Lisa O
People from Ohio are friendly, hardworking, and proud of where they come from—but there are a few things you just don’t say unless you want to get an eye roll, a long explanation, or maybe even a cold stare. Be it football, weather, or life in the Midwest, these comments can strike a nerve with true Ohioans in ways you might not expect.
“Isn’t Ohio just a bunch of cornfields?”
Sure, there are farms—but that’s not even close to the full story. People from Ohio know their state has cities, culture, universities, sports, and history that go far beyond rural stereotypes. When someone reduces the entire state to corn and cows, it’s like pretending Ohio doesn’t have millions of people living normal, busy, city-filled lives. It’s a lazy comment that gets old fast.
“Do people actually live in Cleveland?”
Ask this, and you’ll quickly find out how proud Clevelanders are of their city. Yes, people live there, and they love it—rock and roll, major sports teams, great food, and a growing downtown scene make it more than just a spot on the map. Locals know it’s not perfect, but they’re tired of outsiders acting like it’s some ghost town no one cares about.
“Why are you so obsessed with Ohio State football?”
If you’ve never seen someone plan their entire fall around a football schedule, you’ve never met a real Buckeyes fan. Saying this feels like an insult to something that’s part of the state’s identity. Ohioans don’t just watch the games—they live them. Even non-alumni take pride in the team, and poking fun at that loyalty won’t win you any friends.
“Isn’t the weather awful all the time?”
Ohio’s weather might be unpredictable. It’s sunny one minute, snowing the next, but complaining about it like it’s the worst place on earth just comes off as dramatic. Locals know how to dress in layers and keep it moving. Everyone jokes about the wild forecasts, but outsiders point it out like it’s shocking to get old really quickly.
“You must be so bored living there.”
Say this, and you’re basically telling someone their hometown isn’t worth anything. People from Ohio know how to have fun—whether it’s local festivals, college towns, lake days, or backyard hangouts. Life isn’t boring unless you make it boring, and Ohioans are quick to remind you they’re not sitting around counting corn stalks to pass the time.
“Ohio is a flyover country, right?”
This phrase makes locals cringe because it reduces their entire state to something you just ignore from 30,000 feet. Ohio has major cities, tech hubs, world-class hospitals, museums, and rich history, but none of that matters if people think it’s just a place you skip on the way to somewhere better. Say this, and you’ll definitely get corrected.
“LeBron left you—twice!”
Yes, LeBron James left Cleveland not once but twice—but he also brought a championship to the city, and that moment still matters. Bringing up the times he left like it’s a punchline doesn’t land well with locals. Most have made peace with the past and still respect what he gave them. It’s not the slam dunk insult people think it is.
“Why would anyone vacation in Ohio?”
While it might not have oceans or mountains, Ohio still has vacation spots people love—like Hocking Hills, Put-in-Bay, Cedar Point, and the Lake Erie shoreline. Saying it’s not a vacation state just shows you haven’t looked around. Ohioans take pride in their getaways, and mocking them only shows you’ve never seen a proper Midwest summer trip.
“Is Cincinnati part of Kentucky?”
This joke never lands well. Cincinnati might sit near the border, but it’s very much in Ohio—and the people there are proud of that. Suggesting it belongs to Kentucky feels like you’re dismissing their identity altogether. The city has its own culture, skyline, food (yes, even Skyline Chili), and history. Confusing it with another state just sounds careless.
“I drove through once. There wasn’t much to see.”
Driving through a state on the highway isn’t the same as experiencing it. Ohioans know that unless you stop and explore a little, you’ll miss all the things that make it special—hidden gems, parks, neighborhoods, and communities. This kind of comment feels dismissive like you made up your mind without ever giving the state a fair chance.
“Cedar Point is just a theme park.”
Locals will quickly tell you that it’s not just a theme park; it’s the roller coaster capital of the world. Cedar Point is practically a rite of passage in Ohio, and people grow up going there year after year. Downplaying it is like saying New York’s Central Park is just a lawn. You don’t have to love rides to respect how much the place means to people.
“What even is Skyline Chili?”
You can ask out of curiosity, sure—but mock it? You’ll probably get a passionate response. It’s not traditional chili, and that’s the point. With its unique spices and served over spaghetti, Skyline Chili is something people grow up loving. You might not get it, but if you laugh at it, you’re laughing at a food people associate with family, tradition, and hometown pride.
“It must be cheap because no one wants to live there.”
Low cost of living doesn’t mean low value. Many people choose Ohio because you can actually afford a house, raise a family, and still enjoy city life without crushing debt. When someone says this, it sounds like an insult, but to Ohioans, it just confirms that their state offers what many others can’t—stability without breaking the bank.
“What’s there to even do in Columbus?”
Ask that, and you’re clearly not paying attention. Columbus is full of art, food, music, festivals, and one of the biggest college campuses in the country. It’s a fast-growing city that surprises a lot of first-time visitors. Acting like it’s a blank spot on the map shows you haven’t looked past the stereotypes—and Ohioans are more than happy to set you straight.
“You’re from Ohio? I’m so sorry.”
This one might sound like a joke, but it hits wrong every time. It assumes that living in Ohio is something to be ashamed of, which couldn’t be further from how locals feel. People from Ohio are proud of their roots and their communities. Say this, and you’re not just being rude—you’re completely missing the pride that keeps Ohioans grounded, loyal, and resilient.