What is the difference between the US North & South mentality?
#61
Re: What is the difference between the US North & South mentality?
You know it's true, especially in an office environment. I don't know how many instances where I've heard of trust issues. I'm sure every woman has at least been involved in a platonic relationship with another woman and told her something that needed to be kept hush-hush, then to find out the next day it's spread like wildfire. I'm sure you've also been witness to such betrayal as well. One moment you'll hear a woman tell you how cute your purse is just to make you smile and the next you'll hear her by the water cooler about how much of a nitwit you are. It's sad but it's true. I think that's why women like having a gay guy as a friend because we know the betrayal factor isn't there. It's also why I think we're more comfortable in a room of guys, sexist remarks withstanding of course. At least we know where they're coming from. Despite that I do have great girlfriends whom I trust. Just enough to count on one hand.
#62
Re: What is the difference between the US North & South mentality?
You know it's true, especially in an office environment. I don't know how many instances where I've heard of trust issues. I'm sure every woman has at least been involved in a platonic relationship with another woman and told her something that needed to be kept hush-hush, then to find out the next day it's spread like wildfire. I'm sure you've also been witness to such betrayal as well. One moment you'll hear a woman tell you how cute your purse is just to make you smile and the next you'll hear her by the water cooler about how much of a nitwit you are. It's sad but it's true. I think that's why women like having a gay guy as a friend because we know the betrayal factor isn't there. It's also why I think we're more comfortable in a room of guys, sexist remarks withstanding of course. At least we know where they're coming from. Despite that I do have great girlfriends whom I trust. Just enough to count on one hand.
#63
Re: What is the difference between the US North & South mentality?
Exactly! Then there are some of them sooo friggin' hot. You know how some of us want to change a man. If he just gets to know me he'll realize how wonderful I am and how lucky he is to have met me. That's the only complication I can think of.
#64
Re: What is the difference between the US North & South mentality?
Thinking Elaine from Seinfeld trying to get the guy to "bat for our team."
#65
Re: What is the difference between the US North & South mentality?
I highly recommend the book _Cat's Eye_ by Margaret Atwood to anyone who's interested in the girls-stab-each-other-in-the-back theme. If you went through this as a child, as I did, it's especially poignant.
She rexplores this theme in _The Robber's Bride_ in the context of adult women.
As to North v South in the US.... oh my, can of worms. If you ask an American, a lot of the perspective will be coloured by where *they* grew up as well as family ties and personal experiences. For example, Texas is a state with ties to the South(east), the southwest, AND the Great Plains. In addition we have a cultural identity as Texans no matter where you are in the State. The strong ties to the South are very evident in the Piney Woods of East Texas, while El Paso is closer to Los Angeles than to Houston!
She rexplores this theme in _The Robber's Bride_ in the context of adult women.
As to North v South in the US.... oh my, can of worms. If you ask an American, a lot of the perspective will be coloured by where *they* grew up as well as family ties and personal experiences. For example, Texas is a state with ties to the South(east), the southwest, AND the Great Plains. In addition we have a cultural identity as Texans no matter where you are in the State. The strong ties to the South are very evident in the Piney Woods of East Texas, while El Paso is closer to Los Angeles than to Houston!
#66
Re: What is the difference between the US North & South mentality?
That depends on the gay guy. A few I've known wouldn't know a male perspective if it landed on their head.
#67
Re: What is the difference between the US North & South mentality?
I highly recommend the book _Cat's Eye_ by Margaret Atwood to anyone who's interested in the girls-stab-each-other-in-the-back theme. If you went through this as a child, as I did, it's especially poignant.
She rexplores this theme in _The Robber's Bride_ in the context of adult women.
As to North v South in the US.... oh my, can of worms. If you ask an American, a lot of the perspective will be coloured by where *they* grew up as well as family ties and personal experiences. For example, Texas is a state with ties to the South(east), the southwest, AND the Great Plains. In addition we have a cultural identity as Texans no matter where you are in the State. The strong ties to the South are very evident in the Piney Woods of East Texas, while El Paso is closer to Los Angeles than to Houston!
She rexplores this theme in _The Robber's Bride_ in the context of adult women.
As to North v South in the US.... oh my, can of worms. If you ask an American, a lot of the perspective will be coloured by where *they* grew up as well as family ties and personal experiences. For example, Texas is a state with ties to the South(east), the southwest, AND the Great Plains. In addition we have a cultural identity as Texans no matter where you are in the State. The strong ties to the South are very evident in the Piney Woods of East Texas, while El Paso is closer to Los Angeles than to Houston!
With regards to Texas. It's like that commercial "Texas - A Whole 'Nother Country". Its definitely the truth. You have those divides like you said. You have to considering it's the second largest state in the country after Alaska.
Last edited by ugacrew; Feb 1st 2008 at 4:44 pm.
#68
Re: What is the difference between the US North & South mentality?
Speaking as an English woman, this thread has taught me more about America and Americans than anything else I've read on BE in two years.
I have relatives in the mid west, God bless 'em, and have been to Oklahoma, Missouri, Florida, New York City and Mineappolis.
I have relatives in the mid west, God bless 'em, and have been to Oklahoma, Missouri, Florida, New York City and Mineappolis.
#69
I approved this message
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Chicago
Posts: 2,425
Re: What is the difference between the US North & South mentality?
In my completely blinkered opinion:
Traditional South:
Tennessee
Southern Virginia
South Carolina
Southern North Carolina
Deep south, more stereotypically "southern":
Most of Alabama, excepting parts of the coast
Parts of Georgia, excepting parts of Atlanta
Northern Louisiana
Northern Florida, excepting Destin and parts of Pensacola
Southern Kentucky
Not really the south, but close:
Arkansas (very, very close to being "southern" in parts)
Northern Kentucky
West Virginia
Oklahoma
Northern North Carolina
Southern Missouri
Not really the south at all, but maybe depends on who you talk to:
Northern Virginia
Maryland
Creole, not "southern":
Southern Louisiana
Texas, not the "southern":
Texas
Definitely not the south, the Southwest:
Arizona
New Mexico
Utah
Nevada
Parts of Colorado
Also, some of the most cosmopolitan, intelligent and open minded people I've ever met were from Alabama. Nashville can be amazingly cultured, people from New Orleans can be uptight assholes, etc. It's easy to generalize but it doesn't make it true.
Traditional South:
Tennessee
Southern Virginia
South Carolina
Southern North Carolina
Deep south, more stereotypically "southern":
Most of Alabama, excepting parts of the coast
Parts of Georgia, excepting parts of Atlanta
Northern Louisiana
Northern Florida, excepting Destin and parts of Pensacola
Southern Kentucky
Not really the south, but close:
Arkansas (very, very close to being "southern" in parts)
Northern Kentucky
West Virginia
Oklahoma
Northern North Carolina
Southern Missouri
Not really the south at all, but maybe depends on who you talk to:
Northern Virginia
Maryland
Creole, not "southern":
Southern Louisiana
Texas, not the "southern":
Texas
Definitely not the south, the Southwest:
Arizona
New Mexico
Utah
Nevada
Parts of Colorado
Also, some of the most cosmopolitan, intelligent and open minded people I've ever met were from Alabama. Nashville can be amazingly cultured, people from New Orleans can be uptight assholes, etc. It's easy to generalize but it doesn't make it true.
Last edited by Hiro11; Feb 1st 2008 at 5:13 pm.
#70
Re: What is the difference between the US North & South mentality?
In my completely blinkered opinion:
Traditional South:
Tennessee
Southern Virginia
South Carolina
Southern North Carolina
Deep south, more stereotypically "southern":
Most of Alabama, excepting parts of the coast
Parts of Georgia, excepting parts of Atlanta
Northern Louisiana
Northern Florida, excepting Destin and parts of Pensacola
Southern Kentucky
Not really the south, but close:
Arkansas (very, very close to being "southern" in parts)
Northern Kentucky
West Virginia
Oklahoma
Northern North Carolina
Southern Missouri
Not really the south at all, but maybe depends on who you talk to:
Northern Virginia
Maryland
Creole, not "southern":
Southern Louisiana
Texas, not the "southern":
Texas
Definitely not the south, the Southwest:
Arizona
New Mexico
Utah
Nevada
Parts of Colorado
Also, some of the most cosmopolitan, intelligent and open minded people I've ever met were from Alabama. Nashville can be amazingly cultured, people from New Orleans can be uptight assholes, etc. It's easy to generalize but it doesn't make it true.
Traditional South:
Tennessee
Southern Virginia
South Carolina
Southern North Carolina
Deep south, more stereotypically "southern":
Most of Alabama, excepting parts of the coast
Parts of Georgia, excepting parts of Atlanta
Northern Louisiana
Northern Florida, excepting Destin and parts of Pensacola
Southern Kentucky
Not really the south, but close:
Arkansas (very, very close to being "southern" in parts)
Northern Kentucky
West Virginia
Oklahoma
Northern North Carolina
Southern Missouri
Not really the south at all, but maybe depends on who you talk to:
Northern Virginia
Maryland
Creole, not "southern":
Southern Louisiana
Texas, not the "southern":
Texas
Definitely not the south, the Southwest:
Arizona
New Mexico
Utah
Nevada
Parts of Colorado
Also, some of the most cosmopolitan, intelligent and open minded people I've ever met were from Alabama. Nashville can be amazingly cultured, people from New Orleans can be uptight assholes, etc. It's easy to generalize but it doesn't make it true.
#72
Re: What is the difference between the US North & South mentality?
It would be easy to make the case that southern Florida and south Texas are outposts of Latin America than they are "Southern." (I don't say this in a derogatory sense, either.)
#73
Banned
Joined: Mar 2006
Location: Orlando,Florida,living in Buckinghamshire for next 6 weeks.
Posts: 1,416
Re: What is the difference between the US North & South mentality?
Southerners are believers
Northerners are thinkers
Northerners are thinkers
#75
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: The People's Republic of Evanstion, IL
Posts: 332
Re: What is the difference between the US North & South mentality?
In the North when you make an appointment for a cable guy to call they'll promise to be there tomorrow and will turn up the day after that. In the far south they'll promise to turn up tomorrow and then you have to phone them up a week later to find out where they are
The Southern Company was Time Cable, maybe it was just them
The Southern Company was Time Cable, maybe it was just them