Any state has a different reputation for those outside it than it does for those who live there. Arizona is no exception.

A recent discussion on /r/arizona, the Grand Canyon State-centered section of the website Reddit, began with the following question: "What are 3 important things to know about Arizona?" What follow are some of the popular responses, along with our takes on them.

  • Only about 15 percent of the state is privately owned; the rest is public lands of some sort. (This is mostly true — it's actually 18 percent of the state that is privately owned. The rest is national forests, parks, monuments, recreation areas, wildlife refuges and conservation areas; trust land, owned by the state and leased or sold to help fund public education; military installations; and land owned by Arizona's Indian tribes.)
  • It gets pretty hot during the day. It gets even hotter during the summer. Everything melts. (True, though a bit of an exaggeration. Saguaros don't melt. Neither do Gila monsters. There probably are some other things that don't melt, also.)
  • Harming a cactus = murdering a man. (Many native plants, including saguaros and other cactuses, are protected by state law, but the penalty for harming them isn't as severe as some people think. That still doesn't mean you should do it, though.)
  • Hydrate; park in the shade; wear sunblock. (All good advice, particularly if you're going on a hike in the summer.)

So, that's what Redditors think about Arizona. What about you? What should people know before they visit or move to our state? Let us know in the comments.