Do parts of rural Washington feel like a "little Dixie"? (Spokane: vehicle registration, buy)

[Seacove]

Originally Posted by Lamplight

I'm from Tennessee and I can see some similarities. One very noticeable difference is that when I go for a bike ride in the county here, I don't experience constant harassment just for being on a bicycle. In TN I eventually stopped going for long bike rides because it wasn't worth the risk of being assaulted.

Wait - are you saying a person on a bike in Tennessee could get harassed or assaulted? Why?

[Transmition]

Bits of Kitsap county have a very southern feel, as does Snohomish county once you get away from the western cities. I swear that some of them are intentionally aping the accents from Duck Dynasty now.

[PS90]

Originally Posted by 509

However, Wenatchee has a large population of "old" Arkies. Some of those expressions must have carried over....let me think.

I was going to mention this when I read the OP's first post. The immigrants to Washington from Arkansas were the "migrant workers" of the '60's and '70's, moving here for the orchard labor, etc. Some of those guys moved up to the upper echelons of the orchard business and a couple of them are now some of the richest guys in Chelan county. And the guys I know still have the Arkie accent.

However, I'm not Southern, but I don't think Arkansas counts as Dixie.

[BIMBAM]

Originally Posted by PS90

I was going to mention this when I read the OP's first post. The immigrants to Washington from Arkansas were the "migrant workers" of the '60's and '70's, moving here for the orchard labor, etc. Some of those guys moved up to the upper echelons of the orchard business and a couple of them are now some of the richest guys in Chelan county. And the guys I know still have the Arkie accent.

However, I'm not Southern, but I don't think Arkansas counts as Dixie.

It's well south of the Mason-Dixon line though, which is Dixie's namesake.

[freepelican]

Although there may be some superficial similarities, Whatcom, Skagit, and the Olympic Peninsula are very different than the south imo. What would be considered "conservative" in these rural WA areas, would be considered "liberal" or even "very liberal" in the south. Although there are plenty of churches to choose from if you lean this way, rural WA communities don't seem to revolve around churches and their social activities as you find in most rural parts of the south. There is also less emphasis on local food and natural food in the south. "Outdoor activities" are also much more broadly defined in rural WA than in the south. Lots of other cultural differences too. Far more open-minded in the rural WA but more "practical" than you find in some areas that are known for open-mindedness (if that makes sense!).

[509]

Originally Posted by PS90

I was going to mention this when I read the OP's first post. The immigrants to Washington from Arkansas were the "migrant workers" of the '60's and '70's, moving here for the orchard labor, etc. Some of those guys moved up to the upper echelons of the orchard business and a couple of them are now some of the richest guys in Chelan county. And the guys I know still have the Arkie accent.

Most of them came a little earlier than the 60's or 70's. Some of them became pretty powerful politicians.

When we first moved to Wenatchee I was surprised at how welcoming the community was to farm workers and transient population. It definitely was different to what I saw in other communities.

I kept looking for a explanation....from religion to education, etc. etc.

I kept running into people that were very well off and found out that the landed in the community as farm workers. So they never forgot that there but by the grace of God go I.

I guess good people begat other good people in more ways than one.

[Lamplight]

Originally Posted by Seacove

Wait - are you saying a person on a bike in Tennessee could get harassed or assaulted? Why?

I never could quite figure out what must have been going through the minds of all the people who harassed me on a weekly basis, but for the three or so years I commuted to work by bike there I was constantly being honked at, yelled at, having things thrown at me, etc. And I'm not some reckless cyclist, nor was I frequently holding anyone up due to my slower speed. I was (and am) pretty smart about my route and extremely attentive. Very rarely would I inconvenience motorists, and in fact often times drivers would honk or yell at me from the opposite side of the road.

[mkarch]

I noticed a similar thing when I'd go running off campus at LSU.

[belmont22]

Originally Posted by Lamplight

I never could quite figure out what must have been going through the minds of all the people who harassed me on a weekly basis, but for the three or so years I commuted to work by bike there I was constantly being honked at, yelled at, having things thrown at me, etc. And I'm not some reckless cyclist, nor was I frequently holding anyone up due to my slower speed. I was (and am) pretty smart about my route and extremely attentive. Very rarely would I inconvenience motorists, and in fact often times drivers would honk or yell at me from the opposite side of the road.

One time I was minding my own business walking home at night here in Portland and some prick threw eggs at me. He's lucky I didn't have him in for assault, it was surprisingly pretty painful. I think some drivers feel like they are hot sh*t compared to people who aren't on the road.

[Lamplight]

Originally Posted by belmont22

One time I was minding my own business walking home at night here in Portland and some prick threw eggs at me. He's lucky I didn't have him in for assault, it was surprisingly pretty painful. I think some drivers feel like they are hot sh*t compared to people who aren't on the road.

I had a banana thrown at me once. I don't think people realize how much even a soft or fragile item can hurt when thrown from a moving car. Or maybe they do realize it and they're just terrible people.