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MikeyKid - where are you living and working that you never see rednecks? I work in uptown and live in S. Charlotte and see them all the time. Do you ever go to Wal-Mart? Carowinds? Just sayin'.
Not that this is a thread about rednecks, but honestly they are all over the country. Charlotte does not have a monopoly on them. Plenty of them back in the Chicagoland area.
Everyone posting is someone I feel I have at least some degree of a relationship with and I want a really honest answer.
Do you see natives who are trying to impress everyone - i.e., keeping up with the Joneses? Or is it newcomers who have come here and seem to feel they have acquired a lifestyle that requires they are into one-upsmanship?
And what do you all consider "keeping up with the Joneses?" Sincerely - not sure what folks are putting into that category (like - buying a more expensive car than they can afford or what? - living beyond means in general? or something specific - like - finding out the neighbors bought a big expensive new stainless grill and then that person goes out and gets a BIGGER grill and invites everyone over to see it).
Ani
Maybe I can give an example. We have many waterfront neighbors who have more than 1 boat and PWCs , large boat docks and manicured yards , but we never see them out on the lake and rarely even in their yards.
So was the purchase of the watercraft and the waterfront home about "keeping up with the Jones'"? ie having something because it's seen as desirable and trendy rather than because you really want to have it so you can enjoy it.
We do have a boat dock across the street and a 3 man canoe. We love to swim in the lake (first time last week, brrrrrrrr)and whilst my husband and son have been out on the lake I haven't and looking at these boats hanging around idle almost kills us.
Edit-to me keeping up with the Jones' doesn't discriminate between living within or beyond your means, it's about having to have particular things. I see no point in having something whether it's within your means or not unless it will add to your quality of life. Maybe for some people having designer labels etc does
Ani
Maybe I can give an example. We have many waterfront neighbors who have more than 1 boat and PWCs , large boat docks and manicured yards , but we never see them out on the lake and rarely even in their yards.
So was the purchase of the watercraft and the waterfront home about "keeping up with the Jones'"? ie having something because it's seen as desirable and trendy rather than because you really want to have it so you can enjoy it.
We do have a boat dock across the street and a 3 man canoe. We love to swim in the lake (first time last week, brrrrrrrr)and whilst my husband and son have been out on the lake I haven't and looking at these boats hanging around idle almost kills us.
yes, yes yes! Thank you! That describes it so much better than I did. Sometimes I can't find the right words.
Having something because it's seen as desirable and trendy not because you need or want it. That is perfect.
Ani
Maybe I can give an example. We have many waterfront neighbors who have more than 1 boat and PWCs , large boat docks and manicured yards , but we never see them out on the lake and rarely even in their yards.
So was the purchase of the watercraft and the waterfront home about "keeping up with the Jones'"? ie having something because it's seen as desirable and trendy rather than because you really want to have it so you can enjoy it.
We do have a boat dock across the street and a 3 man canoe. We love to swim in the lake (first time last week, brrrrrrrr)and whilst my husband and son have been out on the lake I haven't and looking at these boats hanging around idle almost kills us.
If they can afford to spend that amount of money on toys that are rarely used, what's wrong with that?
Example: I'm thinking of buying another motorcycle, even though I'm only home on the weekends and would probably ride it less than a couple of hours per week. Is that a "smart" investment? Probably not. However, if it doesn't put me in the poor house and it brings me enjoyment, is that still "keeping up with the Joneses"?
If they can afford to spend that amount of money on toys that are rarely used, what's wrong with that?
Example: I'm thinking of buying another motorcycle, even though I'm only home on the weekends and would probably ride it less than a couple of hours per week. Is that a "smart" investment? Probably not. However, if it doesn't put me in the poor house and it brings me enjoyment, is that still "keeping up with the Joneses"?
In response to Ani - I see both newcomers and natives doing it, definitely. Maybe more newcomers but that could be because I know so many more newcomers. I;'ve been down here for 15+ years but I still consider myself a newcomer. What I cannot stand is the vibe I get from people who have recently moved down here who pat themselves on the back as if they're the first person who thought about moving down here. I feel like saying, "Dude, you're a day late and a dollar short. You should have come down ten years ago". I also can't stand when people dress themselves from head to toe with their NY Yankees stuff, Ohio University garb, insert other city/team/school here (although I seriously doub some of those folks went to OSU) to make sure you know where they're from. I don't care.
In response to Mikey - I see both newcomers and natives as rednecks. Charlotte, and the South in general, does not corner the market on rednecks. I went to college in a small New England town near the Canadian border. If you got too far off campus, you saw some rednecks (and I was right out of NYC at the time so they really stood out to me). Only difference is up there we called them rougenecks.
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