Buzzfeed, the internet’s as-if-by-Red-Bull-fueled water cooler, came across a map of where the nation’s Missed Connections are most likely to occur, by state, and the humiliation has gone viral (in fifteen states it’s Wal-Mart). But the Northwest stands apart.
Washington State gets called out for its grrl power: “The Pacific Northwest breeds girls bold. This state had the highest percentage of ads from women seeking men (25) and women seeking women (5).” Less romantically, the most common venue for sparks flashing was the bus.
Neighboring Idaho? “Home of the heterosexual male.” Visit Idaho, indeed, but pop into a Wal-Mart while you’re there.
CL MC cartographer Dorothy Gambrell, previously internet-famous for exploring the states via Google’s auto-complete, created the infographic for Psychology Today, but the methodology doesn’t look exactly rigorous. The sample size for each state is the “last 100” Missed Connections posted at the time Gambrell pulled the data.
So, bold or hard-pressed? We also don’t know, for instance, how many of the MCs were belated responses to an in-person approach, shot down but then regretted once an overactive fight-or-flight response subsided. Google, our age’s final arbiter, pulls no punches either way. Auto-complete for “Why are Seattle men so…?” yields “unfriendly,” “bad,” and “loud.” Seattle women are “unfriendly,” “soccer league,” and “soccer team.” Make of that what you will.
Can we, for at least a moment, discuss why the hell Indiana’s leading Missed Connect location is “Home.”
It doesn’t make any sense! All I can think of is that enough Indianans were confused enough by MC that when it asked “location” they just put where they were at the time they were posting.
That does make sense. I’ve never met an Indianian, but I’ve heard they’re super honest.