Redneck

[kitschywoman]

I never thought that it applied to Appalachian (is that spelled right) people.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I always associated with word with Southern rural folk, personally. I don't really think it's that negative, though. I associate it more with people who like hunting, NASCAR, rodeos, country music and stuff like that. Kind of the opposite of living in the 'hood.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 08, 2005 10:36 AM: Message edited by: kitschywoman ]</font>

[jenndon]

I never really thought about "redneck" as being a racial/social type of thing. I think that the Jeff F. bit is meant to me a sort of general funny thing, and I don't usually take offense, but StarTrek's comments about it being used as a put down is definitely true, so I think you are right, it should be avoided as a "funny" thing.

I had a similar experience lately. I was reading a Christian book about being your husband's helper. The friend who recommended me tends to be borderline fringe, so I wasn't sure about this book, but decided to try it out. I was SO offended by her use of hate--calling one woman who flirted with married men a "**** ," (true, yes, but how does that reflect Christ's love to be so hateful?), and then especially her story about a woman who was "not just ugly, but hillbilly ugly." It was really offensive. It was independently published, so I emailed and said I was offended and asked for a refund!

Edit--see, even the word that was used was blocked off here!

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 08, 2005 11:37 AM: Message edited by: jenndon ]</font>

[StarTrekCaptain]

This is what I was upset about on the other board.
Someone said the r-word and it was supposed to be a joke.

Growing up the r-word was a BAD WORD in my house, just as we would not say the n-word.
And let me tell you we are in NO way "politically correct".
It was just that you shouldn't make fun of your heritage!
We are proud of where we come from and our ancestors and our roots, and we don't see any humor in making fun of them. my family taught us to be proud of where we came from and not make fun of it.

Plus it REALLY bothers me when people get upset at all the different derogatory terms and yet somehow "redneck" is okay?? I think that doesn't make sense at all. It's very hypocritical.

Poeple of Appalachian parts are the only ones who the general public finds it acceptable to make fun of. You pick any other group in the US and it's sudenly really bad to make fun of them. But people in the Appalachian parts? Oh, no, it's FINE to make fun of THEM- they're "just rednecks".

And don't give me that garbage about "well down here we all say it"- that is even worse. If poeple stop using these type of words on THEMSELVES, then maybe others would stop using it on them too.

I'm sorry if anyone disagrees with me but this is just an issue I feel ctrongly about. We all have issues we feel strongly about and this is what got me so upset on the other board.

[prasnlrd]

Oh my gosh! I guess it was a good thing I missed a couple days on HB. It sounds like there was a lot of things going on. I know when I was on tonight, I saw all these locks and wondered what happened here....

[img]graemlins/island.gif[/img] prasnlrd in AG [img]graemlins/island.gif[/img]

[cebula_2005]

I understand your point about the n-word being bad but others being ok...that's just not right. I also get the not making fun of yourself so others don't make fun of you. Makes sense.

I don't think the r-word is a bad word, though, and I never thought that it applied to Appalachian (is that spelled right) people. I always applied it to stupid people and not Appalachian people. But if you don't like it i understand.

We only semi-agree here.

See, we don't agree on everything, but we can still talk about it and get along. I hope we are still friends.

Thanks,
Tra [img]smile.gif[/img]

btw--I will try not to use the R-word if it upsets you. I just never saw R-word jokes as being any worse than blond jokes (i'm a blond), but I know someone who thinks blond jokes are immoral, so we always just used X's. (I.e. an x was rowing a boat in the middle of a cornfield...)

[cebula_2005]

And thanks for explaining! I only got the 2nd half of that conversation, so only understood part of it. Makes more sense now.

[StarTrekCaptain]

You're welcome. I think a lot of people were in the dark about it because the Mods locked it down pretty fast.

Just so you know though, the r-word is often used to mean stupid people, just as calling someone "gay" has come to mean a "stupid" thing or perosn...you will often hear kids say, "that is so gay" when they want to criticize something.

Thats the probelm though. First people use it against the people it applies to (claling appalachian area people by that word) and eventually it is so used and so made fun of that it can be applied to anyone and anything just to be an insult (like how I was saying that now kids will just say "that is so gay" to call soemthing stupid.)

Vicious cycle.

Oh by the way even though I don't agree with gays, I really don't think people should say "that is so gay" to call someone or something stupid either. I think that is just as bad as any other word I put up there...it just comes down to making fun of certain groups.

[StarTrekCaptain]

Hillbilly- there's another r-word...see what I mean, it is a word used to describe people in a certain location, yet now it is just used as an insult.
I am so shocked that that was in a "Christian" book too. Not only the word, but also the attitude of the person in the book!

[Sanguinarius]

So the queation should be......who is commiting the greater sin?

The one making the offense with out knowledge of it?

or

The one getting angry and taking offense?

[StarTrekCaptain]

What do you mean, sin? And how is it is a sin to take offense anyway?? Im not sur what you mean?