Things About Your State That Contradict The Stereotypes (tornadoes, offices)

[Sharif662]

Originally Posted by CookieSkoon

I've traveled a lot around the eastern US, and I am telling you man, by comparison Mississippi feels very empty. That's just how it is.

Moreover, I am also telling you that's not a bad thing. It's just what it is.

Eastern state as in eastern half of the country. Likewise, it's very much part of the deep south, you just live in the northern reaches.

I have done some traveling around as well. Hence my previous statement and there's absolutely equal comparison. Outside of specific geographic landscapes with deserts, mountainous terrain & plains, the rest of this country have the same landscape between MSA/CSAs.

I've didn't take as a bad thing it's just geography. *shrugs*
Yeah, Eastern half / Midsouth is just fine.

[Sharif662]

Originally Posted by jessemh431

I would never say that everyone in Mississippi has an uneducated accent. However, without having spent a lot of time in the state, I'd be willing to make the assumption that the Southern accent is extremely prevalent in Mississippi. I would not regret making that assumption. There may be some in Mississippi with lighter accents. I'm sure the Gulf region has a different accent than the Memphis suburbs which have a different accent than Jackson and the Delta. But in some form or another, I bet it's highly likely that the stereotype of Mississippians having Southern accents is true. You may not hear them. People from neighboring states may not notice them that much. But to someone from the West Coast or Northeast, Southern accents, even some of the slightest ones, can still be quite obvious because we're outsiders not accustomed to hearing the accent.

Underline for caution. As a long time native here in Mississippi, Nope. Majority have a general American accent that you'll hear on both coast. I'll personally say about 30% have the accent that your thinking of and it's broadly even across the state with minor exception for the coast.

Funny note: On a few occasions I've been asked was from out of state due to not having that country accent. A lady even thought i was from Brooklyn.

[CookieSkoon]

Originally Posted by Sharif662

I have done some traveling around as well. Hence my previous statement and there's absolutely equal comparison. Outside of specific geographic landscapes with deserts, mountainous terrain & plains, the rest of this country have the same landscape between MSA/CSAs.

I've didn't take as a bad thing it's just geography. *shrugs*
Yeah, Eastern half / Midsouth is just fine.

What's your damage?

[Sharif662]

Originally Posted by CookieSkoon

What's your damage?

What's your repair?

[KathrynAragon]

Originally Posted by jessemh431

Very true. I definitely would never insinuate that.

However, I firmly believe that the majority of Southerners have some type of Southern accent, yet many just don't realize it. When I lived in Kentucky, people were surprised when I couldn't understand someone's accent. Others, who were quite highly educated and progressive, didn't realize they even had an accent because it was so subtle compared to those from more rural parts of the state with less education. However, I could still hear everyone's accent because I'm not from the South and it becomes more obvious to me.

I would never say that everyone in Mississippi has an uneducated accent. However, without having spent a lot of time in the state, I'd be willing to make the assumption that the Southern accent is extremely prevalent in Mississippi. I would not regret making that assumption. There may be some in Mississippi with lighter accents. I'm sure the Gulf region has a different accent than the Memphis suburbs which have a different accent than Jackson and the Delta. But in some form or another, I bet it's highly likely that the stereotype of Mississippians having Southern accents is true. You may not hear them. People from neighboring states may not notice them that much. But to someone from the West Coast or Northeast, Southern accents, even some of the slightest ones, can still be quite obvious because we're outsiders not accustomed to hearing the accent.

Everyone has some sort of accent whether they know it or not.

[elchevere]

Getting into this late, admittedly have not read all the previous replies, but will speak for Florida—at least SoFla:

I love the people who cite median income and imply there is no wealth in this state. Guess all the yachts and/or mansions in Jupiter, Palm Beach, Boca, Fisher Island, Key Biscayne, Coconut Grove, Gables, Star Island, Venetian Islands, Bal Harbour, etc ad nauseum and exclusive high end shopping are all fake...heck, some condos here sell for more than the most expensive mansions in the overwhelming majority of the US...lol

Everyone works at McDonalds, is an Uber driver or a cabana boy at a Miami Beach Hotel—see above rebuttal.

You must speak Spanish to live and work here...sure.

The summers here are unbearable—not if you live on or close to the ocean or bay where you get cool breezes. It is not Vegas hot where you can get a dehydration headache being outdoors only 15 minutes and plenty of people outside during the day though you will sweat (oh, the horror).

Lower educational standards—as if there is a state law that you must have attended FL K-12 to live here, well educated people are banned from moving here, and it is illegal for FL residents to attend out of state colleges...lol.

[jessemh431]

Originally Posted by Sharif662

Underline for caution. As a long time native here in Mississippi, Nope. Majority have a general American accent that you'll hear on both coast. I'll personally say about 30% have the accent that your thinking of and it's broadly even across the state with minor exception for the coast.

Funny note: On a few occasions I've been asked was from out of state due to not having that country accent. A lady even thought i was from Brooklyn.

Well I will say that's something I never would've imagined. But I think we could agree that Mississippians having a Southern accent is not a contradictory stereotype.

[jessemh431]

Originally Posted by KathrynAragon

Everyone has some sort of accent whether they know it or not.

100% agree. It was just funny to me when Southerners claimed they did not have a Southern accent just because they couldn't hear it and other Southerners couldn't point it out because it was much lighter than theirs. As someone not from the South, I could always hear the Southern accent in anyone regardless of how light it was. Not everyone had one, but if they did, I heard it. And those light accents often led others to believe that individual didn't have a Southern accent just because it was so much less noticeable than others'.

[Foamposite]

Originally Posted by jessemh431

100% agree. It was just funny to me when Southerners claimed they did not have a Southern accent just because they couldn't hear it and other Southerners couldn't point it out because it was much lighter than theirs. As someone not from the South, I could always hear the Southern accent in anyone regardless of how light it was. Not everyone had one, but if they did, I heard it. And those light accents often led others to believe that individual didn't have a Southern accent just because it was so much less noticeable than others'.

Idk, I think the Southern accent is definitely dying out among the younger white population. I meet people from all over the South and usually they have a "Southern lite" accent at most, and often a generic American one

[jessemh431]

Originally Posted by Foamposite

Idk, I think the Southern accent is definitely dying out among the younger white population. I meet people from all over the South and usually they have a "Southern lite" accent at most, and often a generic American one

Whether it's fading or not, I can always notice one if it exists. Other Southerners are not able to realize a very light one when they often hear a very heavy one. It's the same with the Midwest/Great Lakes accent. Similarly, my family in Upstate NY doesn't hear their own accent, but I can hear the accent in all of them.