Is Orlando a Southern city? (Tampa, Clearwater: elementary school, night club, beach)

[WestbankNOLA]

While we we're on accents, I met some tourists from "Myamee Flowada" this week. Now if that doesn't sound southern. A few things that stood out to me were "three oh fiiigh" (305) and "stun" or "stern" wheel.

[kshe95girl]

Originally Posted by WestbankNOLA

While we we're on accents, I met some tourists from "Myamee Flowada" this week. Now if that doesn't sound southern. A few things that stood out to me were "three oh fiiigh" (305) and "stun" or "stern" wheel.

My next door neighbor, who is from south Florida, has what I would almost term a "gumbo" accent, its so thick.
I have spent over half my life in the south, but his is one of the thickest I have ever heard anywhere, and I've been all over the south.

[FLABoyJ]

Originally Posted by rebelwoman

OK, flaBoyJ, consider other people's oppinions. That is why you posted this thread in the first place. If you didn't live in Florida, you'd see how nonsouthern it seams to other parts of the country.

I'll give ya some characteristics that a southern state must have: There must be more Southern accents around than any other. There also must be the feel of Southern hospitality (Pretty women smilin' @ ya tellin' ya to come on in & have a glass of sweet tea.) Things like that. There must be things like plantations, grits, & a majority population of White people & African American people.

Trust me, I lived in Georgia for 2-3 years. I know Southern states, & Florida is not one.

For 1: More cuban accents than Southern accents (mostly in Southern FL)

2: Hardly any Southern culture that you'll find in Alabama or Georgia (there are some places with lots of Southern culture, but they're very spread out)

3: not as many plantations or farms/rural areas as other southern states

4: only a few places (as you've mentioned before) where you can get grits

5: a total mixture of different cultures (lots of imigrants & not just 1 steady race as is in other southern states)

So please, think 'bout what I'm saying (as well as most of the people on this thread.) Florida is Southern in geography, but mostly diverse in culture. Especially Orlando (not southern @ all!!!)

Jessie

I honestly beleive at first though many people (Not Natives) see Orlando as not southern. Being a native some parts feel southern yes, and then some don't. There is no domination here or any of the state except rural areas in the PANHANDLE not even including the peninsula. Include the Peninsula and there you go, wide variety of southerness spread out in some of the big cities, along some of the coast, and inland. Which is what I DO like about florida.

[Jimmy_Two_Times]

Originally Posted by FLABoyJ

exactly what my first post said I was afraid of an answer like this. Until somebody gives a Valid argument of why Orlando and Miami or Any Florida city (Except Panhandle and Jacksonville) is southern than people from out of state should not classify.

Can you give any reason why Miami and Orlando are not "southern".

If Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama are "southern", than it's stupid to say Florida isn't southern. Look at a friggin map!

[clean_polo]

I actually thought the Spanish Mediterrarean style house was first created in Florida?

[wildwesterner]

Florida is Southern on the map, but it is completely mixed otherwise. This whole arguement is stupid. When you think Orlando, you think about Disney land, fancy restaurants and hotels, and immigrants. Orlando's not Southern, end of story.

[wildwesterner]

Woops, I ment Disney World. LOL shows how much Florida is like California.

[rebelwoman]

Alright, I think I know how to explain it now:

Orlando/Southern FL is like the result of putting Atlanta, NYC, Seattle, & Hollywood in a blender. It's all stirred up & blended together with about every type of person from every corner of the country in a few cities. Miami/Orlando/FT Meyers (+the wrest of Southern & mid Florida) is all mixed & diverse.

You can't say it's not Southern, because there are a few people here & there who are Southern. Don't push it & say that Orlando is Southern, though, because it's not. It's more like California than Alabama in any case.

Tell me if that makes a little more sense please, & let's leave it alone.

Jessie

[kshe95girl]

Originally Posted by clean_polo

I actually thought the Spanish Mediterrarean style house was first created in Florida?

The first ones were built in Florida and California back at the beginning of the 20th century, look at the lovely old houses in Coral Gables. George
Edgar Merrick developed the style on the east coast. I know they exist in the LA area, not sure on locations.
But sometime during the 60's, some developer morphed that style into the dreadful thing known as California contemporary, which has an open floor plan, and is pretty much devoid of any lovely architectural embellishments.
I would love to get my mitts on one of those older Spanish Med style houses, there are very few of them in this area.

[Jimmy_Two_Times]

Originally Posted by wildwesterner

Florida is Southern on the map, but it is completely mixed otherwise. This whole arguement is stupid. When you think Orlando, you think about Disney land, fancy restaurants and hotels, and immigrants. Orlando's not Southern, end of story.

Those are all what Orlando means to tourists. They have NOTHING to do with local culture and how most locals live.