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Can somebody really say that they are from a specific state when they were only born there and moved at a very early age to another state? Too many times, I hear people say they are from New York in the state I'm currently living in which is GA. The person was only born there and moved before the age of 2 and lived in GA. I mean, what kind of memories would a child have of New York at that age. Even during elementary years, like 3rd grade and they move to another state and are now in their 20's, why must they continue to associate themselves with that other state when they are not even of that culture? Is it because they think it sounds cool to say they are from New York? There is nothing New York in their veins about them. They don't even have the accent, don't practice the culture, they are not of New York.
I have thought about this is in the past. This is a confusing topic for me. The person is, technically, from NY but moved to GA at a young age. So I just don't know where they would be from.
When most people say where they are "from" they generally seem refer to the place they lived while in high school. I have heard people say they are "from" Texas but were born in Oklahoma, for example. Where you are "from" tends to be the place which you most identify with, and people tend to develop their tastes in music/styles/attitude etc while in their teenage years.
The example you gave is likely because that person did not identify themselves with their place of residence while a teenager, and felt like an outsider. Bob Dylan used to say he was born in Duluth but was "from" New Mexico (which was untrue) because he identified himself more with NM than MN.
When most people say where they are "from" they generally seem refer to the place they lived while in high school. I have heard people say they are "from" Texas but were born in Oklahoma, for example. Where you are "from" tends to be the place which you most identify with, and people tend to develop their tastes in music/styles/attitude etc while in their teenage years.
The example you gave is likely because that person did not identify themselves with their place of residence while a teenager, and felt like an outsider. Bob Dylan used to say he was born in Duluth but was "from" New Mexico (which was untrue) because he identified himself more with NM than MN.
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When most people say where they are "from" they generally seem refer to the place they lived while in high school. I have heard people say they are "from" Texas but were born in Oklahoma, for example.
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A true Okie would never make such a statement. Someone truly "raised" or reared in Oklahoma would claim Oklahoma 100% of the time no matter if they moved to Dallas, LA, or New York City. Too much state pride for someone reject OK later on unless they've bought into the perception of the backwater/redneck stuff.
Born there, From there. Period.
The exception being if someone moved in early childhood and really has no memories/attachment to their place of birth.
For me, the default answer is wherever you lived and spent the majority of your childhood and teenage years growing up. If there is no such place, then you're probably not from any one place in particular.
For me, the default answer is wherever you lived and spent the majority of your childhood and teenage years growing up. If there is no such place, then you're probably not from any one place in particular.
It's the same with me. I was born in New York, lived there until I was 15. Lived on and off in Virginia for that entire time and have sufficient memories of both places. Parent's moved to Florida when I was 15 and I moved back to New York when I turned 18.
If I was going by the high school rule, I would say I'm from Florida because I finished high school there. But I am NOT from Florida.
I generally just say I'm from NY. It makes life a lot easier. I wonder how miltiary kids decide where they are from if they moved around a lot.
Most people I meet tend to differentiate between where they might have been born and spent very early years of their life and where they were primarily raised, if they happen to be two different places. But I've heard as much about folks from NY as the OP alluded to, lol.
Practically the whole issue of this month's Our Iowa magazine is devoted to this topic!
The editor took the point of view that if someone is born in a place, they are "natives" of that place (since that's what the word "native" means). So Iowa can claim Johnny Carson who was born in Iowa, even though he grew up in Nebraska.
One article writer even took the point of view that if someone was conceived in a place they could be considered to be "natives of" that place, since the writer believes life begins at conception.
My personal point of view is = Who Cares? If someone wants to say they're from a place, more power to them!
I think what state people call their "home state" reflects what's in their heart. It's the state that they feel the biggest personal attachment to.
This must be the reason that Illinois uses "Land of Lincoln" as their state motto, even though Lincoln was actually born in Kentucky. The years Lincoln spent living in Illinois were apparently more memorable to ol' Abe than the brief period he lived in Kentucky as a child.
To be "from" a place, in my opinion, you have to have some sort of memory of it at least.
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