Why do people feel the need to correct everyone all the time?

Question

I just moved to the South from Chicago Illinois......I am in SC now. Why is it that everyone feels the need to correct my grammer! It is so annoying to have a person criticize me because I call coca cola "pop" just because they call it soda doesnt mean I am wrong. At least I dont say things like "Im a fixen to git her dun" who are these people to tease me........I speak properly, maybe I say things differently or have a strong Northern accent.........but I dont say things like "aint gonna git" or "I's gonna git me sum of them there taters" My neighbor is the worst.....everytime I go outside he comes out and tries to talk to me........he stops me every other word and corrects me........I dont want to be rude like he is but I dont know what else at this point to do.......I may hand him a dictionary and a grammer book the next time I go outside, maybe a toothbrush too.

oh and elainF........shut up you ignorant little trouble maker.......your just a point whore with your little three word answers

Answer 1

Ah yes my daughter. I too had left a bastion of civilization such as your illustrious city. A mecca of culture, art, sciences and acadamia that the likes of the world have rarely seen.
But i found wanderlust in my heart. That took me to the darkest recesses of civilization. A place where the air was filled with suffocating mositure and the inhabitants were quaint, but simple minded folk. Yes...Alabama.
My first experience was my purchase of a pack of chewing gum for "Fiddy sent". I checked my guidebook for translation. none was to be found. until it dawned upon me and I placed two quarters on the counter and left.
The elusive portion of measurement, "a tad" is still a unknown to me this day when calculating distance. Finally, coming from New England I was much amusement to these colorful and often intoxicated denizens. They who took much sport and delight in asking me to say (again for christ's sake?) "Say 'Pork yall's koor in the Harvard Yourd". I still cringe at those memories.
So, thanks for the thoroughly entertaining question. Or moreso the story associated with it. Funny insight.
But, to answer i think that we're (as i said) being made sport of. Just as we do with them. But you strike me as the type of person who would use this as a learning experience. I have and now can fluently speak Hillbilly, Rube, Hick and Redneck Jackass and know 37 dialects from any of these other areas south of the Mason-Dixon Line.
So...go forth and educate these savages in your own ways, and study their habits and language. They'll soon accept you as a "transplant". However you will never be considered a "true southerner".

Live long and prosper.

Answer 2

Girl, when someone corrects you, just ask them how they would like it if they moved up north and everyone was always correcting them and making fun of their accent. Tell them politely, "thank you for correcting me, yet once again, but I am not southern and cannot and will not speak the way you do. I am proud to be from the North." Sometimes you have to be a little rude to shut people up, come on, girl, you're from the North, you should know how to handle this. What's the worse they could do call you a Yankee!!! Be proud to be one.

Answer 3

How frustrating! I reckon some people are so small-minded that they have to correct others because they want everyone to talk the same so they can feel secure in their own little world. They are still at that developmental stage of life where they haven't learnt basic trust yet and have to control everything around them, much like 3-year-olds.
It is rude and bad mannered to correct everything someone says. It also shows a lack of intelligence and listening skills.

Answer 4

I am from the UK and is so bad here because there are so many accents. My accent just gets corrected and put down. Its so annoying. If you have ever heard John Lennon talk its like his accent. Some ppl are just so picky and such perfectionists and its really just a pain in the butt. Yeah the toothbrush is a funny idea, lol. Just speak like you do.

Answer 5

Sometimes people feel the need to belittle someone else to satisfy their own shortcomings. If you've been polite and tried to express yourself in an appropriate manner and they still don't "get it", then by all means ....go to the level they are on and express yourself in "their" language. A dictionary and grammar book may not be such a bad idea. Just remember to tell whomever to "have a nice day" before you turn on your heels and walk away. Stupid is as stupid does.

Answer 6

HAHA that is soo funny,there is no cure for the accents of the world.Anytime something is different or out of its element people choose to make fun of it rather than to accept it.My daughter just went on vacation to fla,we live in ga and they still made fun of her southern accent.Anyways tell this person that if he doesnt like the way you talk not to talk to you anymore.We all have our differences doesnt mean anyone is right or wrong.Good luck God bless:O)

Answer 7

I'm a Texan so I get teased all the time by Northerners about my speech. I ignore it. I like who I am and am not ashamed of the way I speak. Other people will just have to get over it.

Answer 8

you shouldn't be annoyed by that. grammar is just grammar based on what we have learned in school. actually, the most important thing is communication. be there difference in how you deliver and express your lines as long as you understand one another there's no problem to that.
your language or twang could be something "new" to your neighbors hearing. give him time to grab hold of your "language" and as for you, don't be mad, to correct you doesn't mean you're wrong, you also need to "hang" with the language of your surroundings. in due time, grammar wouldn't be a problem anymore. remember, it's COMMUNICATION that's important.

Answer 9

tell them, that you dont speak hick and they should learn some manners... you never correct a person that has come from outside the region.... ask them if they have something better to do than to correct you... you are your own person with your own way of speaking and youre not a six year old that needs correcting on how to say something

Answer 10

sounds to me you just critisized his way of talking, my wife says pop and being from the south i say soda or coke i joke with her and have found myself now saying pop and getting joked with about it aswell. you might have to learn to accept this from people becuase you wont be able to fight everyone, like water on a ducks back you might just let some go. but as far as your neighbor if he has the rudeness to point it out you have the right to be rude back and point it out that he is being rude. but being above him in your inteligence. point it out that it is irratating to be corrected but be civil and direct as we all have the reponsibilty to be above what is obviousley below us. lol good luck and welcome to the south although it may not be home atleast the weather isnt going to as cold lol