In your mind, do you group Louisiana with Mississippi and Alabama? (difference, schools)

[MantaRay]

Originally Posted by Jimbo_1

It is a geographical fact that all (as in all of this country) states share. There are certain parts of every state that gets the bulk of tourism.

No. Florida gets tourism from throughout the state. No one area gets almost all the tourism. GA gets tourism in Atlanta as well as along the coast. No one area gets almost all the tourism. Texas gets tourism from multiple places. No one area gets almost all the tourism. In LA, MS, and AL, one area DOES get almost all the tourism, and for those 3 states that one area is the SAME area. That is not true of all states, but is of those 3 and is therefore a tie that binds.

You seem not to differentiate "certain parts" from ONE part, the SAME part for all 3 states. And the tourism from ONE part, the SAME part for the 3 states provides a common factor for those 3 states. That is the truth whether you want to admit it or not.

Originally Posted by Jimbo_1

Actually Texas' tourism is majority located in the eastern part of the state (aka that corner of the state)

No. It is from Austin and Dallas and the eastern part of the state. It is NOT true that almost all of Texas tourism is from the eastern part alone. It IS true that almost all of LA, MS, and AL tourism is from one part of those states, the same part.

Originally Posted by Jimbo_1

But it is also an aspect that groups multiple states together like Arkansas, Tennessee, and Missouri, and also the three other states.

Tennessee is distinctly different, it's not a primarily rural state with not much but SEC football, it is more progressive for similar reasons the OP linked to GA, but instead of getting sidetracked into that, it will suffice to say that not all southern states share the LA, MS, AL connection but those 3 do, and if any other state happens to, then that's all well and good, it doesn't eliminate those 3 sharing it and it doesn't eliminate the fact that it's NOT common to most all southern states let alone all states in the US. Like I said, the aspects don't have to not exist ANYWHERE else. They just have to not be a common link among all southern states, making the link more specific than just "they are southern states." The links I have highlighed between LA, MS, and AL are links which they share in common and are links which are NOT just because they are all southern states.

Like it or not these 3 southern states have the factors I mentioned in common, and those factors are not attributable to southern states in general. So to the OP's question, it does make sense on a factual basis to link LA, MS, and AL. The links DO exist whether any other state in the US has some similarities to them or not.

[Jimbo_1]

Originally Posted by MantaRay

No. Florida gets tourism from throughout the state. No one area gets almost all the tourism. GA gets tourism in Atlanta as well as along the coast. No one area gets almost all the tourism. Texas gets tourism from multiple places. No one area gets almost all the tourism. In LA, MS, and AL, one area DOES get almost all the tourism, and for those 3 states that one area is the SAME area. That is not true of all states, but is of those 3 and is therefore a tie that binds.

You seem to have skipped the part where I said certain parts, has in it could include mutiple areas of tourism but there are still spots where there is a lot less tourism. For example Georgia has a large void in between Atlanta and the coast, Florida has a lot less in the northeastern part, Texas is a lot less in the Western part. This can go on and on for many states becuase most states have areas where there is a lot less tourism. So Texas can be seen as being just like AL, MS, and LA becuase there is a lot less tourism in half the state. Also just so you know New Orleans only accounted for 7.9 million out of the 24.3 million visitors to the state of Louisiana in 2011, so I do not even know if it is true that that great majority of tourism in Louisiana is in the Southern part (assuming that you thought New Orleans was the source of most of Louisiana's tourism).
http://www.crt.state.la.us/TOURISM/R...20Forecast.pdf

Originally Posted by MantaRay

You seem not to differentiate "certain parts" from ONE part, the SAME part for all 3 states. And the tourism from ONE part, the SAME part for the 3 states provides a common factor for those 3 states. That is the truth whether you want to admit it or not.

But really the tourism in Louisiana is still totally different from Alabama and Mississippi becuase it has nothing to do with the Gulf of Mexico and the shore line.

Originally Posted by MantaRay

No. It is from Austin and Dallas and the eastern part of the state. It is NOT true that almost all of Texas tourism is from the eastern part alone. It IS true that almost all of LA, MS, and AL tourism is from one part of those states, the same part.

I suggest you look at a map and draw a line down the center of Texas going from north to south. You will then see that Austin, Dallas, and even San Antonio are in the eastern part of the state and then there is a huge void all through out West and most of north texas west of Dallas.

Originally Posted by MantaRay

Tennessee is distinctly different, it's not a primarily rural state with not much but SEC football, it is more progressive for similar reasons the OP linked to GA, but instead of getting sidetracked into that, it will suffice to say that not all southern states share the LA, MS, AL connection but those 3 do, and if any other state happens to, then that's all well and good, it doesn't eliminate those 3 sharing it and it doesn't eliminate the fact that it's NOT common to most all southern states let alone all states in the US. Like I said, the aspects don't have to not exist ANYWHERE else. They just have to not be a common link among all southern states, making the link more specific than just "they are southern states." The links I have highlighed between LA, MS, and AL are links which they share in common and are links which are NOT just because they are all southern states.

Now it seems like you are following a bunch of stereotypes. Louisiana is actually has a much larger population in urban environments (aka less rural) compared to Tennessee (72.6% vs. 63.6%) and both of those numbers are much larger than MS and AL. So that eliminates some of your theories (Tennessee is not just Nashville and of course you can not forget about the "progressive-ness" of Memphis). But anyways it is ridiculous to eliminate Tennessee from this conversation and we could actually probably add Kentucky as well to the conversation regarding SEC teams. Then North Carolina and Virginia are out of the question since they do not have SEC teams which means there are more states like AL, MS, and LA than the other states in the South (SC, GA, FL) and that is not even including Missouri. So actually it is a common link among Southern states with SEC teams and those other states are the outliers.

Originally Posted by MantaRay

Like it or not these 3 southern states have the factors I mentioned in common, and those factors are not attributable to southern states in general. So to the OP's question, it does make sense on a factual basis to link LA, MS, and AL. The links DO exist whether any other state in the US has some similarities to them or not.

They might have the SEC factor in common but really this factor can be attributed to the majority of states with an SEC team. But anyways even the OP's question references that this is based off of cultural factors, so you are still answering the OP's question incorrectly.

[MantaRay]

Originally Posted by Jimbo_1

You seem to have skipped the part where I said certain parts,

Sounds vague. There are no certain partS, plural, that LA, MS, and AL get a lot of their tourism from. There is ONE part, per state, and it is the same part. Part, singular, and specified, as opposed to partS plural and left vague. This is a common reality that binds the 3.

Originally Posted by Jimbo_1

has in it could include mutiple areas of tourism but there are still spots where there is a lot less tourism.

That other states have areas where there is little tourism doesn't change the fact that these 3 states have ONE area that brings in practically all the tourism, and that area is the same for each of the 3. GA may have a void between the coast and Atlanta, but it STILL has BOTH the coast and Atlanta. These 3 do not, they have ONE area of significant tourism, and it is the same area for all 3. It's a common thread whether you want to dance around the fact or not.

Originally Posted by Jimbo_1

But anyways even the OP's question references that this is based off of cultural factors, so you are still answering the OP's question incorrectly.

You can be offended if you want just because I came up with some definite links between these 3 states, but there was nothing in the OP's question that excluded geographical similarities. The gulf coast influence IS a cultural consideration. The SEC aspect IS a cultural consideration. And referencing one factor that another state like AR may have still doesn't change the fact that these 3 DO have the factors I listed in common whereas all the southern states do not. They have these similarities amongst them that not all southern states have, no matter which indvidual other state here and there around the US may have some similarities to them. These similarities exist, plain and simple. So it's reasonable for people to acknowledge them and conclude to the OP's question that these 3 states CAN be linked together with common threads.

[Jimbo_1]

Originally Posted by MantaRay

Sounds vague. There are no certain partS, plural, that LA, MS, and AL get a lot of their tourism from. There is ONE part, per state, and it is the same part. Part, singular, and specified, as opposed to partS plural and left vague. This is a common reality that binds the 3.

After you and I have been making assumptions, can you now post some sources that say these three states get most of thier tourism from one part. I have said that Louisiana's nickname "sportsmans paradise" comes from North Louisiana, the oldest town in Louisiana is Natchitoches in North Louisiana, there are many casinos in North Louisiana (Dallas people and such visit for that), etc. and also New Orleans only accounts for 8 million out of 25 million visitors to Louisiana. I am not even sure that is the case for AL and MS when saying that the majority of thier tourism comes from the southern part (particularly the coast).

Originally Posted by MantaRay

That other states have areas where there is little tourism doesn't change the fact that these 3 states have ONE area that brings in practically all the tourism, and that area is the same for each of the 3. GA may have a void between the coast and Atlanta, but it STILL has BOTH the coast and Atlanta. These 3 do not, they have ONE area of significant tourism, and it is the same area for all 3. It's a common thread whether you want to dance around the fact or not.

Again instead of assuming this is the case, may I see a source becuase it would be very interesting.

Originally Posted by MantaRay

You can be offended if you want just because I came up with some definite links between these 3 states, but there was nothing in the OP's question that excluded geographical similarities. The gulf coast influence IS a cultural consideration. The SEC aspect IS a cultural consideration. And referencing one factor that another state like AR may have still doesn't change the fact that these 3 DO have the factors I listed in common whereas all the southern states do not. They have these similarities amongst them that not all southern states have, no matter which indvidual other state here and there around the US may have some similarities to them. These similarities exist, plain and simple. So it's reasonable for people to acknowledge them and conclude to the OP's question that these 3 states CAN be linked together with common threads.

You came up with assumptions about tourism and the SEC part has been shown to be a commonality between most states with SEC teams. Gulf Coast influence would have been an obvious comparison of certain parts of LA to certain parts of AL and MS from the get-go since those parts of the states are obviously along the Gulf of Mexico. Also it is quite obvious from the OP's question that he was refering to "traditional Southern culture", "anomaly in the South", Louisiana considered "it's own country", and "deep South". In most people's eyes thes things would mean cultural things like religion and ethnicities which most people use (among other things) to say that Louisiana is different.

[MantaRay]

Originally Posted by Jimbo_1

You came up with assumptions about tourism and the SEC part has been shown to be a commonality between most states with SEC teams.

Realities about tourism, that being the overwhelming bulk of dollars coming from the SAME area of the states, and a commonality not between all southern states and not between all states in the vicinity. Even with that commonality being between the numbers of states with SEC teams as it is, it is again, STILL a commonality between these 3 states, which the OP inquires as to whether and why we link these 3 states. Again, that other states (and not all) with SEC teams have this aspect does NOT eliminate the reality that these 3 have that common reality and therefore that these 3 have that tie that bind them. The question centers around grouping LA, MS, and AL, NOT citing things that ONLY the 3 have in common that other states don't have. Therefore, again, if the 3 have an aspect in common, and all southern states or states in the region don't, then it is an aspect that links the 3 that can't be attributed to "all states there have that." The diversion about other states with SEC teams does not change that.

[Jimbo_1]

Originally Posted by MantaRay

Realities about tourism, that being the overwhelming bulk of dollars coming from the SAME area of the states, and a commonality not between all southern states and not between all states in the vicinity. Even with that commonality being between the numbers of states with SEC teams as it is, it is again, STILL a commonality between these 3 states, which the OP inquires as to whether and why we link these 3 states. Again, that other states (and not all) with SEC teams have this aspect does NOT eliminate the reality that these 3 have that common reality and therefore that these 3 have that tie that bind them. The question centers around grouping LA, MS, and AL, NOT citing things that ONLY the 3 have in common that other states don't have. Therefore, again, if the 3 have an aspect in common, and all southern states or states in the region don't, then it is an aspect that links the 3 that can't be attributed to "all states there have that." The diversion about other states with SEC teams does not change that.

Again you have assumed that the "overwhelming bulk" of tourism comes from the same part of each state but really you have nothing that backs that up. Did you know that Tunica/Lula in extreme north Mississippi had only slightly less revenue than all of the casinos in Biloxi. Or that Shreveports revenue is ranked right very near these others. Even though there will obviously be other sources of tourism too in all these regions as well. Also yes these three states might have the SEC thing in common but that still is a commonality between most states with SEC teams. So just like you said these three states might have that aspect in common but so do most/majority of other states with SEC teams in the region (aka the region of the South). It is a factor that groups most SEC states together, so I do not really understand how people can come to the conclusion that that causes these states to be grouped together when it groups most SEC states togther. Then the tourism factor still seems highly questionable. Even if you want to believe these factors to be true, then those are very sad reasons why these states should be grouped together. Also at the end of the day this is still about cultural factors.
http://www.americangaming.org/indust...annual-revenue (for listing of casinos)

[cdw1084]

I'm from Alabama and I think we have more in common with Mississippi than LA as many would agree. I live in Georgia (Newnan) and I think maybe 20 yrs ago that Georgia had alot in common with Alabama but it seems as if much of the state is losing it's southern vibe to a degree much like NC and VA. People say outside of Metro Atlanta that GA is similar to AL and MS and I'm not so sure that's true anymore. Well at least I can't see it.

[MantaRay]

Originally Posted by Jimbo_1

Again you have assumed that the "overwhelming bulk" of tourism comes from the same part of each state but really you have nothing that backs that up.

It nonetheless is true. In the case of Louisiana, approx half of the entire state's tourism dollars came from the one area, and when Katrina hit and when the oil spill happened, that why it was such a HUGE blow to the entire state. There had been a longstanding history of that part of the state generating the bulk of tourism revenue all by itself, with other parts combining to add the rest. The "lopsidedness" if one wants to call it that of Gulf tourism is a common factor between LA, MS, and AL.

Originally Posted by Jimbo_1

Also yes these three states might have the SEC thing in common but that still is a commonality between most states with SEC teams.

So good, what I said was true, and you added some additional information. Nevertheless, what I said was true and thus makes for a valid link between them. Extra information is all well and good, but it doesn't eliminate the truth of the link I presented.

Originally Posted by Jimbo_1

It is a factor that groups most SEC states together, so I do not really understand how people can come to the conclusion that that causes these states to be grouped together when it groups most SEC states togther.

Apparently because you're having a tough time with the notion of something being common NOT REQUIRING or not being the same thing as something being exclusive to. The question asked for commonality, not for exclusivity. The two are different concepts. Nonetheless, I PUT the commonalities I presented into the context of them NOT being able to be brushed off as every southern state having it or every state in the vicinity having it. That's extra information on my part, but the bottom line is that commonality does not REQUIRE exclusivity.

Example: What is a common link between Denver and Nashville? One is that both are state capitols. It doesn't matter that EVERY state in the US has a state capitol, the question was what is common to those two cities. Every city is not a state capitol, but those two are. Commonality does not require exclusivity. The SEC thing is a common factor among LA, MS, and AL, even though it is not 100% exclusive to those 3. Commonality was asked for, and exclusivity was not a condition. To the extent one can distinguish between commonality and exclusivity, one can understand how this factor can cause these 3 states to be grouped together, just as one might undestand how the state capitol factor could cause Denver and Nashville to be grouped together if such a question was asked about them.

Originally Posted by jumponit2012

People say outside of Metro Atlanta that GA is similar to AL and MS and I'm not so sure that's true anymore. Well at least I can't see it.

I agree with you. Actually the Augusta area is more like the AL and MS state capitols in terms of size and feel, and of course Augusta is not a state capitol but a secondary GA city.

Actually I think an anecdotal factor that seems to speak of a city's advancement and movement out of being just a small town, usa town is the extent to which it has a loop around the city, meaning whether it has one as well as how much of a loop it is. As a state gets 3 cities with a decent sized loop, it seems that state in general has had good advancement. It seems that the most laggard of deep south states appear to be "loop-challenged." Perhaps "loop challenged" is another similarity LA, MS, and AL have in common. I think Georgia has emerged from being "loop challenged."

[SouthernBoy205]

This is Alabama to the T:

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by SouthernBoy205

This is Alabama to the T:

This is EVERY Southern state to a T. I said that on one of my FB friend's status updates where he has one for Georgia.