[Aville239]

Originally Posted by Wicked_Pissah

mmm the last time I checked western MA was still part of MA.

But they don't have the accent that you consider to be "real New England."

[Wicked_Pissah]

Originally Posted by Aville239

But they don't have the accent that you consider to be "real New England."

In which post did I say anything about a "real New England accent?"

[Aville239]

Originally Posted by Wicked_Pissah

In which post did I say anything about a "real New England accent?"

I can read between the lines.

[mels]

Originally Posted by Wicked_Pissah

It's been my experience that most of CT identifies more with NYC than Boston.

Then clearly you know nothing about Connecticut. Southwestern CT (Fairfield County) is essentially a NYC suburb. Northwestern CT (Litchfield County) looks very quintessential New England but has been overrun with second homes from wealthy people from NYC (which sounds an awful lot like where I used to live in Vermont, LOL!). However when you get away from the NY state line, the Hartford Metro area and all of eastern CT identify more with Boston than NYC. I live in the Hartford area and I assure you, people here are more "Boston" than they are NYC.

[allisonfranz]

The New England region of the U.S. is comprised of six very unique states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by Aville239

But they don't have the accent that you consider to be "real New England."

No, we do not all talk with that Bawston accent but we are still New Englanders. Most of CT and all of western MA don't talk with the Bawston accent. The parts of VT with which I am familiar don't talk that way either. It's not very much to do with any accent.

Some parts of New England that border on NY are getting New Yorky and they talk like NYers and act like them too. I'm thinking of the extreme SW corner of CT which is really a NYC suburb. That's not very New England. Vermont, on the other hand, as soon as you get away from the parts that have been spoiled by New Yorkers (and not all of them come and spoil it) is as New England as it gets.

[thenewtexan]

Originally Posted by arctichomesteader

Burlington is next to Vermont.

Much of the rest of New England (i.e., MA, CT, RI, southern half of NH) has been consumed by bland suburban and big box sprawl, and the unique culture of each area has slowly faded out.

Yeah, you meant NY, right?

[harry chickpea]

In the 1960s the legislature was re-apportioned, giving many more seats to the Burlington metro area and taking them away from the rural districts which comprise most of the state. The habits and culture of Burlington were not like those rural districts and focus of state government changed from agriculture and self-reliance to more government intervention and social programs. So, in a manner of speaking, Burlington is next to Vermont.

[Logs and Dogs]

Originally Posted by thenewtexan

Yeah, you meant NY, right?

No he didn't. You missed the subtle suggestion in his response, which I also agree with.

Burlington is next to Vermont....borders it actually......was there last week, had to drive through Vermont to get there.....

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by in_newengland

No, we do not all talk with that Bawston accent but we are still New Englanders. Most of CT and all of western MA don't talk with the Bawston accent. The parts of VT with which I am familiar don't talk that way either. It's not very much to do with any accent.

Some parts of New England that border on NY are getting New Yorky and they talk like NYers and act like them too. I'm thinking of the extreme SW corner of CT which is really a NYC suburb. That's not very New England. Vermont, on the other hand, as soon as you get away from the parts that have been spoiled by New Yorkers (and not all of them come and spoil it) is as New England as it gets.

*ahem*
I believe the movement is/was "Don't JERSEY Vermont".