Are there racist people there? Redneck, etc..? Please I do not mean to offend anyone. (Charlotte: fit in, houses)

[Miker2069]

Originally Posted by anonymous

I wouldn't call him a redneck. Probably a good ol' boy. Most rednecks I know don't drive brand new F-250's, definitely didn't go to college, and probably wouldn't care if their cigarette smoke offended you. I also don't know a redneck that doesn't hunt or fish. But, like I said, that's just my local definition of it. I'm sure rednecks from Oregon or Long Island or Jersey, if they exist, are completely different.

Pretty much everything else would peg him as your average rural southern guy: country music, BBQ, good manners, goes to the dentist (lol), light drinker, likes football & NASCAR, drives a truck. If everyone who fit that description was a redneck, we'd have to come up with a new word to describe the real rednecks.

But yea, y'all seem like you'd be good neighbors.

Bill Gates, Michael Dell, and Larry Ellison didn't go to college either (or dropped out). They fit one of the criteria and turned out ok

[Niki]

Originally Posted by anonymous

I completely agree with Niki on this. And I think this is a perfectly good discussion - I'm sure this thread can be helpful to people who are not accustomed to these areas and people.

At least where I come from (redneck central), there are different 'groups', and if you've lived around them, you know what the differences are. Hillbillies, rednecks, good ol' boys, hicks, and poor white trash are not all the same thing. Not all are insults. "Good ol' boy" is a compliment, "poor white trash" is an insult. "redneck" can go both ways. Many people self-identify with these words. But they all have variable and slightly different meanings. I believe all are limited to white people. I've heard 'good ol' boy' applied to black folks before, but that's it.

On a side note, it's more common for wealthier southerners to use redneck as a term that means 'anything improper'. I saw a post earlier that expressed this perfectly.

Anyway, I was always taught to show respect towards rednecks. Even though I don't self-identify as one, I believe they are the working class people that make America great. *I almost forgot - NONE of these words imply that someone is racist. I think this idea comes from TV and movies about the south, but I'm not real sure.

I completely agree with this. People I know who are rednecks know they are rednecks. They're not insulted by the word at all. As they shouldn't be.

Originally Posted by AdamAndTerri

WOW is this ever an eye opener! Thanks for all of the input. I think based on what I am reading the term varies a LOT based on where a person is from. To further explain, I'll provide a situation:

"Jayson" is a constructon worker, he gets dirty and wears jeans and T-shirts to work. He drives a 2006 Ford F-250 because of all of his tools (and because he just loves a truck.) He's a skilled carpenter and can literally do anything. He listens to country music 100% of the time, makes good money, pays his bills on time, insists on living out of the hustle and bustle because living 10 ft. from the next door neighbor would drive him insane. The yard and landscaping he does himself and it's always nice. He loves motorsports, football, and does drink beer socially, but the last time he had too much was 2 years ago. He loves his family and kids, is dependable and reliable, insists on his kids having respect and manners. He doesn't go to church because he can't find one that he likes, but he keeps looking. He is just a few college credits from a degree. He visits the dentist regularly. When you need help because your car broke down, he is right there. When you need help moving something because he is the only one with that big truck, he is there as well. He describs himself as somewhat shy/reserved and a man that doesn't like too much life "drama", is simple and uncomplicated. His explaination for racism is "you can't fix stupid." (Meaning the people that are racist) You would never find him at afternoon tea and hates his wife's company Christmas party, but goes with a smile. However, he will host a great BBQ and pool party. He doesn't own a gun and really doesn't want one, doesn't hunt, but doesn't mind if you do....but OH, he does smoke (outside) and has tried quitting 100 times. If it bothers you, he won't smoke because he knows it's offensive. He has 3 dogs...all rescued from the pound and all a different size and all mixed breed. He likes Foxworthy because he thinks he is just plain funny. Is "Jayson" a "redneck"? Here in Arizona, the answer is yes...however, he may need to be careful to tell anyone that in south as it could hold a different meaning based on what I am reading here.

Oh, and "Jayson" is my dear husband, Adam. I wouldn't trade him for all the money in the world. Would you want us living next to you?

He just sounds like "good people" to me, redneck or not.

Originally Posted by anonymous

I wouldn't call him a redneck. Probably a good ol' boy. Most rednecks I know don't drive brand new F-250's, definitely didn't go to college, and probably wouldn't care if their cigarette smoke offended you. I also don't know a redneck that doesn't hunt or fish. But, like I said, that's just my local definition of it. I'm sure rednecks from Oregon or Long Island or Jersey, if they exist, are completely different.

Pretty much everything else would peg him as your average rural southern guy: country music, BBQ, good manners, goes to the dentist (lol), light drinker, likes football & NASCAR, drives a truck. If everyone who fit that description was a redneck, we'd have to come up with a new word to describe the real rednecks.

I agree.

[GuestUser]

I don't care whether you drink, smoke, own pickups, etc NO GUNS (whether its for hunting or for whatever reason - if for hunting, I'll look to shoot you in the butt and see how that makes you feel)...... bottom line if you do not respect people in general regardless of their race, then THAT MAKES YOU A REDNECK!

[Cassie]

Originally Posted by GuestUser

I don't care whether you drink, smoke, own pickups, etc NO GUNS (whether its for hunting or for whatever reason - if for hunting, I'll look to shoot you in the butt and see how that makes you feel)......

Boy howdy,

And I always thought rednecks were people who worked (very hard) outside in T shirts, neck reddened from the sun. I'm mighty proud to know a few of them.

You can pry my gun out of my college educated, certified paralegal, hands. Good luck tryin.' It's saved my life more than once. So much for those stereotypes

P.S. My husband doesn't smoke or drink, but he not only has a Ruger and a Glock but a riot shotgun, too. Would LOVE to see you try to shoot him in the butt. <VBG>

Regards,

Cassie

[Weis02]

I wasn't go to say anything but my dh is a white collar, mid-six figure earner with a college degree who owns 3 guns for hunting. Also into archery hunting.

And you do not shoot an animal in the butt, if you knew anything about the sport, a real hunter will only take what is called an ethical shot. Likes fishing too, big game (tuna and shark)

Also, he eats what he shoots doesn't just kill an animal for the sake of doing in. He drives an SUV too - Doesn't smoke, drinks on occassion (socailly)-
only know what you'd think of him.

[nctarheel]

Originally Posted by GuestUser

Are there racist people in RTP? Rednecks with shotguns, etc..? Please I do not mean to offend anyone and ofcourse rednecks do not know they are rednecks (according to Larry the Cable guy) , however only people who experience these things would know.

I know there are racist people all parts of the World, however some places you may find more than others. So, without upsetting anyone, this is just something I'm curious about whethere there are racist people in RTP and was afraid to ask because you know, these days, everything has to be politically correct.:)

Lets reverse it:

" I dont mean to offend anyone but I am moving to the LA area and arent there alot of thugs and gangsters? Doesnt everyone carry a gun and will shoot you if your not wearing your 'neutral colors' ? Will I be discrminated against since Im white and the minority?"

But then again you get your info from Larry the Cable Guy, oh yeah he fakes his accent.

[mm34b]

Originally Posted by nctarheel

Lets reverse it:

" I dont mean to offend anyone but I am moving to the LA area and arent there alot of thugs and gangsters? Doesnt everyone carry a gun and will shoot you if your not wearing your 'neutral colors' ? Will I be discrminated against since Im white and the minority?"

But then again you get your info from Larry the Cable Guy, oh yeah he fakes his accent.

Isn't "Larry" really from Nebraska?

[Nermal1975]

I've met more racist people in Wisconsin (where we lived before we moved down here) than I've ever met in North Carolina.

Nermal

[Miker2069]

Originally Posted by mm34b

Isn't "Larry" really from Nebraska?

From the IMDB web-site yes, he's from Nebraska.

I saw Larry the cable guy who followed Jeff Foxworthy on Comedy Central yesterday night. When Jeff introduced him, there was a roar of applause, so it seems he's made it work at a national level judging by the 500,000 unit sales of their dvd movie (it bombed in the theaters but did really well in dvd sales). Anyway he was funny, but after a while it was "enough already"

[Bethanytedder]

In the rural areas where some of the poorer people live there are less opportunites for education and the like. But remember one thing, just because you have a bunch of letters behind your name doesn't make you a better person than the blue collar workers that pick up your trash, cook your food when you go out, work on your cars when they are broke down, and police the streets and make places safer for the rest of us. There is a time and place for everything and everyone. No one can be good at everything. The key to being happy anywhere is to realize what you are capable of doing and either getting the education to do it or be happy with yourself when someone proclaims they wouldn't take their car anywhere else to be fixed because you are the best mechanic they have ever seen. Someone has to do the dirty work. And unfortunately these hard working people that keep the world turning don't get near the praise they should. I went to nursing school and graduated after I had 4 children and was 29 years old. But I never forgot the other jobs I held, a typist at DMV, textile inspector, assistant manager at a KFC, telephone operator for the telephone company and later at a doctor's answering service. The doctor's answering service was the last job I did before I was disabled to work. And since I was a nurse, I was very good at this position. I remember one night we were trying to arrange a flight for a transport for heart recipitant. And it was time consuming and difficult for me and for the doctor in deciding which patient should get the heart. Once he made his decision, I made all the arrangements and once it was over with, the company I worked for got a letter from the doctor thanking them for hiring such compassionate and helpful personnel. And I still have the letter today and that was in 1991. My point is don't be afraid to be labeled something that someone might use in a hateful matter. If you are doing something that matters even if it is picking up trash along the road and do it properly, then you are contributing. And being a redneck if you will makes no difference. Just think what would happen if no one picked up the trash or farmed, cooked in restaurants, waitressed, were mechanics, cut the lawns. No one can do it all. And for someone to look down their noses at blue collar workers if simply disrespectable. If you want to look down your nose at some one do it to the ones that are out selling crack to our kids, raping old ladies, murdering people when robberies go bad. Rednecks are nothing more than people that do the jobs that some people wouldn't touch.