Comments on: Better Use “Redneck” with Care http://www.dailywritingtips.com/better-use-redneck-with-care/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:00:10 -0600 hourly 1 By: Stephen Thorn http://www.dailywritingtips.com/better-use-redneck-with-care/comment-page-1/#comment-164801 Stephen Thorn Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:49:06 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/better-use-redneck-with-care/#comment-164801 Speaking as someone who was raised on a farm with no indoor toilet and still calls himself a redneck with a measure of pride, I have to say the context would be the crucial issue to me. If anyone called me a good ol' redneck, I wouldn't be offended in the least; but if anyone called me a dumb ol' redneck it would certainly put my hackles up. I will admit that I get angry when the term is used JUST BECAUSE it is one of the many "goose/gander" slights. I'm referring to 'you can't call X-people THIS WORD because it's offensive but you can call Y-people THAT WORD because Y-people aren't going to beat your head in for it.' Example: no magazine would run an ad for Cadillacs with the text "Just the thing spearchuckers should be driving!" -- they'd be crucified! But I saw a magazine ad a few years back advertising ATVs with the text "For the cracker on your Christmas list." Hey, if I can't use the N word, you can't call me a cracker, okay? Speaking as someone who was raised on a farm with no indoor toilet and still calls himself a redneck with a measure of pride, I have to say the context would be the crucial issue to me. If anyone called me a good ol’ redneck, I wouldn’t be offended in the least; but if anyone called me a dumb ol’ redneck it would certainly put my hackles up. I will admit that I get angry when the term is used JUST BECAUSE it is one of the many “goose/gander” slights. I’m referring to ‘you can’t call X-people THIS WORD because it’s offensive but you can call Y-people THAT WORD because Y-people aren’t going to beat your head in for it.’ Example: no magazine would run an ad for Cadillacs with the text “Just the thing spearchuckers should be driving!” — they’d be crucified! But I saw a magazine ad a few years back advertising ATVs with the text “For the cracker on your Christmas list.” Hey, if I can’t use the N word, you can’t call me a cracker, okay?

]]> By: Will http://www.dailywritingtips.com/better-use-redneck-with-care/comment-page-1/#comment-67624 Will Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:03:04 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/better-use-redneck-with-care/#comment-67624 Ah, completely agree with what you're saying. I can't tell you how many times I've played Halo on X box Live, and my accent automatically makes everyone refer to me as a redneck. Growing up and living in the more rural parts of Tennessee, I suppose my accent might be 'slightly' southern, but I fail to see how that has anything to do with my intelligence. I suppose I'm proud to be a 'redneck', even though I don't meet all of the criteria such as being a Christian. Ah, completely agree with what you’re saying. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve played Halo on X box Live, and my accent automatically makes everyone refer to me as a redneck.

Growing up and living in the more rural parts of Tennessee, I suppose my accent might be ’slightly’ southern, but I fail to see how that has anything to do with my intelligence.

I suppose I’m proud to be a ‘redneck’, even though I don’t meet all of the criteria such as being a Christian.

]]> By: Brittany http://www.dailywritingtips.com/better-use-redneck-with-care/comment-page-1/#comment-62741 Brittany Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:02:04 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/better-use-redneck-with-care/#comment-62741 Hay, I think most people just throw everythin out of porpotion. I mean most people dont understand the true meanin of bein a redneck ya know? People go around runnin their yaps talkin crap about rednecks. A redneck back in the day was described as someone who is hard working, doesnt give a cows butt about doin work, rednecks are proud of what they do. We rednecks dont really take it offensively when you try to make fun of us for the way we are. To me bein a redneck is an honor, I work outside everyday, love country music, I believe in my God, I love my family and man, I love muddin, and people criticize me for that. What gives? I mean seriously, ya wouldnt like me to go around makin fun of u for bein a city slicker. Hay, I think most people just throw everythin out of porpotion. I mean most people dont understand the true meanin of bein a redneck ya know? People go around runnin their yaps talkin crap about rednecks. A redneck back in the day was described as someone who is hard working, doesnt give a cows butt about doin work, rednecks are proud of what they do. We rednecks dont really take it offensively when you try to make fun of us for the way we are. To me bein a redneck is an honor, I work outside everyday, love country music, I believe in my God, I love my family and man, I love muddin, and people criticize me for that. What gives? I mean seriously, ya wouldnt like me to go around makin fun of u for bein a city slicker.

]]> By: Hal http://www.dailywritingtips.com/better-use-redneck-with-care/comment-page-1/#comment-6894 Hal Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:17:37 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/better-use-redneck-with-care/#comment-6894 Historically, redneck may have meant something different than it does today. There are a number of words that are offensive to people who working class white people. From the dictionary: redneck |ˈredˌnek| noun informal derogatory a working-class white person, esp. a politically reactionary one from a rural area : rednecks in the high, cheap seats stomped their feet and hooted | [as adj. ] a place of redneck biases. DERIVATIVES rednecked adjective ORIGIN from the back of the neck being sunburned from outdoor work. Thesaurus redneck informal noun growing up, the only men she knew were church elders and rednecks provincial, yokel; conservative, reactionary; informal yahoo, hick, hayseed. Doesn't sound like "playful" terminology to me. Historically, redneck may have meant something different than it does today. There are a number of words that are offensive to people who working class white people. From the dictionary:

redneck |ˈredˌnek|
noun informal derogatory
a working-class white person, esp. a politically reactionary one from a rural area : rednecks in the high, cheap seats stomped their feet and hooted | [as adj. ] a place of redneck biases.
DERIVATIVES
rednecked adjective
ORIGIN from the back of the neck being sunburned from outdoor work.

Thesaurus
redneck informal
noun
growing up, the only men she knew were church elders and rednecks provincial, yokel; conservative, reactionary; informal yahoo, hick, hayseed.

Doesn’t sound like “playful” terminology to me.

]]> By: Silvia http://www.dailywritingtips.com/better-use-redneck-with-care/comment-page-1/#comment-6892 Silvia Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:01:18 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/better-use-redneck-with-care/#comment-6892 What about using "hick" and "yokel?" Where I grew up in NY State, we used the term "hick" to refer to someone who was backwards, uneducated, lived in the boondocks, etc. When I moved to the south, I assumed "redneck" was just another way of saying "hick." What about using “hick” and “yokel?” Where I grew up in NY State, we used the term “hick” to refer to someone who was backwards, uneducated, lived in the boondocks, etc. When I moved to the south, I assumed “redneck” was just another way of saying “hick.”

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