Are people really nicer down south?

[coliebird]

Originally posted by stacilee
I appreciate the fact that children here are taught manners in school and am proud of my children when we "go up North" to visit family and friends and everyone remarks about the way our children speak to adults and behave in social situations.

Manners aren't reserved for Southerners. My daughter is 2 and always says please, thank you and you're welcome because that is what I am teaching her (I don't think schools should teach manners, parents should do that) and we live "up North".

I also happen to be very friendly. I say hello to strangers, I ask people how they are, I hold doors for people. I think manners and common courtesy have more to do with how you are raised than with where you are raised. Just my humble opinion.

 

[Pkaroch]

I think it depends on the person, but when we moved down here, I noticed it quite a bit. People are more apt to strike up a conversation in line at a store or on the street than up north. My mother works at a school and she's amazed at the difference in the children too. Makes it easier to meet new people, I love it!

 

[Pongo69]

Originally posted by Phrebert
Since I'm from the opposite corner of the country the Real Northwest, I have a couple of questions as I have never been to the south ofther than Orlando.
1. Are things just like "Deliverance" or have they improved.
2. If I do meet a rude Southerner and insult them do I have to have a duel?

Are you speaking of the movie Deliverance which is similar to Wrong Turn

 

[chyam]

Originally posted by Dan Murphy
About as friendly as the folks in the national parks out west and the theme park in Florida. Good people has been my experience, though I would count 14 states in the 'southern' clime. Go south, Con. And welcome to the DIS.

I agree with you Dan, I find that if I put myself out there and take a first step others will treat you well, I myself will not read anymore posts by this poster, this is the second day in a row that they have put something out here to stir the pot, and quite frankly if you already have a chip on your shoulder how do you really think you will be treated! No one is bad in my book until they show me............as Oprah has said "when someone shows you who they are the first time ........believe them!"

 

[mt2]

Strawberry Lemonade - You should have been that person then or my boss. He didn't understand how I was at all. One guy that worked for us was going through a divorce that he didn't want. He living in BEQ and he didn't have money. Payday was two days away.

I gave him $5 to get me a taco at tacobell and he could buy whatever he wanted with the rest. My boss asked my why I would do something like that. "He was hungry and so was I. We won't be hungry anymore." He just shook (sp) his head and said "I would never have done that." I felt sad for my boss.

I have met many nice people from CT there also.

mt2

 

[oldkicker]

I wonder if a person will get nicer the further south they go?

I can't afford a trip for a while, but perhaps I could stand on my head for a while.

Are the people in Terra del Fuego really, really super nice?

 

[Bichon Barb]

I think northerners (northeasterns specifically) seem to be more accepting of people that are different from them, whether that be religion, color, sexual orientation, etc. I would assume that that is because the northeast is so culturally diverse. Also, it's more crowded up here. If every person you passed on the street said "Hello", it would get quite annoying. Oh, and we have to move quickly to stay warm.

 

[BedKnobbery2]

Welcome back to the DIS, Chubroach!

 

[onecoolmama]

Originally posted by BedKnobbery2
Welcome back to the DIS, Chubroach!

This is the same person tha tasked if all north easterners were rude and then in another post said how she/he didnt knwo any of their neighbors and how unfriendly DC was?

 

[BedKnobbery2]

Yep, that's chubroach, onecoolmama....I'm noticing a similarity not only in posting style, but in topic choices....so I'm guessing this C and that C are one and the same.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

Originally posted by oldkicker
I wonder if a person will get nicer the further south they go?

I can't afford a trip for a while, but perhaps I could stand on my head for a while.

Are the people in Terra del Fuego really, really super nice?

I'd like to know what they are like in Costa Rica, cause thats where I want to go.

Southerners are nice. They ask you in their homes more often. Northerners are nice too, but they are more cautious.

 

[onecoolmama]

Isn't it sad that instead of taking charge and changing what makes you upset, you decide to post on an internet board about how rude others are. TWICE

 

[Strawberry Lemonade]

Mt2,

Your boss sounds like a very bitter man. I'm glad he didn't taint your views on all us CT Yankees!

 

[mt2]

Strawberry Lemonade - It would take too much energy to be bitter. I need all my energy to keep up with my children. LOL

mt2

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

 

[SC Minnie]

People are more friendly down here. It took DH who is from Cleveland a long time to get used to everybody waving as they passed you in their cars. I don't see that in the larger cities like I do in the smaller towns. The larger cities have more of a mix of people and cultures where as the smaller towns like the one I grew up in everybody just about knows everybody else (and no they aren't all related).

I love living in the south and would not want to live anywhere else (maybe the carribean ). I have told DH more than once that if he wanted to move back north I would be glad to help him pack.

 

[mrsltg]

Well, this topic is interesting to me. I was born and raised (18years) on Long Island. I now live in Northern Va and can honestly say that I cringe each and every time I go back north. Here's why... the accent. That awful horrible nails on the blackboard sound that comes from so many!!! Also, the common response to someone taking their order is, "Yeah, get me...." Oh no, the proper response is, "Yes, may I please have," or, "I'd like" followed by a "thank you" and a smile.

I was at my parents home a few weeks ago and went to run a few errands with my aunt. My comment to her was, "why is everyone so angry???" I neglected to see a more than a handful of people with anything but a puss on their face. Why not smile when you make eye-contact with someone? Why not say hello? Northern Virginia is hardly the backwoods and people seem to be able to do it just fine....

Erin

 

[fanofmickey]

I definitely think that is a lifestyle rather than simply being nicer. The pace is definitely slower, so there is more time to exchange pleasantries. FIL was born and lived forever in Mass, and had to change his style in order to be a salesman here because of the different pace. Also, there aren't many of us native Georgians here anymore - I almost never meet anyone else who was born and raised here. Everyone moved here from somewhere else (mostly North), and then of course they love it and won't leave!

"Yankees in Georgia? My heavens . . . how'd they get here?" - Gone With the Wind

 

[Crankyshank]

I don't think Southerners are friendlier. They are chattier than northerners, which probably gets mistaken for being friendlier. Things are also much slower paced.

I worked tech support for years. I've dealt with many people from all over the world and I can tell you that Southerners were the least helpful people when I had to call them to have them check equipment. They also would constantly put me only hold to chat with co-workers and complain because their credit cards weren't working and customers were upset. Duh! That's why I need you to locate/reset your equipment- to fix that problem.

I also dealt with a lot of men, particularly from locations in the Deep South, who seemed to be stuck in a time warp - they would refuse to discuss anything remotely technical with a woman. I can't tell you how many times I was told, "Honey can I talk to a man?"

I think northerners (northeasterns specifically) seem to be more accepting of people that are different from them, whether that be religion, color, sexual orientation, etc. I would assume that that is because the northeast is so culturally diverse. Also, it's more crowded up here. If every person you passed on the street said "Hello", it would get quite annoying. Oh, and we have to move quickly to stay warm.

ITA with you on this. And I have to add that New Englanders especially are very private folk. We keep to ourselves and I think that often makes people think we're unfriendly.

Oh and it's not the Civil War according to my friend Jim, who is from Manassas VA. He was taught in history class that it was the "War of Northern Aggression"

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

I was born and raised down south and we were taught growing up that you always said, ma'am or sir (pronounced "suh" BTW) when speaking to anyone. My grandma always said "never get angry, only more polite". So, the angrier I get, the more "please" and "I respect your position, but.."'s you will hear. I definately agree we are WAY more talkative (you would know our family's life history if I spent more than 10 minutes with you). While I can not say if Southerners on the whole are nicer than Yank...ummm, I mean Northerners...the ones I know are super nice. Just NEVER EVER mention the War of Northern Aggression! Trust me on this, it is a sure sign of how to tell between "born" southerners and "transplanted" ones. You will still be arguing with a southerner when your children are grown and gone!

Please never tell my grandma I was sarcastic about the "War", okay?!