How is a southern accent perceived in Boston? (home, university)

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

I, too, hate unique linguistic development and love being sensitive about things I don't actually understand.

Like or not, when you're in a STEM environment believing the bible is a documentary is not necessarily helpful to one's career - objectivity matters.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

Like or not, when you're in a STEM environment believing the bible is a documentary is not necessarily helpful to one's career - objectivity matters.

OWNED! I see you are incredibly well-read, not just in STEM, but also in high philosophy, theology, mythology, etc. Wow!

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

An overwhelming number of people in the region (who are U.S. born) have an upper mid-west, upper mid-land, or fairly neutral Northeast/west coast accent.

This means someone with a severe north shore or south shore accident will stick out just as badly as someone talking like Foghorn Leghorn. I have friends from Woburn who had brutal accents when in college and I've noticed they've progressively toned it down as they've grown professionally - it's something which has a strong negative association with poverty / the working class and they've consciously tried to mitigate this.

Sorry to hear your friends are so insecure. How's the dressing up and playing "beautiful people" working out for them?

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

Like or not, when you're in a STEM environment believing the bible is a documentary is not necessarily helpful to one's career - objectivity matters.

Well it is well known that the "STEM environment" is full of spectrum types who may have a hard time with any sort of colloquialism, abstract, unseen or even sarcasm.




Now that we are past the sarcasm, it's truly amazing the stuff one might say when hiding behind a keyboard.

[GeePee]

I do agree with a lot of what is being said by Shrewsburried is saying in the context of certain work environments. There are 2 CSR's at my job that will tell you where they grew up (southie) every chance they get. Every time I hear one of them on the phone its like she is trying to play that role hard with a dose of IDGAF attitude. as someone from here that hears the accent all the time i am quite disgusted by this person for the simple fact that she sees how others act and speak to clients and just either refuses to tone down the " Noooo sahhhhhhhh's" or is trying hard to keep some dumb hard southie rep. Now at the bar with my friends..thats different.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by GeePee

I do agree with a lot of what is being said by Shrewsburried is saying in the context of certain work environments. There are 2 CSR's at my job that will tell you where they grew up (southie) every chance they get. Every time I hear one of them on the phone its like she is trying to play that role hard with a dose of IDGAF attitude. as someone from here that hears the accent all the time i am quite disgusted by this person for the simple fact that she sees how others act and speak to clients and just either refuses to tone down the " Noooo sahhhhhhhh's" or is trying hard to keep some dumb hard southie rep. Now at the bar with my friends..thats different.

Well she has a full of herself attitude, no question. But saying that, it's entirely possible to speak with a full on Southie accent and not compromise on any professionalism whatsoever (and many do just that). Only a complete yahoo would take one as being less intelligent or professional due to an ACCENT of all things.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Sorry to hear your friends are so insecure. How's the dressing up and playing "beautiful people" working out for them?




Well it is well known that the "STEM environment" is full of spectrum types who may have a hard time with any sort of colloquialism, abstract, unseen or even sarcasm.




Now that we are past the sarcasm, it's truly amazing the stuff one might say when hiding behind a keyboard.

You seem very triggered by me stating the realities of the business environments in certain orbits. I assure you my coworkers are very secure emotionally, socially, and financially. We're in the business of critical thinking and if you say things which suggest, whether sincere or not, you might believe Jesus and dinosaurs coexisted and earth is only 6000 years old ... yeah, people might question your critical thinking.

Religious colloquialisms are, IMO, generally viewed as folksy and tired, therefor they are best avoided in a professional environment (as even you suggest). Those who use them risk the perception issues - simple as that. I'm not suggesting people care about moments of "my god!" or "Jesus!" in a moment of surprise, rather, they care if it becomes more overtly faith driven. COEXIST is dead, we live in a secular world.

As for the Boston accident comment, I wouldn't say they're insecure at all, they are just aware of the negative associations and don't wish to be on the receiving end of any unwanted bias. It doesn't help that media solidifies this association. Ever notice in film it's largely the working class poor - cops, construction workers, thugs, etc. - which have the thick (and poorly done) accents?

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

You seem very triggered by me stating the realities of the business environments in certain orbits. I assure you my coworkers are very secure emotionally, socially, and financially. We're in the business of critical thinking and if you say things which suggest, whether sincere or not, you might believe Jesus and dinosaurs coexisted and earth is only 6000 years old ... yeah, people might question your critical thinking.


Religious colloquialisms are, IMO, generally viewed as folksy and tired, therefor they are best avoided in a professional environment (as even you suggest). Those who use them risk the perception issues - simple as that. I'm not suggesting people care about moments of "my god!" or "Jesus!" in a moment of surprise, rather, they care if it becomes more overtly faith driven. COEXIST is dead, we live in a secular world.

I don't work in STEM (so for all I know...), but my occupation certainly has its share of critical thinking. Can't say I ever recall a coworker suggesting Jesus and dinosaurs co-existing...or an employee with a southern accent saying "sweet Jesus". After years of seeing everything from sleeping on the job, to those who simply can't keep up or know what they are doing...I'm not sure the prior would be too high a priority in terms of performance issues. Perhaps I should advise our recruiter to watch for "the devil to pay" instead of drug screening and job credentials, or God forbid some dreaded north or south shore accent.

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

As for the Boston accident comment, I wouldn't say they're insecure at all, they are just aware of the negative associations and don't wish to be on the receiving end of any unwanted bias. It doesn't help that media solidifies this association. Ever notice in film it's largely the working class poor - cops, construction workers, thugs, etc. - which have the thick (and poorly done) accents?

If they are worried about what some pinhead halfway across the country thinks due to some Ben Affleck movie, then YES they would be insecure.


cops, construction workers "working class poor"???


No you did not hit a trigger, but I continue to be wowed by City-Data and how light years away it is from the world I live in.

[snj90]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

You seem very triggered by me stating the realities of the business environments in certain orbits. I assure you my coworkers are very secure emotionally, socially, and financially. We're in the business of critical thinking and if you say things which suggest, whether sincere or not, you might believe Jesus and dinosaurs coexisted and earth is only 6000 years old ... yeah, people might question your critical thinking.

Religious colloquialisms are, IMO, generally viewed as folksy and tired, therefor they are best avoided in a professional environment (as even you suggest). Those who use them risk the perception issues - simple as that. I'm not suggesting people care about moments of "my god!" or "Jesus!" in a moment of surprise, rather, they care if it becomes more overtly faith driven. COEXIST is dead, we live in a secular world.

As for the Boston accident comment, I wouldn't say they're insecure at all, they are just aware of the negative associations and don't wish to be on the receiving end of any unwanted bias. It doesn't help that media solidifies this association. Ever notice in film it's largely the working class poor - cops, construction workers, thugs, etc. - which have the thick (and poorly done) accents?

As for dinosaurs (described as dragons in numerous ancient cultures around the world), I would instead question the one who thinks that dinosaur collagen and red blood cells can last 65 million plus supposed years.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7drcTvx0v0


We know the earth is approximately 6000 years old because the Bible says so, but so does the real science. Among other things: the earth's magnetic field is decaying far too fast for the earth to be old, and the amount of helium in the atmosphere (accounting for both its rate of escape into space and its production via radioactive decay) limits the age of the earth to far less than what it is purported to be.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by massnative71

or God forbid some dreaded north or south shore accent.

lEavee JesUS at Hme plZ

[BOORGONG]

Jesus Who?
Red Sox player?