Getting Austin’s groove back

Alright, alright, alright.

With those three poignant words, Richard Linklater through Matthew McConaughey’s delivery explained Austin’s culture. The small town’s residents were the cool kids, sitting in the back of the class, hanging out under the moon towers, drinking keg beer, floating on the river they call a lake, and generally enjoying the sweet liberal spot located in one of the most conservative states.

My 75 year old neighbor Nadine put it well when she said the folks whom 50–60 years ago came up with Austin’s plan put it simply “if we don’t build it, they won’t come.” The idea was to keep Austin cute, tiny, simple, and well - Austin.

But we did come. A lot of us. I arrived almost 20 years ago and found something I wasn’t expecting: love through respect.

I feel we need to get back to those early Austin ways making it great (and weird).

Driving Etiquette

Like many transplants to Austin, I came from California. Austin had one major difference smacking me in the face upon my arrival. Austin drivers were nice.

I remember the first time I turned my blinker on to merge onto Mopac only to witness the driver to my left slow down and wave me in. She waved me in! I merged effortlessly and waved back at her. Something crazy happened — she smiled and waved back. Our social contract was complete.

I felt good for being let into the lane. Very good. When I arrived at work I was nicer to people. I let someone into my lane later in the same slow down and wave manner.

This wasn’t a fluke encounter. Days later while driving on 35 the same thing happened to me. The driver waved me in and I responded the same way. The only thing I could imagine was Austin residents were very nice and uber polite.

Their politeness and respect for one another didn’t stop at driving etiquette.

Bar Etiquette

Many first-time visitors to Austin are taken to one of our thousand bars scattered throughout the city. It was 20 years ago at one of the bars on 6th Street where I was introduced to something fascinating: people were interested in getting to know me. Kindly allow me to explain.

I grew up in California and it was there I was indoctrinated into the bar scene. The bars in Newport Beach were filled with people pretending to talk to others but were in essence playing “Hollywood.” They would stand facing each other in a cluster, looking casually at the other clusters; judging them. If I did talk to girl at the bar, she was destined to ask me the same 4 questions.

1. What do you do?
2. What do you drive?
3. Where do you live?
4. What do you make?

It was only after these questions were answered successfully I would be asked for my name.

Compare this to the phenomenon I repeatedly experienced in Austin. While walking up to or standing next to a girl, she would said hi, introduce herself, ask me for my name, and asked questions. Oh boy they were different than California questions.

1. Do you like boating?
2. Some friends and I are going boating this weekend. Want to join?
3. Do you waterski or wakeboard?
4. Do you want us to pick you up or do you want to meet us there?

There was no pretension, snootiness, visions of grandeur, nothing. Austinites were warm and engaging people.

Supermarket Etiquette

My first time at an Austin supermarket was similarly crazy. People were polite and friendly to other shoppers and the human beings working at the store.

While standing in line waiting to check out, the cashier looked up at the shopper in front of me and asked “Good morning. How are you doing today?” It was at this point the shopper did something completely nuts. She responded, staring the employee straight in the eyes, and said “I am doing wonderful. How is your day going?”

This started what eventually became a full-fledged conversation throughout the transaction. The cashier scanned the milk — bing! “Do you have any exciting plans this weekend?” She scanned the cereal — bing! “Did you see that ‘so-and-so’ is playing at Threadgills this weekend?” She scanned the bread — bing! “Let’s hope it doesn’t rain over there.”

The cashier bagged the lady’s groceries and ended it with “have a nice day” which was replied to with “you do the same and thank you.” Their social contract was complete.

Police Etiquette

Years ago a group of friends and I found ourselves walking around downtown after 2 am. We had finished up the last call at a bar and were trying to find a cab to go home. We walked by two police officers talking to a homeless man. They weren’t interrogating him, but simply talking to him. We slowed down to see if they were harassing him however we found all three laughing as if bellied-up to a bar, talking about their day.

Later I noticed the police officers walked the streets of Austin in the same manner everyone else did. They were part of the overall scene and were very friendly. The officers would walk past us and say “hi” with a nod and a wave. We would smile, wave, and say “hi” back. There were times we would stop and have a conversation with them about our day and theirs. We made friends with police officers because they were warm, open, and engaging.

Things have changed in the past 20 years.

Today’s Etiquette

Austin’s culture has changed and it has degraded. Gone are the days of alright, alright, alright and now we are left with a culture gone astray.

There are times when you get a glimpse of old Austin. Someone may let you into the lane, but oftentimes people use their cars like chess pieces and block your moves to merge.

Try zipping your jacket up when two pieces slip into one slot. The zipper sticks and slows the whole process down. Conversely when things go smooth and each piece goes into its designated slot, you can zip up quick.

When drivers play traffic “chess” it creates a kinked zipper. Some drivers now try to jam their car into the same slot as the driver in front of them. Whether jamming two cars into one slot or not letting someone into a slot, it creates a traffic mess behind them and actually upsets a lot of people. Those bad feelings carry-forward to other interactions later in the day and eventually a large percentage of residents get upset.

At the numerous grocery stores the cashier may say hello to a shopper, only to be given the obligatory “hi” while the shopper stares at a phone or credit card terminal.

Patrons at downtown bars on West 6th Street are treated as organisms in need of disregard rather than someone interesting.

And finally, our police force is now militarized. They are outfitted for battle rather than interaction. We tend to draw our eyes away from their stare even though we aren’t doing anything wrong.

We need a change.

Let’s get back to Austin’s cooler culture

I feel we need to go back to the Austin culture where we respect each other through love and respect. The easiest way to make a huge impact on our city as a whole is through respectful social interaction.

1. Let’s welcome drivers into our lane to help reduce traffic slowdowns.
2. Let’s wave to fellow drivers and smile — remembering the social contract of wave-wave-wave.
3. Let’s brighten everyone’s work day with smiles and conversations.
4. Let’s talk to others no matter who they are and really get to know them. They may be cool people. Heck, they might even live in Austin.
5. Let’s police our streets with love and respect. If a naked man starts dancing on 6th Street, let him dance for a few minutes to get it out of his system. Even better, go dance with him and ask him why he is naked in the first place. Let’s not tackle, taser, or shoot someone who is “keeping it weird.”

Begin Today

Join me. Take the pledge. Say it with me:

“I will make Austin a better place.”

“I will make Austin a cooler place.”

“Alright, alright, alright.”

If you liked the story please consider recommending it by clicking the heart icon below. You can also follow me on Twitter at @richardbagdonas. You can also find me at HEB sometimes, running the hike and bike trail, or riding my bike around Town Lake.