Should I be insulted?

Question

I was born and raised in Maryland which is a borderline Southern state. Yet, people, even other natives of Maryland, keep asking me if I am from the midwest.

Why is that and should I be insulted?

Answer 1

I think you should ask. Next time someone says it , just politely inquire, "why do you think that" It could just be that you have an unusual way of speaking that is mistaken for an accent, or perhaps you are such a sweet and soft spoken person that people assume that you are from the bible belt.I live in Va and my experience of N. Va and Maryland is a very urban feel. Maybe yur just too nice to be urban??

Answer 2

Your speaking patterns may have the intonation of the midwest flat. The Midwest Flat is a non-accent speech pattern. That is why some of the oldest and best journalism school are in the Midwest. I live in Texas and have lived there for a number of years off and on, it is a nice thing to be able to be understood well when one does not have an accent to worry about. I personally do not have a problem when people peg me for a midwestern, because I am.

Answer 3

Honey, North Carolina is a borderline to the South! Everything north is Yank territory. (and I mean no offense by that term-it's just habit!).

I guess people hear that your accent isn't exactly like theirs, so they took a stab in the dark to guess where you 'came from'. Maybe you're parents weren't from Maryland? My mom's from Texas, and once in a while, I'll seem to talk more so with that accent (for whatever reason).

Don't take it as an insult (which you don't seem to have), and just correct them when they ask you where you are from! lol

Answer 4

They might be thinking that if you lack an accent, but their isn't anything wrong with being from anywhere in the world! All places are fine if you are happy there.

As a midwesterner, I welcome visitors warmly. If you move from the South, glad to know you! If you are from nearby, the same.

Don't ever be insulted about your background, you can't change it and if you are from Maryland then you should be proud of that. Be patient! You are always among friends...

Answer 5

You must have the more neutral accent that is desired and worked for by most broadcasters and people who speak widely around the world in public. People often (not always for you generalization FREAKS) try to develop non-regional accents and idioms to make communicating with diverse groups possible. Don't consider it an insult. If they push it, you might inform them that you are educated and got over the country accent I suppose they think you ought to have.

Answer 6

Its probably your accent. Maryland is nowhere near the midwest. If you're thin skinned you may be insulted.

Answer 7

No! You shouldn't ! I was born and raised in Brooklyn NY. However I live in Dillon SC now.I went to college in Atlanta GA.People from the north say I sound country.People from the south say I sound Proper.I think I sound Just fine because I'm a mixture. R Kelly said it best "Its the best of both worlds"

Answer 8

That's interesting, I wonder why a lot of people ask that. It may be because people see you differently from the way they see themselves. You probably don't blend in but stand out from the crowd which is a good thing - because it shows you are not afraid to be yourself. So be yourself and don't worry about what they say!

Answer 9

Probably the Blue hair

Answer 10

I can't imagine why you'd be insulted.

Annoyed, maybe.

I don't know why people think that.

Where are your parents from? Maybe you picked up a different accent from them.