So what is a "Redneck"

@Finn dAbuzz,

I was thinking for a while there that I agree with you Finn. But I thought about it a little longer.

Redneck is not a word like Nigger.
Redneck is a word like Geek.

It's an insult, sure. A multi-layered insult that implies a variety of things, but it doesn't automatically apply to anyone in the way "nigger" does. If one was to imply that every Texan was a redneck, that would certainly be bigotry, because it includes all Texans prejudicially.

Some rednecks do indeed embrace and celebrate at least SOME of the characteristics attributed to rednecks. They quite likely use terms such as "proud American" instead of "racist", or "righteous" instead of "bigot", but some are smart enough to realize that they are what others call "redneck" and are proud of it.

Here's the coffee mug...

http://www.zazzle.com.au/proud_american_redneck_mug-168951371029804616

I could write an almost identical paragraph about "Geeks".

3 Replies

@BorisKitten,

BorisKitten wrote:

Quote:
"You might be a redneck if... your family tree don't fork"

I always liked this one: "You might be a Redneck if... your house is more mobile than your car."

Which reminds me... if you've appeared on the TV News after the storm blew your house clear off of it's wheels... you might be a redneck.

0 Replies

It's a word that means different things to different ones of us. I am a redneck in one sense of the word, but in the politicised sense, I am not. In the "tree don't fork' sense I am not. Some fit the whole criteria. Some do not. To many, in the never-ending cultural war in this country, it is part of the weaponry.

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@Eorl,

Quote:

Redneck is not a word like Nigger.
Redneck is a word like Geek.

Exactly, Eorl. Thanks for the insight.

1 Reply

@BorisKitten,

I've never thought of Finn as a Geek

1 Reply

@Eorl,

Eorl wrote:

I was thinking for a while there that I agree with you Finn. But I thought about it a little longer.

Redneck is not a word like Nigger.
Redneck is a word like Geek.

It's an insult, sure. A multi-layered insult that implies a variety of things, but it doesn't automatically apply to anyone in the way "nigger" does. If one was to imply that every Texan was a redneck, that would certainly be bigotry, because it includes all Texans prejudicially.

Some rednecks do indeed embrace and celebrate at least SOME of the characteristics attributed to rednecks. They quite likely use terms such as "proud American" instead of "racist", or "righteous" instead of "bigot", but some are smart enough to realize that they are what others call "redneck" and are proud of it.

Here's the coffee mug...

http://www.zazzle.com.au/proud_american_redneck_mug-168951371029804616

I could write an almost identical paragraph about "Geeks".

A geek is a carnival entertainer that bites the heads
off of living chickens. THAT is what a geek is;
just so u know what u r talking about.

2 Replies

@dyslexia,

dyslexia wrote:

I've never thought of Finn as a Geek

He probably is not a geek.

1 Reply

@OmSigDAVID,

OmSigDAVID wrote:

dyslexia wrote:
I've never thought of Finn as a Geek

He probably is not a geek.

Did we call Finn a geek?

1 Reply

@OmSigDAVID,

Quote:

A geek is a carnival entertainer that bites the heads
off of living chickens. THAT is what a geek is;
just so u know what u r talking about.

I think that used to be what a geek was. Now it means, oh, someone who knows a lot about computers, I think.

1 Reply

@OmSigDAVID,

Quote:

bites the heads
off of living chickens.

That's disgusting... Shocked

1 Reply

@BorisKitten,

BorisKitten wrote:

OmSigDAVID wrote:

dyslexia wrote:
I've never thought of Finn as a Geek

He probably is not a geek.

Did we call Finn a geek?

I did not.

0 Replies

@AbbieMcKenley,

AbbieMcKenley wrote:

Quote:
bites the heads
off of living chickens.

That's disgusting...

That is the reason that thay DID it. (SHOCK)
(I was never a witness to this; in childhood,
I took good care of my chickens in Arizona, n kept them happy.)

On Time Warner Cable, there is a show called Dirty Jobs,
about dirty jobs. I make it a particular point to avoid that show.

Truth be told, I like to see BEAUTY wherever I can find it.

There r other people (presumably liberals),
who apparently wish to observe its OPPOSITE.

David

0 Replies

@BorisKitten,

BorisKitten wrote:

Quote:
A geek is a carnival entertainer that bites the heads
off of living chickens. THAT is what a geek is;
just so u know what u r talking about.

I think that used to be what a geek was. Now it means, oh, someone who knows a lot about computers, I think.

So if someone does it in another carnival next week, what is it ?

1 Reply

@OmSigDAVID,

cruelty to animals?

1 Reply

This seems to belong here:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d130/sozobe/redneck2.jpg

By my daughter, age 8 (at the time).

She and my husband like country music and Cabela's and joke about being rednecks.

I really like Eorl's "geek" analogy, that rings true to me. (Incidentally, we all are proud geeks/nerds.)

1 Reply

@Rockhead,

Rockhead wrote:

cruelty to animals?

It always was.

0 Replies

@sozobe,

That's adorable! "Redneck in training!"

1 Reply

@BorisKitten,

BorisKitten wrote:

That's adorable! "Redneck in training!"

SO STIPULATED!

David

0 Replies

@Eorl,

Imagine my disappointment when I read that you didn't agree with me!

While I'm sure that there are plenty of people who think using "Redneck" is cute, I'm also sure that there are plenty of people who used to think using "colored" or even "nigger" was cute.

I am also sure that there are people who use "Redneck" with the same malicious intent as those who use "nigger." Ms Garafola for one.

I am also sure there are plenty of people in this country (mostly young people) who would be hurt by someone declaring that they are a "Geek," "Nerd," "Dork," or "Dweeb."

The fact that you, and others, refuse to see how derogatory, and malicious labels are all the same proves my point.

Some blacks have embraced "nigger," but the rest of us can't use it. Some Southern working men have embraced "Redneck" and so the rest of us can use it, just as we can use "Geeks," because some of the kids who this label has been used to insult have embraced it.

Spare me your distinctions without difference.

3 Replies

@Finn dAbuzz,

Finn dAbuzz wrote:

Imagine my disappointment when I read that you didn't agree with me!

While I'm sure that there are plenty of people who think using "Redneck" is cute,
I'm also sure that there are plenty of people who used to think
using "colored" or even "nigger" was cute.

I am also sure that there are people who use "Redneck" with
the same malicious intent as those who use "nigger." Ms Garafola for one.

I am also sure there are plenty of people in this country (mostly young people)
who would be hurt by someone declaring that they are a "Geek," "Nerd," "Dork," or "Dweeb."

The fact that you, and others, refuse to see how derogatory,
and malicious labels are all the same proves my point.

Some blacks have embraced "nigger," but the rest of us can't use it.
Some Southern working men have embraced "Redneck" and so the
rest of us can use it, just as we can use "Geeks," because some of
the kids who this label has been used to insult have embraced it.

Spare me your distinctions without difference.

As a lover of personal liberty, free speech,
I embrace everyone freely using all of those words,
IF thay wanna and IF thay r true; i.e., don 't accuse someone
of being a geek if he has never DONE that.
I think that nerd means someone who studies assiduously
and, therefore, is well informed.

I 'm under the impression (tho not entirely sure) that dork is a phallic reference
(tho I don 't see the relevance when applied to a person)
and that dweeb refers somehow to a style of clothing fashion.

0 Replies

So what is a "Redneck"

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