Northern Machismo

There's something about the folk in the north that has been bugging me on and off for the past four years.  The problem is with the typical northerner's psyche.  There is this idea that they can endure anything because they are "tough".  For example, it was snowing and drifting like crazy last night and this morning and the school buses in our district were still running.  The buses in the district to the south were shut down.  When you talk to people in the schools, the reason you get is that we are tougher and we can handle these weather conditions.  I think it is important for people to differentiate between tough or brave and foolhardy.  In their desire to appear tough and rugged, many northerners only succeed in making foolish choices.

Another example of how tough northerners are, is when it comes to cold.  When it is crazy cold outside (somewhere south of minus retarded), you hear many say that it's not that cold outside.  We are tough up here and if you just dress for it, you can handle it.  Now these are usually the same people that will start their vehicles over an hour ahead of leaving home.  There is no mechanical reason to let a vehicle run that long, they just like to get into a warm car.  It is nothing to see long rows of gigantic trucks idling outside the movie theater or hockey rink while the owners are inside for the duration.  Why do the pollute the atmosphere so?  Well, what kind of tough guy (or girl) wants to set their delicate ass on a cold seat?