for yankees - to help overcome prejudices...

[tbn.al]

I stood in line behind a bra-less 300 pounder in desperate need of a bath the last time I went mid-afternoon. After I had the good sense to back up 5 or 6 feet it was quite humerous. Trash is trash. It doesn't matter what region, state or national origin. Trash is just trash.

Hey @$$Ħ0£€...That was ME !

What can I say.......from the back you all look alike.

[ken k]

For better or worse, when I hear a woman with a southern accent or "That unforgettable Southern drawl" as bloke said, it sounds very attractive, unfortunately when I hear a man with the same accent it is not as flattering.

ken "I know if you heard me with my "PA Dutch" accent you would probably think the same thing!" k

[The Big Ben]

Many people in 'the south' understand that the words "courtesy", "respect", "consideration", and "loyalty" all have different meanings...

...If you don't believe it, look 'em up!

quiz: Which is the only one of the above that is automatically owed another?

Courtesy.

[Arkietuba]

[quote="ken k"]For better or worse, when I hear a woman with a southern accent or "That unforgettable Southern drawl" as bloke said, it sounds very attractive, unfortunately when I hear a man with the same accent it is not as flattering.
[/quote]

I could show you some women with HORRENDOUS southern accents...they sound incredibly ignorant!!! Now, I agree a woman with a southern drawl is nice but there is a fine line...lol

Also, I think sweet tea is the nectar of the gods! I never realized how much I loved it until I went to Denver and I had to explain what it was and what I got was not sweet tea...it was sweetened tea, not the same thing...you don't come between a southerner and his sweet tea! 'Dats worthy of a butt whoopin.

[MaryAnn]

I agree, the answer is courtesy. So a Northerner who doesn't have this southern rule in hand, will not understand when a person who is courteous to him treats him badly in other ways. Because with Northerners, that courtesy rule is not #1, and the expectation is that someone who is courteous to you is more or less nice. One of the things I didn't learn until I was pretty well along into adulthood was that someone with a pleasant personality is not automatically a pleasant person. There were a few politicians who benefited from my uneducated vote before I figured all that out.

When I moved to the southwest to go back to school, it was from Rhode Island. I had been in the general New England area for almost 15 years, and had absorbed much of the cultural attitudes.

I pretty much crashed and burned in southern New Mexico; I had to learn that saying something negative (Such as what I said in a laundromat, "I don't like the small dryers, I'll wait for a big one") was breaking a social rule that was pretty prominent. You just weren't that direct, or you just gave way and did something you would not normally do, to avoid breaking that rule. The other biggie was a difference in focus on what was important: Back East, where I came from, courtesy was second in line to competence. In southern NM, competence was second in line to courtesy. You wouldn't even get to the competence part unless you met the courtesy part, because your audience would have disappeared, either physically or mentally. It was quite an adjustment from a culture that would laugh at that point of view.

Where I live now, there is a much larger percentage of people from the frozen North than there was in southern NM, but....there is still a lot of that cultural influence here. I found out the extent to which I had acclimated once when I went back and visited the New England area and was shocked at how direct people were. Funny, that.

MA

[steve_decker]

There is a noticeable rise in friendliness towards one's fellow citizen the farther I've traveled below the Mason-Dixon line.

Southern friendliness is superficial. They will be nice to your face and stab you in the back. Sometimes I just prefer the Northern rudeness, at least I know it's honest.

I agree southern friendliness is superficial in a certain sense, but I wouldn't say they will "stab you in the back." Rather, I would say many southerners will act friendly toward you, but are not necessarily interested in really being your best friend.

As a transplanted Michigander, both of these points stand out to me. I quickly learned a few things after moving here (a bit North of Atlanta) a few years ago.

1. Conversation is truly an art form in the South. It is essential to be able to spend a considerable amount of time in conversation that entails not really saying anything of substance about any given topic. If a Yankee can pick up on that fairly quickly, they'll do just fine. If not, you'll quickly reach the end of receiving 'Southern hospitality".

2. Friendships/relationships here in the South are nowhere near as deep or meaningful as friendships in the North. It truly seems like folks are happy to be acquainted but really aren't all that interested in forming a true friendship. Like someone else in the thread mentioned (Bloke, I believe) southerners are much more apt to offer a kind word/comment but they really aren't interested in what you have to say in response.

Kind of a comical anecdote to point 2, my family and I just returned from vacation a week ago. The evening after our return, my wife and I ran into Publix to pick up a couple of things and ran into a neighbor that I have learned is typical of a Southern friend. He spotted us and quickly said "How was your vacation?". Just as I opened my mouth to respond, he said "Well, I don't have time to talk. I need to get back for dinner. See y'all at the pool". Since I had just spent 10 days 'up North', I was taken aback. A Northern friend would've likely said (while still pushing his cart), "Hey, no time to talk but I want to hear about your vacation. Let's grab lunch tomorrow".

3. Generally speaking, Southerners just flat out don't "get" sarcasm. I'm not saying that it's good or bad, perhaps it contributes to the stereotype of Southerners being dumb. After 3+ years of living here, it still surprises me though. I truly cannot count the number of times that I've made a relatively sarcastic comment only to receive nothing but a blank stare in response followed by "oh, you're doing that sarcasm thing again, right?".

So, while Southerners generally appear much more friendly I much prefer the bluntness and brutal honesty that typically comes from a Northerner.

[Arkietuba]

As a transplanted Michigander, both of these points stand out to me. I quickly learned a few things after moving here (a bit North of Atlanta) a few years ago.

1. Conversation is truly an art form in the South. It is essential to be able to spend a considerable amount of time in conversation that entails not really saying anything of substance about any given topic. If a Yankee can pick up on that fairly quickly, they'll do just fine. If not, you'll quickly reach the end of receiving 'Southern hospitality".

2. Friendships/relationships here in the South are nowhere near as deep or meaningful as friendships in the North. It truly seems like folks are happy to be acquainted but really aren't all that interested in forming a true friendship. Like someone else in the thread mentioned (Bloke, I believe) southerners are much more apt to offer a kind word/comment but they really aren't interested in what you have to say in response.

Kind of a comical anecdote to point 2, my family and I just returned from vacation a week ago. The evening after our return, my wife and I ran into Publix to pick up a couple of things and ran into a neighbor that I have learned is typical of a Southern friend. He spotted us and quickly said "How was your vacation?". Just as I opened my mouth to respond, he said "Well, I don't have time to talk. I need to get back for dinner. See y'all at the pool". Since I had just spent 10 days 'up North', I was taken aback. A Northern friend would've likely said (while still pushing his cart), "Hey, no time to talk but I want to hear about your vacation. Let's grab lunch tomorrow".

3. Generally speaking, Southerners just flat out don't "get" sarcasm. I'm not saying that it's good or bad, perhaps it contributes to the stereotype of Southerners being dumb. After 3+ years of living here, it still surprises me though. I truly cannot count the number of times that I've made a relatively sarcastic comment only to receive nothing but a blank stare in response followed by "oh, you're doing that sarcasm thing again, right?".

So, while Southerners generally appear much more friendly I much prefer the bluntness and brutal honesty that typically comes from a Northerner.

That may be a generational thing or a regional thing. I know I, as do a majority of my friends and family, get and use sarcasm ALL the time. I know I don't get it sometimes here on the message board but that's due to me not hearing you speak your words.

As for the not wanting to have deep friendships...not sure about that. It may be a generational thing but I know I have some very close friends who I genuinely care what they have to talk about. If I don't have time to hear a response I don't pose a question or I do what you used in your example...maybe I'm not a typical Southerner. My family is pretty similar, but they talk about things I generally don't care about since most of my close family is over 65 years old and grew up on farms so there isn't much in common. Though I do love hearing my grandpa's outlandish stories of when he was a Seargent in the Army...lot's of fun in those.

[tbn.al]

Watch out who you take credit for Matt. I'll give you Chris Allen, cause he still lives there, but Pippen was born and raised in my neck of the woods and still has a place there. Not that I really want to take any credit for him after the way he treated my 9 yr old nephew who was just trying to get his autograph while Scottie was pumping his own gas in Hamburg. Jerk!

an old "wonderboy" trying to keep you "teachers" straight

[steve_decker]

Not getting your sarcasm just means that you are not very clever or funny.

That's an excellent illustration of my point that Southerners do not understand sarcasm. Sarcasm, functionally in the North and by definition, is not intended to be funny. If someone happens to hear sarcasm and find it humourous, so be it. If not, so be it; but it does not change whether or not it is a sarcastic comment nor does it change whether or not the recepient 'got it'. In contrast, though, the response that I usually receive down here is a pretty strong indication that the recepient did NOT 'get it'.

We use sarcasm all the time down here, and we understand it quite well - probably at a level above your stuff, sir.

I'll agree that it may be processed at a different level than 'my stuff'. I'm not sure that the level is 'above' though.

Your opinions expressed in your post were very stereotype-filled and offensive. Good job with the closed-minded thing. I am sorry that you cannot figure it out.

The term "stereotype" is probably one of the most improperly used terms of our time. Stereotypes are neither negative or positive. They exist out of necessity. I simply could not take the time to document every single interaction to support my observations in my previous post. As such, my observations are general in nature.

It is my experience that if someone finds an observation offensive, it is because there is an element of truth that makes the offended feel uncomfortable. Given your reaction to my stated observations, maybe I'm more accurate than you're willing to admit.

Out of curiousity, how was I close-minded by sharing my observations? Close-minded, it would seem, would result in my either quickly moving back to the North (deeming the South undesireable to live in) or becoming a recluse. Rather than doing either of those, I smile at not having to own a snowshovel or snowblower and continue to become more active in the community in which I live. Do I find some of the proclivities annoying? Yup! Am I glad I live yere? Yup!

I have lived all over the country and have no trouble getting "locals" to understand my humor, north or south, east or west.

... which probably means that you have adopted characteristics from those various areas that you have lived in and consequently are able to draw from those experiences and meld very well to wherever you happen to be at the moment.

And when I say something that I feel was funny yet no one laughs I usually assume that my delivery was off and not that my audience was stupid or slow.

As we all should

The bottom line, for me, is that each region of the country has its oddities. Ignoring them or refuting them does not alter their existence. I find the "Yooper" accent of Northern Michigan and Wisconsin just as amusing as a Southern drawl. As someone else mentioned earlier, a redneck is a redneck no matter what part of the country they hail from. None of these characteristics affect my true opinion of a person, it does very much impact how I interact with that person though.

[Donn]

Wow. That's the biggest pile of Ġ0đ-đ@мŋęđ bigoted stereotypes that I believe I've ever read anywhere.

Man who may be offended by stereotypes might consider before starting thread on stereotypes.

[cjk]

Stereotypes are such time savers.

I live around Atlanta (quite the melting pot), so I 'm not so sure I live in the South.

I do, however, find this thread hysterically funny.

[Matt G]

Having lived in a few places, been to quite a few more, I can tell you that nice folks and assholes exist in about the same proportions everywhere, regardless of the stereotypes.

[Uncle Buck]

Having lived in a few places, been to quite a few more, I can tell you that nice folks and assholes exist in about the same proportions everywhere, regardless of the stereotypes.

That's the truest thing that's been said in this thread so far.

[Arkietuba]

Watch out who you take credit for Matt. I'll give you Chris Allen, cause he still lives there, but Pippen was born and raised in my neck of the woods and still has a place there. Not that I really want to take any credit for him after the way he treated my 9 yr old nephew who was just trying to get his autograph while Scottie was pumping his own gas in Hamburg. Jerk!

an old "wonderboy" trying to keep you "teachers" straight

Haha...maybe he was having a bad day?

He's been nice the few times I've met him when he visited UCA. He even got inducted into our hall of fame during pre-game so I was on the field pretty close to him! That was pretty cool. I'm not saying he's a saint but he came across as nice when I met him.

Now that I think about it, why did it take the university until 2005-2006 to induct him into the hall of fame? It's not like he just retired the other day. Our town had a parade for Kris Allen before he even got in the final 2 on American Idol...but he deserved it. Most of the kids today probably don't even know Scottie Pippen...

Ok, I just now saw the "wonderboy" part.......makes sense that you wouldn't like someone famous from UCA

[TexTuba]

[quote="Arkietuba"Most of the kids today probably don't even know Scottie Pippen... [/quote]

That would be a real shame.

[Arkietuba]

Most of the kids today probably don't even know Scottie Pippen...

That would be a real shame.

Yes it would be. I remember growing up watching him and Jordan just dominate everyone. Those were the days! I came to the realization last year that I was "old" when I finally had friends that were born in the 90's (and that my tuba instructor is only 3 years older than me) and they didn't remember some of the things I did...they remembered Pippen and Jordan though.

[tbn.al]

[quote="Arkietuba
Ok, I just now saw the "wonderboy" part.......makes sense that you wouldn't like someone famous from UCA [/quote]

Some things you just can't erase from your memory banks, like the automatic kneejerk response to "Wreck Tech"

As far as Pippen was concerned, it was on his off time. He wasn't in uniform or anything. He probably wanted not to be recognized. But it was just a little boy who idolized him and recognized him on his own. I didn't have a clue. Too bad, though. The kid is grown now and still remembers that day as if it were yesterday.

[Arkietuba]

[quote="Arkietuba]
Ok, I just now saw the "wonderboy" part.......makes sense that you wouldn't like someone famous from UCA

Some things you just can't erase from your memory banks, like the automatic kneejerk response to "Wreck Tech"

As far as Pippen was concerned, it was on his off time. He wasn't in uniform or anything. He probably wanted not to be recognized. But it was just a little boy who idolized him and recognized him on his own. I didn't have a clue. Too bad, though. The kid is grown now and still remembers that day as if it were yesterday.[/quote][/quote]

Well if it helps any, UCA doesn't play Tech in any sports now since we moved to Div. I! No rivarly other than between the music departments...but that'll never go away.

Well, if he did that, I'm sure it's not something he's proud of looking back on it but like you said...he probably didn't want any attention drawn to him but it's not cool to blow off your fans.

[TUBAD83]

One thing has been sealed in stone this week;

Yankees may never again state or imply that they are mentally superior to people of "the south".

Well I don't know about that just yet--The gov of my state consistently makes a complete *** of himself (Mr. Secessionist) and does a great job of embarrassing the Lone Star state. Mark Sanford continues to show he has no shame or sense by insisting on remaining in office and humiliating his family and the state of SC. And then there is the ex-congressman from New Orleans who hid his bribes in his freezer--such genius!!

JJ

[NC_amateur_euph]

I moved from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to North Carolina just before my employer was bought by an outfit based in California. The California types asked me to do a piece for the company newsletter describing North Carolina from the standpoint of a recent transplant from Texas.

I think my observations are illustrative of a lot of the South.

1. Four cars at an intersection constitutes a North Carolina traffic jam.

2. There are trees all over North Carolina that nobody planted.

3. If a North Carolinian says "hey", he's not picking a fight.

4. Not all North Carolinians have stills in their back yards. Some put them in sheds.

After 15 years, the traffic is a bit heavier but the other stuff applies.

And, yup, there are rednecks in all parts of the country. Redneckism ain't strictly southern though it may be practiced at a higher level down here in Gawd's Kountry.