[swampyankee]

As a field sales manager, I have been moved around by my company for decades. I've lived all over Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, and am now settled on Cape Cod. I also lived in Hillsboro, West Virginia back in the early 90s.

Therefore, I can answer your question when it comes to rednecks.

Vermont has far, far fewer of them. The problem in Vermont is with a small population of angry, low-income natives who fall into the 15 to 23 year-old category. They're bored, armed, on meth, and dislike outsiders.

These goofs are petty criminals who usually grow out of it and get a job. If you don't appear to have more money than you need, and you're unlikely to be targted.

The other problem is with scum from Boston who like to visit. They bring their 4-wheelers and go macho berserko tearing things up. But they're few and far between and easily avoided.

For the most part, because it's hard to survive in Vermont, you're dealing with a highly intelligent, self-sufficient population. There's no "easy living" in Vermont - unlike eastern Tennessee, for example.

[ab8mi]

..
We have enjoyed the redneck jokes for years. It's time to take a reflective look at the core beliefs of a culture that values home, family, country and God. If I had to stand before a dozen terrorists who threaten my life, I'd choose a half dozen or so rednecks to back me up. Tire irons, squirrel guns and grit -- that's what rednecks are made of. I hope I am one of those. If you feel the same, pass this on to your redneck friends. Ya'll know who ya' are...

You might be a redneck if: It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, "One nation, under God."

You might be a redneck if: You've never protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places.

You might be a redneck if: You still say "Christmas" instead of "Winter Festival."

You might be a redneck if: You bow your head when someone prays.

You might be a redneck if: You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem.

You might be a redneck if: You treat Viet Nam vets with great respect, and always have.

You might be a redneck if: You've never burned an American flag.

You might be a redneck if: You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

You might be a redneck if: You respect your elders and expect your kids to do the same.

You might be a redneck if: You'd give your last dollar to a friend.

God Bless the USA!

May the LORD bless you & yours..............

[pucabear]

Originally Posted by ab8mi

..
We have enjoyed the redneck jokes for years. It's time to take a reflective look at the core beliefs of a culture that values home, family, country and God. If I had to stand before a dozen terrorists who threaten my life, I'd choose a half dozen or so rednecks to back me up. Tire irons, squirrel guns and grit -- that's what rednecks are made of. I hope I am one of those. If you feel the same, pass this on to your redneck friends. Ya'll know who ya' are...

You might be a redneck if: It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, "One nation, under God."

You might be a redneck if: You've never protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places.

You might be a redneck if: You still say "Christmas" instead of "Winter Festival."

You might be a redneck if: You bow your head when someone prays.

You might be a redneck if: You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem.

You might be a redneck if: You treat Viet Nam vets with great respect, and always have.

You might be a redneck if: You've never burned an American flag.

You might be a redneck if: You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

You might be a redneck if: You respect your elders and expect your kids to do the same.

You might be a redneck if: You'd give your last dollar to a friend.

God Bless the USA!

May the LORD bless you & yours..............

Doing these things makes you a redneck....if so then we need more of them.

[KewGee]

Originally Posted by Pidgett

I have lived in rural Maine (Skowhegan) and rural West Virginia (Mingo Falls) for all my life. That is, almost 50% of my life in Maine, and the rest of it presently in W. Va. While I love living in these rural areas, and love all the benefits one can enjoy from a country life, I have to admit that there has always been a negative side (in my opinion) to being in the "boonies/small towns." That downside I am refering to is rednecks. I am refering to those denizens of rural America who live in broken-down trailers or homes with old junker cars sitting on blocks on the lawn for all to see, old fridges rotting and rusting out back, and all manner of litter and old tires strewn about. These folks take no pride in their communities and are the first ones to complain about where they live as they do not appreciate the unsung benefits of rural living in today's America. They have a most conservative mindset too. They believe painting one's house and tidying up their yards will only make their taxes go up, so they chose to live in squallor as this is better on their wallets. They usually drive the biggest pick-up possible, even if they never haul anything in the back payload. They usually smoke and are often-times big drinkers. They favor NASCAR and monster truck pulls. I won't go on. You know the type.

Does Vermont harbor this species of country dweller as does interior Maine and rural West Virginia? Are they perhaps less noticeable than in my two states? My wife and I are seriously considering Vermont, New Hampshire or perhaps upstate New York to move to due to business reasons primarily, and, secondarily, to get away from the rednecks I have been living near for all my life. BTW, I am expressing an opinion that is mine. It is in no way meant to be a slam on a lifestyle that many endorse and love to live. I am saying, however, that I do not choose to live this way, and wish to live in a part of the country (pun intended) that has less or none of it.

A redneck is not what you've described. A redneck is:

an uneducated white farm laborer, especially from the South

a bigot or reactionary, especially from the rural working class

narrow, prejudiced, or reactionary as a redneck attitude

What you've decribed is just plain lazy and slobby. I never understood how people can live like that and it isn't because they're poor. Even poor people can pick up clutter, trash, junk, and the like but I feel many find it much to exerting.

It kind of reminds me of a show Oprah had on 6 months after Katrina hit New Orleans. People were still complaining about the way they were living and grant it, they were in dire straights. But why couldn't they at least pick up all the junk and debris in their yards and in their homes. Even if their roofs had holes and they weren't able to fix that, why I don't know, but at least they could have made the outside and inside of their living areas nicer. I'm sorry, but I have no pity for laziness and constant complaining about no help. For goodness sake, HELP yourself!!

You didn't hear that about the Tsunami victims. They all worked until they got blisters on their hands. That's what it takes, and I'm afraid America is one of the laziest nations on Earth.

So when one sees clutter, it doesn't mean redneck to me. It means disgustingly lazy and it makes me sick. They are making what could be lovely areas absolutely terrible. It's a crying shame to say the least.

[brian_2]

Originally Posted by Pidgett

While I love living in these rural areas, and love all the benefits one can enjoy from a country life, I have to admit that there has always been a negative side (in my opinion) to being in the "boonies/small towns." That downside I am refering to is rednecks. I am refering to those denizens of rural America who live in broken-down trailers or homes with old junker cars sitting on blocks on the lawn for all to see, old fridges rotting and rusting out back, and all manner of litter and old tires strewn about. These folks take no pride in their communities and are the first ones to complain about where they live as they do not appreciate the unsung benefits of rural living in today's America. They have a most conservative mindset too. They believe painting one's house and tidying up their yards will only make their taxes go up, so they chose to live in squallor as this is better on their wallets. They usually drive the biggest pick-up possible, even if they never haul anything in the back payload. They usually smoke and are often-times big drinkers. They favor NASCAR and monster truck pulls. I won't go on. You know the type.

Deja vu.

Add lots of rocks & brown, sparse landscapes & you've described much of rural Arizona.

BTW, I've heard people here call the local variant 'tech-necks', you know, all the attributes of the redneck + computer skills.

[organica]

Originally Posted by carolinajack

perhaps russia, where there is no diversity. sounds like prejudice to me. I am a black american and if someone talked about poor blacks like this person talks about rednecks-poor whites, they would be labeled close-minded, bigoted racists.

many hispanics, blacks, and whites all over the country live like this person describes. i guess we should round up all undesirables, who dont live the way she/he does and put them in camps like they did with the japanese.

wow, theres your liberal racism for ya

If wanting to avoid ignorant, unhealthy, lazy people (with no mention and not a trace of a thought of their race) is "liberal racism," wow! Anyway, this guy has every right to his preferences. He is a non-smoking, non-heavy-drinking guy who doesn't share an interest in NASCAR. He likes to take care of his home and yard and make them look nice. He doesn't like ignorance, unhealthy behaviors and squalor. He just wants to be around people he shares his values with. Sounds alright by me. How you get rounding people up and putting them in concentration camps from *that*, I don't fathom, but if this is your way of defending the conservative bent, I'll go with the other guy!

[organica]

Originally Posted by swampyankee

For the most part, because it's hard to survive in Vermont, you're dealing with a highly intelligent, self-sufficient population. There's no "easy living" in Vermont - unlike eastern Tennessee, for example.

Thanks for the info, from a couple interested in moving to VT. What is so hard about living in VT? What do you mean by "easy living?" (We live near eastern Tennessee.)

We hope you mean the weather....

[brian_2]

Originally Posted by Paul Dyer

Based on my many travels in New England, I would say NH and Maine have a much higher number of rednecks. You'll see a lot more squalor in those states than in VT, although I did have a mean blonde lady redneck run me off a rural road one time in VT and flip me the bird (showing her IQ) as she sped past. And while I was camping along the Appalachian trail last year in designated wilderness four lowlifes came speeding up a nearby trail on ATV's and breaking the peace with their noise and pollution and carving up the trail with their tires-obviously it was no concern at all to them that they were flagrantly breaking the law as well as showing absolutely no respect at all to other (legal) users of the area. But rednecks love their motorized toys....

Your last line really hits it. If it has an engine that takes fuel it's a redneck magnet, and the faster, bigger, more wasteful & louder the better.

As for ab8mi's 'list' - I know no one personally who ever burned an American (or any) flag, of redneck persuasion or not. Flag burners tend to most often be people on the fringes of our society.

[KoZmiC NinJa]

Originally Posted by Paul Dyer

. But rednecks love their motorized toys....

I think there are few different perceptions of RedNecks. Everyone has
thier idea of what one is varying from harmless rural folks to angry,
ignorant, rebel flagged mouth breathers......
I ride a bicycle for transportation year 'round and experience redneckisms
regularly. Some are funny, some are not so...
At my job(?) they LOVE anything motorized !! I think they would ride
weed wackers if they put seats on them
My co-worker was good naturely goofing on me for riding the bike
and I asked him why he didnt when you can almost see his house from
the building...I was quickly put in my place with " The only pedals I
have use for are GAS PEDALS !!"
Ha ha ha...too funny

[councilor j]

[quote=swampyankee;524753]
Vermont has far, far fewer of them. The problem in Vermont is with a small population of angry, low-income natives who fall into the 15 to 23 year-old category. They're bored, armed, on meth, and dislike outsiders.

These goofs are petty criminals who usually grow out of it and get a job. If you don't appear to have more money than you need, and you're unlikely to be targted. [/QUOTE


Wow,Vermont sure seems crazy being in the top 3 most safest states list,I sure wouldnt want to be in the wrong neighborhood there,before you people start to say stuff like that,just realize what a safe area yall live in.Just one small city in New Mexico with populations under 80,000 have more murders than the state of Vermont in 2005,obviously the rednecks dont commit too much crime there,like in other states,Vermont is a good place,unlike the South or Southwest,The top 3 most dangerous states were Navada,Louisiana, and New Mexico.