I grew up in ohio from a similar age, but had a lot of family there, and my experience is similar but different. I experienced a profoundly divided state. Good hardworking people, some of whom I’m proud to call family both by birth and found, but also the bullies you mention. I slowly watched the bullies start winning more and more until last year my wife and I had to leave as the state became too hostile to us.

I love where we moved and never want to go back, but I do miss a lot about Ohio, but largely I miss what it could have become. Though I also miss the weather, love me a Midwestern storm. Also my favorite bar is still there, and I love quite a lot about the 3Cs.

And yeah the chip on their shoulders is real. So many people feel stuck there. Ohio sucks and every ohioan knows it and jokes about it, but it used to not suck as bad. It still has good in it. It just gave up on improving when the jobs left. So many feel they can’t even attempt to get out. The despair is real, the feeling of failure and like they’re being judged for it is real, and the lashing out because of it is real.