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Of course a transplants opinion of Charlotte doesn't matter as much as a natives. We are sucking the city dry of all it's precious resources...
drinking all the water and breathing all the air.
Your opinion counts as much as anyone else's, just as your vote counts as much as the guy's next door.
What you don't seem to understand is . . . the natives are outnumbered. So whatever Charlotte has become, for better or worse, is that way because newcomers have made it that way. And if you don't like the politics, newcomers are in the majority, so . . . the folks getting voted into office got there b/c either newcomers went to the polls and they were the majority or they chose not to vote. Either way, the power is all in the hands of newcomers. Don't you get that? If anything, the opinions of the natives are the least important in Charlotte cause we are outnumbered, lol.
However, having said all that . . . my personal experience has been that on most issues, the folks I have met from "elsewhere" are on the same page as I am about quality of life issues here - seems we all want the same things - better schools, better roads, reasonable taxes, etc.
I'm a youngish mother and I live in South Charlotte. I have for years. I could stand to lose a few pounds. I work full-time and don't belong to the Y, but have never found the fees to be excessive. I'm lazy and I don't like to work out. I dressed my daughter in cute outfits when she was little. I got them at church sales or Target. She's never been rail thin. I eat out a lot (anyone who reads my posts knows I travel all over Charlotte for good Asian food). I could care less who sees me or not while I eat. I can afford to eat (at restaurants and otherwise) and we put away quite a bit of money every month. When we aren't eating at restaurants, I cook for my family every night. I'm unfamiliar with the phrase "putting on the dog' but it sounds kind of gross so I wouldn't do it. I could care less about one-upping you or anyone else. You're a troll.
You always say things better than I could. I do notice that the majority of people who act pretentiously are transplants, but I know some natives who act the same way. Difference being exactly what you described- the natives aren't exclusive, just putting on a show to keep up w/the joneses.
I think the attitude comes from two places: transplants who couldn't afford anything back home are now more comfortable, and it's simply the culture of Charlotte. Maybe it's a spinoff of what I think you are explaining as far as true southerners go...if that makes any sense.
I also try to avoid commenting on it here, lest I get the typical answer that feltdesigner provided. Just to clarify, I am very happy with my life and current situation, regardless of where I live. I am not jealous of fake people. That doesn't make them any less obnoxious to live around.
TY for writing that, Coastalgirl. And also nice to get a clarification that we have natives putting on airs, too. I guess "keeping up with the Joneses" is a phenomenon that has permeated every region of the country and no one is necessarily immune. To me, it is a character flaw if someone is trying to impress others - it never leads to anything but a tangled up financial mess and embarrassment when they can't ante up the $$$ for things that matter, such as their kids' educations.
I'm a youngish mother and I live in South Charlotte. I have for years. I could stand to lose a few pounds. I work full-time and don't belong to the Y, but have never found the fees to be excessive. I'm lazy and I don't like to work out. I dressed my daughter in cute outfits when she was little. I got them at church sales or Target. She's never been rail thin. I eat out a lot (anyone who reads my posts knows I travel all over Charlotte for good Asian food). I could care less who sees me or not while I eat. I can afford to eat (at restaurants and otherwise) and we put away quite a bit of money every month. When we aren't eating at restaurants, I cook for my family every night. I'm unfamiliar with the phrase "putting on the dog' but it sounds kind of gross so I wouldn't do it. I could care less about one-upping you or anyone else. You're a troll.
We all dress up our kids and all mommies everywhere want their children to look cute and well-groomed. You shouldn't have to defend yourself for being a good mom. You are obviously not a pretentious person. I think a small group has gotten the rap for "representing" the majority.
The phrase "putting on the dog" is an old one . . . it means to make a display of one's wealth or to dress and act in a flashy manner.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
23,813 posts, read 34,657,307 times
Reputation: 10256
Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckles34
I'm a youngish mother and I live in South Charlotte. I have for years. I could stand to lose a few pounds. I work full-time and don't belong to the Y, but have never found the fees to be excessive. I'm lazy and I don't like to work out. I dressed my daughter in cute outfits when she was little. I got them at church sales or Target. She's never been rail thin. I eat out a lot (anyone who reads my posts knows I travel all over Charlotte for good Asian food). I could care less who sees me or not while I eat. I can afford to eat (at restaurants and otherwise) and we put away quite a bit of money every month. When we aren't eating at restaurants, I cook for my family every night. I'm unfamiliar with the phrase "putting on the dog' but it sounds kind of gross so I wouldn't do it. I could care less about one-upping you or anyone else. You're a troll.
I didn't read this whole thread but the description of South Charlotte is hilarious...
A lot of times people make up these assumptions about people who are doing better then them so they can feel good about themselves. If people are truly happy with their simple lives why do the soccer moms get under their skin?
That phrase . . . "soccer moms" . . . you can be a "soccer mom" and not be a pretentious princess.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
23,813 posts, read 34,657,307 times
Reputation: 10256
Quote:
Originally Posted by anifani821
We all dress up our kids and all mommies everywhere want their children to look cute and well-groomed. You shouldn't have to defend yourself for being a good mom. You are obviously not a pretentious person. I think a small group has gotten the rap for "representing" the majority.
The phrase "putting on the dog" is an old one . . . it means to make a display of one's wealth or to dress and act in a flashy manner.
+5
LOL, I wasn't sure if I knew what putting on the dog was because of my age or where I've lived.
I live in Ballantyne. No, I am not a member of the Y, not because I am not "wealthy" enough (since when do you have to be wealthy to be a member of the Y?), but because I do my work out at home (ooops, yes, I admit I do work out). Yes, I enjoy having lunch with my friends from time to time, not because I want to be seen (by who exactly??) but because I love good food. Yes, - guilty again - my children are thin, not because I starve them to death but because they eat healthily and are active. Yes, I do dress up, if by dressing up you mean not wearing some saggy maternity pants and my husband's old t-shirts (all of them were great when I was 9 months pregnant by the way), and I have a feeling that it is exactly what you have in mind.
So if working out regularly, dressing up, enjoying good food and not feeding my children donuts and crisps all day long mean being "uptight", then I guess I am. But maybe you should take a look at the definition of "uptight".
I live in Ballantyne because I love it here. I am a foreigner and I am not pretending to be a southerner, and have never met anyone who is. People seem to be proud of who they are and where they're from. They live here because they enjoy all the things that Ballantyne has to offer: great schools, beautiful communities, good shopping and restaurants. Obviously it is not your cup of tea, and that's fine, but there is no need for this kind of general statement.
You said that so beautifully that I want to cry. Seriously, excellent response. Welcome to the U.S. and South Charlotte. I believe that it is all about self image. Anyone can dress nicely and be fit. That doesn't make them anything but healthier and prettier.
LOL, I wasn't sure if I knew what putting on the dog was because of my age or where I've lived.
Wasn't sure about that from my perspective, either, SB, but I did think to myself whether that was something basically "Southern" or basically for anyone over 50, hee hee.
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Seriously, excellent response. Welcome to the U.S. and South Charlotte. I believe that it is all about self image. Anyone can dress nicely and be fit. That doesn't make them anything but healthier and prettier. 
