Do Charlotte Natives generally dislike Northerners? (Monroe, Matthews: fences, shopping center, to move)

[burnhagw]

I still get called a Yankee to this day from southerns and they don't say it in a joking way...

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by anifani821

It already feels to me that you are here, LOL. With your southern connections and all the research you have done on the area . . . you are gonna blend w/ the locals when you get here, Hee Hee.

I have to admit - I don't get hassled about a lot of things . . . but wow - do I get aggravated when someone outside the South assumes I am a hick b/c I have a Southern accent. It really really really peeves me. But I sure have gotten some remarks b/c of it. And it really really really peeves me when people come here and use terrible grammar and then put Southerners down b/c of our accent. I guess I just hate stereotypes in general.

I try to blend in wherever I go but really - if one has a basically friendly personality, then that is just what it is. I am friendly in Paris, for ex., and surprisingly, Parisians have always been very kind to me, even w/ my limited French. People who get all uptight about being friendly - they need to lighten up and learn to be NICE. Doesn't cost a thing to just be NICE.

Thanks, Ani.

I know just what you mean about stereo-types. I still have most of my Michigan accent, & talk slowly & quietly, & although I've never ever been hassled about it by the natives here or in Philly, the newcomers here feel very free to call me a lot of names while they complain about the area. (Usually with very bad grammar) I've offered to direct people to northbound 295 or the turnpike, their choice, more than once. Since I'm very quiet, it usually shocks those loud-mouth strangers into silence.

I think one thing that swayed me towards Charlotte was a comment made to me many years ago. I had tried going to California in the mid '70s. When people asked me where I was from, I told them Philly. It was just easier, & close enough.

A woman from South Carolina looked me in the eye & said, "I hate Philadelphia. If I go to a northern city, I want to see huste & bustle. When I go to Philadelphia,, I see people talking in the streets & the clerks are trying to talk to me. If I want to see that, I can go to Charlotte."

That stuck with me, all these years later.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

Thanks, Ani.

I know just what you mean about stereo-types. I still have most of my Michigan accent, & talk slowly & quietly, & although I've never ever been hassled about it by the natives here or in Philly, the newcomers here feel very free to call me a lot of names while they complain about the area. (Usually with very bad grammar) I've offered to direct people to northbound 295 or the turnpike, their choice, more than once. Since I'm very quiet, it usually shocks those loud-mouth strangers into silence.

I think one thing that swayed me towards Charlotte was a comment made to me many years ago. I had tried going to California in the mid '70s. When people asked me where I was from, I told them Philly. It was just easier, & close enough.

A woman from South Carolina looked me in the eye & said, "I hate Philadelphia. If I go to a northern city, I want to see huste & bustle. When I go to Philadelphia,, I see people talking in the streets & the clerks are trying to talk to me. If I want to see that, I can go to Charlotte."

That stuck with me, all these years later.

OMGosh - I love that story!!!!! "Just go to Charlotte!!!!" Well, we are looking forward to your making it down here, SB. Anyway, I sure am.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by anifani821

OMGosh - I love that story!!!!! "Just go to Charlotte!!!!" Well, we are looking forward to your making it down here, SB. Anyway, I sure am.

Thanks, Ani, I figure that there's always the chance that someone will have a problem, but except for my accent, I'll just blend in.

When I went to Rome, my friend & her husband took us to a red-neck bar (their description). I got on with everyone. A couple of guys wanted to get into it with my boyfriend, but when they found out he was with me, they backed right off.

I think that there's no guarantee that no one will have a problem over being a Yankee. On the other hand, if you come down from the north & mind your business, I think that there will be no problems to be concerned about.

[DawnW]

Don't think it has anything to do with where you came from....it is all about attitude.

[carolina_guy]

I'll admit that I've said "damn Yankee(s)" about a person or group and I wasn't joking. While my comment may come across as a broad swath, I would be referring to the behavior of the specific person or group.

The behavior, for example, may have been a certain attitude representative of some Yankees that give Yankees a bad name. This is not to say Southerners do not exhibit behavior unbeknownst to other cultures that may come off as taboo. I'm sure I've been called redneck or hick before, but so what? It's who I am and represents where I came from.

We all have our prejudices, it's just a fact of life. And btw, some of my best friends are Yanks.

[NCyank]

Originally Posted by DawnW

Don't think it has anything to do with where you came from....it is all about attitude.

I would like to think that is the case. I know, no matter how many years I live in the South, I will never count as a Southerner, but I hope people are not just being nice to my face and then saying 'Bless her heart, she's just a Yankee.' when I am out of earshot. LOL

[carolina_guy]

Originally Posted by NCyank

I would like to think that is the case. I know, no matter how many years I live in the South, I will never count as a Southerner, but I hope people are not just being nice to my face and then saying 'Bless her heart, she's just a Yankee.' when I am out of earshot. LOL

awe....Bless your heart, we just might...

[Tober138]

Whether living up here in Baltimore, my new hometown of Charlotte (or anywhere else in the country for that matter) - if you're a Philadelphia Flyers fan...I'll probably generally dislike you

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by NCyank

I would like to think that is the case. I know, no matter how many years I live in the South, I will never count as a Southerner, but I hope people are not just being nice to my face and then saying 'Bless her heart, she's just a Yankee.' when I am out of earshot. LOL

Yank, I've been trying my best to figure out what is said around here that is closest to Bless his/her/your heart. I think it might be, Are you OK?/Is he/she OK? It can be said with actual concern, but if we use subtle facial expressions or eye rolls, we're using it as an insult. What do you think?