define redneck??? (Springfield, Joplin, Ozark: luxury, contractor, food)

[CurlyAngel]

I might be describing one, but I dont agree, like I said before I live in the country, and I met people from different levels of income. Half of the people that I know are rednecks, and those that you call country gentleman are also rednecks. In different words if your trying to say that the country is good and reckneck is bad, I really dont understand you since your trying to give your point of view in a negative way. I know that we got some issues. But doesnt everybody who is representing themselves from a certain group. Wether is a Income, ethnic, religious, or other groups. So everybody got their positive and negative point of view. and like I say I like to give my point of view in a positive way.

[ShadowCaver]

As many of us come from different places, have experienced different varieties of life, have become accustomed to different ways to then describe that what we've seen and experienced and believe, is then very common for the same word to be used to describe the same thing in various manners. For example, growing up in the shade of StL, the word 'hoosiers' meant to me someone just barely above the level of 'trailer trash' [no offense here to those in trailers, good buddy and some other friends did ] - and imagine my semi-shocked amusement when upon moving to Indiana, and hearing people here to be proud, absolutely PROUD, to be called 'Hoosiers' . So, same way w/ redneck, hillbilly, etc. I'm likewise proud to call myself both - esp. a hillbilly, yet then find it amusing that when state such to some people they are aghast and fight over themselves to state that I am not a hillbilly - as if that is something to be ashamed of.

[Nomadicus]

Originally Posted by ShadowCaver

As many of us come from different places, have experienced different varieties of life, have become accustomed to different ways to then describe that what we've seen and experienced and believe, is then very common for the same word to be used to describe the same thing in various manners. For example, growing up in the shade of StL, the word 'hoosiers' meant to me someone just barely above the level of 'trailer trash' [no offense here to those in trailers, good buddy and some other friends did ] - and imagine my semi-shocked amusement when upon moving to Indiana, and hearing people here to be proud, absolutely PROUD, to be called 'Hoosiers' . So, same way w/ redneck, hillbilly, etc. I'm likewise proud to call myself both - esp. a hillbilly, yet then find it amusing that when state such to some people they are aghast and fight over themselves to state that I am not a hillbilly - as if that is something to be ashamed of.

By the same token I'm proud to be called and admit to being a FL Cracker. I know what it means and and not concerned for those who don't. I was born one and will not change. I will mingle and mix with those fine folks found in rural MO and AR and adapt their ways as mine for sure. Adapting will be a matter of seasons as most everything else is the same. If liking to fish and play in the garden dirt is a sin, then I'm guilty as charged. Those who haven't had a real education in what it takes to feed America would be in for a rude awakening if one day those rural types just up and went on strike like we hear of in the big cities. Then maybe they would receive a little more respect for their way of life. Blue collar farm boys don't deserve the rap they get all to often. My 2¢. Again.

[earthshaper]

Lets not mix our netative names for our social groups. A redneck is a working, rural, family oriented, white man, who is proud of his family, home and job. One must not confuse this with white trash, hillbilly or oilfield trash. In some cases the can be overlap, but not all four classes can apply to any one person. I am a college educated, oilfield trash, redneck hillbilly. I will keep my american 4X4 because there is no such thing as a good vehicle, so i will drive my american cars.

[transplantedtexan]

Even the best movies and books have critics. Mostly those that don't understand. Sounds like the poeple that are bashing the rednecks might have found something better to do with there time. If I don't like it I stay away, and if I look for a falt in something I can find it. Just watch the video Redneck Yacht Club and if you don't think you would like that for a weekend you can't be happy.

[Ciaerin]

Originally Posted by earthshaper

Lets not mix our netative names for our social groups. A redneck is a working, rural, family oriented, white man, who is proud of his family, home and job. One must not confuse this with white trash, hillbilly or oilfield trash. In some cases the can be overlap, but not all four classes can apply to any one person. I am a college educated, oilfield trash, redneck hillbilly. I will keep my american 4X4 because there is no such thing as a good vehicle, so i will drive my american cars.

you were exactly right up until this point... A redneck is a working, rural, family oriented, white man, i have met many redneck coloreds as well .

[ajf131]

A redneck to me is one who lives in the hills/mountains, who is very poor, is into hunting, lives in a trailer, is missing a lot of teeth...these types of people who best fit the stereotypical definition are found mainly in all of Appalachia (extending up to Upstate New York) and in the Ozarks. I honestly can't even say you can generalize the definition as there are many different types of rednecks around the country. There are rednecks in the Ozarks, rednecks in Appalachia (Northern and Southern), rednecks in Montana...and there are your countryside rednecks. I think hillbillies are probably the stereotypical rednecks, but not all hillbillies are rednecks, and not all rednecks are hillbillies...and not all rednecks are northerners, and not all rednecks are Southerners. So I guess if you want my opinion....I guess a redneck is someone who is poor and rural and uneducated...and often racist...defining a redneck is really impossible because they are not limited to one region, and they differ in each region they are in. So to be honest, how one defines a redneck is strictly one's opinion. I personally think a redneck is "white trash," but again i'm not even sure myself how you define one because they seem to be everywhere.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by CurlyAngel

I might be describing one, but I dont agree, like I said before I live in the country, and I met people from different levels of income. Half of the people that I know are rednecks, and those that you call country gentleman are also rednecks. In different words if your trying to say that the country is good and reckneck is bad, I really dont understand you since your trying to give your point of view in a negative way. I know that we got some issues. But doesnt everybody who is representing themselves from a certain group. Wether is a Income, ethnic, religious, or other groups. So everybody got their positive and negative point of view. and like I say I like to give my point of view in a positive way.

you are right, being a Redneck has nothing to do with money, or if you live in the city or rural country; it is a mind set..

[zz4guy]

Originally Posted by msjbrent

I know the term redneck in Alabama and it is nothing to be proud of. Here it goes:

Poverty stricken, obese, uneducated, never really been anywhere, live in a small rural Southern town, Wal Mart is your Friday night, your Fried Chicken and maybe if your really something, your low paying hourly job and you can't afford clothes that aren't from a second hand store.

Nope- nothing to be proud of.

Unless you are from Alabama.

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by ajf131

A redneck to me is one who lives in the hills/mountains, who is very poor, is into hunting, lives in a trailer, is missing a lot of teeth...these types of people who best fit the stereotypical definition are found mainly in all of Appalachia (extending up to Upstate New York) and in the Ozarks.

Nope...those are hillbillies. The better educated from that area are mountaineers.