The biggest culture shocks about moving to Detroit

By Layla McMurtrie on Thu, Dec 21, 2023 at 1:02 pm

Whether you’ve moved to the D from a much bigger city or a small town, or even if you’ve lived here your entire life, Detroit can surprise people. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad, but it certainly leaves an impression.

We asked Reddit to name the biggest culture shocks in moving to the Detroit area. Here are some of the best responses:

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“Ranch dressing!” –msspider66

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“Ranch dressing!” –msspider66

“Unbelievably aggressive drivers.” –Old-Macaroon8148

Photo via The Odyssey

“Unbelievably aggressive drivers.” –Old-Macaroon8148

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“The love/protective instinct for the community is contagious.” –ellexoxo_07

Courtesy of The Chip Bag Project

“The love/protective instinct for the community is contagious.”
–ellexoxo_07

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“Detroit style pizza.” –notechnofemme

Courtesy photo

“Detroit style pizza.” –notechnofemme

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“Reliance on cars at the expense of transit.” –stos313

Steve Neavling

“Reliance on cars at the expense of transit.” –stos313

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“Coney Islands.” –ThaShitPostAccount

Courtesy of Detroit’s Finest Coney Island

“Coney Islands.” –ThaShitPostAccount

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“Those u-turns aka Michigan Lefts.” –chicagotodetroit

larrysphatpage, Flickr Creative Commons

“Those u-turns aka Michigan Lefts.” –chicagotodetroit

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“How much of a melting pot Detroit/metro Detroit is.” –pH2001-

Instagram, @jmoneyj12

“How much of a melting pot Detroit/metro Detroit is.” –pH2001-

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“Architecture. Downtown Detroit has some awesome buildings to look at.” –bustmcnutt

Shutterstock

“Architecture. Downtown Detroit has some awesome buildings to look at.” –bustmcnutt

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“The high density of Arabic culture.” –spaghet-erette

Viola Klocko

“The high density of Arabic culture.” –spaghet-erette

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“The cynicism and sarcasm.” –tkesmitty720

Jenifer Daniels, Detroit Stock City

“The cynicism and sarcasm.” –tkesmitty720

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“You all say ‘pop’.” –it-was-justathought

Photo courtesy of @faygo

“You all say ‘pop’.” –it-was-justathought

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“Hardcore love of sports. Little ole ladies yelling the F-word at the Lions’ game. Amazing.” –bustmcnutt

Joe Maroon

“Hardcore love of sports. Little ole ladies yelling the F-word at the Lions’ game. Amazing.” –bustmcnutt

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“How segregated it is.” –stos313

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“How segregated it is.” –stos313

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“Things are way spread out.” –NPR_is_not_that_bad

Shutterstock

“Things are way spread out.” –NPR_is_not_that_bad

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“Urban farming is such a cool thing in the city!” –it-was-justathought

Cody Ross, Detroit Stock City

“Urban farming is such a cool thing in the city!” –it-was-justathought

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“The smell of pot is everywhere.” –Old-Macaroon8148

Mo Williams

“The smell of pot is everywhere.” –Old-Macaroon8148

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“Suburbs being more expensive than the city.” –stos313

“Suburbs being more expensive than the city.” –stos313

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“Sharp dividing lines of socioeconomic level.” –it-was-justathought

Matt Harmon

“Sharp dividing lines of socioeconomic level.” –it-was-justathought

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“Litter in the city.” –stmije6326

Shutterstock

“Litter in the city.” –stmije6326

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