For Those of You Who Don't Live in the Southern United States...?

Question

What do you think of Southerners and the South in general? I ask as someone who's lived in the South all my life.

Answer 1

My impression has always been that they still consider manners important. They're respectful when speaking to me and I find it impossible not to return the favor. I was born, raised, and still reside in Southern California and although many people are still polite, they're just not as mannered up as the southerners that I've met.

I'd like to add that all the ladies I know with southern educations always dress impeccably. Extremely well coordinated in their apparel and they still follow all of the seasonal rules. I have a friend in Long Beach, CA that puts away all of the clothing for a particular season once the season is up. Earlier this year she said to me, "I put away all of the winter clothes this weekend.". And my response was, "What winter clothes? You live in Long Beach!". I so admire her, she's always dressed to the nines and very well mannered!

Paul: Oh my. This is the problem where I live, some women are offended when a gentleman opens a door. How absolutely foolish on their part! The fact that I can take care of myself doesn't mean that I can't appreciate a gentleman! The difference between the past and now is that I can open a door for a man the way that he does for me. It's called having manners! What I can't stand is when my husband opens or holds a door open for a lady and she can't be civil enough to say thank you. I always get upset at this becaue my husband is not obligated to these women, he's a gentleman and I can appreciate that.

Answer 2

i know this question is only for people that don't live in the south, but I'm going to answer it anyway. I believe that the south is great. People often mistake the south as being dumb, racist, and inbred. I believe southerns are some of the most well mannered people in the country. Hospitality is still alive and well down here. Also, not everybody speaks with an accent and still believe that they won the civil war. The next subject would be racism. I believe racism is everywhere in this country, but I believe the northerners hide is a lot better and lie off their butts. I still enjoy the chivalry I receive from the men down here, equality or not, it's called being respectful for a woman. I love being a southern belle with my southern charm, and I still love my southern men that still open my car door. For a long time in my life, when I moved from New Orleans to Mississippi, I hated it. I've lived here for over 10 years, and I did not see the beauty of the state until I met a country boy of my own. He showed me all the natural beauty, such as water falls. So, before people diss the south come and actually see for yourself, but of course find the right part of the south to go to.

Answer 3

When I moved to the south for college, I found them to be a bit nicer, although on many occasions I got: "You're from New York? I bet you think you're so great. Blah, blah..." What I will say, though, is that the people tend to be a bit more sheltered, and a bit more provincial. Many I know have never owned a passport, and consider going from NC to DC a big trip. Most everyone here is either white or black, and you tend not to run into other cultures. And if you say you want to leave the country for whatever reason, it's always: "what? why?"

And lastly, I've noticed that their food is often quite greasy and fatty, especially that soul food business, and many tend to be overweight because of it. It sounds horrible, but when my dad came down to my university for orientation, the first thing out of his mouth was "Why is everyone so fat?" And when I got back from Argentina, I found myself asking the same question.

Oh, and also, the pizza sucks, the Chinese food sucks, the Thai food sucks, the Italian food is awful, unless you're at Olive Garden... I mean, a Southerner will talk you to death about how they can cook, and Northerners can't, but come down here and order a pizza, boy...even Domino's and Pizza Hut taste worse than they do in New York. Seems like the only decent food you can find down here (for the most part) is American. It doesn't taste bad, but don't you get tired of it after awhile?

Answer 4

Well I was born & raised in NYC and now live in Central Fl and have been to almost every state in the south as I have family there. Let me tell you, you cannot give a definitive answer about southerner's in general nor can a southerner give a definitive description of a northerner as you nor I have me every single one. In general when it comes to the southerner's I have met (I AM ONLY SPEAKING OF THE ONES THAT I HAVE MET) I find southerner's friendly & kind but and in SOME cases very unaccepting of people who are not like them or do not believe what they believe.

Answer 5

I have lived up in CT all my life and I enjoy going down south ie: Florida and South Carolina for vacation but I don't think that I could live the the pace of life is just a lot slower there that here. I enjoy a fast paced society, I would actually love to live in NYC.

Answer 6

I have lived in many parts of the country and known many different people from all over the world....the South is wonderful and is the best place in the U.S. to live, hands down, in my opinion. People are warmer, more sincere, and I appreciate a slower pace of life. People who criticize the South are usually from some poverty-ridden, ill-mannered city, and these folks only observe stereotypes. Pay these people no mind. Chances are they've never traveled outside their region and simply aren't educated about other places.

Answer 7

As a Californian who spent my entire life there before moving to Mexico, all of the people I ever met from the South were very relaxed and nice. I understand the South to be a very mellow place. Everything is very laid back, as opposed to the hustle and bustle of New York, Chicago, and LA.

How true this really is, I don't know.

Answer 8

I grew up in North Dakota so I was use to very cold in the winter and hot in the summer but a very short season. As for the south, I love to visit, but I hate the humidity and so many bugs I never heard of ! lol But as Southerners, ya'll are very friendly and have great Southern hospitality even if we BOTH talk funny! lol Vel ya, sure, ya betcha!

Answer 9

I live in California and most of our lot say the south is full of rednecks and bigots, but I've met people from the south and I'll tell u what, their lot is actually way more polite and kind than most of the folks where I live. I even had some kids from MS out here and they are shocked at how "rude" what I consider to be pretty standard behaviour is. They're nice folks, many of them not quite as fast-paced and "busy" as our workaholic lot.

Answer 10

Born and raised in the North (Michigan) thanks to Uncle Sam I went south at age 20, that was in 1971. Except for visits have remained in the south or abroad.
The difference is the weather, people are people, in every state you got conservatives and liberals, good people and bad people, hard workers and lazy welfare bums,
the state or region doesn't matter.