Question? My sister says West Vorginians are hillbillies? (Charleston, Lewisburg: school, university)

[Robhu]

I wasn't born in W.va but all my ancestor's were. I was only born in Ohio because that is where my Mom happened to be when she had me and I wanted to be close to her when it happened.
I consider myself a hillbilly and am proud of it.
Are hillbilly's racists?
Some probably are. So are folks in New York, Boston, L.A., and Butte Montana.
I am a hillbilly and I don't lie through my tooth.
There are racist's wherever you are.
But as long as you don't mess with a hillbilly, they will probably just live and let live. Don't matter what color you are. If you are white and mess with a white hillbilly you will get the same treatment as any other person.
If you are black and mess with a black hillbilly you will get the same treatment as any other person.
We have a tendancy not to react too quickly.
But it don't matter if you are a preacher or an enscaped convict, if you do us wrong and push us in a corner we will react in such a way that will make you not want to mess with us again.
(Trespassers will be shot, survivers will be shot again)
But then if you are a good person in need we will be the first to offer help. Don't matter what color you are.

[vec101]

Originally Posted by taw1955

OK. I was no trying to be sarcastic in any way. I think the people on this board are very friendly. She lives in Ohio and apprently have met some west virginians first hand. I dont know any west Virginians. I am new to these city forums and some day would like to relocate. Many factors I need to take into consideration. I am from Minnesota and because I know cold weather is normal for Minnesota and I am used to it. Hot weather might be hard for me to adjust to. Thats just an example. I truly dont mean to offend anyone. Sorry!!

I was born and raised in northeastern Ohio, lived there till my late 20's and still have family there. I can tell you this: 50% of the people in Ohio were born or their parents/grandparents were born in WV.

OK, maybe I exaggerate with the percentage - but it is high. It just befuddles me how these people rejoice in looking down on people in WV. I have heard first hand how they belittle the people of WV.

I love WV and call myself "a WV native by choice". Having grown up in Ohio, I can say first hand that Ohioans have no reason to look down on WV. The people of WV are friendlier in every way and the way of life is the greatest.

[xnjgirl]

I am a transplant to WV and in no way are the people here backward or dumb hillbillies. I have lived here for 34 years and all I see are hard working honest people some work in cities and some are farmers(I guess you call them hillbillies) but if it weren't for farmers most of us would go hungry. Most of the farmers I know even have computers and know how to use them plus, still have all their teeth. I'm proud to be a hillbilly!! I moved here with my parents and that was there choice, but I stayed here, married here and raised my children here and that was MY choice. I'm proud to be here. Some of you all should come here and check out our BEAUTIFUL state. Then maybe you wouldn't be so quick to judge. Remember making fun of hillbillies is also racist.

[citybilly]

Originally Posted by Robhu

I wasn't born in W.va but all my ancestor's were. I was only born in Ohio because that is where my Mom happened to be when she had me and I wanted to be close to her when it happened.
I consider myself a hillbilly and am proud of it.
Are hillbilly's racists?
Some probably are. So are folks in New York, Boston, L.A., and Butte Montana.
I am a hillbilly and I don't lie through my tooth.
There are racist's wherever you are.
But as long as you don't mess with a hillbilly, they will probably just live and let live. Don't matter what color you are. If you are white and mess with a white hillbilly you will get the same treatment as any other person.
If you are black and mess with a black hillbilly you will get the same treatment as any other person.
We have a tendancy not to react too quickly.
But it don't matter if you are a preacher or an enscaped convict, if you do us wrong and push us in a corner we will react in such a way that will make you not want to mess with us again.
(Trespassers will be shot, survivers will be shot again)
But then if you are a good person in need we will be the first to offer help. Don't matter what color you are.

Very well said. This, in a nutshell, describes the type of person I am and why I choose to live in WV. This definition of "hillbilly" I have no problem with. If some people assume it means ignorant, loud, crude and backward, well, it is their right to think what they want to, even while they have no actual or factual knowledge. Isn't that basically the definition of ignorance, anyway?

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by appalachiangirl

Hmm... I wonder if Kentucky,Tennessee,Virginia,North Carolina (western part) natives,etc. are also seen as hillbillies. These areas are mountainous as well. Funny how WV gets singled out (although I have heard "hillbilly" and "redneck" used in reference to people from PA as well).

Actually; culturally speaking, Pennsylvania has a lot of 'South' in it-----the standing joke is that Pa has Philly on one side, Pittsburgh on the other with Alabama in the middle.

[ArizonaBear]

By 'OC' (Orange County, Ca) standards; I am definitely a hillbilly.

As I have gotten older; I have noticed I tend to be more at ease with genuine people who have not being 'enhanced' by plastic surgery, etc.

Remember too in all fairness; cultures do change with the times: a putative 'hillbilly' today ain't the same as his/her great-grandfather either, read much less likely to drink heavily/use tobacco, more likely to still have their teeth @ age 50, higher level of formal education, etc.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by taw1955

But I will say you people are very touchy. Even with good constructive criticism?

As for my sister she is a unitarian minister and a registered nurse. She has 2 masters degrees so yes she is very well educated. .

I hardly think starting a thread with the subject line, "My sister says West Vorginians are hillbillies" (Vorginians spelled wrong) is "good constructive criticism" and find it hard to believe you expected anything but what you got starting a thread out that way, kid.

Second - I do believe your sister is ignorant to a lot of things - online degrees in ministry nonwithstanding.

[harborlady]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

Actually; culturally speaking, Pennsylvania has a lot of 'South' in it-----the standing joke is that Pa has Philly on one side, Pittsburgh on the other with Alabama in the middle.

HEY!!! (checking map if lititz or shamokin pa is in the middle)
too funny arizona hahaha

I'm not a fan of ohio, but I figure ohioans don't care what I think if they're happy. Not sure why the reverse wouldn't be the same.

[Georgia]

Originally Posted by harborlady

HEY!!! (checking map if lititz or shamokin pa is in the middle)
too funny arizona hahaha

I'm not a fan of ohio, but I figure ohioans don't care what I think if they're happy. Not sure why the reverse wouldn't be the same.

No, but Rt30 is You know where you drive though PA, though the town of Liltitz, then Bird in Hand, then Intercourse, just before you get to Paradise

[suecen]

Hi! I just have to laugh reading all this and have to comment. I'm from Wisconsin and talk about generalizing. If you say you're from Wisconsin you have to be at least 300 pounds, eat cheese on a daily basis, have a constant diet of beer and brats and so on and so forth. That is why I like traveling. I love to go to other places to meet and talk with people. We are all created equal but unfortunately it's not perceived that way. Last week on the "So you Think You Can Dance" show it just so happened they were having tryouts in Milwaukee (can you imagine?) AND in winter. That's what they showed and talked about - snow, cold, sleet!! When they began they had a few pictures of cows and made a "mooing" sound. I really think that's ridiculous. Once when I was visiting in California a woman we were introduced to was told we were from Wisconsin. She laughed herself silly and then asked if we were kidding. I asked her when she visited there and she said "Oh - never".