How "Southern" is Charlottesville? (Lynchburg: shop, move to, wealthy)

[meskito]

Originally Posted by blueva

Because "rednecks" and redneck culture is not at all unique to the South- and furthermore- its a class of Southerner. But Southern to me- is genteel, well mannered, cultured, and laid back and warm and friendly

Now- IMO, Southern rednecks with their rudeness, loud speaking voices, and brash manner have more in common with Yankees, lol

yes, yes, YES! Rednecks are everywhere. It's a class of people.

[Mr_Jonas]

Originally Posted by meskito

yes, yes, YES! Rednecks are everywhere. It's a class of people.

Now we get into issues of cultural identity.
I know A LOT of people who would say that a real southerner is proud of the confederate battle flag on his truck, hunts, watches NASCAR, wears t-shirts with just mentioned flag (with a But Light cap). I am sure being a southerner can also be sitting on the front porch drinking ice tea (the ladies will be wearing white gloves) and discussing William Faulkner while waiting for the derby horse race.

Somehow after living 7 years in central Virginia, I seem to run into far, far more of the first category then the second. I run into plenty more Moral Majority kind of folks too…not very laidback, most of the time…

Saying that all southerners are bigoted rednecks is quite crazy. However, in my experience the folks who seems to have a need to stress their southern roots a lot, tend to fit into the stereotype of the redneck.
Why is that?? To me it almost seems like some kind of inferiority complex that manifests by exadurating a stereotype..or…I’m confused. Please explain that to me, being evil , snobby, quasi-communist euro-trash………. :-)

[blueva]

Originally Posted by Mr_Jonas

Now we get into issues of cultural identity.
I know A LOT of people who would say that a real southerner is proud of the confederate battle flag on his truck, hunts, watches NASCAR, wears t-shirts with just mentioned flag (with a But Light cap). I am sure being a southerner can also be sitting on the front porch drinking ice tea (the ladies will be wearing white gloves) and discussing William Faulkner while waiting for the derby horse race.

Somehow after living 7 years in central Virginia, I seem to run into far, far more of the first category then the second. I run into plenty more Moral Majority kind of folks too…not very laidback, most of the time…

Saying that all southerners are bigoted rednecks is quite crazy. However, in my experience the folks who seems to have a need to stress their southern roots a lot, tend to fit into the stereotype of the redneck.
Why is that?? To me it almost seems like some kind of inferiority complex that manifests by exadurating a stereotype..or…I’m confused. Please explain that to me, being evil , snobby, quasi-communist euro-trash………. :-)

And people who stress their Northern roots dont? When I was visiting upstate New York I never seen so many trailer parks in all my life. Lots of pickup trucks, bars, and mullets, lol

I dont think that has ANYTHING to do with Southern. And what you're running to is Country folks- and thats not quite the same as redneck, although most Country folks can be rednecks and most rednecks are from the country

You come to Richmond and see the older people- the women have on pearls and dresses and hats with flowers in their hair, the men in suits. The Yankee retirees walk around in sweat pants and talk about how things are "down here". I think the Yankees are closer to rednecks, lol

[blueva]

How Southern is Charlottesville?
This should answer your question!

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[mel0one]

I'm new to this site and couldn't resist posting on this forum. I was born in AL, but raised in VA, right outside of Charlottesville. Both my mother and father were born and raised in a Southern state, my family does not have any generations from the north. In other words, my family on both sides dates back to the 1700's being from below the Mason-Dixon Line. I have lived in a few northern states in my years as an adult, and I will agree there are some differences. I can only speak for myself. I have a lot of Southern Pride, it doesn't come from a Confederate flag, (although I feel it when I see the flag), or NASCAR, or even the cheap beer! It comes from generations of hardworking, honest, land loving people. People who take pride in how they can take a mound of dirt and turn it into a garden of vegetables. It comes from believing in the Golden Rule, and on the same note, believing in an eye for an eye, and knowing you will reap what you sow. It's living the simple life, and knowing that's what we're supposed to do, helping our neighbor, and standing up for the USA. It is extremely deep, and unless you have that pride, you will never understand it. It amazes me that there is still so much bickering between the North and the South. The South is always pegged as being Racist, yet, I have friends from PA that tell me they still have many neighborhoods that have all Whites, all Blacks, all Germans, etc. and they don't intermingle! I'm 43 years old and have always had many friends with many ethnic backgrounds. I couldn't imagine living in an "all white" neighborhood! I consider a redneck as someone who likes to get drunk and fight, I'm not that. I will fight if I need to, and I have been drunk before, but, I am by no means a redneck. Oh, and I have never been in a fight when I was drunk! Hunting and fishing is a Southern way of life, it goes back to the belief of living off the land. One of the main reasons for the Civil War, although not talked about much, was Agriculture, the North wanted to bring it's factory's to the South, the South felt that the factories would impede their Farming and Agricultural way of life. That is still a fear today. This is one of the reasons that when someone from the North moves or visits the South, they are not always welcome with open arms. There are still a lot of Southerners that are concerned that we may lose our agricultural way of life if to many people that don't understand it come into the area, (although, there is a lot of beautiful country in the North!) Bottom line is, it’s ignorance and fear..Just my opinion.

[Jason0711]

the southeast has a much larger concentration of black people than any other part of the US, we intermingle with each other on a far greater scale than people in the north east. anyone saying otherwise is ignorant

[HardKore5250]

All I can say is ATL (Atlanta) City of fake yawns fake yawning for everything what they think they are better than everbody whats up with that? That ****ed up thats snobby, close minded, and oh yeah fake nice fake people I know I lived here for 7 years too bad I don't have southern accent I would fit right in. So if the North is like that I say the best place to live is out west the laid back people except you got to know where to go. I heard Portland and Seattle people are nice and cool. I need to get back to normal people before i go crazy. I think the post the guy said that he hated Atlanta and moved its a life changing experience im taking his advice. This is crazy I moving to Redmond Washington to work for Nintendo where everyone is real, cool, nice, and normal just like on G4. Bill Gates all the way!

[mel0one]

Originally Posted by Jason0711

the southeast has a much larger concentration of black people than any other part of the US, we intermingle with each other on a far greater scale than people in the north east. anyone saying otherwise is ignorant

Great point, Jason!

[northsouthnorthsouth]

Originally Posted by Jason0711

the southeast has a much larger concentration of black people than any other part of the US, we intermingle with each other on a far greater scale than people in the north east. anyone saying otherwise is ignorant

I agree.

[ConceivedinKY51]

Originally Posted by cassidygal

I'm a native New Englander, and love the Northeast. In particular, I adore Portland, Maine. Generally speaking, I love everything about Portland (and New England in general) ... except the weather. I am looking for a city in a warmer & sunnier part of the country, but which has a culture similar to that of Portland.

A few people I know have recommended Charlottesville, Virginia -- but from what I can tell, Charlottesville is a lot more conservative/Bible Belt than Portland & New England more broadly speaking. Now, I'm not a knee-jerk liberal. But I am looking for someplace where, on average, people are tolerant and open-minded, and where the populace is generally well-educated. If we start a family, I don't want my children exposed on a daily basis to overt racism, sexism, and religious bigotry as part of the culture. I have lived in the South before, and, unfortunately, have found far, far more of those ugly characteristics than in New England.

Any ideas on other warmer/sunnier cities that a Portland-lover would love?

REAL Christians are not RACIST or SEXIST!! Plus, I find it rather repugnant and rude for northerners to "assume" that if they're in the south that's what they're going to encounter. I've lived in the north and the south and the only difference I find is that the racists and sexists in the south are more HONEST about their racism and sexism than northern racists and sexists are.