Things West Texans Are Weirdly Competitive About for No Reason

West Texans will swear they’re laid-back people, right up until you accidentally mention anything that can be turned into a competition. Then it’s on. Not officially, not with trophies or rules...just quiet, simmering judgment and a lot of “well, actually.”

Let's begin with...barbecue...

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Photo by Emerson Vieira on Unsplash

No one asked which town does it best, but someone will still tell you. Loudly. With confidence. And if you suggest more than one place can be good, congratulations — you’ve just offended an entire table of strangers who were previously minding their business.

Weather

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Photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash

Then there’s who has the worst weather. Texans will absolutely argue over who suffers more. Heat, cold snaps, humidity, wind, random hail — it’s not about facts, it’s about endurance. Someone always has it worse, and they will let you know.

Driving

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Photo by why kei on Unsplash

Driving distances are another big one. Texans don’t measure trips in miles — we measure them in emotional effort. “That’s not far” means wildly different things depending on who you’re talking to, and everyone thinks their tolerance is the correct one.

Gas Stations

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Photo by Dawn McDonald on Unsplash

Let’s not forget gas stations. Texans rank them like royalty. There is a correct answer, and if you choose wrong, people will question your judgment, your upbringing, and possibly your citizenship.

Tea

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Photo by Crystal Tubens on Unsplash

Even tea becomes competitive. Sweet enough? Too sweet? Wrong cup? Ice ratio off? You didn’t mean to start a debate, but here we are.

Texas Love

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Photo by Pete Alexopoulos on Unsplash

And maybe the weirdest competition of all: who loves Texas the most. Everyone does. Everyone thinks they do it better. It’s not about proving anything — it’s just instinctual.

Because in Texas, competition isn’t about winning. It’s about confidently believing you’re right… and never backing down.

Keep scrolling for more West Texas fun in the galleries below!