Northern People / Southern People

[flgargoyle]

And if we're going to talk about NYC, it's 'you's guys'.

[chicagocubs]

well, just as a note:

there is no such thing as "tone" when speaking up north. Either you are saying the truth or you are lying. The lying part is what would get you into trouble. Nobody cares "how" you say something unless you are not getting to the point or you are lying.

Speaking in a whisper is considered rude up north. Apparently, you are then saying something that you don't want others to hear...which is wrong. If you are saying something, it had better be good for the general population, or you just need to keep your mouth shut! (if you can't say anything good, don't say anything at all)

People up north (generally speaking) are your friends or they are not. if they don't like you, they will let you know. You always know where you stand with people. None of this one minute friends/one minute not. Backstabbers are usually dealt with very harshly. That is not tolerated. Not saying that it does not happen, but, when it does, the person that did the backstabbing will feel the wrath of the backstabbee (is that a word?) and it would not be a pretty sight. For that reason, it is more difficult to make friends up north, but, once you do, they are friends for life.

I have gotten into serious trouble on the job down south by being "too aggressive". I am "too confident" and thus do not qualify for a job. Now, maybe the difference is that I don't do it by cloke-and-dagger, I just do it! I don't have the time/patience for games. Either we are doing something or, we are not.

Just because we are nice to your face doesnt mean we have to like you when you're out of the room.

THAT, MY FRIEND, IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT!! THAT IS TOTAL HYPOCROCIY!! (sp?) That is the kind of thing that makes us northerners nuts. Why be nice in the first place if you don't like us to begin with? That is crazy. Just be honest...and, any issues that you have with a northerner will diminish by 95%!! This behaviour would NEVER be tolerated up north and our parents would have smacked the you-know-what outta us if they ever caught us doing it!!!!!!!!

my last point:

at work, in a corporate setting, with one of the largest banks in the USA, my team leader (this is the latest and most extreme example) dealt with the terminal illness of her mother for three long years. The whole bag, the woman was in/out of chemo, radiation, different cancers, etc. During that time, she (my team lead) was constantly chastised that she was not "happy enough" and did not "smile". Her personal issues were told to be left at home. When her mother ultimately passed away, after the initial condolences were expressed, the next thing was, "Right. Now you can get back to normal and be your happy self. Cannot bring everyone down by being sad." Now, people, this was less than a week after her mother had died from a debilitating illness. Sorry. Not even up north are we THAT harsh!!!! (and there are many more examples of this, this is just the most extreme)

Now, you can pretty things up by saying that they are more "mannerly" or that you are just "considerate of someone's feelings"...but, I gotta tell you, I would rather be told, to my face, that something is wrong than to find it out 6 months later by a friend-of-a-friend. I have been betrayed by more southern people than I can count due to my naieve trusting that people are saying what they mean. That is why I warn all northerners when they come south...do not trust ANYTHING that these people say until you have verified it. Because I don't want others to suffer the same consequences that I have.

And, if my true Chicagoan came out and I confronted the people that betrayed me, it would definately not be a pretty sight and I would, most likely, have to move.

[trinkit]

Originally Posted by blueva

Im from Virginia, and Deep South people tell me "that aint the real South". That gets me irked.

Anyways about North vs South:

Here in Virginia its MUCH more an issue because we are closer to the North and NOVA is turning much more Northern . Richmond still holds true to the Old South, however. But still...
I notice Northerners:

-Can be friendly, but they tend to be more abrupt and blunt and say what they mean

-Seem to have an air of superiority- especially the women. A certain "haughtyness" I cant really explain. The complete opposite of the Southern belle- her haughtyness is more subtle.

-Often have harsh accents- kind of nasal in sound and clip their words when they speak. Also say "you guys" even to females- which I find much worse and lamentable than "y'all- the proper way, lol

-They seem like they're forever in a hurry and always have to do things now. I work in fast food- and when Northern customers come in, they seem much much more urgent. They kind of tend to fidget while they wait. And when I give them their food they sometimes forget to say "thank you"

-They like to talk about how they did stuff "better" up North. "You People" need to stop fighting the War. How things "down here" are backwards. How we have more "racism" here-which really isnt true. In fact race relations in Richmond are better than most USA cities North or South.

-They honk their horn 10x as much- will honk even if you are just making a right turn and waiting for someone to cross the street

Southerners:

-We like to take our time more and make "small talk"

-Going to church is a bigger deal for us

-Sweet Tea is not just a drink, its a way of life!

Ok, so there ya have it. BTW- I dont mean to insult and Northerners on here, its just what I notice- and I realize NOT ALL Northerners are this way. Its just the culture that is Northeast.

Being one of those "Damn Yankees" who comes from the north, I tend to agree with you, however please allow me to explain some of the "why's" of northern people. (Please keep in mind that I truly want to fit in with my new community and definitely do not want to change it.)

A vast majority (but no means "all") of the north was settled by native of Germany, Italy, Poland, etc. (My own heritage hails from the Netherlands.) People of that heritage tend to be more abrupt and say exactly what they mean in as few words as possible. Their children were brought up the same way. On the other hand, there's a good number of southerners whose heritage goes back to France, upper-class England who were brought up where manners were tantamount. They definitely learned the art of diplomacy.

Also, its COLD in the north and we always wanted things done YESTERDAY. I've come to the conclusion that things move slower in the south because its just too darned HOT to move any faster. That doesn't make it WRONG, by any means -- it's just different and something that northerners need to accept. I have. I moved here a year ago, and my husband has been here about 2 months. He's now learning that people move slower and I have to keep telling him "slow down, patience, my dear!"

The difference between "you guys" and "y'all" is just something that makes the south unique and something that northerners need to accept. Different parts of the country have different words for the same things: pop vs soda, hoagie vs sub vs gyro, etc. We northerners can't get used to when asking for a coke we are asked "what kind?" Coke to a northerner is CocaCola. Coke to a southerner can mean anything from root beer to Dr Pepper and anything in between. Doesn't make it wrong, just different.

Northerners who come here to live need to accept the differences or go back to where they came from! If things had been so great there, I would have stayed there. They also need to understand the vastness of this country that we live in. Going from Boston to LA would be as different as going from Frankfort Germany to London England -- ALONG with a difference in language as well as currency! Going from Germany to Italy -- same thing. Different language. Different currency. Different culture. We may all speak English, but look at the differences between the English that is spoken in England, Australia, New Zealand and Canada!

[Keeper]

Closed for mod review