Why the South?

Lorrel Mae · Nov 2, 2009

Atticus Finch said:
I expect that FoofooGal has hit the nail on the head. I'm betting that those good 'ol boyz out at Weyerhouser were a bit intimidated by an attractive woman from somewhere other than Vanceboro or New Bern. And they probably weren't trying not to look at you. They were probably just trying not let you see them looking at you!

AF

FoofooGal said:
see how different cultures and even areas see things so differently. They were not only respecting you most likely but showing great respect for your father.

I hope that's what it was! lol

Sandi

MikeBravo · Apr 17, 2010

The North was colonised by the English. The South was colonised by the French

I don't really know if that makes a difference. I'm just sayin' is all

Colonel · Apr 17, 2010

MikeBravo said:
The North was colonised by the English. The South was colonised by the French

I don't really know if that makes a difference. I'm just sayin' is all

While the French were certainly a big part in some areas of The South - especially in Louisiana - by far the greatest influence was the Celtic culture of Scotland. While I don't agree with those who seem to assign all traits of Southern culture to the Celts, there is no doubt that it had a major role in shaping the culture of The South.

Colonel · Apr 17, 2010

Last year, I was interviewed by a syndicated columnist on the topic of Are Southern men and their ball caps inseparable? (you can read it here). As the proprietor of The Confederate Colonel web site, I am occasionally asked about Southern culture. I am certainly no expert on the topic, but it has been a subject of interest to me for most of my life. About the only firm conclusion I have reached is that there is no unified "Southern culture" anymore - and there probably never was, but I can't be sure.

To some, Southern culture means NASCAR, ball caps, and Red Man chewing tobacco. To others, it is Mardi Gras. To still others, it is the genteel life of the Southern Gentleman as exemplified by Robert E. Lee. The South is where good manners, attention to etiquette, and respect for others is still practiced enough to not be seen as an oddity. The Southern Gentleman represents, to me anyway, all that is good and right and just. (It pains me to have to say this, but it seems as though there is always someone eager to make that into something political. Please don't go there - I stopped taking that bait long ago.)

4spurs · Apr 17, 2010

louisiana

Growing up in New Orleans, in a family that predates the Civil War, I can tell you one thing, we knew we were southerners, but we never thought we had much in common with other southerners, even other Louisianans [spell that one if you think you can].

For an example of differences; New Orleans is a Democratic stonghold, and the rest of the state is not, and like my daddy always said; "The last good Republican was Lincoln, and look what they did to him."

My father's friends share his views. I remember one telling me that he owed his long life of 85 years to three things "I never smoked a cigarette, drove a car, or went to Baton Rouge."

What I have learned is that while southerners are polite, and will speak to strangers, folks from New Orleans are polite and will speak their minds to strangers, which is an entirely different way of speaking, and not at all strange.

I must also confess to being slightly amused by northerners who when they learn I am from New Orleans will remark "but you don't have a southern accent!" [They seem not to notice that I do not speak slowly either.]

New Orleans is a blend of French, Spanish, Irish, German, Sicilian, Native American and numerous African cultures to name but a few. Sounds more like New York than the rest of the settled south.

Yep, that's my take on it, feel free to disabuse me of my impressions.

Silver Dollar · Apr 17, 2010

I'm glad to see a whole bunch of opinions here. I decided to throw in my two pennies.

To me, it all matters how you were brought up and not where. Northerners are not inherently rude and unfriendly and Southerners are not innately friendly and polite. I'm a real New Yorker brought up by two other real New Yorkers. I hold doors open for women, I give up my seat on the bus for a lady or a disabled person, when I go out, although I generally do wear a T shirt and jeans (which I still would do if I were in NYC) , I'm clean, shaved and my clothes are clean with no rips or tears. I drive courteously and most of the time yield the right of way ( I don't trust anyone not to run into my car and smash it). I stop and let pedestrians cross even in a parking lot. Now, I spent most of my career in the USAF south of the Mason Dixon line and the time since. Did I learn all my manners in the South? Heck no!!! I learned all of this while I was growing up in NYC. And so did my friends. In my time in the south, I found just as many rude idiots there than up north especially on the road. In the north, I find just as many polite people as I do in the south. North and South doesn't mean crap to me. East and West, same thing. This is one country and I hate when we all fight against each other.

Foofoogal · Apr 17, 2010

Well my Fathers family originally came from Scotland and my moms came from France so....lol [huh]

Originally part of the Stewart Clan and originally part of the Ronquillo heirs.

Foofoogal · Apr 17, 2010

and will speak their minds to strangers, which is an entirely different way of speaking, and not at all strange.

lol lol
now all the other FLers finally see how I am like I am. Good to know I come by it honestly.

To me the South means one thing and which I miss immensely.
Sugar, Darlin, Honey, Shug, Sweetie.
A man called me Honey on the phone the other day when I called to chat with his wife whom I just met.
I nearly cried it had been so long when a man I didn't know did that.

Foofoogal · Apr 17, 2010

Funny thing is I moved to Arkansas about 18 months ago and am not having much success with the locals but am making friends with displaced Northerners.
I am finding them friendly. Either that or we are new and have a common bond.

Be nice to newcomers. You never know when it may be you having to uproot is all I can suggest to everyone now.

4spurs · Apr 17, 2010

"I decided to throw in my two pennies.erdollar" Silverdollar

Whenever I toss in my two cents I usually come up a nickel short.

FooFoo; saying "Dawlin" in the workplace in many parts of the country will get a man accused of sexual harassment. Saying "Mam" can be just as bad when said north of the Mason Dixon.

Viola · Apr 17, 2010

Foofoogal said:
To me the South means one thing and which I miss immensely.
Sugar, Darlin, Honey, Shug, Sweetie.
A man called me Honey on the phone the other day when I called to chat with his wife whom I just met.
I nearly cried it had been so long when a man I didn't know did that.

Is that what that is? I have a job where I get to speak to a lot of men in TX and GA and LA, and suddenly people think its okay to call me darling and sweetheart on the phone. Very strange.

But I've never lived anywhere but Philadelphia and there IS a segment of the Philadelphia population that will use baby, babygirl, etc. as a just-met-you thing ("Babygirl, is this the eighth and Girard spur train?") but most of them are older folks.

St.Ignatz · Apr 17, 2010

I work in downtown Philadelphia real close to the convention center. Out of town conventioneers and tourists abound. I see people stopping all the time when they see someone with a tourist map in their hand and a look of total confusion on their face. To hear some talk about "The City of Brotherly Love" you would think we throw snowballs at Santa at EVERY Eagles game. We did but just once. I visit my sis in Texas all the time and trust me I've seen rude that would make the majority blush. I've seen rude from conventioneers to but I look at it as an attitude of ...I'm here to party and I'll never see these people again anyhow". Prejudice is not the domain of any one area its breed of it ignorance. When Jimmy Dean had his TV show I him saying after one of his folksy stories " Just because we talk slow doesn't mean we think slow". Always thanked him for that bit of wisdom. It stopped me from assuming things about a lot of people in a lot of different situations.
Sorry for the disjointed ramble,
Tom D.

St.Ignatz · Apr 17, 2010

Viola said:
Is that what that is? I have a job where I get to speak to a lot of men in TX and GA and LA, and suddenly people think its okay to call me darling and sweetheart on the phone. Very strange.

But I've never lived anywhere but Philadelphia and there IS a segment of the Philadelphia population that will use baby, babygirl, etc. as a just-met-you thing ("Babygirl, is this the eighth and Girard spur train?") but most of them are older folks.

What you never got a "Hon" at the Melrose diner?

Foofoogal · Apr 18, 2010

Is that what that is?

They are terms of endearment. Political correctness has ruined it IMHO.
Now I am sure there are some less than gentlemen that take it too far but it means home to me.

Viola · Apr 18, 2010

St.Ignatz said:
What you never got a "Hon" at the Melrose diner?

Waitresses are a different thing.

Can't say I've been to the Melrose diner - that's South Philly if I'm not mistaken. I assume its like Jack's Deli up in the Northeast, though? Where the food is good, the coffee is bottomless, and the waitresses are nine hundred years old?

Bill Taylor · Apr 19, 2010

Foofoogal said:
fftopic: http://pewsocialtrends.org/maps/migration/

I ran across this today. Seems quite a few folks are heading South. Chart is a few years old I guess so may of changed.
I know about half of California seems to be moving to Arkansas where I am at.

The other half of California seems to relocating here to "The Shoals" in Northern Alabama. I personally know of about 9 or 10 families from the San Francisco Bay Area who have moved here recently and I am sure there are many more. I suspect some of the draw, besides a slower, cheaper and more pleasant lifestyle, is Huntsville, which would attract Silicon Valley people, where a serious downturn has been experienced. I imagine the inflow to Huntsville is even greater than here, although that is only about 60 miles east. The Shoals, on the Tennessee River (as is Huntsville) is made up of Tuscumbia, Sheffield, Muscle Shoals and the larger town of Florence (population-38,000), all about 5 miles apart from each other. We live on a farm about 10 miles from Tuscumbia, AL. We were lucky to have moved from San Francisco in 2006 before all the blood starting flowing in California. I recently read that Austin, Texas is also seeing a considerable inflow from from former California Technology employees.

Bill Taylor

Natty Bumpo · Apr 24, 2010

Was it Faulkner....

that said in the South the past is not forgotten, it is not even past?

Foofoogal · Apr 24, 2010

I just watched an amazing show on the History channel all about the unreal Dust era

(Black Sunday-amazing the History I do not know about our country and what it took to make it what it is. I always thought it was just a few dust storms.:eusa_doh: It went on for 10 years.) in the 1930s. It showed how many in Oklahoma moved to California.
(Grapes of Wrath-My fav writer of all time secularly)
I guess now they are just moving back as some have roots and family still there.

Why the South?

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