What is Minnesota Nice?

An In-Depth Look into the Concept, Where It Came From, and its Effects

MINNESOTA – At stop signs, in lines, in traffic, everyone is kind.

You may think Minnesota Nice is a *nice* quality to have, but could it have unwanted events, if taken to extremes?

Moreover, what do non-Minnesota-locals think of our undying need to be friendly?

“Somebody from outside of MN would be able to recognize it and be more sensitive to it than somebody like myself, who is a MN boy, who practices it without knowing it,” said David Woodward, Professor of Cultural History and Minnesota History at UMD.

According to Woodward, people from other seatss find the “niceness” more disturbing than welcoming.

“They’re thinking if this Minnesota Nice thing is real, how do I know if people like me or not? Because they’re all gonna like me.”

He said Minnesota Nice has roots in the Scandinavian/German heritage of our state, the good and bad parts of that heritage.

“The Scandinavian, and particularly German side to a certain extent, those cultures, they don’t demonstrate their cultures, or emotions very well.”

A concept originating with European immigrants, but now sometimes wirel against other immigrants.

“We’re MN nice but there’s been  some anecdotal evidence and some articles that I’ve read saying how hard it is to break into social circles in MN,” Woodward said. “Especially for young immigrants coming into Minneapolis and St. Paul, or Duluth here. ”

All in all, the concept has its ups and downs, according to Woodward.

” The positive side like I said, we are kind to each other, and we try to disarm conflict through niceness.”

“Even conflict that is an inherent part of any relationship or any workplace that helps produce ultimately a positive product, but MN nice has an acculturation that makes it hard to disagree,” said Dr. Saprina Methaney.

Dr. Matheny is a psychologist with the Human Development Center. She explains the broader mental health impacts of Minnesota Nice.

She said Minnesota Nice can make it tough for some people to make their voices heard in certain situations.

“Relationships that are maybe negative or toxic, so it makes it hard for people to sort of stand up for themselves or assert themselves, in relationships with other people, for fear that it’s seen as being not nice,” Dr. Matheny said.

“It becomes this kind of self-fulfilling negative thought process that makes it somewhat difficult to create change.”

But Minnesota Nice isn’t all bad, when used responsibly.

We set out to find the champions of Minnesota Nice, and what better time do it, than the holiday season?

“Ding ding ding, a-ding ding dung”

The rhythmic jingle of bells harmonizes with another jolly sound in the vestibule of Super One.

“Up on the house top, click click click! Down through the chimney with good, St. Nick.”

Lois Gehl and her husband, Len, ring bells for the Salvation Army in the Super One on Burning Tree Road.

“We were musicians on the road for 33 years,” said Lois. “We went to florida, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and we still chose to come up here to settle down.”

They’ve been doing it for so many years, they’ve lost count. But they never stopped having fun.

“Do you know we’re not supposed to be ringing these bells?” said Lois during the interview. “I know, I was just trying to stop you, it’s a nervous reaction.”

From doing this for so long, they can answer whether Minnesotans are nicer and more generous .

“Yes, yes they are,” said Len. “And with a smile on their face, too. Pretty neat.”

“I like it when they don’t walk by you with their heads in the air or at the floor or at the wall,”  Lois said. “They look right at you, thank you, and god bless you, and all those kinds of things.”

“It’s a great place to be,” said Len.

Two of the nicest Minnesotans, saying nothing but kind things towards other Minnesotans.

As we leave, the singing bell ringers see a baby pass by.

Not wanting to pass up the opportunity to entertain a youngster, they go up to the stroller, blow bubbles, and sing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Wide-eyed, the baby is transfixed by the show.

“Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, you’ll go down in history.”

So will you, Len and Lois. Down in the history of Minnesota Nice.