Friendliness not a major at ISU

his is my fifth semester at Indiana State University, and while I have met some nice people here, the majority of people I have come into contact with are rude and self-absorbed.

I do not know how many times I have tried to make small talk with someone on an elevator, at the library, Stalker Hall, etc. and the target of this small talk has totally ignored me or, worse yet, given me dagger eyes and looked the other way.

Also, from third-person verification, I know I am funny, but for some reason in Terre Haute I am not.

I think it has something to do with the fact that no one understands sarcasm here.

See, sarcasm is when you say something which is the opposite of what was implied. It works really well everywhere but Terre Haute.

Here in Terre Haute, when you use sarcasm, you get looked at like your face is on fire.

When I first moved here, I assumed it was localized to the school.

"Maybe these people," I thought, "are just upset because they have squandered away other opportunities and now they have to go to Indiana State University."

But as time went on, I realized that ISU has lovely majors, such as philosophy…oh wait, never mind.

Well, they have sociology….no, hold on.

Well, the history department is great.

Anyway, I started to notice it was not just the university.

I have lived in multiple cities in Indiana, as well as traveled the country, and I have never lived in nor have I visited a city angrier and more rude than Terre Haute.

From this anger and rudeness spawns crimes against others. Someone is always getting stabbed or beaten up in Terre Haute, and for the size, it is a ridiculous amount of crime.

The only thing that I can think of is that the city as a whole has become bitter about the fact that industry turned its back.

Not long after, that culture left a "Dear John" letter as well. This is the part where I play the apologist.

I have met some dear friends in Terre Haute.

Hell, I met the people I play music with here.

I am not saying everyone here is this way, just the majority of the ones I have had the (dis)pleasure of meeting.

It just seems that generally this city could stand to be a little friendlier to its sons and daughters.

So, I would like you all to do me a favor.

Turn to the person next to you right now, or the closest person in your proximity (I am serious, it will do you both some good) and say, "How are you doing today?"

It would make the world (or at least Terre Haute) a better place.

( Scott Cullison is a senior history major. He can be reached at sasedtpg@isugw.indstate.edu.)