I'm from a small town in North Carolina, where everyone knows everyone, and everyone is somehow your cousin. Once I left for college, I knew I would meet all kinds of new people, but I didn't know what all would come with it! Here are a list of things that I am just SO tired of hearing, and I'm sure you can relate to them, too.
1. "Wow, you have a strong accent!"
Really? I had no idea, but thank you so much for opening my eyes. I have lived in the South all my life, of course I have an accent, and it's pretty dang cute too, but there’s really no need to point it out.
2. "Why do you monogram everything?"
Well, this one is mostly for the ladies, but it is a question that I get asked all the time! Monogramming makes everything personal, and to be honest, it’s just REALLY cute, okay? You don't have to understand it, just accept it.
3. "You wouldn’t understand what we’re talking about, it’s okay."
This one is my favorite. Because I have a southern accent, apparently I’m supposed to be stupid, and this is how most people see us. I don’t understand this one at all, but it is definitely not true. My accent has nothing to do with my intelligence.
4. "Oh, you’re actually smart?"
Another form of number 3. Once you get fed up with everyone thinking you’re stupid, you kind of have to flaunt what you’ve got, ultimately ending up with this question. Yes, I’m from the South, but that does not mean I’m stupid.
5. "What do you mean you can’t drive in the snow?"
Where I come from, if there’s even a 2% chance of snow, you better go get your milk and bread because the whole city will shut down and Mama and Daddy will not let you leave the house. We don’t get snow that often, so we don’t really know how to deal with it. Going to school in the mountains, everyone expects me to just know how to drive in all kinds of weather, but if there is snow on the ground, I am going to stay my happy little tail at home and eat some snow cream, I’m not trying to die out there.
6. "So.....are you racist?"
And you think southerners are stupid? This question is absolutely ridiculous and honestly quite offensive. I was raised to love and treat everyone equally, and that is exactly what I do.
7. "Did you grow up in a trailer park?"
Personally, no I didn’t, but why does that even matter? People are allowed to live how and where they like, but that doesn’t make it okay for you to create a stereotype about it.
8. "Don’t you think that’s too much salt?"
There are three things that I need for every meal: salt, butter, and cheese. I will use as much as I like, and if you question it, you will get a look that could kill. Don’t mess with a southerners food, y’all.
9. "What does that even mean?"
Okay, I can kind of understand this one, but it still gets annoying. Everyone knows that we have some pretty interesting sayings in the south, but you don’t have to make me explain every single thing I say, do you?
10. "Don’t call me ma’am/sir, that makes me feel old."
This is not intended to make you feel old, just respected, and honestly it’s a habit for most people. We say it to everyone, even people that are younger than us. If you come to the south, you’re just going to have to get used to that one.
11. "Don't you think that's a little bit old-fashioned?"
It might be, but traditions are a big part of the south. We don't like to change things, and we will do the same thing the same way for as long as we can. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
