A lot in our pop- and political culture tells us that people in small towns are like this. The idea of small town people and interloping outsiders in conflict with each other over unshared values is almost always just a narrative hook for arguing about the merits of those competing values. I don't know if I ever see the underlying premise challenged.
So here's my question:
Do small town people themselves actually like being portrayed this way?
As unfriendly and unwelcoming and hostile to outsiders and outside perspectives and values?
As so riveted to their worldview that they jump to violence when they see somebody or something that challenges it?
As bitter, easily provocable, reactionary mobs?
These responses are depicted in popular discourse as affirmations of the values that the violence is allegedly protecting or advancing.
Are small town folks really so committed to those values that they are fine being constantly depicted as inhospitable, violent assholes in the name of those values?