[Sacajaweau]

I lived in Virgina for a year. I remember asking my boss, a Professional Civil Engineer....You really learned to say y'all in school? I was flabberghasted that these educated people spoke "backwoods speech". And these southerners were quite rude to New Yorkers.

What was even more interesting was that the blacks that I met spoke proper English and were very kind.

[Question Liberal Authority]

I was flabberghasted that these educated people spoke "backwoods speech". And these southerners were quite rude to New Yorkers.

Rude to someone who starts a conversation with "I'm from New York and you sound like an idiot because you speak in a backwoods accent?" That's very odd.

Did you shout at them in a loud New York accent? That usually helps.

[CatherineofAragon]

“I lived in Virgina for a year. I remember asking my boss, a Professional Civil Engineer....You really learned to say y’all in school? I was flabberghasted that these educated people spoke “backwoods speech”. And these southerners were quite rude to New Yorkers.
What was even more interesting was that the blacks that I met spoke proper English and were very kind.”

As a born-and-bred Virginian, I’m sorry that you found white Virginians so disappointing. I don’t know where your “Professional Civil Engineer” went to school, but I have never heard of anyone being taught to say “y’all”in a classroom. For your own information and education, the word is a contraction of “you” and “all”. It is no more “backwoods speech” than “they’re” or “can’t.”

Whenever I’ve seen northerners subjected to “rudeness” from my fellow Virginians, it’s been a response to condescending, snobbish attitudes like yours. We welcome everybody, but we don’t appreciate being thought of as toothless hillbillies, and we wonder why on earth folks like you come down here if it’s so painful for you.

[Coldwater Creek]

At least we don't drop our R's and A's. BTW, a Southerner ‘s first word out of the womb is y'all.

[RipSawyer]

I’m curious, can you pronounce the word saw? I have noticed that a lot of people from up North can’t pronounce that word, is that a backwoods Hillbilly thing?

[Locomotive Breath]

As a native Virginian I can tell you the New Yorkers had it coming. Especially youse guys who showed up and made snide remarks about “backwoods” southerners saying “y’all”.

You apparently met a different category of blacks than the ones I knew when growing up. I think most linguists would tell you that southern speech patterns cross race lines as do food preferences.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

I am a native Virginian and can promise you “y’all” and “ain’t “ had no place in the classroom. We actually had indoor bathrooms in our schools, if you can believe it.

I lived in CNY for 17 years. My kids were the only ones who said please, thank you, ma’am and sir consistently. The manners which seem natural to us was seen as fair game. Always good for a few giggles and grins. That was true in Syracuse and in New Jersey where my father was raised.

Doesn’t bother me until someone paints us with a broad brush.