NationStates Jolt Archive

I know that a lot of people are gonna flame this thread, but it's o.k. because Rednecks have thick skin! First of all, I am a PROUD redneck. Now don't go getting rednecks confused with hillbillies and inbreds. I'll defer to Jeff Foxworthy on the definition, due to the fact that the dictionaries have a definition I disagree with. He defines Redneck as "A glorious absence of sophistication." My interpretation of that is this. We don't care what things look like. We care how they work. We don't care how people look. We care how they act. We don't need a fancy paint job on our car as long as it runs good. When something breaks, we fix it, instaed of buying a new one. We wear jeans, because we don't care what people think of our dress.

Now, some take it to extremes, such as wearing stained, ripped jeans and t-shirts all the time. (I have a friend or two like that. lol) This is not done as a sign of disrepect any more than wearing peircings, tatoos, or strange hairstyles, nor is it a sign of low intelligence. It is done because a Redneck doesn't like to spend his hard earned money to impress others. He (or she) would rather buy things that make him happy, such as bigger tires for his truck, or a new performance carbeurator for his Camaro.

It sometimes discourages me that people make fun of redneck speech, calling it lazy, dumb, or unintelligable, then go on the internet and type "IMHO teh rednecks are dumb! We pwn them! lol", as if it is any better. Or they make fun of Country Music, and then put on their favorite techno music, which doesn't even tell a story. Everybody marches to the beat of their own drummer. Rednecks enjoy the outdoors, they enjoy Big Trucks and Fast cars. They like to drink beer with their buddies, and will never hesitate to back a buddy up when he's in a tight spot!

Contrary to popular belief, they don't have sex with their sisters, they don't all own 15 shotguns and a rocket launcher, and I know quite a few who have black friends. This does not mean that all Rednecks are good, just that, in my opinion, they are being portrayed in an unfair light. Perhaps my idea of a redneck is different from others, but I'm sure you all get my definition.

So next time you want to make fun of rednecks, by all means do so, but remember this. They will always be the one to stop and help if your broke down on the side of the road, they will always have a cold beer for you, and when your stuck in a ditch, a redneck will always be close by with a truck and a chain!

"If your house has more wheels then the car in your front yard, you might be a redneck" :P

'We don't care what things look like. We care how they work'.

According to Jeremy Clarkson and Top Gear, the Ford Pickup is an absolutely arse car. And yet it is the best selling car in the world (most notably in North America). Hmmm.

'We don't care what things look like. We care how they work'.

According to Jeremy Clarkson and Top Gear, the Ford Pickup is an absolutely arse car. And yet it is the best selling car in the world (most notably in North America). Hmmm.
When it comes to doing work, theres nothing that takes a beating better than a Ford truck!

When it comes to doing work, theres nothing that takes a beating better than a Ford truck!

I know someone with one of these. Built like a tank and consumes fuel at the same rate.

When it comes to doing work, theres nothing that takes a beating better than a Ford truck!
Dont know I have an 88 chev silverauto ... farm truck ... has 253 k miles on it without a major repair

I'd go and wager that there are more electronic songs with better stories than country songs. Modern country, anyway. And here I am stuck in a city on the East coast of Canada that thinks it's in Alberta.

When it comes to doing work, theres nothing that takes a beating better than a Ford truck!
I don't know about that - when I worked on the oil leases in Alberta doing reclaimation, the Ford Powerjokes were always the last trucks out of the lot... I mean, we actually got up early to try and grab the keys to the Dodges and Chevrolets. It was considered a sign of inexperience to take the a Ford over the others.

As far as being a redneck, I think it depends on the connotation applied to the term (as you have said). Most of the things youve laid claim to could just as easily be applied to any categorical stereotype, not to 'redeckism' alone... but if someone wants to call me a redneck because of the way I act, or because I listen to Country music... then the jokes on them. Why? Because throughout time 'rednecks' have been persecuted as being intolerant and crude... what does that make the people that criticize them? Perhaps it makes them hypocrites? I think I'd rather be labeled a redneck and be true to my word than a hypocrite with any other self applied label.

I would hope that a few people here know me by now (though likely as Lascivious Maximus and not my Optimus counterpart), and I would hope that they also accept me for who I am. They should know that I stand against any form of rascism, predjudice and societal injustice... and that above all I am honest, and I am true to myself. A person just can't be anything else in this world. Am I a redneck? Well, I wouldn't call myself anything but Lyle.

I'd go and wager that there are more electronic songs with better stories than country songs. Modern country, anyway. And here I am stuck in a city on the East coast of Canada that thinks it's in Alberta.
I think he was making reference to the electronic genre that comes static of sound and void of any lyrics save the the occasional garden variety party theme anthem... what story these songs tell the book is still out on. I wont go as far as to say that all techno is totally void of lyrical integrity or musical talent... but on a comparative basis, I think country has this argument all sewn up. ;)

I am a PROUD redneck.


Pride is in itself the downfall.
"my truck is nails" there are far better and tougher 4x4's out there. I think Top Gear proved that when they took a Toyota Hilux(?) drove it into a tree, and set fire to it, sank it in the sea, and best of all put it on top of a tower block as it was being demolished... it split the chassis in two but the frame contined to hold it together and it still ran....
It's an image thing.

I'd go and wager that there are more electronic songs with better stories than country songs. Modern country, anyway. And here I am stuck in a city on the East coast of Canada that thinks it's in Alberta.
All the good country music comes out of Texas and it never gets played on the radio outside of local stations. It's a shame really.

"We don't need a fancy paint job on our car as long as it runs good"



I may just be a city slicker, but shouldn't 'good' be well, as the car is running well, well being an adverb...

Anyway, I have a redneck-ish past, and I suppose all of this depends on what you mean by "redneck". My father likes football and beer and country music and Elvis (and polka too, because he's that breed that only live in Texas, the Czech good ol boy), but he's also kind and tolerant and ambitious. He runs a business and invests his money and doesn't go mudding and tearing up the suspension on his truck. He hires hispanics and blacks and promotes them and has them over for dinner all the time.

Now compare him to the trailer park meth heads (i know not everyone in a trailer park is like that, yadda yadda) and you will see a huge difference. When I was growing up, "redneck" didn't refer to a good ol boy like my dad. It referred to ignorant, mean and lazy drunks with no ambition. You see the same thing in certain other cultures. Mexicans that I grew up around used the term "wetback" to refer to the Mexican equivalent of trailer trash. Chris Rock's "niggers" vs "black people" bit comes to mind as well.

All the good country music comes out of Texas and it never gets played on the radio outside of local stations. It's a shame really.
What is a shame for you is a godsend for me :p

"We don't need a fancy paint job on our car as long as it runs good"



I may just be a city slicker, but shouldn't 'good' be well, as the car is running well, well being an adverb...
We also don't give a damn about what people think of our grammar, as long as the message gets across! Whens the last time an adverb payed the bills?
(unless your an english teacher) No offense, but you do know how annoying it is when some one corrects your grammar in a forum, right?

What is a shame for you is a godsend for me :p
It's one more great thing you will never experience, so no, it's not a good thing. I'm talking about talented singer-songwriters here, not schmaltzy Nashville garbage. Give a listen to Robert Earl Keen or Jimmie Dale Gilmore one of these days.

Anyway, I have a redneck-ish past, and I suppose all of this depends on what you mean by "redneck". My father likes football and beer and country music and Elvis (and polka too, because he's that breed that only live in Texas, the Czech good ol boy), but he's also kind and tolerant and ambitious. He runs a business and invests his money and doesn't go mudding and tearing up the suspension on his truck. He hires hispanics and blacks and promotes them and has them over for dinner all the time.

Now compare him to the trailer park meth heads (i know not everyone in a trailer park is like that, yadda yadda) and you will see a huge difference. When I was growing up, "redneck" didn't refer to a good ol boy like my dad. It referred to ignorant, mean and lazy drunks with no ambition. You see the same thing in certain other cultures. Mexicans that I grew up around used the term "wetback" to refer to the Mexican equivalent of trailer trash. Chris Rock's "niggers" vs "black people" bit comes to mind as well.
Thats actually my favorite term for myself is good ole boy, but it doesn't seem to be too well known outside the United States. (There! I didn't call it America! That better? You know who you are!)

'We don't care what things look like. We care how they work'.

According to Jeremy Clarkson and Top Gear, the Ford Pickup is an absolutely arse car. And yet it is the best selling car in the world (most notably in North America). Hmmm.

Ford F-150 is the best American pick-up truck... best-selling for 20-some years in a row.

built Ford tough!

hehe

We also don't give a damn about what people think of our grammar, as long as the message gets across! Whens the last time an adverb payed the bills?
(unless your an english teacher) No offense, but you do know how annoying it is when some one corrects your grammar in a forum, right?
You do know how ignorant and stupid looking using bad grammar is, right?


Maybe if y'all (The english language really needs a second person plural pronoun) spoke english correctly, or at least made a go at it, people wouldn't stereotype so easily.

"and I know quite a few who have black friends"

This is a true story, it happened to a friend of a friend of mine...

It's one more great thing you will never experience, so no, it's not a good thing. I'm talking about talented singer-songwriters here, not schmaltzy Nashville garbage. Give a listen to Robert Earl Keen or Jimmie Dale Gilmore one of these days.
Not a country fan sorry

I would not enjoy it … I understand the quality small local bands but country is country to me … I may myself be a redneck of sorts but I am one of those metal fans ;)

You do know how ignorant and stupid looking using bad grammar is, right?


Maybe if y'all (The english language really needs a second person plural pronoun) spoke english correctly, or at least made a go at it, people wouldn't stereotype so easily.
You do know how snobbish and discriminitory looking it is telling people they're ignorant and stupid looking if they don't speak like you is, right?

Maybe if y'all (The english language really needs a second person plural pronoun) spoke english correctly, or at least made a go at it, people wouldn't stereotype so easily.

'Yous' is sufficiently engrained in the vernacular to be acceptable in most cases, and heck if you're wanting to be fancy 'ye' is a perfectly fine archaicism for the second person plural pronoun. I would think that both would pass without comment if used in a situation where distinguishing between singular and plural form is of importance.

You do know how snobbish and discriminitory looking it is telling people they're ignorant and stupid looking if they don't speak like you is, right?
Speak like me? Sorry, you do realize that the entire world speaks English properly, while you pretend that speaking it wrong is correct is highly arrogant?

'Yous' is sufficiently engrained in the vernacular to be acceptable in most cases, and heck if you're wanting to be fancy 'ye' is a perfectly fine archaicism for the second person plural pronoun.
I would prefer something a bit more modern. I think 'you all' works fine...

Speak like me? Sorry, you do realize that the entire world speaks English properly, while you pretend that speaking it wrong is correct is highly arrogant?

'speaking it wrongly'

"If you mow your yard and find a car ... you just might be a redneck." :D

I would prefer something a bit more modern. I think 'you all' works fine...

Possibly, but it can lead to some pretty ugly constructions: say I want to emphasis that every one of you should do X or Y, then if I use 'you all' I have to say something like 'All you all should do X'.

Ford F-150 is the best American pick-up truck... best-selling for 20-some years in a row.

built Ford tough!

hehe
HINT: It runs better with a gun-rack in the rear window. :D

You do know how snobbish and discriminitory looking it is telling people they're ignorant and stupid looking if they don't speak like you is, right?


I thought you didn't care.

Not a country fan sorry

I would not enjoy it … I understand the quality small local bands but country is country to me … I may myself be a redneck of sorts but I am one of those metal fans ;)
Well, I'm not going to tell you what you will and won't like, but I think it's kind of a shame that you've closed your mind to it. The difference I'm speaking of is one of kind, not merely quality. And these aren't local upstarts here, but people with long careers and a degree of national (perhaps international) recognition who are too idiosyncratic and uncompromising for Clear Channel affiliated radio.

If I had let Slipknot and Korn decide what all metal was like, I wouldn't have discovered the many, many metals albums that I very much enjoy.

'speaking it wrongly'
Brought that one upon myself...

I think he was making reference to the electronic genre that comes static of sound and void of any lyrics save the the occasional garden variety party theme anthem... what story these songs tell the book is still out on. I wont go as far as to say that all techno is totally void of lyrical integrity or musical talent... but on a comparative basis, I think country has this argument all sewn up. ;)

Country songs are about one of five things. The fifth was added since 9/11.

1. Your woman/man leaving you.
2. Your truck.
3. Your job.
4. Losing your job, and being left by your woman/man, who also confiscates the truck.
5. How much you love America.

Speak like me? Sorry, you do realize that the entire world speaks English properly, while you pretend that speaking it wrong is correct is highly arrogant?

1) I AM an English teacher-in-training, and I wouldn't attempt to gain a job like that if the entire world ALREADY spoke English properly! (^0^)

2) English (as with many languages) DOES sort of divert into dialects.
Now, these changes may not be out of necessity, but they seem to
happen.
In that sense, some people from different parts of the English-speaking
globe will speak English differently. Look at parts of Scotland, with
"dinna ken" instead of "don't know"/"didn't know" as just one
example.

Now, as someone whose ear's being trained for such things, so that I can
teach it, these sorts of errors get to me too, but I find that, unless my
teaching is warranted, I don't offer it, because it does come across
as a bit arrogant.

The way I see it, if our redneck friends want to speak a different way,
then so be it.

Speak like me? Sorry, you do realize that the entire world speaks English properly, while you pretend that speaking it wrong is correct is highly arrogant?
I never said it was correct. I said thats how I speak! Frankly, if you think I look ignorant for that, than so be it, but as I sit here looking "ignorant", you sit there looking like a knit picking dick. ;)

I thought you didn't care.
Feel better gettin your 2 cents in, junior?

In that sense, some people from different parts of the English-speaking
globe will speak English differently. Look at parts of Scotland, with
"dinna ken" instead of "didn't know" as just one example.

The way I see it, if our redneck friends want to speak a different way,
then so be it.

The interesting thing here is that much as the Scots preserve many Germanic words which are archaicisms elsewhere - your example of 'ken' - so to do the 'rednecks' (for want of a better term) preserve what are in essence grammatically forms which would have been widespread in C16th and C17th England.

'Yous' is sufficiently engrained in the vernacular to be acceptable in most cases, and heck if you're wanting to be fancy 'ye' is a perfectly fine archaicism for the second person plural pronoun. I would think that both would pass without comment if used in a situation where distinguishing between singular and plural form is of importance.
"yous" and "ye" are just as "non-standard" as y'all. Where I live, someone who said "yous" would sound as bizarre as someone who said "y'all" in the Queen of England's court. "Y'all" is a regional dialect and as valid as any other regional dialect.

'Yous' is sufficiently engrained in the vernacular to be acceptable in most cases, and heck if you're wanting to be fancy 'ye' is a perfectly fine archaicism for the second person plural pronoun. I would think that both would pass without comment if used in a situation where distinguishing between singular and plural form is of importance.
you used to be a second-person plural pronoun (or formal form) (like vous in french) while thou was the more informal form.

1) I AM an English teacher-in-training, and I wouldn't attempt to gain a job like that if the entire world ALREADY spoke English properly! (^0^)

2) English (as with many languages) DOES sort of divert into dialects.
Now, these changes may not be out of necessity, but they seem to
happen.
In that sense, some people from different parts of the English-speaking
globe will speak English differently. Look at parts of Scotland, with
"dinna ken" instead of "don't know" as just one example.

Now, as someone whose ear's being trained for such things, so that I can
teach it, these sorts of errors get to me too, but I find that, unless my
teaching is warranted, I don't offer it, because it does come across
as a bit arrogant.

The way I see it, if our redneck friends want to speak a different way,
then so be it.Thank you sir! And good luck with your career!

Feel better gettin your 2 cents in, junior?

Yup! :D

Thank you sir! And good luck with your career!
And thank you!

I'm a redneck woman,
I ain't no high class broad...
*snip*
and I keep my christmas lights on my front porch all year long,
and I know all the words to every charlie daniels song
*snip*
let me get a big hell yeah from all thos rednekc girls like me
HELL YEAH!


coolest song ever: redneck woman by gretchen wilson

I have successfully pulled off having my new tv sit on top of my old tv.

I know that a lot of people are gonna flame this thread, but it's o.k. because Rednecks have thick skin! First of all, I am a PROUD redneck. Now don't go getting rednecks confused with hillbillies and inbreds. I'll defer to Jeff Foxworthy on the definition, due to the fact that the dictionaries have a definition I disagree with. He defines Redneck as "A glorious absence of sophistication." My interpretation of that is this. We don't care what things look like. We care how they work. We don't care how people look. We care how they act. We don't need a fancy paint job on our car as long as it runs good. When something breaks, we fix it, instaed of buying a new one. We wear jeans, because we don't care what people think of our dress.

Now, some take it to extremes, such as wearing stained, ripped jeans and t-shirts all the time. (I have a friend or two like that. lol) This is not done as a sign of disrepect any more than wearing peircings, tatoos, or strange hairstyles, nor is it a sign of low intelligence. It is done because a Redneck doesn't like to spend his hard earned money to impress others. He (or she) would rather buy things that make him happy, such as bigger tires for his truck, or a new performance carbeurator for his Camaro.

It sometimes discourages me that people make fun of redneck speech, calling it lazy, dumb, or unintelligable, then go on the internet and type "IMHO teh rednecks are dumb! We pwn them! lol", as if it is any better. Or they make fun of Country Music, and then put on their favorite techno music, which doesn't even tell a story. Everybody marches to the beat of their own drummer. Rednecks enjoy the outdoors, they enjoy Big Trucks and Fast cars. They like to drink beer with their buddies, and will never hesitate to back a buddy up when he's in a tight spot!

Contrary to popular belief, they don't have sex with their sisters, they don't all own 15 shotguns and a rocket launcher, and I know quite a few who have black friends. This does not mean that all Rednecks are good, just that, in my opinion, they are being portrayed in an unfair light. Perhaps my idea of a redneck is different from others, but I'm sure you all get my definition.

So next time you want to make fun of rednecks, by all means do so, but remember this. They will always be the one to stop and help if your broke down on the side of the road, they will always have a cold beer for you, and when your stuck in a ditch, a redneck will always be close by with a truck and a chain!


BRAVO! Nice post! *wipes away tears*
And for anyone not in the know, yes there are black rednecks.

You do know how ignorant and stupid looking using bad grammar is, right?


Maybe if y'all (The english language really needs a second person plural pronoun) spoke english correctly, or at least made a go at it, people wouldn't stereotype so easily.


For the most part I agree with what you say but y'all is an accepted contraction in the South and for the most part we dont go around correcting each other, this is considered bad manners which we are taught at home. Rednecks also tend to have good home training. I despise someone going around making fun of southern (colloquelisms)or way of talking. Excuse me, forgot my manners. While I dont talk exactly like that Im not going insult someone else (with the exception of netspeak -that drives me crazy-yeah I know -hypocrite but so what!)

if you like a song that tells a story then you'll love cradle of filth especially damnation and a day which tells the story of lucifers downfall

Country songs are about one of five things. The fifth was added since 9/11.

1. Your woman/man leaving you.
2. Your truck.
3. Your job.
4. Losing your job, and being left by your woman/man, who also confiscates the truck.
5. How much you love America.


Thats a very narrow band of the country music subject spectrum

And there have been patriotic country songs long before 9/11. Lee Greenwood anyone?

For the most part I agree with what you say but ya'll is an accepted contraction in the South and for the most part we dont go around correcting each other, this is considered bad manners which we are taught at home. Rednecks also tend to have good home training. I despise someone going around making fun of southern (colloquelisms)or way of talking. Excuse me, forgot my manners. While I dont talk exactly like that Im not going insult someone else (with the exception of netspeak -that drives me crazy-yeah I know -hypocrite but so what!)

"Ya'll" is incorrect. "Y'all" would be the contraction of "you all," as the apostrophe signifies the omission of the "ou."

grrr...I just put it in the wrong place. Ever heard of a typo? I didnt notice it! Damn yankees!

Thats a very narrow band of the country music subject spectrum

And there have been patriotic country songs long before 9/11. Lee Greenwood anyone?
Um I think that might fall under option 5

5. How much you love America.

grrr...I just put it in the wrong place. Ever heard of a typo? I didnt notice it! Damn yankees!

I don't think it was a typo, as many people make the actual error.

Yankee? Hah, I live in Texas. ;)

I don't think it was a typo, as many people make the actual error.

Yankee? Hah, I live in Texas. ;)
Another common misconception is that in order to be a redneck, you must be from the south. I was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and I'm a redneck posterchild! :D

Another common misconception is that in order to be a redneck, you must be from the south. I was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and I'm a redneck posterchild! :D


Which is why you use computers/the internet.

"and I know quite a few who have black friends"

This is a true story, it happened to a friend of a friend of mine...
I'm not exactly a redneck (The proper term would be city southerner you see) but I know a black guy who likes country drives a ford pickup and smokes marlboros.

Which is why you use computers/the internet.
Huh?

I'm not exactly a redneck (The proper term would be city southerner you see) but I know a black guy who likes country drives a ford pickup and smokes marlboros.
Hey, me too! Even better than that, his adoptive parents are polish, and his first name (Anthony) is Italian! He gets confused sometimes! lol

I'm proud not to fall under a specific label! Even I don't know what I am! Yay!

When it comes to doing work, theres nothing that takes a beating better than a Ford truck!



I'd take a Chevy or Dodge truck over a Ford anyday.

You do know how ignorant and stupid looking using bad grammar is, right?


Maybe if y'all (The english language really needs a second person plural pronoun) spoke english correctly, or at least made a go at it, people wouldn't stereotype so easily.


No, I don't. I also don't appreciate those that attack other peoples grammEr and spellin'. As long as I understand what they are trying to get across, I'm good.. or should that be well? Now if it were a topic on grammar.. that's a different matter.

I'd take a Chevy or Dodge truck over a Ford anyday.
Check into the '76 Ford highboy f250. Its got a 390 bigblock, factory 4 barrel, close to 400 horses, well over 4000 pound rear suspension. Its a tank! The leaf stack is 10 inches tall, with helpers.

Check into the '76 Ford highboy f250. Its got a 390 bigblock, factory 4 barrel, close to 400 horses, well over 4000 pound rear suspension. Its a tank! The leaf stack is 10 inches tall, with helpers.


Will do, that might be the truck a friend of mine has.. err wait I think his is a 60 something model. I should have said I meant newer trucks. I know some people with some 70 model Fords, they seem alright. But I'm still partial to Chevy.

Edit: Looked up the 76'. I'm pretty sure that's the one the Ole Man (G'pa of the friend I mentioned above) has used for years. They raise corn, tobacco and cattle. Not sure what year the dad drives but it's Ford. Found my friends truck on web just now.. 67 Highboy F250.

'Yous' is sufficiently engrained in the vernacular to be acceptable in most cases, and heck if you're wanting to be fancy 'ye' is a perfectly fine archaicism for the second person plural pronoun. I would think that both would pass without comment if used in a situation where distinguishing between singular and plural form is of importance.


Originally, You and Ye were plural forms of the subjective and objective pronouns, while Thou and Thee were singular.

My neighbor has a bumper sticker that reads "I'd rather push a Ford than drive a Chevy". I'd have to say I've never had much luck with Ford cars, prefer GM for that, but when it comes to trucks, my experience has shown that Ford's rock.

Searching for a third unrelated point to make... oh well.

'Yous' is sufficiently engrained in the vernacular to be acceptable in most cases, and heck if you're wanting to be fancy 'ye' is a perfectly fine archaicism for the second person plural pronoun. I would think that both would pass without comment if used in a situation where distinguishing between singular and plural form is of importance.


Originally, You and Ye were plural forms of the subjective and objective pronouns, while Thou and Thee were singular.

My neighbor has a bumper sticker that reads "I'd rather push a Ford than drive a Chevy". I'd have to say I've never had much luck with Ford cars, prefer GM for that, but when it comes to trucks, my experience has shown that Ford's rock.

Searching for a third unrelated point to make... oh well.

Hey, me too! Even better than that, his adoptive parents are polish, and his first name (Anthony) is Italian! He gets confused sometimes! lol

Nah my buddy's name's Theon and he grew up in a poor urban predominantly black neighborhood.

yha! snip

Personally i like american country music. I mean "grandma got run over by a reindeer" and "the fly the flew from buffalo" are classics!!!

But i have spoken with "rednecks" and have heard some of the weirdest things.
Example: my girlfriends brother was in the US studying a specific subculture in the US and was chatting with a person about leanring languages..
redneck: my son does not need to waste his time learning no other language. If english was good enough for jesus its good enough for me! :p

All in all you southerners seem like a cool bunch to me. Not pretentious or arrogant. Respect to country, best type of US music by far. DEFINETELY the most interesting