Do you consider Virginia to be part of "The South"? (Richmond: 2009, gated)

[back2dc]

Originally Posted by Richmonder27

Shhhhhh.. Its best to let people like that live in their delusional little world, lol

Yes, please stay in yours...

[KayX]

I agree, Northern Va is not the south. I went to college in a rural part of va --and everyone made fun of the term "NOVA"--like us northern virginians thought we were from our own state. Almost all of southern va feels like the south (except the va beach area). Lots of southern accents can be found in richmond, f'burg, (and definitely the western and central parts of the state). I also noticed that people living in northern va (as a whole) are offended by the use of the confederate flag. If a kid in my high school (South Lakes in Reston) had a confederate flag bumper sticker they would most likely get their @ss kicked. I was quite shocked to see it everywhere in my college town. (but I was reassured by the locals that it represents "southern pride"). So back to my point....NOVA certainly doesnt feel like the south!

[Richmonder27]

Originally Posted by KayX

I agree, Northern Va is not the south. I went to college in a rural part of va --and everyone made fun of the term "NOVA"--like us northern virginians thought we were from our own state. Almost all of southern va feels like the south (except the va beach area). Lots of southern accents can be found in richmond, f'burg, (and definitely the western and central parts of the state). I also noticed that people living in northern va (as a whole) are offended by the use of the confederate flag. If a kid in my high school (South Lakes in Reston) had a confederate flag bumper sticker they would most likely get their @ss kicked. I was quite shocked to see it everywhere in my college town. (but I was reassured by the locals that it represents "southern pride"). So back to my point....NOVA certainly doesnt feel like the south!

Certainly not today, no. 40 or 50 years ago, yes.

[Skapov]

Originally Posted by back2dc

So the South starts at Richmond.

Regardless of where the culture border lies in Virginia, NoVa and the DC area represent everything the South is NOT: international in character, highly educated, extremely wealthy, mass transit friendly, culturally liberal, open-minded, not overly religious, politically Democratic...

With all these obvious facets that characterize Northern Virginia only deepening in influence, isn't it rather odd that we're actually having this debate as to whether this is the South?

It's not...

EXACTLY! My family is from Arkansas and that's where I spent the last 2yrs. of high school, however I was mostly raised in Virginia Beach since dad was in the Navy. Then I went to college in Illinois and later lived in Texas and now Maryland, and just bought a house in NOVA.

NOVA is in no way the South! There are parts of Central Illinois that are more Southern than Nova. Neither was Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads area "the South". Southerners are simple-minded people who don't value education and are anti-intellectual, that's why they're still so poor and ignorant. Yet, they still vote Republican against their own economic interests (Repubs hate the poor working-classes) because of deep-seated racism and bigotry.

Perhaps the person who said Richmond is where the South begins had it right, although no part of Virginia is anywhere near the "Deep South" in terms of character/education/open-mindedness.

[Richmonder27]

Originally Posted by Skapov

EXACTLY! My family is from Arkansas and that's where I spent the last 2yrs. of high school, however I was mostly raised in Virginia Beach since dad was in the Navy. Then I went to college in Illinois and later lived in Texas and now Maryland, and just bought a house in NOVA.

NOVA is in no way the South! There are parts of Central Illinois that are more Southern than Nova. Neither was Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads area "the South". Southerners are simple-minded people who don't value education and are anti-intellectual, that's why they're still so poor and ignorant. Yet, they still vote Republican against their own economic interests (Repubs hate the poor working-classes) because of deep-seated racism and bigotry.

Perhaps the person who said Richmond is where the South begins had it right, although no part of Virginia is anywhere near the "Deep South" in terms of character/education/open-mindedness.

Wow, that is the most ignorant think I think I have ever read. Perhaps YOU need to further YOUR education.

You are talking about Class differences. You dont think the South has anyone who isn't poor???

You think poverty and education has anything to do with this??

First of all, Virginia was never the Deep South-- but it is part of the Old South. But I disgaree with your asssement that somehow education and such have to do with this. Southern in general- is a more mellow, laid back friendlier way of life. Not just education. But manners, and good breeding.

My Southern parents have college educations- my father was a Budget Director for a Fortune 500 Company in Fairfax.

There are lots of uneducated people in Upstate NY and Western Mass. You think that is Southern?

And NOVA IMO is lightly Southern. I grew up in NOVA, and I consider myself definitely a Southerner. My family is also from Richmond and points South. Richmond is a truly Southern city if ever there was one.

You are talking about class , not Southern.

[KeyserSoze]

Originally Posted by KayX

Lots of southern accents can be found in richmond, f'burg, (and definitely the western and central parts of the state).

Never heard a Southern accent in Fredericksburg.

[KeyserSoze]

Originally Posted by Skapov

EXACTLY! My family is from Arkansas and that's where I spent the last 2yrs. of high school, however I was mostly raised in Virginia Beach since dad was in the Navy. Then I went to college in Illinois and later lived in Texas and now Maryland, and just bought a house in NOVA.

NOVA is in no way the South! There are parts of Central Illinois that are more Southern than Nova. Neither was Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads area "the South". Southerners are simple-minded people who don't value education and are anti-intellectual, that's why they're still so poor and ignorant. Yet, they still vote Republican against their own economic interests (Repubs hate the poor working-classes) because of deep-seated racism and bigotry.

Perhaps the person who said Richmond is where the South begins had it right, although no part of Virginia is anywhere near the "Deep South" in terms of character/education/open-mindedness.

Pot, meet kettle.

[fittmom1]

I'm from South Carolina (Beaufort). I don't consider Northern VA to be the South, but I do feel that once you are south of Williamsburg, the people are seemingly more like people from the south. I think the people of N. VA act a lot like yankees....Not as friendly, not as warm, (not all, so don't get offended).

[Richmonder27]

Originally Posted by KeyserSoze

Never heard a Southern accent in Fredericksburg.

You must not get around much. Of course they do. But to them its not an "accent" . Are you saying that they sound like Yankees?

Lol. Some of the deepest drawls actually come from Fredericksburg- sometimes I hear more real Virginians in F'burg than in Richmond!

Anyways, I digress. I'm a native of Northern Virginia and I have been told by Northerners and Southerners a like that I have a Southern "accent". I take it as a compliment!

[Richmonder27]

Originally Posted by fittmom1

I'm from South Carolina (Beaufort). I don't consider Northern VA to be the South, but I do feel that once you are south of Williamsburg, the people are seemingly more like people from the south. I think the people of N. VA act a lot like yankees....Not as friendly, not as warm, (not all, so don't get offended).

Richmond is more Southern than Williamsburg or Hampton Roads, IMO. Williamsburg and Hampton Roads has a lot of transplants.

I am a Native NOVAn- and no, I dont take offense at what you say. NOVA is just too transient an area to be "Southern". Although, I consider myself a Southerner, as my family has been in Virginia since the 1600s - and also other parts of the South.