[OhBeeHave]

I just wanted to take a moment and say thank you to the folks on this board who make it a pleasant place. Everyone here has been helpful, open-minded and truly a pleasure to interact with.

Thanks!

[harry chickpea]

Word to the wise - never say that to native Vermonters. It makes them feel like they've somehow given away the farm, and they immediately clam up or start acting cantankerous. Grumble, grumble, touchie-feelie doo-gooders, mumble, mumble, act nice and the flatlanders invade, mumble... not so great a board... gotta go shovel some... snow, freezin my butt off and he calls it a pleasant place, interacting with those town plows ain't a pleasure, grrr. (sound of scraping snow shovel recedes into silence)

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

Word to the wise - never say that to native Vermonters. It makes them feel like they've somehow given away the farm, and they immediately clam up or start acting cantankerous. Grumble, grumble, touchie-feelie doo-gooders, mumble, mumble, act nice and the flatlanders invade, mumble... not so great a board... gotta go shovel some... snow, freezin my butt off and he calls it a pleasant place, interacting with those town plows ain't a pleasure, grrr. (sound of scraping snow shovel recedes into silence)

Message received! (Eating crow)
A simple thank you ought to suffice, I s'pose.

[harry chickpea]

"Message received! (Eating crow)
A simple thank you ought to suffice, I s'pose."

You don't have to eat crow (although I've heard the real thing tastes pretty good, like chicken). Welcome to backwoods Vermont humor. It does take some getting used to, but aside from pulling the leg, it usually contains a kernal of... something. Sometimes it can take a lifetime to figure out just what that something is. Sometimes not.

Seriously, the way it used to be in Vermont, understatement was an art form. As Francis Coulburn related, the hurricane of '38 came through and blew down trees, tore out power lines, and two Vermonters were sitting in front of a general store as the storm passed. One of them commented to the other, "A might airey out tonight, ain't it?" When the power went out in the entire northeast kingdom, the other commented back to the first chair warmer, "Must be a frog got stuck in the (water)wheel."

Back to your thread starting post. An effusive Vermonter would have, when pressed, said something like "nice folks." It tends to make for short, pithy conversations. Here is a sample one, with the long unstated section in parentheses.

"How are you?" (I heard you were in the hospital for a week, are you OK?)

"Good, yourself?" (I survived it, don't want to seem like I'm only thinking about myself, so I'll ask how you are.)

"Good." (Glad to hear it. Since you are not going on about it, I know you are back to normal.)

"Well, gotta be goin."(I hate long conversations and don't want to talk about my hospital stay.)

"Yep." (I understand. I respect your privacy.)

That may seem like an exaggeration, but I've witnessed exchanges similar to it and later heard the long version of what the conversation was about, as discussed between husband and wife.

One positive aspect to this type of communication is that it makes kids who grow up with parents like this very aware of body language and other clues to what is really being said. Politicians don't stand a chance when scrutinized like this, and even if less than fully informed on issues, Vermonters tend to vote smart.

[1luvvt]

harry that was very funny(translation- ROFLMAO)
i also agree with ohbeehave, the people on this forum are very informative and helpful.

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by 1luvvt

harry that was very funny(translation- ROFLMAO)
i also agree with ohbeehave, the people on this forum are very informative and helpful.

(Watch what you say -- we're letting our flatlander show!)

[1luvvt]

Originally Posted by OhBeeHave

(Watch what you say -- we're letting our flatlander show!)

i stand out anyway,LOL no use fighting it.

[GypsySoul22]

Harry, you are hilarious.

We always say how understated everyone is here...it's that English thing as my husband calls it..British people are generally the same. (I lived there, and it is true to some extent).