Alabama

[but that's my name!!]

I watched an episode of Top Gear the other day, it's a UK TV programme which involves all things cars and the presenters were driving old american cars across part of america, anywho they were in alabama and had pro-gay/bi slogans on the sides of the cars, they pulled into a petrol/gas station and were viciously attacked by a group of people claiming to be proud to be "hicks" then chased along a motorway.
This was aired on UK national TV and everyone I know who saw it was appalled.

I was wondering are all of the southern states like this? what about the rest of the US?

[metasexual]

Hi btmn,

I watched that episode the other day as well. I'm originally from S. Florida but live in the UK now and my wife is British. I have travelled all over the US, and lived in 4 states. In the South, I have to say Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi are particularly backwards if you get outside the major cities. There is still a great deal of de facto racial segregation and tremendous amount of racism and homophobia in the small towns. I lived in Atlanta for a while and it is particularly striking, as Atlanta itself is an extremely tolerant city, but if you get too far outside of city limits it can get a little scary. Florida is not like that at all, except in the most Northern part of the state where it borders the other three I mentioned. I have heard certain parts of Texas and Kansas are agressively intolerant as well, but I haven't had first hand experience of it. I have found most of the South pretty friendly in general, and the Northern Mid-West, and the Atlantic and Pacific coasts are particularly tolerant.

[carnation1973]

I am from northern FLorida and proud to be called a Southerner. Not all people are narrow minded there. I grew up about an 2 hour drive to Alabama. Most of the generation with the racist and narrow mindness are the older generation. We are friendly place to visit. I have lived out west in California and Washington state and found them to be rude and crass. I am now living closer to the North and find them also rude. You have intolarent (sorry about the spelling) people all over the world.


This says It all: Sorry so long

Southernness

____

SOUTHERN WOMEN
Southern women appreciate their natural assets:
Clean skin.
A winning smile.
That unforgettable Southern drawl.

Southern women know their manners:
"Yes, ma'am."
"Yes, sir."
"Why, no, Billy!"

Southern women have a distinct way with fond expressions :
"Y'all come back!"
"Well, bless your heart."
"Drop by when you can."
"How's your Momma?"


Southern women know their summer weather report:
Humidity
Humidity
Humidity

Southern women know their vacation spots:
The beach
The rivuh
The crick

Southern women know the joys of June, July, and August:
Colorful hi-heel sandals
Strapless sun dresses
Iced sweet tea with mint

Southern women know everybody's first name:
Honey
Darlin'
Shugah

Southern women know the movies that speak to their hearts:
Fried Green Tomatoes
Driving Miss Daisy
Steel Magnolias
Gone With The Wind

Southern women know their religions:
Baptist
Methodist
Football

Southern women know their country breakfasts:
Red-eye gravy
Grits
Eggs
Country ham
Mouth-watering homemade biscuits with momma's homemade jelly

Southern women know their cities dripping with Southern charm:
Chawl'stn
S'vanah
Foat Wuth
N'awlins
Addlanna

Southern women know their elegant gentlemen:
Men in uniform.
Men in tuxedos
Rhett Butler

Southern girls know their prime real estate:
The Mall
The Country Club
The Beauty Salon

Southern girls know the 3 deadly sins:
Having bad hair and nails
Having bad manners
Cooking bad food
More Suthen-ism's:
Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit, and that you don't "HAVE" them, you "PITCH" them.
_____

Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc., make up "a mess."
_____

Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder."
_____

Only a Southerner knows exactly how long "directly" is, . as in: "Going to town, be back directly."
_____

Even Southern babies know that "Gimme some sugar" is not a request for the white, granular sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the table.
_____

All Southerners know exactly when "by and by" is. They might not use the term, but they know the concept well.
_____

Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad. If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin!
_____

Only Southerners grow up knowing the difference between "right near" and "a right far piece." They also know that "just down the road" can be 1 mile or 20.
_____

Only a Southerner, both knows and understands, the difference between a redneck, a good ol' boy, and po' white trash.
_____

No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn.
_____

A Southerner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb.
_____

Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines, ... and when we're "in line," . we talk to everybody!
_____

Put 100 Southerners in a room and half of them will discover they're related, even if only by marriage.
_____

In the South, y'all is singular, all y'all is plural.
_____

Southerners know grits come from corn and how to eat them.
_____

Every Southerner knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful; that red eye gravy is also a breakfast food; and that fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food.
_____

When you hear someone say, "Well, I caught myself lookin'," you know you are in the presence of a genuine Southerner!
_____

Only true Southerners say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk." Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it -- we do not like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk.
_____

And a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just say,"Bless her heart" ... and go your own way.
_____

To those of you who are still a little embarrassed by your Southerness: Take two tent revivals and a dose of sausage gravy and call me in the morning. Bless your heart!
_____
And to those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all this Southern stuff, ... bless your hearts, I hear they are fixin' to have classes on Southernness as a second language!
_____

And for those that are not from the South but have lived here for a long time, all y'all need a sign to hang on y'alls front porch that reads "I ain't from the South, but I got here as fast as I could."

Southern girls know men may come and go, but friends are fahevah !

Now...... Shugah, send this to someone who was raised in the South or wish they had been!

If you're a Northern transplant, Bless your little heart, fake it.
We know you got here as fast as you could

[but that's my name!!]

Thank you for the replies; I find the whole southern thing very confusing.

[codybear3]

Lived in Alabama (Anniston) for a spell and I can say that this Native never had any problems with any of the folks around town... :paw: :paw:

[but that's my name!!]

Lived in Alabama (Anniston) for a spell and I can say that this Native never had any problems with any of the folks around town... :paw: :paw:
'Tis all very confusing.
I just looked up Anniston on google map (with the satelite thing) was it built by the army as a garrison?

[12voltman59]

What those people in that show experienced in Alabama could happen in many of the more rural areas of the US--even though it could--the perpertrators are just a small minority of people in those areas---you could have such a thing happen in big cities like New York, LA or Chicago---once again--it is just that one element of the population who remain fearful of not only homosexuals, bisexuals, etc.--but of any group they don't understand.

I am sure that such things could also happen in many locales in Europe or elsewhere--there are narrow-minded thuggish people pretty much everywhere.

[izzfan]

Just saw the episode on YouTube and first of all I'm glad to say that clarkson is actually showing support for LGBT rights once rather than being mildly homophobic as he often is. I have to say though it seems quite scary that in this day and age homophobic actions like that still take place, I mean in this case they had a BBC film crew and possibly the means to defend themselves, but you have to think of the amount of homophobic/biphobic/transphobic violence that goes on in those sorts of places which isn't captured on camera. I mean it still shows that there is a lot that still needs to be done in terms of LGBT rights and activism in America.

On a lighter note, I found it a little bit ironic that this extremely homophobic petrol station had lots of signs on it saying 'shop with pride' etc.. lol.

Izzfan :flag3:

[wanderingrichard]

'Tis all very confusing.
I just looked up Anniston on google map (with the satelite thing) was it built by the army as a garrison?

well thats what it used to be, an army owned and run town...nowadays, it's still an army depot, but I20 runs thru it and talladega raceway is just down the road about 10 miles. surprisingly, it's a thriving community all on it's own that might not actually need the old depot to stay alive.

[wanderingrichard]

Lived in Alabama (Anniston) for a spell and I can say that this Native never had any problems with any of the folks around town... :paw: :paw:

egawds man, how did you tolerate the locals??

[jedinudist]

There are parts of Mississippi where it is best not to let one's non-heterosexual orientation be known or even questioned if one would like to live past the next few moments.

Unfortunately, I am very serious.

Find yourself outside of a major metropolitan area (like Biloxi, Jackson, or the part of MS that borders Memphis, TN) and it is rather easy to find guys who firmly believe it is their god given duty to torture and kill "fags".

One can still lose their job for being suspected of not being hetero. One can easily find the local sheriff harassing them and failing to investigate hate crimes and property damage; because after all "them good ol' boys is just doing what we all know god wants us to do anyway". That's a direct quote. I myself heard it spoken by a Mississippi Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy when I worked at a sheriff's department.

Need I say my reaction was to dig even deeper into the closet?

[pasco_lol_cpl]

Thank you for the replies; I find the whole southern thing very confusing.
Its not that confusing. Maybe this will help (turns on US english to UK english translator):

Some areas are overrun with chavs and some are not. Its no different then the rest of the US or any other place.

[Ms. Ally Kat]

Born and raised in Oxford Miss,...we are not all members of the Klu Klux, every part of the world has it's intolerant people of all sorts, some of the worst rioting and discord over school desegregation for example was in Boston....there are good and bad people everywhere.

[budinc]

is this the video you were talking about? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-kfwf7SOrE

[but that's my name!!]

is this the video you were talking about? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-kfwf7SOrE
Yup that's it. Okay they were being a bit silly but still, slight over reaction I think.
There seem to be some mixed responses to this. My impressions of the south come from films like Mississippi Burning but that's just a film, okay apparently based on a true story and set a long time ago and I've never been to any part of America so have no real way of knowing.

Also US gay rights laws seem to really suck.

I'm curious cos friends keep trying to get me to go but I don't know what to expect and the thaught of being attacked for no real reason is a bit scary and I'm not exactly Bruce Lee.

The next episode (yesterday's) is worth looking at; they actually kinda turned a Reliant Robin into a space shuttle and launched it, very funny.

[NorthBiEast]

Its not really that bad, honest. I suspect it was the fact that they were obviously poking fun at southerners that pissed them off. We do tend NASCAR too seriously, nationwide, but you wouldn't randomly get beat up unless you were doing something way over the top.

As a region, the South is known for its gentle hospitality, in spite of all the redneck jokes. In the North East, we're more known for being stoic and kind of prickly, as well as very independent politically. but its not like we're in a war zone. If you're nice to people, they'll be nice to you, just like anywhere else.

Don't be afraid to come visit. You can't believe everything you see on TV. :cool:

[12voltman59]

Yup that's it. Okay they were being a bit silly but still, slight over reaction I think.
There seem to be some mixed responses to this. My impressions of the south come from films like Mississippi Burning but that's just a film, okay apparently based on a true story and set a long time ago and I've never been to any part of America so have no real way of knowing.

Also US gay rights laws seem to really suck.

I'm curious cos friends keep trying to get me to go but I don't know what to expect and the thaught of being attacked for no real reason is a bit scary and I'm not exactly Bruce Lee.

The next episode (yesterday's) is worth looking at; they actually kinda turned a Reliant Robin into a space shuttle and launched it, very funny.

Not--rest assured that you can come over here to the good Ol' US of A and be pretty well safe--just like at home or anywhere you travel--you have to find out where the unsafe places are for a host of reasons--racial, socio-econmic conditons, etc. that would make one not go to a certain locale---

The probability that you are going to get your buck kicked by some neananderthal, backward as hell redneck types is pretty damn slim---hey-you don't really want to go into a place that would have much of a populaton of such folks anyhow because it is most likely a place that has few redeming qualities such as physical beauty, a piss poor economy way down in the dumps, no interesting social life like good music, food, art, etc.

Stay in cool parts of cool places like Miami Beach, Key West, New York City, Seattle, San Francisco, LA area, Austin, Savnannah--these are just a few examples of some interesting places to come see---you will be just fine.

You are more likely to become a victim of a crime in such places just because you are a tourist and not because you are bi or gay.

Now here are some reasons you might get your ass kicked though--you try to pick up some guy who is homophobic and even though he really, really wants to suck some cock and get his hole rammed for days---he has to prove he's a real man and "kick some faggot's ass" or you don't try to hit on a kid---you will be just fine. :) :)

Once again--use your common sense and ask around what parts of the places you visit are safe or not safe.

Come on over and enjoy yourself.

We Amuricans really ain't so dumb and ignurant!!!! :tongue:

I am sorry that you do have such a view of our country--and note--many of the places I included are in the southern US---

[codybear3]

egawds man, how did you tolerate the locals??

LOL...Took rides into Birmingham as often as possible... :paw: :paw:

[but that's my name!!]

Thanks for the replies everyone; your comments are kinda reasuring.
Some of my UK friends also have homes in the US/American families etc. and I have a handfull of invites so I wouldn't nessicarily be a lone tourist and one of my friends is getting married in Las Vegas (he has no connection with Las Vegas, he lives in London, he just likes it?) this year and another friend is getting married somewhere else (I dunno where; my US geography is based on google map) so maybe.

[12voltman59]

That is a bummer But that's, that your friend lives in Vegas and is not gonna get married there--my sis and her husband got married there and it was great---Las Vegas really is a fun place to visit--there is sure no lack of things to do there even if you don't care to gamble--there are great shows with top flight entertainers and other shows like Blue Man group and Cirque Du Soleil as well.

If you are a Star Trek fan, at the Vegas Hilton there is a permanent Star Trek interactive Disneyish entertainment deal and my God--the food is awesome between the many restaurants of all kinds offered by the casinos and then big time chefs like Wolfgang Puck and Emeril Lagasse have several places in Vegas.

Mandalay Bay is my favorite casino resort in Vegas-it has some really wicked cool places--Red Square, House of Blues, a high end all night dance club that I don't know its name, the aquarium where you walk through it in these tube like walkways--the thing is filled with sharks of all kinds.

Ya gotta go there--- Vegas is friendly to all kinds of folks--I understand there is this one gay/bisexual friendly resort there too.

If you do come to America--ya gotta go to "Vegas Baby"

Like I said--come on over and enjoy yourself--especially if you have friends or family to see and stay with.