Southern Culture

[WriterDom]

We gave you the blues, rock and roll, and country music.

In return, you gave us rap.

Not a fair trade in my opinion.

What does Southern Culture mean to you?

I think it's really hard to grasp if you haven't spent time here.

Help them understand.

 

[WriterDom]

Despite being pegged as hapless hicks, we have produced some great writers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_literature

Both in the past and in the present.

I might not even be here if it weren't for Anne Rice. Most of the Beauty series I didn't like, but in those first few chapters I was introduced to a sexual power exchange and it was like reading a sex scene in one of my mother's books when I was 13 or so. Damn, I want some of that!

 

[Recidiva]

Crawfish etoufee, Zydeco, Cajun accent...(mmmm...)

Cotillions.

Hush puppies. Biscuits (the GOOD ones)

Respect for roots. Respect for elders. Yes ma'am. No ma'am. Yes sir. No sir.

Gentlemen carry bags and open doors.

Ladies can make a roux.

Low Country cuisine. Gullah-Gullah.

Drinking is not a disease.

 

[WriterDom]

Guys even open doors for other guys.

Turnip greens and black eyed peas on New Years Day.

Girls so pretty they can take your breath away. (need more cute Jewish girls)

Growing up with no fear. Being allowed to get as far from the house as your legs could take you as long as you were home for supper.

Never locking your doors at night. Growing up anyway.

 

[ultramarineblue]

Sitting out on the front porch. Swatting mosquitoes and watching the fireflies. Everyone knowing your business before you do. Taking casseroles, pies, etc. when someone is sick, hurt, or there has been a death in the family. The little old ladies that really run the town.

 

[WriterDom]

Now don't laugh..

I used to fall asleep out on the lanai listening to the sound of southern frogs. The sound was always very soothing to me. Still is. Like you are in your own private rain forest.

Yes, and amazing how loud they can be.

 

[WriterDom]

Military schools are very southern. Maybe we are just hedging our bets for the next war between the states.

North Georgia College and State University; Dahlonega, Georgia
Norwich University; Northfield, Vermont
Texas A&M University; College Station, Texas
The Citadel; Charleston, South Carolina
Virginia Military Institute; Lexington, Virginia
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Blacksburg, Virginia

 

[Homburg]

Watching a whole holler's worth of people get together to hunt down a rogue boar. And then roasting that pig afterwards, and everybody getting some.

Looking at the mountain awash in fire of autumn leaves and sunset light.

Poor-ass hillbillies without indoor plumbing that still had some damned nice boats.

Watching my dad water-ski, and seeing him as he must have looked as a much younger man.

Killing a copperhead that was near the dog runs. I may not have liked those dogs, but damned if I was letting a snake hurt one of them.

My great-uncle Jimmy helping to birth a calf. And drinking the best milk ever, straight from his farm.

Stories of my grandfather being a mean-ass drunk, and terrorising more than one town. People looking at me, seeing the old man in my eyes, and getting right out of my way. Didn't matter that I was smiling and only thirteen. ("You're one of Junior's boys, ain'tcha?")

Rasty old white guys helping a black family dig a well because they couldn't afford to pay somebody to dig it, but those old guys could afford the time.

Back acres full of rusting old cars that I would give my left eyetooth for. Most of them ditched because my dad, uncle, or the old man got tired of em.

Having actual conversations with total strangers who care about what you are saying, and mean it when they wish you a good day.

Schools that are integrated just because, not by local law and forced busing. Just because that is how the neighbourhoods are.

Older ladies calling me Sugar, Honey, Darling, etc.

Good service in restaurants! (Hell, good service anywhere.)

Breakfast. No region does it better, period.

Smiles.

Children that occasionally know how to behave. This is trending down, but it is a hair better here from my experiences.

 

[Homburg]

I forgot to add: Duty, Honor, Courage.

The South and military go hand in hand, and the demographics still follow that concept. The region is rife with military bases, retired military, military schools (as noted by WD), and military families.

Here is an interesting article entitled "Am I Southern?" talking about the Southern "identity".

 

[rosco rathbone]

I've been getting the sense lately that WD feels a bit embattled.

I grew up in what used to be the South (near Harper's Ferry), but the Mason-Dixon line has long since moved down around Petersburg VA.

 

[Arkhilokhus]

Older ladies calling me Sugar, Honey, Darling, etc.

Not just older ladies, either. Like you, I adore it. it's especially nice when you can coax out an "Oh, darlin'" in bed; the sound of a southern accent purring those words still gives me goosebumps.

Breakfast. No region does it better, period.

Hear, hear. If you want a proper biscuit, you have to go to the South.

I'll add, genuine patriotism. Casual, heartfelt love of country. Livy says that true patriotism "comes slowly and springs from the heart: it is founded upon respect for the family and love of the soil." Southern culture is still an agricultural culture in a lot of ways, so perhaps it should come as no surprise.

 

[WriterDom]

I forgot to add: Duty, Honor, Courage.

The South and military go hand in hand, and the demographics still follow that concept. The region is rife with military bases, retired military, military schools (as noted by WD), and military families.

Here is an interesting article entitled "Am I Southern?" talking about the Southern "identity".

That was good.

Billy Carter, Good Old Boy Supreme, made a comment about the difference between rednecks and good old boys. Good old boys ride around in pick up trucks, drinking beer, and putting his empties in a sack. Rednecks ride around in pick up trucks, drinking beer, and tossing empties out the window.

Ok, I was redneck growing up. I have moved up to Good old boy now. Sold my truck though. I loved that Toyota truck. 128,000 miles and all I did was change the oil and put gas in it.

 

[ownedsubgal]

knowing your neighbors, and knowing they had your back.

playing outside everyday from morning to sunset, being able to hop on your bike and pedal as far as your legs could carry you, around every corner was a new world to be explored.

no sidewalks, no boundary lines, no parking lots

eating honeysuckle sap from the side of the road while waiting at the bus stop for the school bus every spring morning

fried perch, potatoes and cornbread for sunday breakfast

the most beautiful country churches, period.

the best food, period.

kids that understand the value of hard work, responsibility, maturity...who can stay home with two little ones, get their homework done, vacuum the living room, and have dinner on the table for the family at 11 years old.

SOUTHERN rap...an entirely different beast than that yankee stuff, thank you very much.

blues. ma rainey, bessie smith, blind lemon jefferson, charlie patton, son house, robert johnson.

and just some of the greatest singers ever to grace this planet.

 

[WriterDom]

I've been getting the sense lately that WD feels a bit embattled.

.

No just misunderstood. If I got the chance to live another life, I'd sign up for the south in a heartbeat. Maybe the mountains of Western NC next time. Florida wouldn't be bad. Think of all the tourist pussy you could get as a teen.

 

[rosco rathbone]

No just misunderstood. If I got the chance to live another life, I'd sign up for the south in a heartbeat. Maybe the mountains of Western NC next time. Florida wouldn't be bad. Think of all the tourist pussy you could get as a teen.

It brings up an interesting larger issue. You are the resident Southern, Christian conservative dom here. WHy are you in a minority? Is BDSM inherently Yankee, blue-state, secular?

I'd love to know the truth about that. My guess is that BDSM knows no boundaries, but that we all interpret it to suit ourselves.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

From one who has lived in the Midwest (IL), Southwest (OK, TX), West (CA), Europe (Italy, Germany), the God/dess-knows-what-it-is;I-don't (FL), and the South (GA, TN), and visited for more or less extended periods in various places in the oddly-shaped polygon scribed between Waukegan, IL, San Diego, CA, Corpus Christi, TX, Flamingo, FL (in the middle of the 'Glades), NW Georgia/Chattanooga, TN, and back again to Waukegan, I have to say I greatly prefer the South, and always will.

• The softer, slower, drawling voices with the ability to cut a "friend" to shreds with a simple phrase ("... bless her heart...");
• The honest smile from someone you've never seen before and will never see again as you walk down the sidewalk;
• The acceptance of differences, or perhaps it's just a *tolerance* for them;
• "Honey," "darlin'," "sweetie," from cashiers, waitresses - hell, just about everyone;

It's a slower-paced life than one finds in "the big cities" (NY, Chicago, Houston, Dallas {though they're slower than their NE/MW brethren}), a little more casual, a little more relaxed, a little friendlier - even in "the big cities" of the South (Atlanta, for example {except on the highways! }). I can live anywhere... but given my druthers, I'd rather live someplace people say "y'all" without the least self-consciousness, use "druthers" without realizing that folks in other parts of the country have no clue what the word means, and can laugh at themselves when they go to the Blue Collar Comedy tour... and turn around and prove that many of those "jokes" are both true and untrue.

A large portion of the most prolific and profound writers of American literature come/came from the South, some of the greatest American artists of the past two centuries, as well as many of the greatest military minds of our nation's history.

I love the South; I always will, no matter where I live.

 

[intothewoods]

It brings up an interesting larger issue. You are the resident Southern, Christian conservative dom here. WHy are you in a minority? Is BDSM inherently Yankee, blue-state, secular?

I'd love to know the truth about that. My guess is that BDSM knows no boundaries, but that we all interpret it to suit ourselves.

I thought we decided there were plenty of Southerners?

 

[intothewoods]

Guys even open doors for other guys.

Turnip greens and black eyed peas on New Years Day.

Girls so pretty they can take your breath away. (need more cute Jewish girls)

Growing up with no fear. Being allowed to get as far from the house as your legs could take you as long as you were home for supper.

Never locking your doors at night. Growing up anyway.

There are plenty of Jews living in the South, so I'm sure you can round up one or two.

 

[WriterDom]

It brings up an interesting larger issue. You are the resident Southern, Christian conservative dom here. WHy are you in a minority? Is BDSM inherently Yankee, blue-state, secular?

I'd love to know the truth about that. My guess is that BDSM knows no boundaries, but that we all interpret it to suit ourselves.

If you check the Hillary poll here 40% of the people identify as conservative. They just don't want to argue politics I guess. And be called a republican cunt like someone I know. I'm pretty much done with politics too. I hang out with the conservatives at fetlife and share a blog with another conservative. But I'm done arguing. Because you aren't going to change my mind and I'm not going to change yours. Kind of makes it pointless.

And it makes my chances of getting any kosher pussy almost nil. So keep it on the down low.

 

[rosco rathbone]

If you check the Hillary poll here 40% of the people identify as conservative. They just don't want to argue politics I guess. And be called a republican cunt like someone I know. I'm pretty much done with politics too. I hang out with the conservatives at fetlife and share a blog with another conservative. But I'm done arguing. Because you aren't going to change my mind and I'm not going to change yours. Kind of makes it pointless.

And it makes my chances of getting any kosher pussy almost nil. So keep it on the down low.

I think the right-wing Jews tend to be super-Orthodox.

 

[southernscion]

The things I miss about the South

The difference between "Yonder" and "Thar" and knowing which body part moves with which word.

Boisenberry cobblers

The HEAT. Too damned cold up here

 

[WriterDom]

From one who has lived in the Midwest (IL), Southwest (OK, TX), West (CA), Europe (Italy, Germany), the God/dess-knows-what-it-is;I-don't (FL), and the South (GA, TN), and visited for more or less extended periods in various places in the oddly-shaped polygon scribed between Waukegan, IL, San Diego, CA, Corpus Christi, TX, Flamingo, FL (in the middle of the 'Glades), NW Georgia/Chattanooga, TN, and back again to Waukegan, I have to say I greatly prefer the South, and always will.

• The softer, slower, drawling voices with the ability to cut a "friend" to shreds with a simple phrase ("... bless her heart...");
• The honest smile from someone you've never seen before and will never see again as you walk down the sidewalk;
• The acceptance of differences, or perhaps it's just a *tolerance* for them;
• "Honey," "darlin'," "sweetie," from cashiers, waitresses - hell, just about everyone;

It's a slower-paced life than one finds in "the big cities" (NY, Chicago, Houston, Dallas {though they're slower than their NE/MW brethren}), a little more casual, a little more relaxed, a little friendlier - even in "the big cities" of the South (Atlanta, for example {except on the highways! }). I can live anywhere... but given my druthers, I'd rather live someplace people say "y'all" without the least self-consciousness, use "druthers" without realizing that folks in other parts of the country have no clue what the word means, and can laugh at themselves when they go to the Blue Collar Comedy tour... and turn around and prove that many of those "jokes" are both true and untrue.

A large portion of the most prolific and profound writers of American literature come/came from the South, some of the greatest American artists of the past two centuries, as well as many of the greatest military minds of our nation's history.

I love the South; I always will, no matter where I live.

Damn, that was Lewis Grizzard good.

 

[Homburg]

SOUTHERN rap...an entirely different beast than that yankee stuff, thank you very much.

I may have some undying fondness for NY rap in the early years, lately, I've been digging on some Cee-Lo Green.

blues. ma rainey, bessie smith, blind lemon jefferson, charlie patton, son house, robert johnson.

Yes, yes, a thousand times YES.

and just some of the greatest singers ever to grace this planet.

Ain't that the truth? One of my absolute favorite female voices came from around here, Keely Smith.

--

It brings up an interesting larger issue. You are the resident Southern, Christian conservative dom here. WHy are you in a minority? Is BDSM inherently Yankee, blue-state, secular?

I'd love to know the truth about that. My guess is that BDSM knows no boundaries, but that we all interpret it to suit ourselves.

I think that talking about BDSM might be more of a Yankee thing. The environment in yonder blue states is a wee bit more permissive. Dammit.

There is also the thought that the DD/TIH style might be more prevalent down here due to demographics. Just a random thought, as I've zero experience with that crowd, but it seems like it would fit hand-in-glove with some people around here.

And, if we throw out the other identifiers and simply look at dominants, there are more than a few from the south on these boards. WD, Sir Winston, Evil Geoff, Snooze, etc.

 

[ms_sub_liminal]

the idea that wherever you are here, someone knows someone who knows your momma/is related to you. i swear a southern lady is worse than santa.

eating honeysuckle sap from the side of the road

oh most certainly this. i've stopped at the back gate of my super suburban community just to relieve this bit of childhood once or twice.

manners

being respectful and knowing the difference between that and actually respecting someone

mosquitoes

4th of july picnics at the town library with the civil war cannon being shot during the 1812 overture

reenactments

warmth, both of the weather and of people's hearts. it's amazing how quickly a stranger can be a friend here.

chivilry

BBQ (can't believe that one hasn't been mentioned)

blues and southern rock

the smell of the mississippi river hitting mud right as the sun goes down

catching fireflies in jars. i had some neighbors move from PA and they'd never seen fireflies before. didn't know what to do with them.

courtesy

some truly great literature

red clay mud

people still crying whenever dixie is sung

football, tailgating, and dressing to the nines just to go

conversations that last for an hour, wandered around no less than 6 topics, name-dropped people you'll never meet, referenced so-and-so, and never did get around to the point of the topic that started it all.

i realize typing this that many of these ideas revolve around food for me, which is no surprise here. southern food takes on it's own identity and personality here. it's an expression of family as it becomes the centerpiece you gather around, friendship as it's offered during times of welcoming and grief, and individual identity. i don't know how exactly to describe that last one, but try asking the ladies of the garden club to reveal the secret ingredient in their deviled eggs or the man at the may festival to give up his BBQ sauce recipe. food is an extension of the self here. sweet, warm, buttery, full of pepper, and always served in the largest of helpings (they're helpings, not portions. you're going to have more than one and you may as well help yourself).

there's really no way to describe the south. you just have to come here. come here and know that not all south is the same south. the coast is far different from the delta which is far different from the mountains and so on.

 

[rosco rathbone]

The south does have Cormac McCarthy.

And soul food.