North vs. South - is there still a "conflict" there?

[Luv2Scrap]

Is it true that if our family, from northern MN, were to move to the south (could be anywhere from Arizona to North Carolina, or anywhere in between), we would be hated? Would my son have a hard time fitting in with your kids in school? Would we always just be “those Yankees”?

I’m asking this because my son’s dad (who lives in south Louisiana) said yesterday that if we do move down south, we’re asking for difficult times for our son, because they will not welcome him as a Yankee. he says he doesn't dare put anything related to the MN Vikings on his truck or the windows would be smashed. He also said the kids down there are meaner, and basically my son won't stand a chance in the south.

I have lived in south Louisiana for a few years too, and I never felt that way. My son was born in the south, and he was too young to be in school at that time, so I can’t use my few years there as a guide.

I’m wondering if he is just trying to keep us from moving away from Minnesota, as this is where his family is, and he comes home every year or so and visits with both DS and his family at the same time. He also knows that DS is not thrilled about the thought of moving, as he really likes it here.

So give it to me straight. Is it really that bad? I’m not looking for how you think it “should” be, but how it really is.

 

[blu3d3vil]

It depends on where in the south you move. If you move into a large city or a suburb I'd say no problems at all.

If you move into a rural area you might experience some hazing but I don't think it's as bad as you might think.

Of course there would be some adjustment but it's still America. I mean it's not like you'd be moving to the USSCalifornia.

 

[SaraJayne]

IMO, as a "northerner" who lived in the South for a while, yes. I don't think you'd be doing your son any favors.

 

[SaraJayne]

It depends on where in the south you move. If you move into a large city or a suburb I'd say no problems at all.

If you move into a rural area you might experience some hazing but I don't think it's as bad as you might think.

Of course there would be some adjustment but it's still America. I mean it's not like you'd be moving to the USSCalifornia.

Not necessarily. I lived in Atlanta.

 

[SC Minnie]

I would assume if you moved to a very remote rural area your son may have more trouble 'fitting' in but most towns that are really within an hour of a larger city are pretty open. To be honest, where I live I rarely meet anyone that is originally from the South. Most of my co-workers are from CT, WA, and everywhere in between with a few Canadians mixed in there (some are French Canadian since our company's HQ is in Montreal).

As far as having windows smashed if you have a Northern team sticker on your car- um well, I wouldn't want to live in a place like that and I am a true GRITS - Girl Raised In The South.

 

[blu3d3vil]

IMO, as a "northerner" who lived in the South for a while, yes. I don't think you'd be doing your son any favors.

Are you serious? As a kid growing up in the South, we didn't pick on a person because of where they came from. Kids care more about someone being 'cool' or not. I think being/not being cool would have more of an affect on her son than anything else.

 

[SaraJayne]

Are you serious? As a kid growing up in the South, we didn't pick on a person because of where they came from. Kids care more about someone being 'cool' or not. I think being/not being cool would have more of an affect on her son than anything else.

Yes, I am serious. And I was an adult when I lived in Atlanta, so it wasn't being picked on ~ it was more being heckled (by other adults) for being a Yankee and the way I talked. As soon as I open my mouth, you can tell I'm not from Atlanta.

But regardless of what people tell her on the Dis, it's a decision only she can make for her family.

 

[si-am]

Sorry, as someone who has lived here (Georgia) her whole life... that is the most ridiculous idea I've ever heard.

 

[mickeyboat]

It may depend on exactly where you rellocate, but I moved from Vermont to NC my sophomore year in high school and had no problem.

Yes, there are still yankee jokes, just like there are flatlander jokes in New England. But people are generally not being tormented in the South because they were not born there.

I would research the community where you might be moving and find out how welcoming they are to anyone relocating there. If there is a large population of transplants (possibly because of the industry located in the area), you should have no problem at all. If you are moving to a community that has never had a member leave or a new member come, you might have issues.

 

[Heidict]

Oh yeah, there are definitely some people that still hold some animosity and even anger towards "northerners". Heck, earlier I even saw someone on this board make reference to "the Yankees". Maybe it was said as a joke, but the fact that it is still lobbed around like the war is still going on is pretty sad.

I was raised on the west coast, far outside of the whole North vs. South thing. I moved to CT in my late teens and have never considered myself a Yankee, but apparently there are people down south who think I must be. When visiting down there I have had some interesting things said to me based on where I currently live.

I have never heard anything being said in a big city or town; it is always in the smaller places.

In my opinion, unless you were getting some major money for a new job down south, I would stay where you are and not risk putting your son in that situation. I don’t mean to imply that he would be in physical danger or anything, but I can imagine he could be picked on quite badly in school.

 

[blu3d3vil]

Yes, I am serious. And I was an adult when I lived in Atlanta, so it wasn't being picked on ~ it was more being heckled (by other adults) for being a Yankee and the way I talked. As soon as I open my mouth, you can tell I'm not from Atlanta.

But regardless of what people tell her on the Dis, it's a decision only she can make for her family.

I'm sorry to hear that. I heckle my friends for different things, including the way they talk, but they rib me right back. No one gives it a 2nd thought, it's all in good fun.

I hate to hear that it was a serious thing for you. i don't know anyone like that.

 

[FireDancer]

I am from Ohio and lived in Tampa for 2 years. I was never subjected to any hate that I was aware of because of my northern roots. Maybe everyone pointed and laughed behind my back, I guess I'll never know. I was also told once that FL wasn't the south which is absurd. Last time I checked the map it was as far south as one could get in the continental United States.

I'm sure there are places where they are still fighting the civil war for one reason or another but I don't think that is the normal case and I sure wouldn't let it keep me from moving to the south again. There is also a pretty big difference between a little jab or joke that is meant in humor and being hung from a tree because you are a "carpetbagger".

 

[NikitaZee]

We're New Yorkers who've lived in Kentucky for several years - we never had a problem. Our kids never had a problem. Actually, people were interested in hearing about our experiences and wanted to hear stories about New York. BTW - they loved our accent. I have friends that asked me to say certain words over and over because they loved they way I said them.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

I live in a small town in NC and I don't think that the north vs. south thing is an issue at all. I think a lot of people in recent years have moved from northern communities into NC for various reasons (taxes, weather, quality of life, crime, etc). You would be hard pressed to tell any difference between NC natives and people who have re-located from the north.

I can't testify for every southern community, but I would without hesitation say there would be no conflict here!

 

[minkydog]

First of all, you need to redefine "South." Arizona and New Mexico have never been "the South." Texas to the east coast, Alabama to Tennesee and Virginia is "the South." "Deep South" would be Mississippi, south Georgia,
Alabama, and Louisiana. And maybe South Carolina. Florida is NOT "the South." Nor are Kentucky, Maryland, West Virginia,Missouri, nor Kansas.

So, as to whether you or your children would be treated differently, I think it depends on where you are talking about. Backwoods Alabama(where I'm from)? Yeah, you might have a few issues, due mostly to just being the "new people in town." Different accent, different culture, you know. Move to Atlanta, GA(where I live now)? Nobody would even notice your accent. We're ALLLL from somewhere else.

I was born in Virginia, the heart of the Revolution and once the capital of the Confederacy. The Civil War was really a non-issue to our family and friends. Then when I was 11 we moved to Pascagoula, MS, where we learned that the War of Northern Aggression was still being fought in the streets. I had never heard teh N-word until I moved to Mississippi (and I didn't pick it up, either!) Because I had that lovely Tidewater/eastern VA accent, people called me a "d--- Yankee!" WHAT?? Last time I checked, Virginia was below the Mason-Dixon line! I can't tell you how many times people would tell me "Say something! We want to hear your weird accent." Bunch of marroons...

We adjusted. All of us made friends, graduated from HS & college, went on to be successful adults, blahblahblah...I think there are probably small towns and pockets of society for whom the War Between the States will never end. Nothing you can do about that. But to paint the entire Southern U.S as a place where northerners will be vilified, where they will suffer violence and persecution? I think that's pretty harsh.

 

[si-am]

Oh yeah, there are definitely some people that still hold some animosity and even anger towards "northerners". Heck, earlier I even saw someone on this board make reference to "the Yankees". Maybe it was said as a joke, but the fact that it is still lobbed around like the war is still going on is pretty sad.

I was raised on the west coast, far outside of the whole North vs. South thing. I moved to CT in my late teens and have never considered myself a Yankee, but apparently there are people down south who think I must be. When visiting down there I have had some interesting things said to me based on where I currently live.

I have never heard anything being said in a big city or town; it is always in the smaller places.

In my opinion, unless you were getting some major money for a new job down south, I would stay where you are and not risk putting your son in that situation. I don’t mean to imply that he would be in physical danger or anything, but I can imagine he could be picked on quite badly in school.

I'm telling you, no.

Maybe if you moved to an inbred town of, like, 1,000 people. But not anywhere else.

Someone might make a joke about a Yankee, but there would be no bullying based on that alone.

 

[padams]

If my Southern kids moved to Minnesota would they be harassed?

The South is not backwards, hillbilly country. The rural areas here aren't that different from the small Minnesota or Upper Peninsula towns (I grew up in the Midwest). You do realize that you are offending the Southern Dis'ers with your question, right? Try to be a bit more open minded.

 

[diznygirl]

People move around so much these days, I think it's getting harder and harder to find true "natives." As someone who was once new to the south, I can tell you the only real adjustment was to Sweet Tea. The people have been wonderful.

 

[blu3d3vil]

People move around so much these days, I think it's getting harder and harder to find true "natives." As someone who was once new to the south, I can tell you the only real adjustment was to Sweet Tea. The people have been wonderful.

And you now know that Sweet Tea is the best kind of tea, right?

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

I'm from MA and have lived in NC for 15 years and I think it's ridiculous to think that your son would not be able to adjust to living in the South. I think it's normal to expect a certain amount of "culture clash". I remember always being asked "where are you from?" whenever I opened my mouth. Also people from the North tend to be more direct...so I used to piss people off on a regular basis

My husband...who is from NC...describes almost the same thing in reverse about when he visits MA. Waitresses would practically climb in his lap just to hear his accent....not kidding. He also says that he always gets the feeling that people are making judgements about his intellect because of his speach patterns.

So as you can see...it goes both ways. I don't think it's any harder to move North to South as it would be for a Southerner to move North.