For Southern children, one of the most often heard phrases after “Don’t feed THAT to the dog!” is, of course, “Mind your manners.”
My apologies in advance to Yankee-type folks who might take offense, but Southern people are, in general, far more genteel than y’all. We can’t help it. It’s how we’re raised.
We don’t rant and rave when things don’t go our way. We figure out how to get what we want…subversively.
For example: Say a non-Southern child is denied a cookie. He/she might start hollering and carrying on (although non-Southerners probably wouldn’t call it “hollering” or “carrying on”) saying, “I WANT a COOKIE! I want a cookie NOW!! If you don’t give me a cookie NOW, you will RUE the day, BITCH!”
Ok, now say a Southern child is denied a cookie. He/she might make a pouty face and say, “Oooooooookaaaaaaaay…” Then immediately run to Dad who is distracted by college football and say, “Can I have a cookie? Thanks!” And then sneak back into the kitchen and take a handful.
Naturally, this carries over into adulthood. For Southern women, in particular, not being “nice” ranks among the seven deadly sins right below wearing something tacky.
Don’t misunderstand me, though. Southern women are just as catty (if not more so) as their Northern sisters. They just don’t let anybody know it.
The basic rule is you can say whatever godawful thing you like about somebody as long as you end on a high note.
A Southern conversation might go something like this:
Dixie Girl 1: “Have you seen Wanda lately? She’s growing an extra ass.”
Dixie Girl 2: “What? To keep her three chins company?”
Dixie Girl 3: “And that dress she wore on Sunday? Did she make it out of couch cushions?”
Dixie Girl 1: “Nope. Not enough material.”
All three: “Bwaaaaah Haaaaaah Haaaaah Haaaaaaah!!”
Dixie Girl 2: “She does make really good chicken and dumplings though.”
Dixie Girl 1: “I KNOW! Aren’t they the best?”
Etc.
Hypocritical? Perhaps. Sneaky? Probably.
But, hey, at least we’re polite.
Do you remember to act like you’ve got some raisin’? Why or why not?
stuff southern people like 