'Okay, Minnesota, why are you better than Iowa?'
You're taking a road trip. You can drive through either Iowa or Minnesota. Which one should you pick?
That's the scenario from Reddit user, hippie_nerd, who took to Reddit to ask people from those states to make their pitch. Whichever side makes the best case is the one they'll drive through.
Hippie_nerd posted the question both to the /r/Minnesota and /r/Iowa subreddits to hit both audiences. Here are some of the arguments made so far.
For Minnesota
"We've got Spam...and the museum. Plus we top Iowa in everything else. Just look at a map....Minnesota is always above Iowa." – squarepeg0000
The Mississippi River, Twin CIties music venues, the Jucy Lucy, the Mia, and a way better drive to Chicago from Minnesota than Iowa. – badcherub
"Because Iowa gave the world a band called Slipknot." – guiltycitizen
One person said the traveler should head north, outside of Minneapolis where the driving is bad and "Minnesota Nice isn’t really a thing." They continued: "The Quarries are pretty cool if you're interested in cliff diving and Vals hamburgers has some of the best burgers, fries and shakes in the state. you can go to lake Mille Lacs which is part of an Indian reservation and get some pretty breath taking views, and the same if you go up to the Brainerd Chain of lakes." – jysilentbob
"Just go through Minnesota." – myballsareitchy, in the Iowa subreddit.
For Iowa
"Our mosquitoes aren't apex predators, and you don't need to arm yourself with a tennis racket to go outside, just some spray." – Mekkwarrior
"We have a few Amish settlements in Iowa. The bakeries are amazing. Kalona is terribly interesting. Plus, Golden Delight Bakery has the best glazed donuts ever. The American Gothic house is in Iowa as well. Pretty fun to visit. Also, there's a big ass frying pan in Brandon, IA. Also good to take pictures in front of." – a-wilde-handful
"Look up the driftless region, it's beautiful." – ArgueWithTrolls
"Because Minnesotans are damn near Canadians, and that's just un-American." – RotaryPeak2
A really impressive list that starts out, "I have a Leslie-Knope-Pawnee-vs-Eagleton type hatred for Minnesota, so buckle up." They argue Minnesotans don't know how to drive, are snooty toward Iowa, the "passive aggressive" behavior being mistaken for Minnesota Nice, plus MIMAL – the state-constructed elf. "We're the face. They're the hat. The stupid, ugly, lopsided hat. The hat is nothing without a head to rest on."
This is what they're talking about:
So, what's the verdict?
Hippie_nerd appears to be leaning toward Minnesota, but hasn't declared a victor yet. Here's a poll we put on Twitter to help.
(Also: No bad blood! We love you Iowa – just having some fun.)
