If the Twilight Zone was Southern

[DeltaV]

 

[moparedtn]

I guess for a tourism production, it was sorta amusing.
As someone whose families on both sides are pure TN southern - but grew up in cities
and lived in the DC area for a couple decades, then moved back south 25 years ago -
I can tell you that there IS a world of difference in the two.
I do get frustrated still with how slowly some things (and people) move down here,
even after all these years - but that's just the way it is.
It's not a bad thing at all (in fact, I MUCH prefer it - best move I ever made).

I get good laugh at folks who are still in a mad rush all the time up yonder in the north.
There's something to be said for folks wishing to take the time to be civil and respectful
with one another - and the assumption is from that angle from the get-go if we don't know
you. It's the rule, not the exception, when we have a pleasant interaction with another; to
be expected, not surprised when it happens.

The stereotype (as mocked in this video, for example) is that southern people being slow
means they're somehow less intelligent as well.
Folks who make that assumption do so at their own peril - some of the wisest people I've
ever met are down this way and you'd never guess it in a million years to look at 'em or
talk to them.
The difference? They don't feel the need to impress anyone.
In fact, they enjoy playing cat and mouse games with the uninitiated.

 

[Kern Dog]

I stumbled upon this topic while scanning through the forum. What a nice surprise! Since the Wife and I are considering a move to Tennessee, the slower pace will be something that will take some adjustment. I am far more outgoing than her though. She gets annoyed at people in the aisles of stores talking when she needs to pass.

 

[Cojohnso1]

I lived in Florida for a couple years. And yes, it is slower. And some real segregation that stunned me. My story of stopping at H/W store.

Me and my new local friends broke a sheer pin on a small outboard motor that we used for river fishing. We were walking down the road to get new pins at the H/W store. (We broke them all the time because of them damn coconut's falling. They float like little river mines for props.) When we came to a H/W store. I said. "Let's go" They said we can't. Because it was a colored store. (And yes, that was their syntax.) I said. "What do you mean? The building is beige?" They laughed and said. "No, a black family owns. We shop down the road." I being from Minnesota said. "Are you shitting me?" We have to walk another 8 blocks and back again? That's stupid. Give me the money" I went in. The guy at the counter looked at me strange. And two other guys walked from the back room asking me if there is something I need? I said yes, I need a box of 1 and 1/4" sheer pins for a 5 HP Wizard outboard. the oldest guy looked at me and said. "Where are you from boy?" I said Minnesota. They all smiled and he said. "We have ourself a Northern boy." They were then happy to serve me. And after about 15 minutes of discussing boating differences between Florida channels and Minnesota big lakes. I left with pins. I guess because I was not from there i was excused from their shopping protocols? My friends were getting worried about me. Telling me never do that again. I rolled my northern eyes at them saying "You are too stupid to even insult." Besides, had we walked another 16 blocks? You would be finished for the day.

They did find it difficult and even annoying trying to keep up with me. In closing? Very different than Minnesota.

 

[super-bee_ski]

That was funny
I hope to move there some day

 

[DeltaV]

That was funny
I hope to move there some day

 

[khryslerkid]

Since RC isn't here... "I'd Hit That!"

@moparedtn What's with your Avatar? Lol

 

[moparedtn]

Since RC isn't here... "I'd Hit That!"

@moparedtn What's with your Avatar? Lol

Like that, do ya?
That was Halloween 1995. A friend had a habit of borrowing a coffin from the local funeral home and
propping it up on his front porch at that time of year for the trick-or-treaters, so...
Time for another Ed story, I guess?
Awww, I was just having a little fun that night...

I hadn't been down here (back in TN, moved from the DC suburbs) long at all at that point, having moved
down after my 2nd go-round with docs telling me to "move or die".
When you're a fairly young 34, that's not something you share with folks - the whole running out of blood/croaking
thing (it had happened for the 2nd time by then) I considered to be a sign of weakness, something to be ashamed of.
My friends, my family, nobody knew except the wife at that time.
I wasn't proud of anything beating me - I'm still not.

At the time of life when this pic was taken, I was pretty emaciated still but was getting stronger and had developed
a sort of morbid sense of humor....so when we came across this fella's coffin set up in front of his house Halloween
night, it just felt right to climb in it.
Sort of a thumb jabbed in the eye of the grim reaper, least to me.

Got to be careful about mocking that which would kill you, though....
I have a lot more respect for all things mortal nowadays, given what's happened since then (cancer 4x, a couple more flatlines) - but no less defiance.

Eff the "bastard". I ain't done yet.

 

[BeeKool]

I stumbled upon this topic while scanning through the forum. What a nice surprise! Since the Wife and I are considering a move to Tennessee, the slower pace will be something that will take some adjustment. I am far more outgoing than her though. She gets annoyed at people in the aisles of stores talking when she needs to pass.

Peoples grammar in the South can be less than perfect.
Be prepared!

 

[Kern Dog]

I expect that. I would guess that their manners and generosity far outweigh any deficiencies they may have in spelling and punctuation.
I'm trying guys, I really am. It is as if I am a "Rain Man" when it comes to spotting mistakes. I see them everywhere.
At work, it is part of my job to spot mistakes and correct them. Please know that I am not a hypocrite about it either: I am as critical of myself as I am on anything I see elsewhere.

 

[moparedtn]

Oh, I don't know about such stereotypes.
I'm fairly literate and I certainly come from southern stock on both sides.
I do find it sort of arrogant/judgemental of folks who don't even reside in the south to make
such blanket accusations of supposedly widespread ignorance down in these parts, however.

I hear it from both ends on this, actually.
"Natives" ask me all the time if I'm "from around here" (I actually am; both sides of the family
are from TN and I was born here) because I speak the way I do.
Conversely, when I speak to people on the phone from other parts of the country (happens often,
part of my gig) some will invariably bring up the same sort of thing - apparently I don't sound like
their preconceived notion of what a southerner is supposed to sound like (I have almost no accent,
thanks to my family moving to the DC area when I was 14).

Know what it all boils down to?
Nothing is as set in stone (especially stereotypes) as our media sells it to be.
There is very little absolute black or white in this world, especially when referring to people.
We're all from somewhere else, according to how far back you go in the ancestry.
Sorry to make it less certain for you all.
Bottom line is, there is no such thing as a "typical southerner".

Oh, and P.S.:
Regarding KD's obsession with spelling errors? This website's own spellcheck is wrong - and often.
Of course, I wouldn't know that if I wasn't sort of like KD anyways, eh?
I get a little more snippy when I see someone who gets paid to write butcher the language, honestly.

 

[Dibbons]

Since RC isn't here... "I'd Hit That!"

Some of us are attracted to older women, Nancy's 78 years old now.

 

[Big Bad Dad]

Some of us are attracted to older women, Nancy's 78 years old now.

If you are talking about Nasty Pelosi, you are a sick puppy.....