Redneck

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Rednecks are most commonly known for their unintelligent and backwards lifestyles, but they seem to get a lot out of life, and they take pride in what they do. Are these negative traits that have been assigned to rednecks true, or could these negative perceptions just be out of jealousy that people feel towards them? To answer these questions, we must first define what a redneck really is. “dictionary.com” defines a redneck as “an uneducated white farm laborer, especially from the South.” This definition is highly supported by countless comedic instances whether it’s from a standup routine to a book. The term is so highly used in comedy, that it has become a negative stereotype to all of those who lead that particular lifestyle. It is very common for a stereotype to take one bad trait or occurrence, and blow it way out of proportion. It only takes one apple to ruin the bunch. So if the definition of a redneck is also the definition of a stereotype, then it is highly possible that it could be inaccurate, at least for the group as a whole. It is only accurate for the particular rednecks who do exhibit those traits. Now let’s discuss what kind of negative views rednecks have. First off I would like to point off that in many cases the only reason people find something unfavorable is because it is different than the way they are used to. But anyway, the worst quality that people associate with rednecks is that they are racist and extremely right-winged. There is also a common conception that they are poor and lazy. And they are huge fans of guns, hunting and beer. These things are looked down upon in most non-rural societies. Things like their love of pick-up trucks, NASCAR, tractors, cowboy boots and hats, are not necessarily seen as bad, but pointless to city cultures. So there are multiple levels of negativity that people feel against rednecks, and the lower levels are strengthened through the higher ones. It’s like when someone has a tendency to repeat the same phrase a lot. If you like that person, you’re more likely to think the habit is funny, but if you already dislike them, the habit becomes annoying. So if people view rednecks as racists, then they are also going to dislike the fact that they like trucks or fishing. Many people have a very negative view of rednecks, but a large portion of them haven’t even met one in person. Their knowledge is based solely off of others. And on top of that, most of those bad characteristics are not shared by the group as a whole. So most undesirable view of rednecks really isn’t true for the group as a whole at all. The truth is, the main difference between rednecks, and the rest of society is that they have different lifestyles due to their geography. Hunting and fishing is not available in the city, therefore most city-people don’t engage in it. The style of clothes they wear just reflects that they just want to be comfortable and convenient. Trucks and tractors are necessary vehicles to many of those in the country, which is why they are so fond of them. You might as well take interest in something that you need anyway. People say that rednecks are lazy, when truthfully, they are some of the hardest workers you’ll find. They just don’t care as much about looks and styles as much because they have other things to worry about. I think some people feel a subconscious jealousy towards rednecks. It is very common for people that are wealthy and have a lot to look down upon those that are still happy even without so many tangible belongings. And that is exactly what rednecks do. They are almost always cheerful no matter what, and they find family and friends more important than material items. Because of this, they are very loyal to their friends and family, and will always stick up for them. One small other positive trait that rednecks have is that they are environmentalists. Because they live closer to nature, they respect it more. They’re starting to sound less and less like the cretins the media produces now aren’t they? All in all, rednecks have their flaws and their strengths, as does everyone else in the world. Instead of dwelling on the flaws, you should first see if they are even true in the first place, but you should look at the strengths. But to get a fully accurate description, you really have to interact with them first hand, and see things from their perspective for a little bit. [|Redneck memes][|Redneck meme][|Redneck dating site][|Redneck philosophy] Works cited page
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 * Mcgraw, Tim. "Down on the Farm." Tim Mcgraw. Curb Records, 2000. MP3. **
 * "Understanding Redneck Philosophy." //Redneck Philosophy//. Web. 03 May 2012. .**
 * BarryManilowFan4eva.”Jeff Foxworthy you might be a redneck.” Youtube, 05 **


 * December. 2010. Web. 12. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch/v=T7Eisbg **