Lots of black folks here. I heard a black lady who works behind the counter refer to a white man as “sweetheart” to get him to come back and fill out a form.
Damn, some of you people are determined to make the South a terrible place.
I grew up in the deep, deep South. I'm allowed to sh*t talk it. Beneath the veneer is a spewing hatred, a massive chip on their collective shoulder, and a proud, willful ignorance and mistrust of the actual world. Just look how they vote, and that's all you need to know.
Lol mate. People are being nice to you but gossiping behind your back, feeling sorry for you for being clueless, or simply so happy to see someone from outside their dumb small town. Don't be deluded.
Been here two days and I’ve had three different women - total strangers - call me “dear”, “sweetie”, and “love.” Fantastic. I grew up in the South but I’ve lived for years in a more northern area. The difference is profound. I mean, where I live now if I called a woman “sweetie” I might get arrested.
And before one of you idiots asks, yes this is Trump country, for sure. I don’t vote for President anymore, so I have no dawg in the fight. Forget all that. I’m talking about people here.
Very church going community too. I am certain that makes a difference. Makes me want to retire here.
Let me guess: you are a white, protestant male? Might be interesting to hear the comparable experiences of someone with more melanin, a less traditionally westernized name, someone less heterosexual, etc.
Lol mate. People are being nice to you but gossiping behind your back, feeling sorry for you for being clueless, or simply so happy to see someone from outside their dumb small town. Don't be deluded.
who cares? people are missing the point that friendliness and politeness make everyday interactions much more enjoyable, genuine or not.
in boston people would be mean to him, gossip in front of his face, look down on him for being clueless, and wish he would go back where he came from
Lol mate. People are being nice to you but gossiping behind your back, feeling sorry for you for being clueless, or simply so happy to see someone from outside their dumb small town. Don't be deluded.
I doubt you’re right, but I don’t really care anyway.
Damn it is astounding how many of you are offended at the notion that someone might be polite and pleasant.
I just spent the weekend in Huntsville, Alabama And I drove up to Nashville for the Alabama Vanderbilt game. I lived in Georgia as a kid. Here’s some observations. Huntsville has some great running paths. I saw runners of various ethnicities running together as well as couples that were often of two different ethnicities. Huntsville is somewhat of a melting pot because of the Defense Industry and Aerospace. From what I hear, they have great trails to run on as well. There’s no greater place to watch a college football game. This is not the South that I knew growing up as a kid in the 70s. It is vastly improved. My best friend lives here. Most of the criticisms come from people from Elites from either coast judgment with or no interaction with people from this region. I recently was having lunch with coworkers in Los Angeles struck by their prejudicial attitudes towards people from this area. Hey, are you what’s up? Are you are you? Are you working today? Are you out today?
Are you talking about small-town South or are you talking about Houston, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Birmingham bigger city type South? Because those are very different kinds of places and you're going to have very different experiences between them.
I'd certainly characterize people from the American South as "friendly" and "polite", but not necessarily "nice", at least not more so than anywhere else. People seem to confuse niceness with politeness as the responses here demonstrate so I wanted to point out the difference.
Nice or kind people generally only become more obvious when some sort of setback occurs. You said the wrong thing during a conversation perhaps, but a nice person won't judge you harshly for it because they know everyone has been there. This is a trivial example, but it demonstrates the kind of litmus test needed to determine true niceness.
I've heard anecdotally in the South that a lot of their gestures that are outwardly nice or polite can hide an agenda. If you live in the South, it's very common for neighbors to be VERY interested in your life. They watch comings and goings, they show up on your front door step with baked goods that can become a segue into being invited into your home, they will figure out if you're religious or not, etc. Personally, I find that kind of thing bizarre and offensive.
I live in the Pacific Northwest so this is a stark contrast to life here. I don't talk to my neighbors nor do I care to know them. The fact that the cubic space my chunk of real estate occupies is next to theirs is purely coincidental and it doesn't entitle them any kind of affiliation to me or details of my personal life. That's not to say I don't value meaningful human interaction, but I prefer to do it on honest terms where no agenda is at play. That takes time to build trust enough where it's clear people are worth the time and risk to build a more meaningful connection.
And a rock feels no pain. And an Island never cries.
Let me guess: you are a white, protestant male? Might be interesting to hear the comparable experiences of someone with more melanin, a less traditionally westernized name, someone less heterosexual, etc.
Are you talking about small-town South or are you talking about Houston, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Birmingham bigger city type South? Because those are very different kinds of places and you're going to have very different experiences between them.
I would call it a medium sized college town, closely surrounded by rural areas.
1) Beautiful weather, plenty of sun. This is generally helpful for your mental health, obviously.
The weather is awful in much of the south for most of the year.
Far too hot, far too humid and people are fat and miserable.
It is hot and humid here in GA from mid-June to the end of September. So 3.5 months. Sometimes it can be hot in May, so 4.5 months. But no snow and the rest of the year is quite pleasant.
I grew up in the south, traveled around the world and throughout the US in the military and I've lived in most of the southern states.
Today, southerners of all races are generally friendly and laid back. You can easily. strike up a conversation with a stranger in a supermarket or shopping center. Often, these conversations will include a joke or something humorous.
My sister was in Chesney, SC today and saw a veritable convoy of private citizens headed to the devastated Chimney Rock, NC area... semis towing trailers, a dozen assorted pickup trucks filled with supplies, and a big truck of stuff with Texas Ministry Rescue Response Team on the side.
This is what southerners do. They don't need to know these hurricane victims. They just know people are hurting and they want to help.
Been here two days and I’ve had three different women - total strangers - call me “dear”, “sweetie”, and “love.” Fantastic. I grew up in the South but I’ve lived for years in a more northern area. The difference is profound. I mean, where I live now if I called a woman “sweetie” I might get arrested.
And before one of you idiots asks, yes this is Trump country, for sure. I don’t vote for President anymore, so I have no dawg in the fight. Forget all that. I’m talking about people here.
Very church going community too. I am certain that makes a difference. Makes me want to retire here.
I'm from Detroit and lived in Tunica Mississippi for three years 2011-2014. I had "Yankee racism" played on me a lot. Especially at the Piggly Wiggly.
Those supposed "church" folks you mentioned are about as religious as two time divorced, call girl seeking, racist Trump.
The weather is awful in much of the south for most of the year.
Far too hot, far too humid and people are fat and miserable.
It is hot and humid here in GA from mid-June to the end of September. So 3.5 months. Sometimes it can be hot in May, so 4.5 months. But no snow and the rest of the year is quite pleasant.
Is Texas considered the south?
The weather there in the big cities is hell on earth.