Another cole slaw on hot dog lover, even a little chili on it too. I eat around the beans.

I was born in Cleveland (Ohio) and grew up in Detroit. I'd been to the south a few times as a kid, and liked the area. I left at the age of 18, and spent 3 1/2 years in the Army. There's a considerable southern influence there. Many of my colleagues were from the south. I ended up in undergraduate and graduate school in Michigan, but ended up in South Carolina for a year. 4 years later, when it came time to pick a spot to live on a more permanent basis, I told my wife I wanted my kids to be born and raised east of the Mississippi and south of the Mason Dixon line. I haven't regretted it. Not for a minute.

Manners are different in the south. One night, while in training, I was supposed to attend a dinner and conference at the Carolina Club in Columbia. When I got there, a gentleman would not allow me to enter, because I didn't meet the dress code. He said I needed a coat and tie. I said I had a white coat in the car, but couldn't do much about the tie. He said "That won't do. Please come with me. I'd imagine you're about a size 42. Am I correct?" He then proceeded to open an vertical chest, and pulled out a muted tweed jacket and put it on me. He reached into another cabinet and removed 3 ties, and suggested the one that went well with my shirt and the coat. There were several other cabinets, but I thought it would be in poor taste to ask what they had if my shoes wouldn't pass muster. He asked me to kindly return the coat and tie when I left. I commented that this was unusual. He said "Not at all. We have our standards, but it would be rude to turn away an invited guest". Years later, I attended another dinner in Grand Rapids, Michigan, at the Amway Grand Hotel. I was in a coat, without a tie. They wouldn't let me in because it was coat and tie only in the evening. I pulled a tie out of my pocket, and they expressed surprise over my ability to tie it in a Windsor knot (a knot, to them) and center it, without a mirror. I asked if they had a gift shop or anywhere else with ties available. They said no, and it was a good thing that I had a tie.

That, to me shows the difference. But, I'm working as a contractor right now in northwest Minnesota. I'm in a very rural area. The people are friendly, and by and large, a delight to deal with. It's nice here, and I enjoyed the winter. The south doesn't have a monopoly on hospitality. But I still will return to the south.

Texas is truly a country of its own. I absolutely love it. The only thing is them folks talk funny, put sugar in their iced tea and have beanless chili.

quote:

Originally posted by TigerDore:

quote:

Originally posted by 10X-Shooter:
Western N.C. And East Tennessee have a different version of y'all and it's "you'ins".

That's weird. I have never heard it there, but heard it said by people from western PA. I thought it was a western PA thing.

Yinz is a Western PA thing, You'ins, sounds more Youngstown-ish. Yinzer is slang for W. PA/Pittsburgh area folks, where Pittsburghese is the dialect.

I have always been amused listening to driving directions given by local folk, no matter where. In SE Mississippi, where I was born and raised, you could only understand spoken directions if you were a lifelong resident.

For example:

"How do I get to Summerall's farm?"

"Well, you know where Tula Rose church is? Turn left about a mile before you get there. Take the road next to the old Fant place (which burned 50 years ago) and Summerall's place will be about 1/2 mile on the left. He used to have a cattle grate. Can't miss it."

quote:

Originally posted by agony:

quote:

Originally posted by CoolRich59:

quote:

Originally posted by agony:
cole slaw on a chili dog is really really good.

Didn't see this before my post.

No, it's not good. Cole slaw on any dog, even a chili dog, is an abomination.

Well, y'all put that glow-in-the-dark relish on your hotdogs and whatever other condiments are in the fridge. Then get mad when someone puts ketchup on a chicago dog. Bless your hearts...

That's a classic reply.

Now that you are a citizen of Texas there is one more thing you need to know. The fishing in Colorado sucks. Stay down there.

quote:

Originally posted by enidpd804:
Texas is truly a country of its own. I absolutely love it. The only thing is them folks talk funny, put sugar in their iced tea and have beanless chili.

Oklahoma might as well be named North Texas. I've met a lot of good folks from OK.

quote:

Originally posted by Jaywendland1981:

quote:

Originally posted by enidpd804:
Texas is truly a country of its own. I absolutely love it. The only thing is them folks talk funny, put sugar in their iced tea and have beanless chili.

Oklahoma might as well be named North Texas. I've met a lot of good folks from OK.

It used to be thought of as a county in North Texas with bad roads.

quote:

Originally posted by cheesegrits:

quote:

Originally posted by Wino:
- The phrase "bless your/their heart" is not followed by anything nice to say about someone.

First, welcome! Second, that phrase has many nuances. It can indeed be used to express genuine sympathy without any accompanying insult. You just might have to be Southern to discern the difference.

I hope you enjoy your new home.

True. It's not always the passive aggressive phrase it's made out to be. Welcome to the South.

quote:

Originally posted by 2tonicP220:

quote:

Originally posted by TigerDore:

quote:

Originally posted by 10X-Shooter:
Western N.C. And East Tennessee have a different version of y'all and it's "you'ins".

That's weird. I have never heard it there, but heard it said by people from western PA. I thought it was a western PA thing.

Yinz is a Western PA thing, You'ins, sounds more Youngstown-ish. Yinzer is slang for W. PA/Pittsburgh area folks, where Pittsburghese is the dialect.

These people were from Greenville, PA. Very rural and did not sound like Pittsburgh to me. Maybe one or both parents had Youngstown roots.



.



.

quote:

Originally posted by TigerDore:

quote:

Originally posted by 2tonicP220:

quote:

Originally posted by TigerDore:

quote:

Originally posted by 10X-Shooter:
Western N.C. And East Tennessee have a different version of y'all and it's "you'ins".

That's weird. I have never heard it there, but heard it said by people from western PA. I thought it was a western PA thing.

Yinz is a Western PA thing, You'ins, sounds more Youngstown-ish. Yinzer is slang for W. PA/Pittsburgh area folks, where Pittsburghese is the dialect.

These people were from Greenville, PA. Very rural and did not sound like Pittsburgh to me. Maybe one or both parents had Youngstown roots.

Greenville... About 15 miles due north of me, and the dialect they have/you heard makes sense. Go up about as many more miles north, say Meadville, and you would think you were in Upstate NY.

Beaver County (where I grew up) a few counties south, IMO and experience, pretty much is the northen limit of the Yinzer/Pittsburghese dialect. Even in Pittsburgh, this dialect is dying out, or is at least much less pronounced than years past. Local jargon, is especially dying out.

quote:

Originally posted by 10X-Shooter:
It's not pop or soda. It's Coke! You don't order a pop or soda. Everything is Coke, seriously. You order Coke and then, maybe, you're asked what type but usually not. Tea is sweet and iced, period. Western N.C. And East Tennessee have a different version of y'all and it's "you'ins".

Aroud here it's not pop or soda or Coke, it's "a drink." "Stop at that store so I can get a drink."

quote:

Originally posted by


- I DO really drive like an asshole!

Lived my whole life in Michigan, 2005 did a trip to Az. Drove across Texas panhandle both ways and thought I was the only sane person the road!

Welcome, friend.

quote:

Originally posted by Tom Highway:

quote:

Originally posted by cheesegrits:

quote:

Originally posted by Wino:
- The phrase "bless your/their heart" is not followed by anything nice to say about someone.

First, welcome! Second, that phrase has many nuances. It can indeed be used to express genuine sympathy without any accompanying insult. You just might have to be Southern to discern the difference.

I hope you enjoy your new home.

True. It's not always the passive aggressive phrase it's made out to be. Welcome to the South.

Yes indeed!! You will KNOW when it's being used as an insult.

quote:

Originally posted by 2tonicP220:
Greenville... About 15 miles due north of me, and the dialect they have/you heard makes sense. Go up about as many more miles north, say Meadville, and you would think you were in Upstate NY.

Beaver County (where I grew up) a few counties south, IMO and experience, pretty much is the northen limit of the Yinzer/Pittsburghese dialect. Even in Pittsburgh, this dialect is dying out, or is at least much less pronounced than years past. Local jargon, is especially dying out.

Thanks for the insight, 2tonicP220. I was a child when this family lived near me. Their oldest son and I were best friends, so I was at their house a lot. I remember being struck by that particular colloquialism because it was new to me, but I saw it as essentially the same as y'all, you guys or youse guys. I don't think I have heard it since then and had forgotten it until I read the comment here. In any case, they were(are) a great family.



.

I would love to move to the south but this mountain west deplorable hates humidity more than snow. FYI I really hate snow. My wife and I usually make a trip down there every other year. I like the food and scenery but more than that, the people. They're really friendly when you shoot the same attitude back. We're going to try to do a Georgia-Alabama thing this summer. I hope it works out.

 
Grammar lesson:
 
"y'all" is singular
"all y'all" is plural
 

Another thing - it seems to me that parking spots in most places are wider (more space between vehicles) than they were in Northern Virginia/DC area.

And a couple more:

Everyone stops for funeral processions, even when they are in the other lane going the opposite way.

Turn signals are not widely used.

If you run into a ditch, guys in a 4-wheel drive with a chain will be along shortly. Don't try to help them. Just stay out of their way. It happened to me.

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