southern stereotypes???

Question

why is it that there are so many stereotypes surrounding southern people and their lifestyle? If you think you know, please explain your reasoning or where you obtained your information...
thanks!

just want to let yall know that i have lived in seale and phenix city Al. all my life...i love it here and people are so much nicer...more generous...more tolorant, and def. more patient. i really don't understand how anyone could cope with someone from above the mason dixon line...or west of louisianna.
i will always be here, and after meeting people from other parts of the country i have absolutely no interest in moving north...or west.

Answer 1

Southern people are warm and friendly, for the most part. I have found that SOME Northerners are much less tolerant.
I've lived in the South all my life, I have taught elementary school for 27 years, and ALL children in my school are treated the same (60% black, 40% white, 20% Hispanic).
VERY FEW people eat squirrel and possum. No, we do not go barefoot everywhere, nor does everyone chew tobacco and spit.

Not every Southerner gets drunk every night. Many do not drink at all.
We're not like The Beverly Hillbillies.
We do have indoor plumbing, LOL.

There are stereotypes here concerning people in New Jersey and Boston, esp NJ, being arrogant and rude. I am sure they are not all that way.
Stereotypes of anyone are unfair.

I would rather live in the South than anywhere else. Most people here care about ALL others and really want to help.

Answer 2

I was born in upstate NY and lived there the first 9 years of my life. I have lived the last 30 years in a small Southern town in Tennessee. I love the South. When I moved here as a child I thought it would be like the Beverly Hillbillies, and it is so not like that. I have kind, caring, creative, intelligent friends and neighbors here. So, we speak a little slower than the rest of America, but that does not mean we are in some way totally backward. Tennessee is called the Volunteer State and with good reason these are some of the most generous people I have ever known. Stereotypes are just hurtful and cruel. I can honestly say I would never want to live anywhere else. I did live in Hawaii for about 3 months and hated it, because I missed my hills, family and friends so badly.
Peace.

Answer 3

well man im tired of that to. Your not the only one. See everyone has to deal with it. Its 2008. We are in a place where if you arent perfect and talk perfect, then you just plain trash. See i have the same problem, im black and im southern too, and let me tell you, We see people on t.v all the time making fun of us for our attitude and our obsession with chicken.(lol) but sometimes you juss have to learn that not everyone is perfect, us southern people have the right to be here on earth like everyone else. Southern or not, were human, so dont take it to personal. Plus, it wouldnt be no fun without us southern folk. lol

Answer 4

Greetings y'all from the great state of Alabama.
Being from the south this is not a new question.In the rural south the pace is slower and the life style is much simpler.
I have lived in the small rural setting where a Saturday cook out(Bar-B-Q) is a community happening,as in we start cooking and people come by with extra meat or a dish and the community happens to show up.
But the respect that is taught from a young age in most of the south is hard to find out of the area.Yes mam,ot no mam to yes sir and no sir..
The south has the ice tea and shade tree break from worknand the most beautiful land GOD placed on earth.
Welcome to the south y'all.

Answer 5

Christina, most stereotypes have some basis in reality. Don't let it bug you that we slow down our speech so the others can listen, that we still cook such that it tastes good, that we like to eat 'wild animals' as much as farm raised animals.

If the yankees figure out how good things are down here, they'll move in and ruin it.

I'm oft found in Bham but usually a tad north of there.

Answer 6

Cause it's easier to point and laugh at us then themselves. Who knows I am born and bred Southerner and I love it...the music, the food....you can't touch the south on things like that. We are seeped in history and culture and even those of us who hate it would never leave and never declare ourselves anything but Southerners.

Answer 7

there are stereotypes about everything, everyone and anything.... if were are to get anywhere peacefully with each other stereotypes need to be stopped!

there is so many stereotypes because southern people are so unique.... its easy to be stereotypical about

Answer 8

My parents lived in various southern states after I grew up and I spent summers from college there. My observations are based on my personal experiences. I found that many people were intolerant of anyone who was not Christian, white, or in any way different. People would be polite to your face and gossip behind your back. Alcohol use was phenomenally high. People drank in their cars, showed up to your house with drink in hand and ordered drinks in "family restaurants." At one point, my parents lived in an upscale neighborhood in NC and my mother killed a possum that was threatening her cats. Her neighbor said (seriously) "You should have called me. Possums are good eating."