define redneck??? (Ozark, Northwoods, Cave: refrigerator, suite, activities)

[joee]

I know this may sound funny, but I have been out of the states for many years, and it seems like redneck is now something people are proud of. In my time it was not. Has the definition changed from days of old: racist, under-educated, falstaf beer drinking{only}, ect... Is it political?? Demographic?? WHAT???
We are returning to live in Mo. and hope to be enlightened before our return.

I must ask just how is knowing what others think a redneck is going to help with your returning to the states.

It just amazes me how people love to put labels on others if they are different, what other pastimes do some have other than to put others down I wonder, those that belittle need to first look closely at themselves.

[Silvermouse]

Originally Posted by joee

I must ask just how is knowing what others think a redneck is going to help with your returning to the states.

It just amazes me how people love to put labels on others if they are different, what other pastimes do some have other than to put others down I wonder, those that belittle need to first look closely at themselves.

Excellent post! Rep for you.

[tdnp]

fairly simple .. RED NECK.. someone who works with his/her hands for a living usually outdoors or in the elements. Hence RED NECK(from the sun). Something to be VERY proud of.

[zz4guy]

Originally Posted by tdnp

fairly simple .. RED NECK.. someone who works with his/her hands for a living usually outdoors or in the elements. Hence RED NECK(from the sun). Something to be VERY proud of.

Working their hands to the bones because they can't find better work.

[Nomadicus]

Honest hands working for honest pay is a great way... Some one has to feed the intellects not to say a lot of intellects I know aren't rednecks too. I've see some very educated folks out bucking bales in season. And I have a few friend is their life depended on being self sufficient instead of having a supermarket to shop at would starve to death literally. Wall Street is not for everyone. Neither is bucking bales and milking cows and planting corn... Just something to think about. Everyone is a piece of a very large puzzle....

[Florida Redneck]

[SIZE=3]I would not say that Rednecks work their hands to the bones because they can't find better work nor would I say they usually work outdoors for the most part they are just hard working people doing whatever it takes to put a roof overhead, food on the table and cloths on their back . I am considered a Redneck and I work as a computer engineer. Most Rednecks I have met are Rednecks because they live life by their terms. If they are hungry and have no money they fish or hunt (no redneck misses a meal). If something breaks and they do not have the right part they fix it with whatever they have. As far as saying they can not find better work who can in the economy we live in today. One thing is for sure, most of the people who are called Rednecks have the ability to support themselves and their loved ones. [/SIZE]

[tdnp]

Florida Redneck,

I would have to disagree, you may be self sufficient, and be able to fish and find your own meals and fix your items but as for the Red neck portion I will have to stick by my original statement as to the Red Neck meaning a person working in the elements and having a true Red Neck.

Many people want to be Red Neck, just like a few years back people wanted to buy a truck and be a cowboy but there are distinct differences.

Just my 2 cents.

[Florida Redneck]

[SIZE=3]Tdnp,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]I may not agree with what you say, but I will fight to the death your right to say it. The truth of the matter is that being called a redneck is some other persons’ way to put some one down. Because I am missing a few teeth , weigh in at 300 lbs, like to wear western style clothing, drive a pickup truck, shoot large caliber handguns (S&W 500mag), fish in the summer, hunt in the winter, and being as comfortable in the outdoors as I am in the city. Some clown hung the title redneck on me. In response to that I have a mural on the back window of my pickup truck that depicts a confederate flag with the words AMERICAN BY BIRTH SOUTHERN BY THE GRACE OF GOD embedded into it. On the front of my truck I have a redneck tag just to see how many people I can offend. As I have told someone else, I have been called a lot of things over the course of my life. In 1969 while sitting on a grassy mound in Bethel New York listening to Country Joe McDonald (Bethel was the original location for Woodstock) I was referred to as a long hair hippie freak. My first real job was working in a scrap yard at which time I was called the dog because I was a hard worker. I was an eagle scout so I have always enjoyed the outdoors. Because of this for a long time I was called a cracker and as of late a redneck (new term for cracker). At present I manage a 6000 node LAN for a government defense contractor, and those around me call me sir. In truth I am still that guy that likes the outdoors and people still call a redneck so why not is proud of it.[/SIZE]

[ajf131]

Originally Posted by Nomadicus

Honest hands working for honest pay is a great way... Some one has to feed the intellects not to say a lot of intellects I know aren't rednecks too. I've see some very educated folks out bucking bales in season. And I have a few friend is their life depended on being self sufficient instead of having a supermarket to shop at would starve to death literally. Wall Street is not for everyone. Neither is bucking bales and milking cows and planting corn... Just something to think about. Everyone is a piece of a very large puzzle....

Well if milking cows is not considered a redneck thing, than the Ozarks are definitely not classifiable as being strictly full of rednecks. The Ozarks are full of many dairy farms as well as cattle ranching and are excellent for vineyards and wineries. Most Missouri Ozarkians that I know or have encountered, while they are more laid back in some areas especially around Branson, are honest, decent, and hard-working people. Joplin, Missouri and Springfield are not laid back...they are hard-working cities. True hillbillies/rednecks IMO don't venture out of their own backyards very much and don't do much of anything. However, I'm not going to lie that the Ozarks have a lot of people living in trailers and do have their share of rednecks, but to be honest, rednecks and hippies are all over the country...as I have said before, I don't really think you can define a redneck or put them strictly in one region. Not all hillbillies are rednecks, and not all rednecks are hillbillies, and hillbillies and recognize exist in all parts of the country.

[Nomadicus]

Originally Posted by ajf131

Well if milking cows is not considered a redneck thing, than the Ozarks are definitely not classifiable as being strictly full of rednecks. The Ozarks are full of many dairy farms as well as cattle ranching and are excellent for vineyards and wineries. Most Missouri Ozarkians that I know or have encountered, while they are more laid back in some areas especially around Branson, are honest, decent, and hard-working people. Joplin, Missouri and Springfield are not laid back...they are hard-working cities. True hillbillies/rednecks IMO don't venture out of their own backyards very much and don't do much of anything. However, I'm not going to lie that the Ozarks have a lot of people living in trailers and do have their share of rednecks, but to be honest, rednecks and hippies are all over the country...as I have said before, I don't really think you can define a redneck or put them strictly in one region. Not all hillbillies are rednecks, and not all rednecks are hillbillies, and hillbillies and recognize exist in all parts of the country.

There must be at least 2 dozen different varieties of rednecks. Some may milk those cows and some may not. I knew a really fine man and good friend from MO who owned a small family dairy. He was far from what we would normally think of as a redneck. He worked hard for his livelyhood and was a special friend. He had no hobbies or traits of what we so often see in those who call themselve redneck. Down the road a few miles it was just the opposite on another dairy. Dairy farmers seldom have the luxury of hunting, fishing, and having backyard BBQ bashes with friends. It's about the person not the career. And you are right. America is blessed with rednecks from coast to coast and border to border. Oh and some of them are outstanding citizens and some I would not holster my 38 around. My 2¢ for the moment.