Ohio, land of swing states, surprise snowstorms, and hometown pride so strong it can power a Rust Belt revival. Whether they’re from Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, or one of the hundreds of small towns in between, Ohioans are hearty, humble, and always ready to argue about chili, sports curses, and how no one ever gives Ohio the credit it deserves. But if you’re looking to get under a Buckeye’s skin in the most subtle way possible, here are 11 sure-fire ways to mildly annoy someone from the Heart of It All.
Say, “What even is in Ohio?”
Wow, just erase Cedar Point, the Rock Hall, and every grandmother’s casserole, why don’t you?
Mention Michigan in a positive tone.
Congratulations, you’ve committed football heresy.
Call it a “flyover state.”
Then enjoy flying over the state that invented the airplane.
Mock Skyline Chili as “meat sauce spaghetti.”
You don’t have to like it—but now you’ll never be allowed in Cincinnati again.
Say LeBron James peaked in L.A.
That echo you hear is a thousand Akron natives gasping at once.
Claim the Browns will never win anything.
They know. They know. No need to twist the knife.
Ask why they say “ope” all the time.
Ope! Sorry! Just trying to squeeze past ya real quick and never explain this verbal tic.
Complain that you can’t get a good bagel or slice of pizza.
This isn’t New York. They know that. You don’t need to rub it in.
Assume Ohio is all farms and cornfields.
There are cities. There are suburbs. There’s a lot more than cows.
Ask if Cleveland is “still on fire.”
That happened once. In 1969. Let it go, already.
Pretend not to know the Ohio State chant.
Say “O-H” and don’t respond with “I-O”? That’s how you get voted off the island.
Despite all this, Ohioans are a resilient and welcoming bunch who will gladly hand you a pop, invite you to a cookout, and explain the difference between Northern and Southern Ohio in detail you never asked for. Just remember—football is sacred, weather complaints are valid, and yes, they’ve heard the jokes. Now grab a buckeye cookie and behave yourself.
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