system from Fort Worth to Dallas.

There's also plenty to do in downtown Fort Worth.

I heard that the trains don't even run on Sundays? And I was looking to go to Arlington, the lady said there were no trains for that.
Is downtown more than just the blocks around Sundance Square, like from the convention center up to the courthouse? Then some blocks east and west. I've found two theaters that aren't showing anything (one's gonna start on Friday), a movie theater, and restaurants. Oh and banks and hotels and parking. And an H&M, but we have those at home, too.
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philsov posted...

Some places with higher urban densities have decent trains or something (boston, new york, chicago, etc).

naw, not really by european standards
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scar the 1 posted...

hyperpowder posted...

There is a bus system and train system from Fort Worth to Dallas.

There's also plenty to do in downtown Fort Worth.

I heard that the trains don't even run on Sundays? And I was looking to go to Arlington, the lady said there were no trains for that.
Is downtown more than just the blocks around Sundance Square, like from the convention center up to the courthouse? Then some blocks east and west. I've found two theaters that aren't showing anything (one's gonna start on Friday), a movie theater, and restaurants. Oh and banks and hotels and parking. And an H&M, but we have those at home, too.

I mean what exactly are you looking for in a downtown? Ive been all around the world, most downtowns just consist of movies, clubs, bars, and restaurants. If you wanted something with personality, go to the Stockyards and laugh at the stereotypical "Texan".

And there is nothing special in Arlington unless you plan on going to Amusement park or watch some baseball.
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scar the 1 posted...

Oh and I tried to pay for two Gatorade with two dollars, because the sign said so. Of course I forgot the tax. The cashier was like "they always gotta add tax don't they". And I thought to myself that there's nothing stopping them from putting the price including tax on the sign.

why do yuropoors always complain about this
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How can you not believe in extraterrestrial life?
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When I lived in Texas for a few months I thought it was hilarious how many people unironically dress like cowboys. I thought there was some sort of cosplay thing going on or something.

hyperpowder posted...

I mean what exactly are you looking for in a downtown? Ive been all around the world, most downtowns just consist of movies, clubs, bars, and restaurants. If you wanted something with personality, go to the Stockyards and laugh at the stereotypical "Texan".

And there is nothing special in Arlington unless you plan on going to Amusement park or watch some baseball.

Usually something a little more dynamic, with shops and stuff as well. I'm probably explaining poorly. My issue is twofold:
One is the gridded planning that's very common I suppose in America. It makes a city very un-exciting to walk through. The other is that everything is so strictly split up in separate districts. If I want shops then go two miles that way, museums three miles that way, restaurants is here, etc. It's not very exciting either.
I woulda gone to Arlington strictly for the baseball, yeah.

AlephZero posted...

why do yuropoors always complain about this

Because it's annoying. I like to pay what's on the price tag. That's what the price tag is for.

Kolibri X posted...

How can you not believe in extraterrestrial life?

Actually I would probably bet that there is extraterrestrial life but I'd been standing in line for 1.5 hours and as a result I was late to my connecting flight.
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scar the 1 posted...

Usually something a little more dynamic, with shops and stuff as well. I'm probably explaining poorly. My issue is twofold:
One is the gridded planning that's very common I suppose in America. It makes a city very un-exciting to walk through. The other is that everything is so strictly split up in separate districts. If I want shops then go two miles that way, museums three miles that way, restaurants is here, etc. It's not very exciting either.

I guess it's like that since America is still so young. Most cities and areas in Sweden are built on old villages from I dunno 1000 years ago. You built around that and adapted. Not build cities in grids as you describe.
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The reason the receptionist balked when you asked about Taco Bell is because you're in Texas, which probably has more authentic Mexican restaurants per capita than any other state in the US.
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few thoughts

1) you're in texas. texas is a weird place full of weird people like @Asherlee10 and the only part of it that feels like the coast is austin.

2) it's not that everything costs extra, it's that you're either choosing between 'hotel with all things' and 'hotel with no things that costs less, and you can buy back all the things to get to the same price.' many hotels have free wifi/breakfast. also for some dumb reason a few 'elite' hotels are basically traps for rich foreigners and provide no services while costing more. idk why.

3) you're looking at daytime tv which is for stay at home moms and old people. prime-time tv has far less of that. also, you're in texas.

4) generally speaking doormen dont need a tip, bag-handlers do.

5) many sports bars have embarrassing, revealing uniforms, yeah, but not all.

6) it's not that public transport is bad, it's that the communication for it is ultra-garbage. americans would likely feel similar in your city; the issue is we know where to figure out how to get from point A to point B and you don't know where to look.

7) uber is usually cheap if you're not using it during peak hours

8) FF_Redux posted...

scar the 1 posted...

Usually something a little more dynamic, with shops and stuff as well. I'm probably explaining poorly. My issue is twofold:
One is the gridded planning that's very common I suppose in America. It makes a city very un-exciting to walk through. The other is that everything is so strictly split up in separate districts. If I want shops then go two miles that way, museums three miles that way, restaurants is here, etc. It's not very exciting either.

I guess it's like that since America is still so young. Most cities and areas in Sweden are built on old villages from I dunno 1000 years ago. You built around that and adapted. Not build cities in grids as you describe.

yes. american cities, esp cities not on the east coast, were designed to optimize commercial traffic flow. it feels artificial because it IS artificial, but it's an improvement over the city that evolves over an older settlement. DC and NYC are two of the few gridded east coast cities, and as a local to DC, visiting boston is a miserable experience.

also, our version of that is craft breweries, who bought up a lot of the old industrial factory space and set up tasting rooms in otherwise dead areas. find some!
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Darkman124 posted...

2) it's not that everything costs extra, it's that you're either choosing between 'hotel with all things' and 'hotel with no things that costs less, and you can buy back all the things to get to the same price.' many hotels have free wifi/breakfast. also for some dumb reason a few 'elite' hotels are basically traps for rich foreigners and provide no services while costing more. idk why.

My suspicion is that this is one of those "elite" ones. It was recommended by the conference.

eston posted...

The reason the receptionist balked when you asked about Taco Bell is because you're in Texas, which probably has more authentic Mexican restaurants per capita than any other state in the US.

Nah, we asked about fastfood in general. Point taken though. I'm actually keeping an eye out for a Mexican place.
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Darkman124 posted...

yes. american cities, esp cities not on the east coast, were designed to optimize commercial traffic flow. it feels artificial because it IS artificial, but it's an improvement over the city that evolves over an older settlement. DC and NYC are two of the few gridded east coast cities, and as a local to DC, visiting boston is a miserable experience.

Miserable how? As a pedestrian I really prefer a bit of drama in the cityscape.

Oh good idea about the breweries, thanks!
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scar the 1 posted...

Nah, we asked about fastfood in general. Point taken though. I'm actually keeping an eye out for a Mexican place

I'm so jealous. I would take couple of days just eating at different Mexican restaurants and try out stuff.
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scar the 1 posted...

Miserable how? As a pedestrian I really prefer a bit of drama in the cityscape.

As a person used to gridded cities, my thought process is I want to get from point A to point B as fast as possible. I don't notice cityscape. I think it is a result of living in such a city myself.

scar the 1 posted...

I'm actually keeping an eye out for a Mexican place.

Use yelp.

scar the 1 posted...

My suspicion is that this is one of those "elite" ones. It was recommended by the conference.

Yep, that happens a lot! Such hotels have many 'luxury' features (for extra $) that regular people don't care about, but none of the basic necessities. It's very common for elite hotels to not have free breakfast/wifi for no good reason. They are common sites for weddings/conferences themselves.
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Darkman124 posted...

few thoughts

1) you're in texas. texas is a weird place full of weird people like @Asherlee10 and the only part of it that feels like the coast is austin.

2) it's not that everything costs extra, it's that you're either choosing between 'hotel with all things' and 'hotel with no things that costs less, and you can buy back all the things to get to the same price.' many hotels have free wifi/breakfast. also for some dumb reason a few 'elite' hotels are basically traps for rich foreigners and provide no services while costing more. idk why.

3) you're looking at daytime tv which is for stay at home moms and old people. prime-time tv has far less of that. also, you're in texas.

4) generally speaking doormen dont need a tip, bag-handlers do.

5) many sports bars have embarrassing, revealing uniforms, yeah, but not all.

6) it's not that public transport is bad, it's that the communication for it is ultra-garbage. americans would likely feel similar in your city; the issue is we know where to figure out how to get from point A to point B and you don't know where to look.

7) uber is usually cheap if you're not using it during peak hours

8) FF_Redux posted...

scar the 1 posted...

Usually something a little more dynamic, with shops and stuff as well. I'm probably explaining poorly. My issue is twofold:
One is the gridded planning that's very common I suppose in America. It makes a city very un-exciting to walk through. The other is that everything is so strictly split up in separate districts. If I want shops then go two miles that way, museums three miles that way, restaurants is here, etc. It's not very exciting either.

I guess it's like that since America is still so young. Most cities and areas in Sweden are built on old villages from I dunno 1000 years ago. You built around that and adapted. Not build cities in grids as you describe.

yes. american cities, esp cities not on the east coast, were designed to optimize commercial traffic flow. it feels artificial because it IS artificial, but it's an improvement over the city that evolves over an older settlement. DC and NYC are two of the few gridded east coast cities, and as a local to DC, visiting boston is a miserable experience.

also, our version of that is craft breweries, who bought up a lot of the old industrial factory space and set up tasting rooms in otherwise dead areas. find some!

Naw public transit is awful in DFW dude
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scar the 1 posted...

Still the customers were families, couples, etc. It felt very weird being waited on by essentially strippers in such a place.

Sounds like you are being disrespectful to women. I'm sorry they don't all wear niqabs, but we let women show some skin here.


scar the 1 posted...

I guess some of these things could be Fort Worth-specific, but still.

Everything you just said about downtown being a few restaurants certainly is. As for public transit, that does tend to suck outside of a handful of major metropolitan areas like NYC, Boston, San Francisco, etc.

Another thing is that stuff at hotels costing extra is fairly normal in the US, though the WiFi should be free unless the hotel is terrible. And most young Americans don't actually watch TV the normal way but instead use the internet, netflix, etc., so actual normal television is going to be filled with crap mainly aimed at older people (like preachers).
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Darkman124 posted...

As a person used to gridded cities, my thought process is I want to get from point A to point B as fast as possible. I don't notice cityscape. I think it is a result of living in such a city myself.

I see. Personally when I'm in a new city I like to just walk around and get a feel for things. Perfect grids makes that quite dull.

Darkman124 posted...

Yep, that happens a lot! Such hotels have many 'luxury' features (for extra $) that regular people don't care about, but none of the basic necessities. It's very common for elite hotels to not have free breakfast/wifi for no good reason. They are common sites for weddings/conferences themselves.

Lesson learned. In the future I'll definitely try and find my own hotel. Well except for this September because that's gonna be at Stanley Hotel (from The Shining) so that'll be cool.
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Sativa_Rose posted...

Sounds like you are being disrespectful to women. I'm sorry they don't all wear niqabs, but we let women show some skin here.

As a tangent to this comment, there's actually a really huge difference in how society views women here compared to at home. I think a lot of Swedes don't really realize that, since we consume a lot of American media. But a sports bar where the waitresses are expected to dress scantily and pose for sexy calendars would be unthinkable in Sweden. The public discourse is just at a really, really different place.

Sativa_Rose posted...

And most young Americans don't actually watch TV the normal way but instead use the internet, netflix, etc., so actual normal television is going to be filled with crap mainly aimed at older people (like preachers).

Yeah I didn't expect the programming to be aimed towards me, it's just a little jarring that such overtly religious content is common here.
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Balrog0 posted...

Naw public transit is awful in DFW dude

fair enough, but i've struggled with public transit in many new cities with good systems, so i usually assume it's about knowing the documentation normally
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scar the 1 posted...

But a sports bar where the waitresses are expected to dress scantily and pose for sexy calendars would be unthinkable in Sweden. The public discourse is just at a really, really different place.

That's why we make fun of you...
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foreveraIone posted...

scar the 1 posted...

But a sports bar where the waitresses are expected to dress scantily and pose for sexy calendars would be unthinkable in Sweden. The public discourse is just at a really, really different place.

That's why we make fun of you...

And similarly, that's why we make fun of you.
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Spooking posted...

scar the 1 posted...

The customs officer asked if I believe in extraterrestrial life. And pressed me on it when I said no.

Why would they ask this? If you said yes, would they have not let you in (thinking you are crazy)?

I'm guessing he was just messing with me. If I weren't so late I would have appreciated it. Now it was just really annoying. Everyone in the line was really late for their connections.
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scar the 1 posted...

Yeah I didn't expect the programming to be aimed towards me, it's just a little jarring that such overtly religious content is common here.

Shrug, also being in Texas will increase that as others have mentioned. You probably spent more time watching that kind of stuff than my entire lifetime combined amount watching it in the US up until this point. Way more people probably see those people as complete jokes than people who take them at all seriously.

scar the 1 posted...

As a tangent to this comment, there's actually a really huge difference in how society views women here compared to at home. I think a lot of Swedes don't really realize that, since we consume a lot of American media. But a sports bar where the waitresses are expected to dress scantily and pose for sexy calendars would be unthinkable in Sweden. The public discourse is just at a really, really different place.

Hmm, I find that interesting. I wouldn't draw any major conclusions on how society views women from this in terms of things like public discourse. I just find it surprising that you found it surprising, like it sounds like the kind of thing that I have heard Islamic preachers and stuff criticize the US for, basically saying that we "sell our daughters for sex" and crap like that.
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scar the 1 posted...

And similarly, that's why we make fun of you.

as a note, our strippers mostly do full-nude, so the characterization of our waitresses as 'dressed as strippers' comes off as hilarious here

do yours not?

is stripping legal in Sweden?
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Rexdragon125 posted...

When I lived in Texas for a few months I thought it was hilarious how many people unironically dress like cowboys. I thought there was some sort of cosplay thing going on or something.

That is pretty much Texas. They don't really know how much of a hellhole Texas was.
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Sativa_Rose posted...

Hmm, I find that interesting. I wouldn't draw any major conclusions on how society views women from this in terms of things like public discourse. I just find it surprising that you found it surprising, like it sounds like the kind of thing that I have heard Islamic preachers and stuff criticize the US for, basically saying that we "sell our daughters for sex" and crap like that.

What was surprising to me was that the customers were just people. If the customers were all guys, I wouldn't have been surprised. But there were families with kids there, and a lot of women, etc. Even though the place is very much designed to please guys.

Darkman124 posted...

as a note, our strippers mostly do full-nude, so the characterization of our waitresses as 'dressed as strippers' comes off as hilarious here

do yours not?

is stripping legal in Sweden?

Stripping is legal, but I don't know if full nudity is. I know fully nude waitresses aren't. The reason I say they dress like strippers is also because the place literally sells sexy calendars with what they call "their girls". Maybe i should just say models? :P
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ehhwhatever posted...

Rexdragon125 posted...

When I lived in Texas for a few months I thought it was hilarious how many people unironically dress like cowboys. I thought there was some sort of cosplay thing going on or something.

That is pretty much Texas. They don't really know how much of a hellhole Texas was.

Its literally the best state in the un.....

Hahahahaha
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TC isn't used to such AWESOMEness.
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Vindris_SNH posted...

TC isn't used to such AWESOMEness.

Clearly I'm not.
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scar the 1 posted...

Stripping is legal, but I don't know if full nudity is. I know fully nude waitresses aren't. The reason I say they dress like strippers is also because the place literally sells sexy calendars with what they call "their girls". Maybe i should just say models? :P

ok, that is a little out of sync with the usual bar-restaurant experience i have on the east coast.
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scar the 1 posted...

Vindris_SNH posted...

TC isn't used to such AWESOMEness.

Clearly I'm not.

Honestly though, it's a different country, and on top of that, a different continent. Of course things are going to be weird to you. What did you expect?
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Darkman124 posted...

Balrog0 posted...

Naw public transit is awful in DFW dude

fair enough, but i've struggled with public transit in many new cities with good systems, so i usually assume it's about knowing the documentation normally

Yeah both definitely matter, but us southern states are garbage at trains and buses. Like, just awful
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Vindris_SNH posted...

scar the 1 posted...

Vindris_SNH posted...

TC isn't used to such AWESOMEness.

Clearly I'm not.

Honestly though, it's a different country, and on top of that, a different continent. Of course things are going to be weird to you. What did you expect?

Honestly, I'm not exactly shocked. It's more like it's still a little jarring even though I knew what to expect. And like I mentioned, I think a lot of people in Europe think they know America quite well, due to consuming so much pop culture from there, but they actually don't.
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scar the 1 posted...

Honestly, I'm not exactly shocked. It's more like it's still a little jarring even though I knew what to expect. And like I mentioned, I think a lot of people in Europe think they know America quite well, due to consuming so much pop culture from there, but they actually don't.

Agreed, they don't know it as well as they think they do. It sounds like this one particular sports bar with the calendars though is the exception rather than the rule for what is common. One thing that is kind of similar to that though is the presence of cheerleaders in professional basketball and football in the US. I don't think any other sports have them. I'm not really sure why this became a cultural thing in the US, but it's not considered sexist. A lot of girls want to be cheerleaders.
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Sativa_Rose posted...

scar the 1 posted...

Honestly, I'm not exactly shocked. It's more like it's still a little jarring even though I knew what to expect. And like I mentioned, I think a lot of people in Europe think they know America quite well, due to consuming so much pop culture from there, but they actually don't.

Agreed, they don't know it as well as they think they do. It sounds like this one particular sports bar with the calendars though is the exception rather than the rule for what is common. One thing that is kind of similar to that though is the presence of cheerleaders in professional basketball and football in the US. I don't think any other sports have them. I'm not really sure why this became a cultural thing in the US, but it's not considered sexist. A lot of girls want to be cheerleaders.

I think Cheerleaders became popular because of the Dallas Cowboys. I live in DFW TC, explore some of the mom and pop mexican shops as they normally sell good food.
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DFW has awful public T. All we have is the dart, and...

What restaurant did you go to with all the semi naked girls?
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scar the 1 posted...

The customs officer asked if I believe in extraterrestrial life. And pressed me on it when I said no.

Huh
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What the fuck ever.
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