It’s interesting to see how different Americans are across the country. Even though we’re one nation, we are completely different from state to state.
A recent discussion was held to explain the way Southerners and Northerners differ. Although these topics are centered around the Eastern part of the country, they illustrate the contrast in personalities.
As a Californian who has called the South home for almost two years, I can relate to both sides. Still, I tend to side with the Southerners on the following topics. Which side are you on?
1. Northerners Don’t Like Small Talk
Southerners love to spark up a conversation with anyone willing to participate. You could be standing in line at the grocery store, sitting on the bus, or hanging out in the park. A friend doesn’t care if they have just met you; to them, you are lifelong friends.
That’s not the case up north. Trying to engage a stranger with casual conversation might get you a weird look and a cold shoulder. It’s not that they are trying to be rude. That’s just not how they approach an encounter with someone they have never met.
2. Misinterpretation of “Honey”
Down in the South, being called “Honey” is as common as calling someone sir or mister. It is not uncommon to call someone you just met, “honey.” There are no romantic connections to the term; it is just something Southerners say.
However, if you were to refer to a lady up North as “honey,” they may consider it demeaning or insulting. There is a notion that it’s chauvinistic and a way of talking down to women. So, if you travel up north, understand that it’s frowned upon to refer to someone as “honey.”
3. No One Uses a Koozie
Most Southerners have a drawer full of koozies, a car koozie, a garage koozie, and a backyard koozie. It’s almost impossible to enjoy a cold beverage without using a koozie. Without one, your drink gets hot in a matter of seconds, not to mention your fingers freezing off.
Somehow, the folks up North endure these hardships and choose to ignore the practicality of a koozie. Who knows if they are even privy to one of the more vital inventions of the 21st Century? Perhaps a Southerner should venture North and explain the benefits of these contraptions to anyone willing to listen while in line at the market.
4. Iced Tea Comes One Way — Sweet!
Southerners don’t understand how the people up North can drink their bland, bitter iced tea. To them, the way you serve the beverage is to dump a pint or more of sugar into the pitcher. If you want to add more, go ahead. The sweeter, the better.
When Southerners try to order sweet tea in the North, they’re disappointed. It’s just not made the same way. You have to add your sugar at the table, and it just doesn’t have the same flavor.
5. Their Concept of Bar-B-Cue
Ask any Southerner what proper BBQ is, and you will most likely get the same response. It’s slowly cooked meat, primarily pork. You might find different styles in Carolina, Memphis, and Texas, but the idea is the same: slow, roasted meat.
Northerners have decided to call anything involving an outdoor grill barbecue. This includes boneless chicken breast, hot dogs, burgers, and veggie skewers. Telling someone you’re making Mexican food and then serving them Taco Bell is in the same ballpark.
6. Where’s the Gravy?
For many people up North, gravy is served on two occasions: Thanksgiving and Christmas. Other than that, the decadent sauce is rarely seen in a communal meal.
Down South, gravy is practically its own food group. Have you ever tried biscuits and gravy? It’s a staple in breakfast diners and has been known to convert anyone who tries it to be a lifelong fan.
7. Why Are They So Blunt?
Northerners have no problem telling people how they really feel. Their honesty is so blunt that it can come off as rude or arrogant. Maybe it’s a product of their busy lifestyle, but they don’t have time to consider your feelings about trivial topics.
Southerners tend to be a little more sensitive to others. They’re much better at delivering bad news, and if they’re upset with you, you may never even realize you were being insulted.
8. No Waffle House?
Northerners don’t understand the pure joy of soaking up a night at the bars with a greasy plate of eggs, bacon, hash browns, and waffles at the local Waffle House.
Sure, they have Denny’s and IHOP, but it’s not the same as that all-night diner that so many Southerners have used to sober up enough to drive home. I remember my first experience at a Waffle House. Maybe it was the plate of grease, lukewarm coffee, and the threat of a fight breaking out at any moment, but it definitely gave me enough adrenaline to understand the appeal of this beloved diner.
9. How Do They Stand the Cold?
It’s no secret that the South is a tepid pool of humidity during the summer. Still, Southerners will take that over months of blizzards that occur up North.
To Southerners, the idea of shoveling a driveway, defrosting their car, and prepping their pipes for winter is too much. A day trip to the snow is nice, but they don’t want to be stuck there.
10. They Don’t Love College Football
College football is a way of life down South. The phrase “Faith, Family, and Football” accurately describes how Southerners view the sport. In the fall, Southerners spend Friday nights watching high school football, while Saturdays center around college football, mostly from the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
The SEC schools usually dominate. Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, Clemson, LSU, Texas A&M, and Florida are perennial favorites to win the championship. Many of the finest athletes from all over the country attend these schools, hoping to one day make it into the National Football League.
11. They Move Too Fast
If you were to drop a Southerner into the heart of Times Square, you might give them a heart attack. It’s just not in their nature to move so fast. Likewise, a Northerner traveling in the deep South could give themselves a brain aneurysm trying to navigate the slow-moving traffic and people wanting to talk on the streets.
There’s a fine line that balances both ways of thinking, but neither side will agree the other’s mindset is the right one.
12. You Don’t Save Bacon Grease?
Don’t be surprised to find a jar of bacon grease in a Southerner’s fridge. This hot commodity can add flavor to stews, soups, roasts, and basic frying of everyday foods.
This might be strange to Northerners who choose healthier options like avocado oil. Still, all it takes is one home-cooked meal with bacon fat, and the healthiest person in the world might be singing its praises.
13. How Do They Afford the Rent?
The amount you pay for a place in the South compared to the North is very different. This isn’t the case for every city, but for the most part, rent is going to be much higher in the bigger cities up North and with fewer amenities.
Homes in the South may have sprawling yards, multiple rooms, and spacious living areas. Meanwhile, a studio apartment in urban northern areas might be as small as 350 square feet. There’s a massive trade-off between big-city living and the quiet towns of the South. While Northerners try to defend their way of life, most Southerners cannot imagine living in such cramped quarters.
14. Everyone Talks Too Fast
Northerners are quick to claim they can’t understand the drawl of a Southerner, but at the same time, they talk so fast it can be equally hard to decipher. Many of these folks want to yell, “Slow down!” anytime they talk to the big city types.
Combining the slow speaker and the speed racer can create some interesting interactions. I imagine it causes much more confusion than two people who actually speak different languages.
15. What Does Asking for a “Coke” Mean?
If you order a Coke in the North, you’ll get a Coca-Cola. If you order one in the South, you’ll have to be more specific. In the South, the phrase “Coke” is generic for all sodas.
Don’t be surprised when you order a Coke down South, and the waitress asks, “What kind, honey?” You’ll need to elaborate by saying you want a Coca-Cola.
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