What should I expect different in the South?

[Andtototoo]

To the OP, people are the same everywhere, even though their customs and style of living vary upon location. People in the south move slower, talk more and use 10 words where two would suffice! Small towns will be different from cities, small cities vs big cities, but that is true everywhere. I was talking to a mechanic from Mobile who works in Orange Beach yesterday, who stated that the folks in Orange Beach were much more laid back. I guess that's beach vs city.
Welcome to LA!
Just read this article today, seems fitting:
http://www.gulfcoastnewstoday.com/people/article_1ff4893a-5f6a-11e4-b15b-a72ab4efab90.html

Having lived all over, I am pretty confident in saying that people are NOT the same everywhere. The biggest differences I have found, that depend on location, are:

1. Genuine friendliness versus fake friendliness
2. Willingness to tell the truth and handle conflict in a healthy manner that resolves the problem versus "polite lies" and backstabbing that leads to drama.
3. Willingness to learn about and value different backgrounds and lifestyles versus kneejerk hatred or mocking of the "different".

 

[WowLookAtThat]

Wait, so is it normal to call a young woman "Miss" or "Ma'am"? Forgive my ignorance

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Wait, so is it normal to call a young woman "Miss" or "Ma'am"? Forgive my ignorance

Where I am from, yes. Well, "ma'am" is perfectly normal. "Miss" really isn't. But yes, where I am from, it really doesn't matter the age. You can and often will still be addressed as "ma'am" if many settings. Now, as far as just hanging out with friends and such, not really. But my friends will say "yes ma'am" to my daughter and I to theirs. I think that in those settings, it helps to say it to the younger kids because it helps them also get in teh habit of saying it. Then, you get so used to saying it that it becomes second nature to say it to all people, regardless of age.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Having lived all over, I am pretty confident in saying that people are NOT the same everywhere. The biggest differences I have found, that depend on location, are:
1. Genuine friendliness versus fake friendliness
2. Willingness to tell the truth and handle conflict in a healthy manner that resolves the problem versus "polite lies" and backstabbing that leads to drama.
3. Willingness to learn about and value different backgrounds and lifestyles versus kneejerk hatred or mocking of the "different".

I think you can find this EVERYWHERE. North South East West and every country throughout the world. We will have to agree to disagree on your assessment.

 

[WowLookAtThat]

Where I am from, yes. Well, "ma'am" is perfectly normal. "Miss" really isn't. But yes, where I am from, it really doesn't matter the age. You can and often will still be addressed as "ma'am" if many settings. Now, as far as just hanging out with friends and such, not really. But my friends will say "yes ma'am" to my daughter and I to theirs.

I was wondering about this! Thanks for asking my question. When I visited the South, I was called "ma'am" a lot and I was wondering about that. I thought it was an age thing (I was only 25) but it is kind of a relief to know that it is not an age thing...in my weird way.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

I spent most of my adult life in Houston and those I knew said "Coke". I was raised elsewhere so it always seemed strange to me.

Haha, my wife & I were talking about this the other night. When I first moved to TX from CA as a kid, I had this very confusing conversation at a classmate's house...

Friend: Would you like a coke?
Me: Sure.
Friend: Okaaaayyy...? (implying that he wanted me to say something)
Me: Oh..."yes, please."
Friend: No, what kind of coke? (frustrated)
Me: Uh, just regular Coca-cola, not diet please.
Friend: We don't have Coca-cola, we have Dr. Pepper, Sprite & Pepsi.
Me: Oh, can I do the Sprite instead of Coke then? (thinking that this guy mistakenly calls Pepsi "coke")

I thought the kid was a weirdo & he probably thought the same thing about me.

Soon afterwards I was at another friend's house & his mother offered me a Coke. She then listed what sodas they had (Coca-cola wasn't one of them). I asked her why everyone keeps offering me Coke, but they don't have any. She explained that in the area, everyone calls all sodas "coke", not just Coca-cola. Even non-cola sodas are called "coke." Strange, but that's still preferable to "pop."

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I was wondering about this! Thanks for asking my question. When I visited the South, I was called "ma'am" a lot and I was wondering about that. I thought it was an age thing (I was only 25) but it is kind of a relief to know that it is not an age thing...in my weird way.

At 25, it is definitely not an age thing.

 

[Wishing on a star]

We were traveling over Fall Break, here in the south...
And on the Highway in one area we saw "BUCKLE UP Y'ALL" on the official state highway department electronic road signs!!!

"BUCKLE UP Y'ALL, IT'S THE LAW"

 

[Wishing on a star]

Wait, so is it normal to call a young woman "Miss" or "Ma'am"? Forgive my ignorance

Okay, from the way I have seen it...
'Ma'am' is always appropriate. It is a sign of respect and courtesy.
Which should be afforded to deserving people of any age.
It does not have any negative connotations about old age.

Now, 'Miss', on the other hand... of course would be used, such as a child calling their teacher MIss Jenny...

But, in any other setting.. it is a negative... Like, "We don't act that way, Missy!!!" Or, like, "Little Miss smarty pants."

 

[Wishing on a star]

Ohhhhh, and something just occured to me about the COKE thing.
Maybe this will help some understand a little.

Coca Cola originated here in the South.
It was the one the only such carbonated soft drink.
Coke was Coke was Coke.
And, well, I can remember when that was what almost everyone here always drank as a soft-drink. Just the way it was.

While more and more people here realize that this is not the best general term to use. I think that this is how that all started. And, maybe there are those who still use the word COKE that way.

I would never do that.
But, again, in some circles, there are remnants of some of the culture and tradition of the old South.

 

[luvsJack]

Having lived all over, I am pretty confident in saying that people are NOT the same everywhere. The biggest differences I have found, that depend on location, are:

1. Genuine friendliness versus fake friendliness
2. Willingness to tell the truth and handle conflict in a healthy manner that resolves the problem versus "polite lies" and backstabbing that leads to drama.
3. Willingness to learn about and value different backgrounds and lifestyles versus kneejerk hatred or mocking of the "different".

Do tell, are you saying that only one region of the country has People like this? And which region did you live in to find this? Bless your heart, it must have been just awful!

People are most certainly the same everywhere. Having a different accent, different foods that you like to eat and a few different phrases does not make the person inside any different.

 

[luvsJack]

Barq's Rootbeer originated in the South too, actually and not as a part of the Coca Cola Company.

"Coke" is just used for soft drink the same as "Kleenex" is used for facial tissue. Its not WRONG to call it Kleenex and its not WRONG to call it facial tissue. Its just two ways to say the same thing.

I don't know about the "Old South" but around here, we still say "coke".

 

[Wishing on a star]

Hey, Kleenex is the perfect example!

And, as a person who is born and raised in the South, who is married to a man from 'up north'... I think I have a real feel for how people are different.

And, yes, I do think that people are different.
While, in general, people are people, there ARE differences.

The thing is, as somebody who has seen both... in that one post, I don't think I have to guess just who the negative differences are supposed to apply to.

I can guarantee you that if I felt that it would be appropriate, I could come up with a post with a lot more 'differences' that applied the negativity in the other direction.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

Dallas is an interesting place since over half the population aren't native Texans.

A joke I've heard here a few times goes like this:
Q: How can you tell if a stranger is from the Northeast?
A: Don't worry, give him 5 seconds & he will tell you all about it.

 

[okeydokey]

Having lived all over, I am pretty confident in saying that people are NOT the same everywhere. The biggest differences I have found, that depend on location, are:

1. Genuine friendliness versus fake friendliness
2. Willingness to tell the truth and handle conflict in a healthy manner that resolves the problem versus "polite lies" and backstabbing that leads to drama.
3. Willingness to learn about and value different backgrounds and lifestyles versus kneejerk hatred or mocking of the "different".

Hmmm, I have lived in several places in the US. I wonder which category I fall under. And does my personality change according to the state in which I reside? A puzzler.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Dallas is an interesting place since over half the population aren't native Texans.

A joke I've heard here a few times goes like this:
Q: How can you tell if a stranger is from the Northeast?
A: Don't worry, give him 5 seconds & he will tell you all about it.

Love it!!!

Haven't heard that one before....
But, it fits...

And, again, Y'all.... I also live in an area with a good percentage of population from other areas... Many urban areas here are like this.. As well as areas with a lot of retirees who are hoping to escape the winters in the great white north.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Ohhhhh, and something just occured to me about the COKE thing. Maybe this will help some understand a little. Coca Cola originated here in the South. It was the one the only such carbonated soft drink. Coke was Coke was Coke. And, well, I can remember when that was what almost everyone here always drank as a soft-drink. Just the way it was. While more and more people here realize that this is not the best general term to use. I think that this is how that all started. And, maybe there are those who still use the word COKE that way. I would never do that. But, again, in some circles, there are remnants of some of the culture and tradition of the old South.

But Pepsi was invented in New Bern, NC. ( or is NC not south enough?) And don't people in other areas of the country refer to all soda as Coke too?

 

[JanaDee]

And don't people in other areas of the country refer to all soda as Coke too?

No.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

But Pepsi was invented in New Bern, NC. ( or is NC not south enough?) And don't people in other areas of the country refer to all soda as Coke too?

 

[kirstenb1]

I'm the same way. My mom is "ma'am" but so is my four-year-old daughter. When I was teaching, my students were "ma'am" and "sir". In fact, if someone calls out to me, I just about always respond with, "yes ma'am" or "yes sir" regardless of who it is or his or her age.

Agree!! I'm a substitute teacher, and if called by name by another teacher, I'll always answer Sir or M'am, to set the example for the kids observing. We moved to Virginia when I was 14, and my friends keyed me into this sign of respect for grown ups. Our own children have grown up in school here, and know that they can never go wrong addressing their teachers that way.