[Lolls]

When we visited Connecticut - Fairfield County in particular - I noticed that people with money (and plenty of it) were actually very nice and easy to talk to. The only people who affected a "snooty" attitude were the people who were working executives immitating old money. But the nouveau riche are the same wherever you go.

On the rudeness - I'm a southerner. There is something to be said for lovely manners and graciousness, and Connecticut is not known for it. That's just that. Being kind to strangers but not being their best friend is not being phony, it's being pleasant.

On the other hand - there is a lot to be valued in straightforward Yankee sensibility. And I just die everytime I get a direct, and very DRY answer from a New Englander Yes, the north is a little more rude. It just is. There are worse faults in the world.

In the end, stereotypes exist because . . those types exist. They do. And they are the most colorful, memorable. But there are great people all around this great country. Find out where YOU belong, and you'll find great people there too. Eventually.

[Ourdreamhouse]

Lolls,

If you think that stereotypes exist for a good reason, then no doubt you agree that the stereotype of a Southerner (I think his official name is Billy Joe Bob Sue) -- a dumb, fat, uneducated, racist, Bible-toting, NASCAR-loving, good-ole-boy red-neck who swills peanuts in his Coke for breakfast -- is pretty accurate, right?

I've known a Southerner or two who had "lovely manners and graciousness" galore -- on the outside. On the inside, they were judgemental, narrow-minded, and smug.

In Vermont, ironically, they make maple sugar candy to sell to the tourists. I can't eat more than one or two small pieces: it's sickeningly sweet.

I agree with your suggestion to "find out where YOU belong." Me? Not in the South.

[Lolls]

Way to prove my point on that rudeness. Wow.

[Dockside]

Originally Posted by Lolls

Way to prove my point on that rudeness. Wow.

BOM! POW! OUCH! LOL!!!

[JViello]

Originally Posted by Lolls

Way to prove my point on that rudeness. Wow.

I think that was just a good old "yankee being direct" towards an insulting compliment my dear.

[Travel'r]

Originally Posted by Ourdreamhouse

Lolls,

If you think that stereotypes exist for a good reason, then no doubt you agree that the stereotype of a Southerner (I think his official name is Billy Joe Bob Sue) -- a dumb, fat, uneducated, racist, Bible-toting, NASCAR-loving, good-ole-boy red-neck who swills peanuts in his Coke for breakfast -- is pretty accurate, right?

Being a (PA) Yankee having lived in the South almost 10 years myself, I'd say Ashley Wilkes and Toby Keiths were the stereotypes I noticed most dealing with people every day. No wonder it was such a pleasure just to shop or go to work each day!

My current area (soccer-mom suburbia, another stereotype well earned; heck, my own materialistic, combative relatives are some!) is one of the most cold, pretentious areas I've ever been in. And they're miserable at the jobs they hate because they have to have newer/more of everything than their neighbors, whom they don't talk to. This wasn't so bad down South. Most people seemed happier down there, as well as, without having to flaunt every dang thing.

It's the truth. We pretty much sport perennial frowns up here. I had to do some serious adjusting coming back here after living in friendlier regions. (Just be mute altogether). People act more like the world's against them for some reason. Night and day coming from the South (or Midwest). Connecticut may be as described, but go a tad north or south along the Atlantic and it's really not much different.

We're not the only ones in the country with congestion, crime, children, stressful jobs and such. What's our problem?

Have to say that I thought we were like everybody else until I began to travel.

[Lolls]

Well, good ol' Yankee directness is when I take fifteen minutes to ask an older Connecticut gentlemen if my directions are correct, explaining where I am going and why, and whether I will find the place I am headed with what I've been told, and he pauses, and without rudeness or any hurry, says simply,

"Yep"

And goes back to his business.

The response from that other poster was something else. I thought I had been diplomatic and gentle, and was served up peanuts in a swill of coke.

I wouldn't categorize that response as anything regional, unless the OP hails from the nether regions.

[BigHouse9]

Originally Posted by Lolls

Way to prove my point on that rudeness. Wow.

Down here in the South, I have been met with a good old Southern Boy who proceeded to talk to me in a Thurston Howell accent and I have been called a Yuppie Yankee directly to my face. Rude? You bet. I have also had doors not held for me, not heard thank you when deserved etc etc.

You want to find the bad in something, you don't have to look too far. Personally, I find the people in CT to be great but again you get what you give. I believe the point that was made was not made in rude fashion but rather you took it that way.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by Lolls

Well, good ol' Yankee directness is when I take fifteen minutes to ask an older Connecticut gentlemen if my directions are correct, explaining where I am going and why, and whether I will find the place I am headed with what I've been told, and he pauses, and without rudeness or any hurry, says simply,

"Yep"

And goes back to his business.

You watched too many stereotypical commercials. Maybe that's the marketing material they send out to the rest of the country. I don't know.

I've lived here all my life and never ran into that stereotype.

Even the native Maine inn keeper where we stay every fall is very chatty and not dry.

That attitude may have been around a couple generations ago, but I don't really see it today.

Just my observation.

[Lolls]

Well folks, I began by posting about how I like Connecticut. I didn't mean to make you circle the wagons.

Carry on.