Alabama culture in Atlanta? (Sandy Springs, Dunwoody: condos, how much, hotels)

[DeaconJ]

Originally Posted by Southlander

Sounds like Georgia culture to me...and Tennessee...and Kentucky...and South Carolina...and northern Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi...heck, bchris, it's Southern culture.
I mean....Atlanta is in the South, if you didn't notice.

Anyway...college football, huntin', fishin', NASCAR, fundamentalist Christianity, Wal-Mart, suburban sprawl - aren't these things found througout the U.S.?

[Saintmarks]

We always said that Douglas County was the place for metro area transplants from Alabama. On the west side, don't have to go thru town to head home.

Went to college on the south side of Birmingham. Mountain Brook and Homewood are much like Buckhead and other areas ITP, so don't anyone act like Alabama is all bubbas and guns.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by AcidSnake

Umm... Isn't there college football up north too?

I'm not jumping into the thread, except to comment on this specific question.

In the northeast, no one really pays any attention to college football, except maybe those people who go to or are alumni of a given school. For the most part people in the northeast (can't speak for the midwest or other areas) are passionate about NFL football or NHL hockey in the winter, and baseball in the spring, summer, and early fall. College football isn't even shown on local TV.

[DeaconJ]

Originally Posted by neil0311

I'm not jumping into the thread, except to comment on this specific question.

In the northeast, no one really pays any attention to college football, except maybe those people who go to or are alumni of a given school. For the most part people in the northeast (can't speak for the midwest or other areas) are passionate about NFL football or NHL hockey in the winter, and baseball in the spring, summer, and early fall. College football isn't even shown on local TV.

This is true, for the most part...there are a few exceptions, like Rutgers, Boston College, Penn State, UConn, Syracuse, etc. I have no idea about local television in the Northeast, but ESPN and ESPN2 televise a lot of Big East and Boston College and Penn State games, so they do get television coverage. But overall, college football isn't a big deal there and isn't nearly as strong, although each of the teams I mentioned are ranked from time to time.

Just to show that college football is a national game, of the Top 25 teams:

10 are from the South
7 are from the West
6 are from the Midwest
2 are from the Northeast

[RainyRainyDay]

Originally Posted by bchris02

College football, huntin', fishin', NASCAR, fundamentalist Christianity, Wal-Mart, suburban sprawl.

Originally Posted by Southlander

Sounds like Georgia culture to me...and Tennessee...and Kentucky...and South Carolina...and northern Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi...heck, bchris, it's Southern culture.
I mean....Atlanta is in the South, if you didn't notice.

Exactly. While all of those things are found all over this country to varying extents, when listed together, the combination does say "Southern". Like the OP, I guess, I don't much care for most of that list. However, so what? This is the South and those things are part of the regional culture.

[DeaconJ]

Originally Posted by RainyRainyDay

Exactly. While all of those things are found all over this country to varying extents, when listed together, the combination does say "Southern". Like the OP, I guess, I don't much care for most of that list. However, so what? This is the South and those things are part of the regional culture.

I love college football...and I'm always amazed by how entertained I can be walking around Wal Mart. It's like a special thing for me to be inside one, as there aren't any near me. They have so much stuff!

I'm really turned off by hunting and fishing, sprawl, and evangelical Christians. NASCAR is just something I can't understand...cars going around in a circle for hours - WTF?

I'm truly thinking that hunting and fishing are just as big or bigger in New England, most Midwestern states, and the Northwest as they are in the South. I would equate both just as readily with those regions...as I would sprawl.

[BringBackCobain]

Originally Posted by bchris02

College football, huntin', fishin', NASCAR, fundamentalist Christianity, Wal-Mart, suburban sprawl.

I know exactly what you mean, and many people from the North or West would agree with you. My parents are from the North and although I was born here I think the same thing about some places in atlanta.

But you have to know where to go in Atlanta. Im guessing you were in the far out suburbs or the southern suburbs. The Northern suburbs are all transplants so you dont get the southern feel as much, although its definitely still present. Buckhead has it in some areas but not in others. And I doubt you would find it at all in Midtown or Virginia Highland.

The fact is, Atlanta is a city where all these "southern things" have to share space with things you might find in a lot of Northern cities. I cant stand many of these things you mention because I feel they are pretty "Alabama" as well. I just know where to go to avoid it.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by DeaconJ

I love college football...and I'm always amazed by how entertained I can be walking around Wal Mart. It's like a special thing for me to be inside one, as there aren't any near me. They have so much stuff!

I'm really turned off by hunting and fishing, sprawl, and evangelical Christians. NASCAR is just something I can't understand...cars going around in a circle for hours - WTF?

I'm truly thinking that hunting and fishing are just as big or bigger in New England, most Midwestern states, and the Northwest as they are in the South. I would equate both just as readily with those regions...as I would sprawl.

What your saying does have a basis in truth, and in my opinion it's more about the fact that different people have different interests. You will find some people everywhere with an interest in something.

As for the specific items mentioned:

I do think the religion thing is much bigger in the south as a general rule. People here are more religious, more homogenous in their views, and they tend to be more apt to want to share and discuss those views. People elsewhere, especially the northeast, tend to be less religious and there are various forms of religion that may differ quite a bit. It's usually a private matter with hardly any discussion outside of close friends or family.

NASCAR has a track in Loudon, NH and in CA and other areas outside the south. The one in Loudon does attract some folks, but I think most Little League baseball games get a similar crowd in New England. It's not a very popular competition (can you call driving a car a sport?) up there, but as I said before, you do have some people who are pretty big fans, no matter where they live.

Hunting and fishing....sure, in the more rural areas in Maine, NH, even MA and VT there is hunting and fishing and people who love to do them, but they're certainly not the huge draw they are in the south. In the more urban areas like Boston, Providence, Worcester, Hartford, Springfield, Manchester, etc. you just don't find that people are big into those things. You can't even get a gun in MA without going through some pretty big hoops. The Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, and Celtics...yes....skiiing and snowmobiling....yes, but hunting and fishing...not as much. Ice fishing in the winter does have a following, but it's just not like the south. A father and son bonding experience in New England is going to Fenway for a game against the Yankees, not fishing, although I bet that some folks are passionate about fishing too.

College football...again, it's something that people who are attending college follow or if you are an alumnus of a school with a big college sports program you might follow. You don't get the average Joe who never attended college whooping and hollering and driving around with a flag on his car for some college footbal team. That's what the Jets, Giants, Eagles, Patriots, and Bills are for. NFL is what people watch and are passionate about. Boston College has a few fans in New England, Rutgers may have some fans in Jersey (do they?), and Penn St probably has some folks passionate in PA, but honestly, most people don't give a crap.

WalMart? I just don't even understand the point here. It's a store. Why don't people pick on Target or Sears? It's a store that has products at a low price. They only came to the northeast about 15 years ago. I remember when I first moved to Massachusetts in 1992. There were no Walmarts there at all....none. They started expanding into New England in the mid-90s and most people love them. You get your left wing, NIMBY folks who see WalMart as some kind of political point, but other than that it's just a store to most people....and a relative new comer.

[AtlantaGuy21]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

We always said that Douglas County was the place for metro area transplants from Alabama. On the west side, don't have to go thru town to head home.

Went to college on the south side of Birmingham. Mountain Brook and Homewood are much like Buckhead and other areas ITP, so don't anyone act like Alabama is all bubbas and guns.

Those Two areas look nothing like Buckhead !!!!!!!!

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by BringBackCobain

I cant stand many of these things you mention because I feel they are pretty "Alabama" as well. I just know where to go to avoid it.

No, like I said, those things are Georgia ways. Don't take it out on Alabama just because you hate your own state.