Okay, Charlotte. What does redneck mean to you? (living in, price)

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by mullman

From OH to FL, & MA to GA, I have heard locals call someone or a group of people 'rednecks' or 'white trash'.

At the root level it seems to be an elitist way to refer to someone one views as inferior for nearly any reason.
Just more proof that name calling is so very shallow.

Agree - it is often used in a condescending way by someone who has an elitist attitude. And yes, very shallow.

Thank you for helping me define my aggravation at others calling Southerners rednecks.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by superk

I don't know, really. I grew up in Northern CT, and I don't remember ever hearing the term or someone using it to describe someone else. Ever since I can remember everyone had a deep admiration for almost everything Southern - the music, the lifestyle, the food, and racing. Most everyone in town spent a part of the winter vacationing in places like SC, GA, or FL, so I don't think that were unfamiliar with the Southern accents and mannerisms.

I'll gladly take the title of either Yankee or Redneck or both. I think it just means someone who's laidback, easy-going, hard-working, conservative, and unpretentious.

Well, SuperK - you have such a terrific attitude about life . . . how about we just call you an adopted Southerner, LOL.

[Miker2069]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

Ani, here is the definition of rednecks by people I know who consider themselves rednecks:

The nickname "redneck" has for generations in the south been used to describe the man who physically works hard to feed his family - either laboring in his fields or out on off shore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.

Basically, rednecks got sunburned on the back of their necks from being bent over their work in the sun all day long. To have a red neck was a sign of being a hard worker, not some lazy bum content to live off of welfare or other assistence. Rednecks take pride in their hard work, take care of their families no matter what, acknowledge God and practice their faith without fear of being politically incorrect. Rednecks are just salt of the earth people - the first to help out in a time of need.

Now... unfortunately, other folks from other regions of the nation have co-opted this name and turned it into something it isn't - which is where some of the confusion comes from on the part of non-southerners. Outsiders now use this term as a way to stereotype anyone they see as ignorant, lazy, uneducated, etc. The reality of who rednecks are is actually just the opposite.

Interesting, I like what you wrote, although I think a lot of southerners use the stereotypical definition as well depending on context. I've had this discussion a billion times growing up in South Florida back in the early 80s.

On a few projects there are a couple of guys I work with, who grew up in SC, they are about my age (38), and I've heard them use the term in a prideful way and also to communicate utter embarrassment (i.e., so and so is perpetuating the stereotype). *However* like a lot of cultures, when someone else uses the word in a derogatory way it's a totally different can of worms. So I'd say that context is very important, however you can know very quickly if someone is being insulting (uninformed), joking or making a serious statement.

[SunnyKayak]

Wow jlovefla that has to be longest post I ever seen

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by SunnyKayak

Wow jlovefla that has to be longest post I ever seen

Yeah, I was wondering if there were some way to compact it. Geeeezzz.

Reminds me of one of my kids who used to use half a roll of toilet paper every time he - you know - needed to use toilet paper.

[cjb113072]

Ani - I think your definition of redneck is the true meaning, from years ago. Trust me when I say that it is used everywhere, not just the south. My family is from the north and my mothers side has farmed for many generations. They are called rednecks up there. I think that lately the term redneck has taken on a different meaning. I guess it is possible we have Jeff Foxworthy to thank for this.

[scorp200]

Originally Posted by anifani821

I am not interested in the Jeff Foxworthy kind of humorous banter. ...

I want to know why people from other regions of the country seem to think the South is full of rednecks. I want to know what locals here think defines a redneck. Not silly descriptions of rednecks or "tests" to determine if you are a redneck.

In other words, I think people from urban areas seem to think anyone who has a Southern accent is a redneck.

I'm sorry you feel that way, because it isn't true. The Jeff Foxworthy stuff is actually relevant because that's probably the best definition of what a redneck is to someone from the north (at least the northeast). We (I'm from NJ originally) absolutely do not think all southerners are rednecks. But, the only southerners people really ever discuss are the rednecks...which there are also plenty of in southern NJ.

People seem to either think of southerners as genteel, polite people who can cook well (Paula Deen), or rednecks. There doesn't seem to be anything in between, now that I remember it. Really, it's two very very very different cultures - northeast and southeast.

Now my definition of redneck - and it's mainly based on my time in western Florida, where we have a beach called "redneck riviera" - it's derogatory - and refers to loud, mullet-wearing, beer-swilling, rebel flag bikini wearing people.

This is opposed, of course, to the loud, big-hair wearing, beer-swilling, thong bikini wearing people in and around the Jersey shore from May to September each year (heh heh).

Gretchen Wilson is making me redefine redneck a bit because I think she's great - but again I tend to equate redneck with racism. That's been my experience. That opinion will not change.

Paula Deen is not a redneck.

Edited because I don't even think I'm being clear but when people from up north say the south is full of rednecks I think they are not intentionally excluding nice people who aren't rednecks...

I dunno. I get the southern pride thing...I do not get the "proud to be a redneck" thing (sorry Gretchen). This is where Jeff Foxworthy's schtick is relevant, that's how we define it.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by scorp200

I'm sorry you feel that way, because it isn't true. The Jeff Foxworthy stuff is actually relevant because that's probably the best definition of what a redneck is to someone from the north (at least the northeast). We (I'm from NJ originally) absolutely do not think all southerners are rednecks. But, the only southerners people really ever discuss are the rednecks...which there are also plenty of in southern NJ.

People seem to either think of southerners as genteel, polite people who can cook well (Paula Deen), or rednecks. There doesn't seem to be anything in between, now that I remember it. Really, it's two very very very different cultures - northeast and southeast.

Now my definition of redneck - and it's mainly based on my time in western Florida, where we have a beach called "redneck riviera" - it's derogatory - and refers to loud, mullet-wearing, beer-swilling, rebel flag bikini wearing people.

This is opposed, of course, to the loud, big-hair wearing, beer-swilling, thong bikini wearing people in and around the Jersey shore from May to September each year (heh heh).

Gretchen Wilson is making me redefine redneck a bit because I think she's great - but again I tend to equate redneck with racism. That's been my experience. That opinion will not change.

Paula Deen is not a redneck.

The sad thing is that that is your experience, when in reality the name "Redneck" means something completely different. Like I said before, the word has been co-opted and redefined by folks who really have no clue who/what are real redneck is.

[anonymous]

Originally Posted by anifani821

See what I mean?

ani, I know what you mean.

Growing up, I was not allowed to use the word "redneck" in the negative way that many people use it. You generally didn't call someone a redneck, but when you did, you were talking about the hard working people who grew your food, built your house, fixed your truck; like you said, the fella who would give you the shirt off his back. The unsophistication that characterized a 'redneck' was simply not something to make fun of or mock.

I don't see it as a north/south thing. I have some southern friends who grew up privileged, and they have that same, "Ewww.. rednecks" attitude that many transplants have. So to me it isn't the difference between someone from the north and someone from the south, it is the difference between someone who is humble, and someone who is arrogant. There are an awful lot of the arrogant ones out there.

[scorp200]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

The sad thing is that that is your experience, when in reality the name "Redneck" means something completely different. Like I said before, the word has been co-opted and redefined by folks who really have no clue who/what are real redneck is.

Yeah, apparently so!

It's kind of one of those things though where because it's been co-opted, the word HAS changed meaning and is now a perjorative term, always will be used in that way. (there were some good points brought up in that other hot topic thread regarding this phenomenon).