Texas being excluded from the South (Houston, Dallas: living in, restaurant, move to)

[Saintmarks]

As a native Georgian who has lived in Texas for 18 years of my adult life (3years in the 80s and then the last 15) I find it amusing that Texans have to distance themselves from being southern. It is just as southern as any other southern state.

Seceded to become part of the Confederacy
Slave holding state
Southern accent
Agrarian history
Sweet Tea country
Bible Belt all the way (every town has a First Baptist Church)

The biggest difference in Dallas and Atlanta is the topography. Flatter and less green. Both are booming sunbelt cities filled with transplants but are southern in their core.

Yes, there are differences. Being a border state with Mexico, the Hispanic culture has a long history in Texas. The Cowboy culture. Big Oil. But Cajun culture in Louisiana is totally unique to Louisiana and that doesn't make it any less southern. Just because a southern state has unique features the other states don't have doesn't make it any less southern. Birmingham and its topography and history in the Steel Industry make it feel more like Pittsburgh than it does Mobile in its own state.

Texans, you are as southern as the come. You just have some Mexican spice and a twist of West that other southern states don't have.

[CookieSkoon]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

As a native Georgian who has lived in Texas for 18 years of my adult life (3years in the 80s and then the last 15) I find it amusing that Texans have to distance themselves from being southern. It is just as southern as any other southern state.

Seceded to become part of the Confederacy
Slave holding state
Southern accent
Agrarian history
Sweet Tea country
Bible Belt all the way (every town has a First Baptist Church)

The biggest difference in Dallas and Atlanta is the topography. Flatter and less green. Both are booming sunbelt cities filled with transplants but are southern in their core.

Yes, there are differences. Being a border state with Mexico, the Hispanic culture has a long history in Texas. The Cowboy culture. Big Oil. But Cajun culture in Louisiana is totally unique to Louisiana and that doesn't make it any less southern. Just because a southern state has unique features the other states don't have doesn't make it any less southern. Birmingham and its topography and history in the Steel Industry make it feel more like Pittsburgh than it does Mobile in its own state.

Texans, you are as southern as the come. You just have some Mexican spice and a twist of West that other southern states don't have.

Excellently said.

[Saintmarks]

Originally Posted by CookieSkoon

Excellently said.

I forgot to add the drilled in response to say "yes sir, no sir, yes ma'am, no ma'am" to anyone of age or stature in the community. That's southern.

Add the use of the term Y'all.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

As a native Georgian who has lived in Texas for 18 years of my adult life (3years in the 80s and then the last 15) I find it amusing that Texans have to distance themselves from being southern. It is just as southern as any other southern state.

Seceded to become part of the Confederacy
Slave holding state
Southern accent
Agrarian history
Sweet Tea country
Bible Belt all the way (every town has a First Baptist Church)

The biggest difference in Dallas and Atlanta is the topography. Flatter and less green. Both are booming sunbelt cities filled with transplants but are southern in their core.

Yes, there are differences. Being a border state with Mexico, the Hispanic culture has a long history in Texas. The Cowboy culture. Big Oil. But Cajun culture in Louisiana is totally unique to Louisiana and that doesn't make it any less southern. Just because a southern state has unique features the other states don't have doesn't make it any less southern. Birmingham and its topography and history in the Steel Industry make it feel more like Pittsburgh than it does Mobile in its own state.

Texans, you are as southern as the come. You just have some Mexican spice and a twist of West that other southern states don't have.

Only if you are arrogant enough to ignore all of the other influences that have as much or even more influence on what goes into making Texas, Texas. Not South, not Southwestern, not really anything but Texas.



Said as a native Texan with roots back to pre-Republic and ancestors who came here, some from, some through, the South, and some from up North and who has lived in Texas about three and a half times as long as you have.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

I forgot to add the drilled in response to say "yes sir, no sir, yes ma'am, no ma'am" to anyone of age or stature in the community. That's southern.

Servility to those of stature in the community. That’s southern.

[CookieSkoon]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

Servility to those of stature in the community. That’s southern.

I would challenge this claim.

Would you mind elaborating?

[Soonhun]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

I forgot to add the drilled in response to say "yes sir, no sir, yes ma'am, no ma'am" to anyone of age or stature in the community. That's southern.

Add the use of the term Y'all.

In my experience, people here of all ages say ma'am and sir to any adult, even if said adult is younger or not in a position of higher power. I'm in my young 20s, some people rarely say I look like I am in my late teens, and I have seniors and middle aged people calling me sir.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by CookieSkoon

I would challenge this claim.

Would you mind elaborating?

Sure. Look at the way lower class Southerners fought in the interests of wealthy slave holding planters in the War of the Rebellion. Look at the way so many of the southern working class work against their own interests by being hostile to unions and voting Republican at the behest of the elites. Look at the compliant religiousness of so many and the social and political influence their “pastors” (businessmen who would be running used car lots were they in New Jersey) have over them.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by Parhe

In my experience, people here of all ages say ma'am and sir to any adult, even if said adult is younger or not in a position of higher power. I'm in my young 20s, some people rarely say I look like I am in my late teens, and I have seniors and middle aged people calling me sir.

That’s nice. I’ve no beef with respect for people in general or for those older. I’m polite to people I don’t know and hold doors for people and such. If I insult somebody I hope it’s intentional (credit to Oscar Wilde).

[CookieSkoon]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

Sure. Look at the way lower class Southerners fought in the interests of wealthy slave holding planters in the War of the Rebellion. Look at the way so many of the southern working class work against their own interests by being hostile to unions and voting Republican at the behest of the elites. Look at the compliant religiousness of so many and the social and political influence their “pastors” (businessmen who would be running used car lots were they in New Jersey) have over them.

Ah okay I see where you're coming from. At first I thought you meant the way people treat local pillars with respect and gratitude (fire chiefs, officers, etc.). Which also occurs up here.