Do Charlotte Natives generally dislike Northerners? (Canton, Simpson: insurance, neighborhoods, university)

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Well, I have my own complaints about CLT . . . and I had complaints about CLT 30 years ago, LOL.

Native Southerners just embrace stuff that people outside this region do not understand, will never understand . . . and may, in fact, disparage. There is no way to really explain it.

I have said it b/f and I don't think anyone much gets the subtle, but important message . . . Newcomers often act very offended or grossed out or put off or superior in re: to things that Southerners find to be part of the environment - and indeed, part of the fabric of Southern life.

If you have spent time w/ Southern writers, you may get a clue about some of these things.

For example . . . this happened to me w/ a family member (married into my very large NC family). She is from a small city near CHI (well, more a town). She dislikes the South, and we have no idea why. She just does. (I think the town she is from is backward, dirty and full of uneducated people, but I would never disparage all of Illinois b/c of that). Anyway . . . Miss Illinois was in my neighborhood, and was offended b/c she saw someone who she whispered "looks like a redneck."

Well here is the way it is, folks. My momma put it very well. "Don't put down rednecks. They are OUR rednecks."

Now maybe that is something no one else will get unless you are from the South. What others consider "redneck" . . . that is just a lifestyle to a Southerner. And not something to put down. If you don't like truck-driving, gun toting, ATV owners . . . who may have three dogs trailing after them while they are popping their Buds, riding their ATVs in mud, or hunting wild turkey out in a field . . . well for heaven's sake . . . just don't participate. These are OUR PEOPLE. Bubba is my buddy. He doesn't care that I have advanced degrees and like designer shoes and I don't care that he likes to play pool and hang out at the local dive and listen to country music. In fact, I will go w/ him to the dive, shoot pool, sing the country songs and do a little Texas Two Step w/ him and his wife. I will enjoy being in his bass boat and fishing in a cove. And he may show up at the golf course w/ NASCAR cap, but he will be respectful and enjoy a round of golf and indeed, may have more expensive golf clubs than I own.

But these crazy stereotypes . . . that is what newcomers so often seize on and are quick to label people according to how they dress . . . how deep their Southern drawl is . . . or what kind of vehicle they drive.

That is what aggravates Southerners - the assumptions. I may be a debutante, but that doesn't mean I haven't called hogs, gone to the rifle range, and gotten out on Junior's ATVs back on Uncle Bill's farm. And just b/c I love a good "fish fry" out at the county fair, it doesn't mean I am an unsophisticated rube.

So it is the stereotypes and the aghast way newcomers act when confronted w/ "things that are Southern" that aggravates the locals. Assumptions. That air of superiority that somehow, Southerners are just not very educated . . . or that we are tacky . . . or that we are just somehow "backwards."

That "good ole boy" that you might see in my neighborhood . . . the one that offended my inlaw relative? He has an advanced degree in mechanical engineering. He is worth more money than my inlaw relative will ever be. But just b/c he likes his Skoal and drives a truck and was walking around w/ a beer in his hand . . . he got labeled "redneck" and my relative said this made the neighborhood seem undesirable - "b/c of people like that." Oh - and she would never live here "b/c she wouldn't want her children exposed to people like that."

That is why Southerners get prickly. Incidents that make us feel anyone outside the South doesn't GET IT. We don't judge people by how much money they have . . . we judge them by their character and integrity. My "redneck" neighbor would give you the shirt off his back!

Ani, you couldn't be more right. There's a lot that I could say but it would be too far afield.

I'll sum it up this way.

I found a couple of snapshots recently, from 1950/51. It is my mother's immediate family, minus her. It was taken in Van Buren County Michigan, & the Chicago people know right where that is.

I have belonged to genealogy groups for years & have seen people's family pictures from East TN, the Charlotte area, & SW VA. My family looks far more redneck than any I have seen from the South.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

Ani, you couldn't be more right. There's a lot that I could say but it would be too far afield.

I'll sum it up this way.

I found a couple of snapshots recently, from 1950/51. It is my mother's immediate family, minus her. It was taken in Van Buren County Michigan, & the Chicago people know right where that is.

I have belonged to genealogy groups for years & have seen people's family pictures from East TN, the Charlotte area, & SW VA. My family looks far more redneck than any I have seen from the South.

It is sad that people tend to label others . . . isn't it? Most of us are doing our best to take care of our property, our families . . . and be good citizens . . . too bad we end up making assumptions and dividing ourselves b/c we feel we must somehow set ourselves apart from others who may appear to be "different" . . . I just don't have any room in my world for snobbery.

[bandibadji]

Originally Posted by lisaf

I'm definitely in agreement that if you're born somewhere, that is your "native" home. I am not a native personally, but I gave birth to a native Charlottean--my 11 month old son. So, I'm working on adding to the native population. LOL! That should count for something!

And yeah, given the number of transplants in Charlotte, I think refering to the issue at hand as "native southerner" versus "native northerner" is correct. And I still hold my ground, that if the northerners can come to the south and not whine about how things are not like what they're used to in the north--everything will be fine. I have not been subjected to any comments or issues by any native southerner while here the last three years. I've never been called a "yankee," etc. But, I guess that's because I'm embracing my new southern-ness in a big way!

I have found the southerners to be largely super friendly folks. And I'm trying to be more like that (and shake my aggressive New York ways). I'm loving life in Charlotte! THis is a great place to be!

I like your attitude. You sound like a great person. Do not take the term yankee as an insult. I have two friends with the names Kenny. One is from Rhode Island so he is "yankee" Kenny. Unless one is carrying a gun or rope, the term is probably not meant to be derrogatory. LOL!

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by anifani821

It is sad that people tend to label others . . . isn't it? Most of us are doing our best to take care of our property, our families . . . and be good citizens . . . too bad we end up making assumptions and dividing ourselves b/c we feel we must somehow set ourselves apart from others who may appear to be "different" . . . I just don't have any room in my world for snobbery.

Ani, One of the favorite resorts for Chicagoans for generations is in Van Buren County. My mother told of the horrible things that were said to her by the tourists, when she grew up, after some of them unloaded on me, when one of my cousins & I walked to the store one day, when I was 7 or 8.

I know about the tourist attitudes & the snobby suburban attitudes. I'm moving out where there are neither.

[Colddiamond102]

Originally Posted by stmaarten

But, boy when I come across those loud obnoxious people in some stores, I cringe! I met a woman from New Jersey the other day, who started talking in a fake "Southern" accent, who said to me: "Honey, you better start tawkin' like this, or they'll neverrr accept you heere!" I thought: "No wonder people around here get annoyed at these folks with a "better than thou" attitude!"

Yeah, those are the ones where we either get really annoyed with them or we make fun of them behind their backs.

[Colddiamond102]

Originally Posted by nyxmike

That is an old report. It was in the local news here somewhat recently - that SC and NC have the most mobile home units in the country. If the article is still available I will post it.

And they look like crap. I know this is all some people can afford, but I see no reason why they have to plop them down on the grass without driveways or roads or anything. I have seen subdivisions of mobile homes and that looks a lot nicer than just having them scattered all over the grass and the fields. I have driven through what many say are "good areas" here, such as up by the lake, in Huntersville like you said, and in Union County and they are everywhere. Lets face it, they have a stigma attached to them. When your driving around and you pass by them frequently how are you suppose to back up that where you live is beautiful? Excluding the mountains and coast of NC, the developed parts look nicer than the undeveloped. Otherwise, it looks rundown, sorry. Why would you buy a million dollar home next to a mobile home park?

Ahem, driveways cost MONEY, as does putting in roads. If they are living in a mobile home for the reason that they cant afford anything else, then what makes you think they're going to have the money to put in a driveway, or road?

[anifani821]

Well, mobile homes are here to stay. People have land and decide to put mobile homes on them. If people didn't want to live in them, no one would be selling them . . . and no one would be buying them.

Who cares. If you are annoyed by mobile homes, don't move near them. Or buy some Leyland Cypress and screen them out.

[solnechko]

In the past week I have heard native Charlotteans gripe about "yankees" -- meaning people from NY, NJ and Ohio -- on three separate occasions. And they didn't use the term "yankee" in an endearing manner.

They also know that most people with FL plates are also "yankees." I've also been cut off on the freeway by someone with NY plates -- when i honked at them they flipped me off. Doesn't help north/south relations.

[mullman]

Originally Posted by solnechko

They also know that most people with FL plates are also "yankees."

No, those are 'halfbacks', as in they moved to FL, then halfway back.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by solnechko

In the past week I have heard native Charlotteans gripe about "yankees" -- meaning people from NY, NJ and Ohio -- on three separate occasions. And they didn't use the term "yankee" in an endearing manner.

They also know that most people with FL plates are also "yankees." I've also been cut off on the freeway by someone with NY plates -- when i honked at them they flipped me off. Doesn't help north/south relations.

I griped about one situation involving a Yankee myself this past week. And I was complaining to a dear friend who is NOT a native - she is from the NE, hee hee. And she agreed w/ my assessment - cause rude behavior is noticed by others, no matter where they are from (unless they themselves are into habitually rude behavior - such as screaming repeatedly at kids in a restaurant rather than disciplining them quietly - or just leaving).

My friend relayed that every time she is witness to - or hears about - such obnoxious and rude behavior, it makes her feel awful b/c she knows that this means yet another local is gonna think - Yep, Yankees are crass people.

I told her - no - it is an individual thing - but as you said, Solnechko, it does not do anything to help w/ relationships when any of us (locals and newcomers alike) are exposed to rude, callous, or obnoxious behavior. And it goes both ways. I think most newcomers have this perception that Southerners are basically polite and friendly people.