Definitely more with NJ than America. Unless I’m like rooting for team USA in the Olympics I don’t really feel much kinship or pride or connection with the rest of America. My jersey identity is strong

New Jersey for sure. Especially as the child of an immigrant, it's hard for me to identify with the US as a whole, whereas this state is my true home. I was born and raised here, and this is the place I love.

NJ ethos for sure. I bailed out in 2017 and went to Florida . Returned to NJ last year.

Florida is not my America.

NJ easily

NJ. It's just better than the US as a whole because have you seen those crazies out there in the rest of the country? I'm not like them

No matter where we go on vacation, we're always happy when we get back to New Jersey.

Proud coastal elite, or whatever Fox News refers to us

I left new jersey 20 years ago. I've lived all over the states and the world. Still havent crossed out my jersey tattoo.

Granted, it is so faded and out of shape at this point it could be mistaken for the Korean peninsula.

I'm still hoagie strong

I always try and identify with NJ and show pride because more times than not we’re the forgotten state. It’s always PA or NY getting the attention, never NJ. I like to remind people that we exist and for the most part it’s a pretty pleasant place and the stereotypes aren’t true.

NJ unless I’m talking to someone not from North America. And even then, I’ll probably say I’m from NJ over the US

Definitely Jersey. I was in California last year for a week and it was definitely.. different. The people are.. different.

Once you see a lot of the country, it’s very easy to says NJ forever

NJ. You could even travel 45 minutes within the state and feel outta place elsewhere. How much more for the entire country?

I don't like an awful lot of American culture or politics, which I largely find divisive, cruel, reactionary, and anti-intellectual. I sure as fuck don't identify with "don't say gay" Florida or "more guns, but no birth control" Texas.

So I suppose I identify more as a Jersey Girl, if I have to identify by country or region at all.

Look, I'm not saying we should secede from the United States but......

I would say “the NE”. I feel at home in NY, Maine, Vermont, CT, Mass, RI. Anywhere else feels like a strange alien land.

And let the crazies have full control of the nukes? Fuck that, we're staying. You know what happened to the confederacy and they were much more equally matched against the union than we are against the current US military

There are times I have been embarrassed to be an American but never been embarrassed to be from New Jersey. Especially when oversees. Yes I'm American, but I'm from New Jersey.

NJ definitely. I've never felt very American. Even traveling abroad I will say I'm from NJ rather than ever mentioning the US. No matter where I am everyone always seems to know it and often they add that they know someone who lives here.

NJ for sure. We definitely have our share of conservatives who don't like the social progressiveness that they see as a threat to culture. We definitely also have left fringes who are uncomfortable with any shred of conversation or notion that can be interpreted as persecution or even chastisement of minority groups.

But my favorite type of New Jersey person is the person that just wants to let everyone else do their own thing if its not hurting anyone. This country, this world, has enough real problems for people to spend any time worrying about what a book at a library might imply to a young reader, whether or not a teacher might say that gay people exist, etc. Traveling for work, I used to think there were easy going "live-and-let-live" types everywhere, but over time I've realized that it usually comes with caveats. Here, at least in the Middlesex area, I find closer common ground with people who save their worries for issues that actually might affect the future of the country, and leave everyone's personal views and lifestyles to themselves.

NJ absolutely.

NJ. It's kind of funny.....when that Fox News bit came out that NJ is the "least patriotic" state in the country, I thought a bit about it and yeah, I'm not proud to be an American. I'm not necessarily not proud, either--I just happened to be born and live in the USA, it feels like a neutral to me.

But on a national scale, I'm proud of NJ. I'm proud that we have one of the highest qualities of life, best access to healthcare, and it's one of the best states to be a woman. We've got bodily autonomy, no pink tax, we were the 2nd state to outlaw child marriage, and stats show you're less likely to be raped here than you are in every other state.

That kind of stuff matters to me. I might be a 2nd class citizen at the federal level, but not here.

And so it dawned on me that I'm patriotic for NJ. Like legit, I'll proudly wave the buff and blue all day.

I identify with NJ and the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region in general compared to the rest of the US. Aside for some minor differences like sports fandom and specific local cuisine, culture here is pretty similar from NoVA/Maryland to Massachusetts.

Definitely NJ!

I’ve seen a guy shitting on a side walk. In NJ where I just moved. It was my first time.

This.

Sub

You're wrong and should feel bad about yourself. I bet you call it Taylor Ham, ya savage.

We do have a handful of serial public poopers from time to time. So does every place tho

Yea that’s my problem. It’s more of them so why the hell we always need to meet at my place ?!

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.

It all depends who I'm talking to and what are they asking.

If I'm talking to an American outside of NY/NJ than I identify as New Jerseyan

If I'm talking to a person when traveling abroad than I identify as an American

When I talk to fellow a New Jerseyan than I identify as immigrant from the country I immigrated from.

When I'm back in my home country I identify as an American to fuck with them and because America is where the home is.

>have you seen those crazies out there in the rest of the country?

Unfortunately NJ, or any state, is not immune to having folks like that. Go to the right parts of NJ and you'll find people that have completely opposite ideologies than you.

Yeah I'd say unless you are in one of the larger states, its more regional vs state specific. Especially since all the states in the NE are very small compared to the south or west.

...I identify as a person first, and then being black and woman and how society treats these concepts... I'm not screaming about being identify by a former colony, or a country that still sees me as a problem for existing

I identify with the northeast.

New Jersey, 100%. I moved away 5 years ago (just barely. It's a 5 minute drive.) and still can't refer to myself as being from anywhere other than New Jersey.

My husband and I have been talking about having kids, and I ... do not want to give birth to Pennsylvanians.

I guess NJ and the east coast as a whole. When abroad I identify more with the U.S as a whole

NJ transplant. I identify as an American. New Jersey is just a place to make money and tolerate until better opportunities arise.

Yes ! I always say jersey when ever I’m asked where I’m from, saying I’m American would feel cringe

Yeah, we ain't the same. You probably shouldn't even be commenting.

Yea they should probably leave

Just doesn’t seem fair, does it? 😂😂

Pennsylvania? Your children will grow up driving slow in the left lane of highways unless you teach them "keep right except to pass" LOL.

Dyed-in-the-wool Jersey girl here. From my perspective, we have access to the best of everything the rest of the country has to offer, practically in our own backyards.

>stats show you're less likely to be raped here than you are in every other state.

Or killed by a gun. We don't have the lowest rates of gun homicide and suicide, but we're doing shit pretty well here when it comes to gun violence.

If you can’t poop on them, poop with them.

I was born and raised in South Jersey, moved to New England for 30 years, and now live in PA. I will always be a Jersey Boy, however.

I’m interested to hear your Jersey-centric perceptions of living in Florida

US as a whole

NJ. I’ve traveled all over, and people recognize my “New Jersey accent” immediately.

Yep. But my comment was specifically discussing issues that predominantly affect women.

New Jersey - greatest country in the world!

Neither, lol. But if I had to pick - NJ.

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I would say North East in general. A very proud NE

Yes

I probably have about as much in common with someone from the UK or Australia as I do with someone from Texas or Arkansas

Have you tried pooping on them tho? I believe in you, I know you can do it!

This statement reads like it's missing a /s

Spray 'em with a hose

I identify with more with Jersey, especially since I’m away from it right now at college. People are confused and weirded out by how much love, pride, and respect I have for New Jersey. They’re also weirded out by how much I do identify with the state.

You seem like you're missing an /s

That definitely isn’t always true lol.

😆

My identity comes from specifically being raised an NYC suburbanite. As I have lived and traveled all over the country I have come to realize that the lines are drawn much more between city, suburbs and country than state borders. There are some cities that have cultivated a more conservative vibe and some country towns populated by hippies, but generally that’s what I’ve found.

NJ doesn’t have anywhere near the number of transients that Florida has, so the culture here is one of assimilation. Florida people expect everyone they talk with to be just like them. Many lose brain cells when that doesn’t happen.

The northeast is what I call “educated liberalism”, with positions on issues based on careful consideration and analysis. Florida position statements tend to be based on how the policy may directly affect the individual with the opinion. For example, northeastern residents (mostly) understand that immigrants are a vital part of the economy and while often exploited, they weigh the pros (keep service wages low and cost of doing business down) while providing a pathway to a better life for many coming from unstable countries. It benefits all participants in the economy, even if it’s a source of exploitation. Florida residents seem to be either - opposed to immigrants who steal jobs (and unable to substantiate these claims, as overwhelmingly they appear to be doing landscaping or back of the house food service) - or smugly silent, enjoying their inexpensive lawn services and cheap catering.

Finally, on education - the northeast embraces public education and values it as a public good. Florida sees public education as a drain on tax dollars with little return. But let’s be honest, with transplant populations flooding the state every year, why educate locals? Educated individuals are showing up daily, and have a work ethic usually rooted in puritanical values. I saw none of that in South Florida.

Drug use and abuse were on open display, as was excessive drinking in South Florida. I enjoy a drink every now and then, I don’t need several every day to function.

have you seen some parts of the US??!? it’s wild out there. definitely NJ!

If I’m out of the country I tell people I’m American because most people I’ve encountered from other countries don’t know where NJ is. I usually will follow that question with next to NYC. But as a whole I associate more with NJ or the North East US.

It is interesting for me because most of my friends who grew up in more rural parts of NJ tend to fall in this camp where it is more of a Northeast type pride. While many of my friends who live in parts of the state close to NYC are very prideful of being NJ.

This is.. so right.

> the person that just wants to let everyone else do their own thing if its not hurting anyone

That's why I love

> Middlesex

I think I identify as "Central Jersey" more than anything else. And seeing as some parts of NJ are very different, and that certain people (not in this thread, in other places on the web and in print) have come up with multiple "NJ identities" - none of which I really identify with - I can't say I "identify" as a New Jerseyan, neither on a superficial nor on a personal level...

...at least not more than I identify as an American, which I do, in an idealist sense (y'know, the stuff they taught us in elementary school about freedom and equality and all that). Probably comes from being an immigrant who came here at that age.

I didn’t realize I had a “New Jersey accent” until I went to grad school in the midwest. Being from the shore, I always thought we had relatively weak accents compared to North Jersey or the South Jersey near Philly.

North east coast more than nj more that USian

Weird how so many “better opportunities” bring people to NYC or even Philly, but they end up living in New Jersey (maybe not your case).

Im like this but more central. Maryland to nyc maybe as far north as Connecticut.

Really similar!! I’m from Monmouth county and I had the same thoughts. I don’t say water like my south jersey friends “wooder” lol but comments from Texas, Florida, NC/SC it’s apparently clear as day I’m from NJ.

My roommate made an anthem for New Jersey because of how highly I speak of home

Definitely American first. Honestly, it bugs the hell out of me that we do or don't have certain rights simply because of an arbitrary line on the ground. We're all Americans; the rights I have here should be the same as the rights someone has in Oklahoma or Nevada or whatever.

“Me against my brother. Me and my brother against my cousin. Me and my cousin against a stranger”.

South Jersey > Philly Suburbs > NJ > East Coast > USA > Earth > united federation of planets

Go Birds!

NJ for sure, it's been a long time since I've felt anything but embarrassment for being American.

I would have said America until I traveled to the Midwest for the first time. It’s different out there but I’d say North Atlantic corridor more than NJ only.

Yeah, having a Jersey state of mind is a huge difference. Especially compared to these other fly-over states. Middle America is like one big-ass version of Alabama to me, and then it's California (which is another different mind-set but Cali is cool. I like Cali)

We feel the opposite. Moved here from NYC with my parents as a middle schooler back in 1980 and have been here ever since. Started traveling extensively with my wife/kids over the last several years. (Road trips out west, travels to Europe and South America)

I’ve never felt any type of home sickness for Jersey. So much so, that a relo is now firmly in the cards for us.

The symbology of Nationalism has been co-oped by folks that a majority of NJ dislike or disagree with. I don't, not love my country, I just resent some redneck nascar meth-head nominating themselves as the gatekeeper of what the nation stands for. I dont need some low IQ fox noise talking head questioning my loyalty.

My side did not fail in a coup. Cause that's super patriotic.....

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One problem I've found is no one on the West Coast or overseas knows where New Jersey is, or even worse thinks NJ is only next to NYC so over the years I've taken to just saying Philly when someone asks me where I'm from. I can see the skyline (very clearly) from my front door so I guess it's not too much of a stretch, but it kills me that by saying that I'm aligning myself with PA over NJ.

When you gotta go you gotta go

Oh, that gives me an idea… a taylor ham sub…. Having not lived here for 20 yrs forfeits your smart ass rights

yeah.

The thing I don't get, and I get it, I'm beating the deadest of dead horses here, but the cognitive dissonance between that some consider "patriotism" and actual, patriotic actions and legislation.

Think about it: what's more patriotic than helping American people live better lives? Loving your country means loving its people, right? Following this logic, you'd think supporting things like paid parental leave, universal healthcare, and living wages is patriotism. But the ones who caw the loudest about being patriots largely seem to be against these things.

I think progressive politicians need to reclaim the "patriot" label. Just lean real hard into it, how voting for policies that benefit Americans is the most patriotic thing you can do. Don't let the ones who actively want to restrict Americans' rights be the ones hoarding the patriot label.

Nope, I am proudly from NJ. I've lived elsewhere and this is home. :)

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I feel this to a degree despite taking some pride in very distinctively NJ things. I spent some time growing up in near the northern parts of Morris, doing woodsy shit and all that and have definitely found more similar kindred spirits with people from parts of Northeastern states who realize I'm not stereotypical city kid or yuppie who decided to make outdoors stuff their personality later in life.

I know Californians are definitely different from my own experience visiting family out there. But I was curious what your idea of different was if you don’t mind answering lol

I'd rather not share my true thoughts, let's just say.. they are very "progressive". Also.. white dudes with dreadlocks.

Fair enough! It’s definitely a different world out there in general.

Me, being pleased that most/all of these answers are NJ, which affirms my answer, which is also NJ.

Which one? We have at least five.

Hoagie is a Pennsylvanian word. Sub is the correct term.

I couldn’t tell you cause I don’t think I have one !

NJ I feel. Even when I’m outside the country and talk to foreigners are usually say New Jersey when they ask where I’m from.

(Crying in Cumberland County)

Definitely new jersey more than usa

I live in FL now but will always be from NJ no matter where I have or will live

ALL THIS IS CORRECT!! I can't wait to move back home from FL

I have been in NJ the better part of my life always wanted to leave. High taxes now schools only teach agenda rather than problem solving its going down the drain.

I would say I am a North easterner.

I don't care if it's called taylor ham or pork roll so whatever that makes me.

Agreed- and getting worse by the day

Thanks for the validation.

Thanks for the response and validation. I hope you are able to get out safely and soon!

I've lived in the northeast and on the west coast and identify strongly with both. If we could get rid of everything in the middle and smash the coasts together, and maybe move Chicago into the meadowlands somewhere, we'd have an amazing country.

It depends on where you are and who’s asking. I don’t identify as an American unless someone from another country asks me. Even then when they ask where I’m from I’ll typically say a more specific area than just America/US, just depends on the context. I think most of the country is pretty crazy so I’d rather not be lumped in with the nut jobs if I can help it.

NJ. I like the northeast and the west coast and most of the rest of the country is not that interesting to me.

yeah definitely NJ more and more as time passes. if a foreigner asked where I'm from I'd say New Jersey not USA

New Jersey for sure, I have been told by many people that New Jersey is one of the few states that as a whole, creates the most down to earth and real people. It is also littered with diversity, so everyone who grew up here can know about everyone there is to know.

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So well said, I can barely stand it. I love it “educated liberalism.” You just reminded me why I have no desire to live in Florida.

They don't actually love America. They love corn fields, and white people, that "purple mountains majesty" stuff. They love the romanticized version of America that all the songs are about and that was kinda pushed on us as children (especially if you went through school while the Cold War was still on). The cognitive dissonance would hurt too much for them to admit that the country they love so much doesn't actually exist, and never has. So when we criticize the country we do have, and insist that there's room for improvement...well, America is already near perfect so we must just be unpatriotic, right?

So true, after a certain point it becomes very scary in NJ. I’m a NYC and NJ girl and love the diversity, probably why I refuse to venture past Mercer County for a small state we have one of the largest populations of White Supremacy groups. It’s scary it’s in the same state I love.

It's 'murika for me 🇺🇸 🦅

>[I've] never been embarrassed to be from New Jersey.

Two words: Chris Christie. I have had people say to me that all they know of NJ is The Jersey Shore and our former gubernatorial goober. Give me Snooki over Christie any day.

100000% this!

You typically won’t find me rocking any red, white and blue on the 4th, but along the lines of what you wrote, just wearing red, white and blue and buying a bunch of paraphernalia doesn’t make one a patriot… more likely a nationalist.

SOUTH JERSEY

Hoagie is used from about Mercer County and further to the South. And at any Wawa.

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More so with NJ/tri state than the US as a whole….I’m realizing now that I live in a bubble and I very much so love my bubble.

Jersey for sure. I’m a proud American and if America was attacked I would defend it. But jersey is my loyalty. I don’t have any control over the rest of the country, but a single person can have an impact at the local level.

You can call your senator a thousand times about healthcare or the tax code or whatever and never get a call back. But if you are persistent enough on a local level, a single determined individual can get a new stop sign put in, or can improve trash pickup or whatever tf it is.

THIS! ♾️ this!

I say, "I'm from the New York area..." having been brought up 13 miles west...

Im going to be honest here and say America. Ironically I am an immigrant who came here as a kid, but I do feel more American than even my original ethnicity. But it also depends where Im at, and in the US i feel less American in a way. Obviously traveling the US I will identify with NJ more, but if youve been to other parts of the world, youll see how homogenous the US really is. Its pretty much all suburbs everywhere whether its NJ, Florida, or Arizona, it feels VERY similar (compared to other countries obviously). But I will admit when I do travel I always only tell people I am from NYC/NJ (code word for "I work in city but live in NJ") so theres that.

Great contribution and post. I'm retirement age, and I would rather croak than retire to Florida.

USA definitely

I’ll def remain a New Jerseyan till death. I left in 2021 to Texas and I do love it here, but being a North NJ Italian for nearly 30 years is just in my genetic makeup and mannerisms. I’ve also been told several times I have the classic New York accent when saying words like “walk, talk, coffee, etc).

NJ

Feel like it depends on the context. I am very liberal but have a lot of American pride and generally believe there are more sane rational Americans than whacked out idiots (though not by much as I used to). I think we are a country of mostly good but also mostly stupid people who will help their neighbor, but are often too dumb to realize when they’re doing the opposite. I have pride in how diverse America is, and I love country music so I’m a sucker for Americana. I’m the type of person who gets chills during the Star Spangled Banner.

With that said, I’m a complete NJ stereotype. There’s a lot of times I wish we would take a chill pill, because we can get very grumpy for no good reason. But like others have said, I’m very proud that my state has mostly intelligent people who make pretty smart rules, expect other people to be smart, and lose their patience when they’re not.

I’d say I identify equally as an American and a Jersey Guy, they give me different part of my identity as far as I’m concerned

Nationalism is gross, but New Jersey is the GOAT. I love this state and I’ll never leave- especially insight of the shit going on elsewhere.

Basically in the same boat. Well, it was a plane. But I travel a lot for work, and did live in CA for a few months too, so I identify with a few other places quite strongly too.

At least the high school running tracks are currently safe though...

Maybe it’s just from living here, but I feel like we stick out like a sore thumb from most of “America” in a way that only Hawaii and maybe California also do

Wawa speaks, the world listens

I pledge my allegiance to NJ/NY not the rest of yas

Disagree. I think plenty of people know about NJ. Even if it’s a bad rep from media it’s still something. I’d call Delaware the forgotten one.

Let's not pretend the differences started recently.

Anyone from northern New Jersey is more NJ.. the rest.. eh

New jersey for sureee. If I had native Americana heritage maybe my answer would be different but yea Jersey all the wayyyy