East Texas Rednecks (Houston, Tyler, Earth: schools, college, live in)

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by nerdygirly

I know these messages are kinda old but I'm new to this site and felt I needed to comment to this one (can't help myself sometimes) on account of the fact that I live in southeast texas (golden triangle area) and KNOW that it is made up predominatly of rednecks and I mean the term negatively and yet people out hear have 'redneck and proud' bumper stickers! Anyways so my comment to this person's post about the redneckness of this area (sorry If I don't quote this right I've never done it!!) and I'm not trying to argue just disagreeing from my own personal experience...



You mean they will only do all this is you are also a conservative white christian. If you look, talk, or think differently (or at all) this is immediatly untrue. I saw first hand the 'compassion' in the area during Katrina when there were countless protests and all you heard was 'why cant those <insert bad racial slur> go somewhere else (and this was about a week after it happened).



Hmph yeah again I say they don't bother anyone who is exactly like them, try being an atheist or liberal in the area and see how 'left alone' they make you.



Unless you are refering to freedom of religion or seperation of church and state, then they havent the vaguest ideas what you are talking about.

Like I said, if you are not 'one size fits all' you are not treated in the way you discribe! Diversity or open-mindedness is NOT valued, which I think is ONE of the main things that make rednecks rednecks.

I think you are generalizing too much. A few bad eggs are one thing, overall small town people, whether rednecks or whatever you want to call them are the salt of the earth. By the way, I am the farthest thing from a redneck, but I do know plenty of them.

You have a pretty narrow mind about the subject obviously.

Nita

[tstone]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Isn't this painting an entire population with one large brush, and decrying their way of being because it doesn't match yours, which is the very antithesis of open-mindedness?

HA - well I guess this shows rednecks and the enlightened few have more in common than previously thought!

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by nerdygirly

I know these messages are kinda old but I'm new to this site and felt I needed to comment to this one (can't help myself sometimes) on account of the fact that I live in southeast texas (golden triangle area) and KNOW that it is made up predominatly of rednecks and I mean the term negatively and yet people out hear have 'redneck and proud' bumper stickers! Anyways so my comment to this person's post about the redneckness of this area (sorry If I don't quote this right I've never done it!!) and I'm not trying to argue just disagreeing from my own personal experience...

Everyone's personal experience is different, and highly subjective. You KNOW the area is full of rednecks perhaps, because their values differ from yours? Is it possible -- not saying it is -- that your negative experiences have something to do with your own attitude? Have you ever really tried to get to know any of them?

You mean they will only do all this is you are also a conservative white christian. If you look, talk, or think differently (or at all) this is immediatly untrue. I saw first hand the 'compassion' in the area during Katrina when there were countless protests and all you heard was 'why cant those <insert bad racial slur> go somewhere else (and this was about a week after it happened).

LOL Well, my personal experience is that no one ever asked anybody about their religious preference and political ideology before pulling over to help them change a flat tire.

So far as Katrina goes, many of those who relocated did not exactly conduct themselves in saintly fashion.

Hmph yeah again I say they don't bother anyone who is exactly like them, try being an atheist or liberal in the area and see how 'left alone' they make you.

Just out of curiosity, why are you still there? It is obvious the area is not for you. So why remain? But regardless, are you "in their face" about your liberalism and atheism? Funny thing, it has been my experience that most of these "rednecks" don't really care what you are so long as you don't make a point and/or big production about your own superior enlightened world vision. Maybe you bring some of these negative experiences on yourself, reckon?

Unless you are refering to freedom of religion or seperation of church and state, then they havent the vaguest ideas what you are talking about.

Like I said, if you are not 'one size fits all' you are not treated in the way you discribe! Diversity or open-mindedness is NOT valued, which I think is ONE of the main things that make rednecks rednecks.

Ah yes, the magic words. Diversity and open-mindedness (and lets not forget tolerance, either! LOL) when applied by those who tout it as the highest virtue, are usually very selective in its application. As in the classic line from Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking Glass (Alice in Wonderland)": When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in a rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean --- neither more nor less."

And problem is, those who use it most? They generally practice it the least, when it comes to those who disagree with them. Yeah, I bet all those "rednecks" (as you define negatively) would be most welcome and accepted in those areas of the country which most pride themselves on "acceptance."

[seattlerain]

Originally Posted by CmonFolks!

The term Redneck has taken on new meanings throughout the generations. The etymological derivation is meaningless. It is safe to say that in order to be a shining example of today's redneck, you should meet the following requirements:

1. Poorly educated
2. Low on overall affluence
3. Rural in geographic location
4. Extreme right in conservative beliefs
5. Intolerant to human diversity
6. Congregates in the deep South
7. Usually has a flavor for NASCAR
8. Uncultured or unworldly
9. Partakes in poor habits (e.g. diet, chewing tabaccie, etc.)
10. Thinks living well is living cheap
11. Occupies a trailer home or rambler
12. Owns a pickup truck
13. Excessive pride about irrelevant ideas
14. Blue collar (working class)
15. Inarticulate
16. Shallow in thought process
17. Lack of self awareness
18. Tendency to be reactive and have a chip on their shoulder to compensate for their intellectual inadequacy
19. Tendency to have irrational fears around law enforcement or government. May be rational in the sense they are generally candidates for arrest due to unlawful conduct stemming from a tendency for rash behavior.
20. Tendency to be involved with hate groups or organized extemist or radicalist movements

Generally, rednecks exist all over the country - mostly in rural, less affluent areas. But, when you get right down to it, most Texans will always deliver on perfecting the redneck stereotype. Texas takes on those redneck qualities that are generally frowned upon world-wide, adopts them, and brands them as something solely Texan. This is a form of socialized ignorance. What makes South Texans and East Texans offensive on top of the stereotype is the added compulsive and compensatory bravado that accompanies the socialized ignorance. Only when Texans are made self-aware and insecure of their stereotype does the bravado actually increase. Generally, this is a drain for our civilization to have to endure as it only perpetuates and reinforces existing negative redneck stereotypes about Texans. This forces a vicious circle that will always make it difficult for Texans to evolve away from their current stereotype as rednecks today.

Are you trying to be a comedian, or do you actually believe all of the "requirements" you listed?

I see nothing wrong with the majority of the requirements you listed...and I hope you realize that the average redneck has no interest in hate groups or organized "extremist" or "radicalist" movements, does not lack self awareness, etc.

Speaking only for myself I'd much rather associate with the average redneck than with somebody with such a skewed opinion.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by seattlerain

Are you trying to be a comedian, or do you actually believe all of the "requirements" you listed?

I see nothing wrong with the majority of the requirements you listed...and I hope you realize that the average redneck has no interest in hate groups or organized "extremist" or "radicalist" movements, does not lack self awareness, etc.

Speaking only for myself I'd much rather associate with the average redneck than with somebody with such a skewed opinion.

how true. I think those who put rednecks down are more narrow minded than the average redneck.

Nita

[Frodo2008]

It seems there will always be lots of stereotypes in the world. The more we try to become politically correct and not stereotype people the more things don't change any. It seems stereotypes are a very natural part of being human. If some group is different than your group then you probably don't understand them so you have a negative impression of them. Understanding is something a lot of humans have always lacked. A lack of understanding and compromise is why man has always been a war making machine.

Like I said before it doesn't really matter if someone is a redneck or a city slicker. If they're rich or they're poor. If they were born in America or some other country. It's all about that personality. Is he cool or is he an a**hole? This is the question that really needs to be asked.

[EasilyAmused]

I'd take a Redneck over a Prius driving, soy latte loving, self-proclaimed educrat,greenie anyday.

[nerdygirly]

I am not anymore 'in people's face' about my beliefs than people here are 'in my face' about going to church or whatever else, why do I have to live in shame and hidden but everyone else can stand out? I do it and I'm stirring up trouble? Not a fair statement at all And I am here because this is my husbands home town and not out of my own personal preference I assure you, he told me we can move in a year or so and I am counting the days hehe! Just a simple, no I do not attend church or no I'm not a republican in idle chat will earn you hours of ridicule and judgement being in a town this small, my 'closed-mindedness' as a few of you claim I have come after several years of being mistreated, badgered, and insulted by these people that are the 'salt of the earth' or whatever. I watched science teachers get ran out of my children's school for refusing to teach the children that the earth was only 6000 years old. I watch my husbands neices and nephews (who are half black) struggle horribly in this area against very bad racism (including coaches during football games pulling some nasty stunts against him). So yes perhaps I am a bit closed-minded to this area but with good reason, not out of hasty sterotyping or bigotted judgements.

Naturally we base everything on our own personal experiences and mine is based on 7+ years in the PTA, being on the board of the football teams for my children, countless charity and fundraising events for young texas democrats, as well as different functions for my children. I never said ALL east texans were rednecks, but the vast majority I have encountered are, and sadly they also are proud to call themselves rednecks. I originally was very excited to move out here, but it was crushed out of me very quickly. People who know me know I'm the most open-minded person in the world, and I know every now and again someone out here surprises me (I do have a couple friends!).

Like I mentioned about Katrina victims, those comments happened immediatly after people came over, and one of my best friends was one of them. Most of the ones in this area didnt bother anyone. It was color brought to the area that most people minded, plain and simple (again I heard MANY people say so real loud so everyone could hear).

Like I said in my first post I am just stating my personal opinon on the vast difference of opinon an outsider to this area can have vs one who 'is one of there own'. Like I mentioned as long as you think, look, and act like them it's cool. I don't, so rudeness begins. . I was born and raised in Las Vegas, lived in California and Phoenix and I was never treated more rudely than I have out here and I am the same person here I was there. So maybe you think you need to be another east texas person showing how rude east texans can be and how rednecks act, but it's cool I already know from experience.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by nerdygirly

I am not anymore 'in people's face' about my beliefs than people here are 'in my face' about going to church or whatever else, why do I have to live in shame and hidden but everyone else can stand out? I do it and I'm stirring up trouble? Not a fair statement at all And I am here because this is my husbands home town and not out of my own personal preference I assure you, he told me we can move in a year or so and I am counting the days hehe! Just a simple, no I do not attend church or no I'm not a republican in idle chat will earn you hours of ridicule and judgement being in a town this small, my 'closed-mindedness' as a few of you claim I have come after several years of being mistreated, badgered, and insulted by these people that are the 'salt of the earth' or whatever. I watched science teachers get ran out of my children's school for refusing to teach the children that the earth was only 6000 years old. I watch my husbands neices and nephews (who are half black) struggle horribly in this area against very bad racism (including coaches during football games pulling some nasty stunts against him). So yes perhaps I am a bit closed-minded to this area but with good reason, not out of hasty sterotyping or bigotted judgements.

Naturally we base everything on our own personal experiences and mine is based on 7+ years in the PTA, being on the board of the football teams for my children, countless charity and fundraising events for young texas democrats, as well as different functions for my children. I never said ALL east texans were rednecks, but the vast majority I have encountered are, and sadly they also are proud to call themselves rednecks. I originally was very excited to move out here, but it was crushed out of me very quickly. People who know me know I'm the most open-minded person in the world, and I know every now and again someone out here surprises me (I do have a couple friends!).

Like I mentioned about Katrina victims, those comments happened immediatly after people came over, and one of my best friends was one of them. Most of the ones in this area didnt bother anyone. It was color brought to the area that most people minded, plain and simple (again I heard MANY people say so real loud so everyone could hear).

Like I said in my first post I am just stating my personal opinon on the vast difference of opinon an outsider to this area can have vs one who 'is one of there own'. Like I mentioned as long as you think, look, and act like them it's cool. I don't, so rudeness begins. . I was born and raised in Las Vegas, lived in California and Phoenix and I was never treated more rudely than I have out here and I am the same person here I was there. So maybe you think you need to be another east texas person showing how rude east texans can be and how rednecks act, but it's cool I already know from experience.

for your sake I hope the times goes by fast, so you can move to someplace that accepts your close mindedness. You are generalizing. You still haven't given an example of someone refusing to help you if your views do not agree. As for your friend during Kartina, of course none of us know the details so I will drop that subject. I bet you don't think, act or resemble people where you live and I bet you don't flaunt your views. Of course you don't. I hope your husband can move you to an area filled with libs and certainly no rednecks. Rednecks are awful people!! Again, like others, I will take those rednecks anyday. Sure some have more prejudise than others but they are still the salt of the earth. I have a grandson in law that is one; there is nothing he wouldn't do for a friend or stranger. Do I agree with all his views? Nope, but at least his life isn't all about "ME" like so many people I know.

Nita

[nerdygirly]

I am generalizing based on the topic of this post, it asked for people's OPINONS about east texas having rednecks, and in the area I currently live in in east texas it does (and like I have mentioned most are happy to shout it from the top of buildings).

Like I mentioned I do not see how I am 'close-minded' other than you desperatly want to use my own words against me even if the definition doesnt apply and it makes NO sense! My best friend is a SERIOUSLY conservative republican Catholic, so yeah I am not the biast one and I respect people's beliefs, which is much more than I have been shown by the majority of people here. I NEVER SAID, "ALL OF THE SOUTH ARE HATEFUL BIGOTED REDNECKS AND HORRIBLE PEOPLE." THAT would be generalizing! I simply said FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES living in this area the majority of people I have encountered are. I have witnessed people getting an ax thrown at them for stating they wouldnt eat pork at a BBQ cause they were Jewish. I mean really?!? I know not EVERY single person out here is like that but again FROM MY EXPERIENCE I have seen more racism and hatred and close-mindedness out here than anywhere else I have lived.

And an example is my son being ostricized and shunned from local sports teams and people at school for 'not attending church events'. The salt of the earth treating a young child in this manner repeatedly for his mothers values and beliefs, its a marvelous site really. Let me see your children be treated the way mine have and see if you don't change your tune, but I mean since I'm all about 'me' I suppose I don't really care anyways . Is that a good enough 'example' for you? I mean besides all the other examples i mentioned previously that don't count.

I think it's ridiculous that I make a comment on my personal experiences and am immediately attacked over and over! So this proves my point as to the kind of people in this area.