What is your impression of "the South" or the southeastern U.S.?

Question

It is so often put-down and bashed on here, just wanted opinions and/or reasons--Not historic, because those are obvious--but about TODAY's south.

Answer 1

I love the South. I've lived, or at least visited most areas of the country and choose to live in the South because of the combination of advantages it offers.

And don't listen to all the idiots who will talk about the rednecks and bigots down here. There are no more bigots here, proportionally speaking, than I ran into in the Northeast, Midwest, or Far West. In fact, the worst place for bigotry and prejudice that I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing was Boston.

Answer 2

I've traveled the whole country, it's my job. I have to deal with people from different regions every day. On the whole, interacting with people from the south east, especially the Carolinas, one will find that they are the nicest and most down to earth people as a whole. (Florida is New Jersey with palm trees so I don't include them.)
My theory is the weather. I believe when you live in an area where the skies are gray and the trees are barren, the grass is brown 7 or 8 months out of the year such as it is in the north east, and upper midwest where I grew up, the people are as a whole more miserable and more intolerant. They also tend to be liberals and have a more negative outlook on everything. You go down south in middle of February, the trees are green the grass is green, and the sky is blue, it really changes your mood for the better. I'd love to live down there and someday I hope to make the move.

Answer 3

I live in "the South" after escaping from that northern territory located at the southern most tip of the United States( Florida)
I think most people that run their mouth about the South have never been here and just like to say nasty things about people they know nothing about.

I have found people here to be:
Really Friendly
The type that will stop if you're broke down whether or not if they know you
Hardworking and hard playing-
As long as you stay out of the city, it's pretty, laid back with people waving as you pass- whether they know you or not.
The communities tend to look after their own and it's a great place to raise kids.
Yes, most are conservatives (myself included) but it makes for great neighbors -
There are churches on just about every corner where I live - they help the needy and look out for their communities.
For example:
When my husbands grandma died the pastor from the local Baptist church was there before they even got the hearse loaded to lead us in prayer and offer his condolences- we don't even go to his church- he was just driving by and saw the hearse and stopped.
it's a nice place and i am glad i can call it home.

Oh yeah- it's also beautiful here in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Come visit- if you get lost don't be afraid to stop and ask for directions- just be prepared for those directions to include something like make a left at the old "bacco barn" and a right at the old mill- and maybe nice glass of iced tea.

Answer 4

I live in the Southeastern US and I'm not forced to live here
by some law or government order...I live here because I
love it here. I have no reason to bash any part or any place
in my country..people in this country can move or travel
to any part they want and all they have to do is get up and
go. Today's South is like today's North, East or West...
....if you're talking USA, you're talking of our home and
no intelligent person is going to make any region of it
a place to "put-down" or "bash around" only ignorant
uninformed people do that!

Answer 5

As A Dam Yankee(one who moves south and won't leave) I love the South. I'm originally from New England, but have lived in the South ever since getting out of the service. I've lived in KY,AL, SC,MD,and Florida. The people are friendly(as long as you don't try to northernize them) Cost of living is cheaper(going up every day though) and I like the climate better.

Answer 6

The South is wonderful place with a good weather climate and in many places, a good economic climate, too. Some people may "talk slow", but they have the same range of personalities as any other place in the country. Yes, there are probably isolated redneck regions somewhere, but it makes me mad when people think they can judge southerners as lazy, bigoted, or unadvanced.

Answer 7

Having lived in Texas for decades, my impression of the south is that people are friendly and laid back. I rarely see the sort of "redneck racism" that gets pinned on the South by Hollywood and others.

Although, I'm sure racism is embedded in isolated areas, maybe more in the Southeast, I think that overall folks of different colors have learned how to get along down here.

Think "relaxed", "laid back", "friendly", and you have terms that fit the South pretty well.

Answer 8

Outside of Florida (which is just "New York South") I love the southeast, visit as often as I can and hope to retire down there.

Answer 9

I am in Birmingham Alabama
They still support bush here

they want creationism taught in schools

they believe in beating children (even in schools) and parents cant stop them,,,,

the blacks have their own schools

they hate liberals thinking that we are communists...

they are very prideful of accomplishments and despise the lazy or less fortunate.....

and i have never seen so many BMW drivers anywhere (i guess its a status thing)

Answer 10

As a escapee of nothern liberalism I find the south to be a great place to live and raise a family. the people are friendly and the food is great!