Rednecks?

[AKA2D '91]

Would you all consider Michael aka Cowboy from Big Brother a redneck?

[_Lisa_]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
However, people born into that culture might not even understand the differences.

Except I don't consider redneck/white trash to be a culture. Its a way of living, but certainly NOT something you are born into.

[_Lisa_]

Originally posted by breathesgelatin
I'm trying to control myself here. Let me just say that "white trash" is NEVER, NEVER an appropriate term to use about anyone. It's really, really offensive. No one likes being called that. Besides, white trash is different from redneck anyway.

On the clothes tip: what you're describing is not how "rednecks" dress. Rednecks wear wranglers, overalls, flannel shirts, and caps. You're describing how the people you'd call "white trash" dress. And, let me just say, from growing up with and knowing many such people, the reason they dress that way is A) because they haven't been taught the same standards of dress as you and B) because oftentimes they can't afford new clothes if styles change or if they outgrow old clothes.

Mm-kay? You're about to offend me here.

I previously stated that redneck=white trash around here. And what I'm describing (clothes, people, etc.) is simply what I see & how I interpret it. If you find that offensive you should really really really calm down and evaluate how easily offended you are. I'm entitled to my opinion as are you.

[breathesgelatin]

Originally posted by crzychx
I previously stated that redneck=white trash around here

Well, then you stated wrong. They don't mean the same thing whatsoever, in any context I've ever heard....???

I'm going to let this go, but please don't come into a rural community and start calling people white trash. If you do, you're going to find out real quick that "white trash" is indeed patently offensive to many, many people.

[_Lisa_]

Originally posted by breathesgelatin
Well, then you stated wrong. They don't mean the same thing whatsoever, in any context I've ever heard....???

I'm going to let this go, but please don't come into a rural community and start calling people white trash. If you do, you're going to find out real quick that "white trash" is indeed patently offensive to many, many people.

Every community is different and I wouldn't assume anyone in your community is the same as those in my community. You are ASSuming that I don't know that white trash is offensive. Of course its offensive-and its not like I run around just calling people white trash. There is a lot that runs through a person's mind that isn't appropriate to say out loud to someone else. I am allowed to share my opinion although I would never walk up to a person & call them white trash (unless I was looking to get beat down by that person or their redneck family.)

And by the way-I didn't state wrong. I definitely said what I meant to say. Its called an OPINION:

o·pin·ion
n.
A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof: “The world is not run by thought, nor by imagination, but by opinion” (Elizabeth Drew).
A judgment based on special knowledge and given by an expert: a medical opinion.
A judgment or estimation of the merit of a person or thing: has a low opinion of braggarts.
The prevailing view: public opinion.
Law. A formal statement by a court or other adjudicative body of the legal reasons and principles for the conclusions of the court.

[ilovemyglo]

Go to the KY state fair- you can see everything from rednecks to yuppies and sluts.

Just a question for you, breathesgelatin,
have you ever looked at someone and thought slut? because of the way she dressed?

Just a thought.

To me white trash is more of a i am wearing a curly mullet, drinking beer, without a job, living off welfare, with short jean short with a hole in the crotch and a muscle shirt with "I am with stupid" on it and blue blockers or something.

That, to me, looks like white trash.

Think of Kim Basinger in 8 Mile-
it isn't because they were born there, they CHOOSE it.

[breathesgelatin]

Originally posted by ilovemyglo
Just a question for you, breathesgelatin,
have you ever looked at someone and thought slut? because of the way she dressed?

Honestly? no.

I think my major issue is that people coming from the outside are often say things like "Oh, XYZ *chose* to be that way" when, if they took the time to get to know XYZ, they'd realize she grew up in a home where violence was a constant, and that she was sexually abused as a child. That she was tracked into remedial classes and given the worst teachers starting in the 4th or 5th grade. Things like that. I'm just really critical of people who come into rural communities and judge without really getting to know supposed "white trash" people. I know these people. I grew up with them. They're my friends. I've been grouped with them before.

I'm not big on passing judgement, if you couldn't tell. I'm not saying that some of the people you call "white trash" aren't lazy, immoral, or purposefully ignorant. But the great majority of them aren't.

[jharb]

I dated a self-proclaimed redneck once. He wasn't white trash, his family owned a big huge farm with lots of crops and animals and stuff like that. He was proud of being a farm boy. That's one situation that I would say that he for sure wasn't white trash. He did wear a cowboy hat and boots and wrangler jeans and loved John Deere green, but he was just proud of his tractor and his farm. Hell his farm equipment alone cost more than my house.

[ilovemyglo]

Originally posted by breathesgelatin
Honestly? no.

I think my major issue is that people coming from the outside are often say things like "Oh, XYZ *chose* to be that way" when, if they took the time to get to know XYZ, they'd realize she grew up in a home where violence was a constant, and that she was sexually abused as a child. That she was tracked into remedial classes and given the worst teachers starting in the 4th or 5th grade. Things like that. I'm just really critical of people who come into rural communities and judge without really getting to know supposed "white trash" people. I know these people. I grew up with them. They're my friends. I've been grouped with them before.

I'm not big on passing judgement, if you couldn't tell. I'm not saying that some of the people you call "white trash" aren't lazy, immoral, or purposefully ignorant. But the great majority of them aren't.

I know white trash- trust me I know rural too- Cynthiana, KY population- like 1500 or something and Burkesville, KY population around 600- two places I have spent a LOT of time.
I know a millionaire in Cynthiana- you'd never know it because he wears overalls and doesn't talk proper- he never went to college but has vast amounts of land.

As for the example you gave of the woman in that particular situation-
no matter where you come from and what your background is- you CHOSE to be ignorant, stupidity is different. Some people are just not intelligent, but ignorance is not something anyone chooses, and I have yet to meet any woman that doesn;t know going in public with, oh, I don't know, a sports bra a flabby stomach with stretch marks showing and short short, tight rolled shorts, doesn't present her in ANY nice light.
AND THAT is a CHOICE.
What you wear reflects who you are and you don't have to have money to wear anything nice, you can get a tee shirt at the goodwill for $.25 and that doesn't show.

Being rural doesn't make you redneck and being rural doesn't make you white trash, those are CHOICES. Like being GOTH...

[CarolinaCutie]

I think most people we would call rednecks embrace the term. I do take offense to some ignorant people who think that everyone from the South is a redneck. Being a redneck is more than just being "country"... I would identify myself as being country, but I would not consider myself a redneck.

[ilovemyglo]

Originally posted by jharb
I dated a self-proclaimed redneck once. He wasn't white trash, his family owned a big huge farm with lots of crops and animals and stuff like that. He was proud of being a farm boy. That's one situation that I would say that he for sure wasn't white trash. He did wear a cowboy hat and boots and wrangler jeans and loved John Deere green, but he was just proud of his tractor and his farm. Hell his farm equipment alone cost more than my house.

I know a family in Owensboro KY with a bunch of fine young men that are self proclaimed rednecks- they own over 30,000 acres in three states- and are multi millionaires.
I mean seriously these boys have trucks that cost more than escalades and they are for work and farm machinery that costs more than most people's houses.
They are not white trash, as a matter of fact they are some of the nicest men I have ever met.

[IowaStatePhiPsi]

Originally posted by Rio_Kohitsuji
There are:
rednecks
white trash
hillbillies
country folk

I live in rural southeastern Ohio, it's filled with this assortment. However, there are differences between them all! When I have more time I'll elaborate!

My grandpa lives in SW Ohio, so I am familiar with them all as well.

If you're driving from Chicago to Michigan- look out at the crappy housing in Indiana- lots of rednecks.
Columbus, Indiana- lots of rednecks around there as well (my sis's ex husband is from around there, scarey place)

hillbillies are found from the bluffs along the Ohio river down into appalachia (sp?).

[IowaStatePhiPsi]

Originally posted by ilovemyglo
and farm machinery that costs more than most people's houses.

Most farm machinery costs more than most people's houses. Hell- my sister works on code patches for automated tractors that cost close to $500K.

[jess_pom]

Originally posted by ilovemyglo
I know a family in Owensboro KY with a bunch of fine young men that are self proclaimed rednecks- they own over 30,000 acres in three states- and are multi millionaires.
I mean seriously these boys have trucks that cost more than escalades and they are for work and farm machinery that costs more than most people's houses.
They are not white trash, as a matter of fact they are some of the nicest men I have ever met.

Are they single?

[ilovemyglo]

Originally posted by jess_pom
Are they single?

LOL

Actually yes they are.... they are all good looking too- there are about 8 of them between two families (their dads are brothers) and they are all members of FarmHouse Fraternity.