Redneck characteristics

[herofan]

Rednecks and hillbillies were mentioned in another thread, and it caused me to wonder about the real-life difference in characteristics of a redneck and just a country person.

The thing that immediately crosses my mind where I'm from is our high school graduation. For many years, our graduations have been a very quiet, recpectful ceremony when the names are called for diplomas. The principal explains how it shouldn't be a popularity contest. Some people have 20 family members there, and some have none.

I'd say 98 percent respect the request, and it's dead silent as the graduates walk across to get diplomas. At some point, however, as a student's name is called, two or three adults will yell out (probably parents and kin) as if their favorite wrestler just landed the winning blow. That is definitely a redneck.

It's amazing how low the brain cells must be to be the first one to yell and think it's something special after 50 students have walked across in silence. That's a redneck through and through.

 

[Bright Raven]

That is funny.

 

[callmefence]

Bite me... :hat:

 

[True Grit Farms]

I'm a redneck.

 

[Ky hills]

Don't know how the graduation ceremonies are now but when I graduated in 93, it was quiet and respectful and only 2 family members or guests per graduate could come due to seating space.
I will say there are plenty rednecks around. Trash is thrown all along the sides of the roads. Unfortunately it isn't unusual to see fighting or loud verbal altercations around town.

 

[greybeard]

Some people get jealous of another's ovation and some even get their wittle feelings hurt if someone else's family or friends show up in greater numbers than their own and, make their presence known.

 

[True Grit Farms]

Don't know how the graduation ceremonies are now but when I graduated in 93, it was quiet and respectful and only 2 family members or guests per graduate could come due to seating space.
I will say there are plenty rednecks around. Trash is thrown all along the sides of the roads. Unfortunately it isn't unusual to see fighting or loud verbal altercations around town.

Well if you have to throw trash along the road to be a redneck I guess I ain't one.

 

[bball]

Allegedly, in some parts of the Ozarks, calling a hillbilly a 'redneck' will get you in whole heap of trouble. They make a serious distinction.

As far as graduations go, it's the same here. 20 kids will walk across in silence and respect (in advance, the superintendent has requested all applause be held until the completion of the ceremony, as well as a parents meeting the night before informing us all to keep it quiet until the end) and it's always a toss up between a rowdy Caucasian family or a rowdy Hispanic family as to who is going to erupt first. This year it was a white guy who went absolutely nuts! I don't know if he was a redneck or what but he went apesh!t when his kid walked. Carried on with shouting and whistling for some time. It was honestly embarrassing. I don't understand what's so hard about doing what you are asked in that setting.
I thought one of the pre requisites to be a redneck is you actually had to work. Seems like that would leave an awful lot of folks out of that definition and move them to another.

 

[herofan]

Some people get jealous of another's ovation and some even get their wittle feelings hurt if someone else's family or friends show up in greater numbers than their own and, make their presence known.

That's exactly it. When everyone watches the graduation video later and hears the hollering for the one or two, it makes it even more precious. The rest of the parents and students get so jealous and hurt that they weren't showered in hooping and hollering like one finds at a drunk fest. :lol2:

 

[JMJ Farms]

Around here if you holler at high school graduation YOU WILL be escorted out and off the premises. Talk about embarrassing! But usually the children of said offenders really don't act like it bothers them much. And every year.... there's gonna be one that just can't hold it together till the end.

Gotta be fair about this thing. As a general rule I follow the rules. I don't kick up much dust. But a lot of days my two oldest kids make me feel like I'm in the heII of school all over again. When they walk across that stage I may not be able to hold the relief back myself :lol2:

 

[greybeard]

A clash of cultures I suppose...."they aren't just like us so we have to institute rules and measures to make them at least appear to be like us".
Another case of cookie cutter behavioral institutions, where everyone gets exactly 'the same trophy'.
One extra set of hands clapping, a few decibels higher noise than a different student received, and someone just got 'triggered'.
The following Monday, both parents and the slighted student(s) will all be in therapy so they don't meltdown completely and be scarred for life over one night.

 

[bball]

Or maybe it has to do with not drawing out an already long procession with 5 minutes of clapping after every kid passes through. Save it until the end. A reasonable request. Perhaps it's the snowflakes who have no self control or discipline who can't execute a simple request from the administration for the benefit of everyone. What they want is the most important thing. They and their child are the center of the universe. What is already a several hour production could easily become hours longer without the request.
There's always the option of congratulating your child face to face after the ceremony. Seems more personal to me anyway.

 

[greybeard]

What they want is the most important thing. They and their child are the center of the universe. What is already a several hour production could easily become hours longer without the request.

'They'?
12 years in the making, plus K/pre-school and who is it that's complaining about a few hours? Not 'them' or their parents.
Who is it that's saying their time is more important? I value education and the one event it culminates in, to start down a different,more mature road. Each one deserves A moment in time..not the Same moment in time as everyone around them, but whatever those that supported them down that road feels is warranted.

We are not clones.

 

[bball]

What they want is the most important thing. They and their child are the center of the universe. What is already a several hour production could easily become hours longer without the request.

'They'?
12 years in the making, plus K/pre-school and who is it that's complaining about a few hours? Not 'them' or their parents.
Who is it that's saying their time is more important? I value education and the one event it culminates in, to start down a different,more mature road. Each one deserves A moment in time..not the Same moment in time as everyone around them, but whatever those that supported them down that road feels is warranted.

We are not clones.

It's eveyones time.
What about the child whose called after the child getting all the hoopla and their parents dont even hear their child's name called over all the shouting and carrying on. It's a public ceremony to celebrate an achievement, sponsored by the school. The school board and admin have established rules for how to conduct oneself so as to be considerate of others in attendance. So while the rodeo ensues for one child, the next child's name won't even be heard, but that's okay because, 'hey, my baby is the most special kid here. They been doing this for 12 years.' Yea, and no one else's kid hasn't? It's basic etiquette. They all get their moment in time, when they walk across the stage individually as their name is called and they are greeted with a handshake and whatever diploma they earned. See here, there's about 4 different diplomas a kid can earn so not every kid gets the same 'trophy'. You get what you earned. Nothing more. Nothing less.
I didn't make the rules or recommendations about time. The school admin did after years of complaints of graduation being too long from families in attendance. The reality is most folks are only there to watch their loved one graduate and don't really care to see the rest of it.

Also, at the end of our ceremony, they produce a slide show with a few pics of each graduate as popular music plays. That's when the vast majority of people, with self respect and courtesy, cheer and applaud their graduate. Not in the middle of the ceremony. If someone doesn't want to stay for that, they leave.

Plenty of folks out there who share your thoughts about doing what they feel without regard or respect of others. After all, the whole thing is only about them and their child. Plenty of folks like me who will just continue to watch on in wonderment and disbelief.

 

[greybeard]

I didn't make the rules or recommendations about time. The school admin did after years of complaints of graduation being too long from families in attendance. The reality is most folks are only there to watch their loved one graduate and don't really care to see the rest of it.

I take a long and wider view of many things than most I suppose. I attend for the entire enchilada, the celebration of another generation moving forward. I see and interact with family regularly, but not so much with the pubic at large. I see that, as an opportunity.
Someone once said:
We do not see things as they are; we see things as we are.
and
Happy people build their inner world; unhappy people blame their outer world.

 

[bball]

I didn't make the rules or recommendations about time. The school admin did after years of complaints of graduation being too long from families in attendance. The reality is most folks are only there to watch their loved one graduate and don't really care to see the rest of it.

I take a long and wider view of many things than most I suppose. I attend for the entire enchilada, the celebration of another generation moving forward. I see and interact with family regularly, but not so much with the pubic at large. I see that, as an opportunity.
Someone once said:
We do not see things as they are; we see things as we are.
and
Happy people build their inner world; unhappy people blame their outer world.

Guess I'm missing you're point. I responded to your personal implication that I make the judgements about time. I'm merely conveying the rationale of the people who implemented it. It's about time and etiquette. I happen to agree quite frankly because its logical and makes sense. Not everyone has a large family or following and their name shouldnt be drowned out by those that do.
Just stated the facts in what you quoted.
We all know you believe you take the long, wide view; as you're happy to point out in circumstances such as this.
Fact is, I attend, not just for my own children, but for many of the children I have coached or mentored as well. I also encourage children to build their inner world, and function within the rules and laws of the natural world.
I suppose I'm much more fortunate than you. I have the opportunity to engage the public daily. Opportunity is all around you. Just have to learn to identify it.

 

[snoopdog]

I resent being called a hillbilly , I am an Ozark / American .

 

[M-5]

Don't know how the graduation ceremonies are now but when I graduated in 93, it was quiet and respectful and only 2 family members or guests per graduate could come due to seating space.
I will say there are plenty rednecks around. Trash is thrown all along the sides of the roads. Unfortunately it isn't unusual to see fighting or loud verbal altercations around town.

Well if you have to throw trash along the road to be a redneck I guess I ain't one.

I throw it out , keeps people employed. Speaking of graduations here there is another word for the people the yell at graduation. I can't say it here but everyone knows it.

 

[herofan]

I didn't make the rules or recommendations about time. The school admin did after years of complaints of graduation being too long from families in attendance. The reality is most folks are only there to watch their loved one graduate and don't really care to see the rest of it.

I take a long and wider view of many things than most I suppose. I attend for the entire enchilada, the celebration of another generation moving forward. I see and interact with family regularly, but not so much with the pubic at large. I see that, as an opportunity.
Someone once said:
We do not see things as they are; we see things as we are.
and
Happy people build their inner world; unhappy people blame their outer world.

So, the ceremony for another generation moving forward is enhanced by a drunken sounding yell? That just helps solidify why the student spends a lot of time in detention. The parents feel it's their "opportunity" to solidify why that is the case with one last hurrah.

 

[ddd75]

for some.. that moment is one of the best in life.

for others.. its just a stepping stone.