I have often been asked what it is like to be a hillbilly. Well, the question isn’t usually worded quite that way but the query is the same. Even here in the “New Millennium” there is still quite a lot of ignorance out there when it comes to hillbillies. To give you an idea of what I mean I was asked by a relative who lives in Ohio (That foreign land on the other side of the great river) if I had ever heard of King’s Island. Another time I was asked if we could get cable TV where I lived.
Often people will make comments like, “I wouldn’t want to live down there because there’s nothing to do.” Well, unfortunately or not depending upon what you like, Hillbilly country is not the wilderness some may expect, at least not any more. Whether you are in Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee or some other state in the Hillbilly Nation you see pretty much the same shopping malls/centers, bars and clubs, fast food restaurants, arenas, etc as you do anywhere else. Heck we even have universities, airports and hospitals down here!
Heck, these days most hillbillies get our possum from the grocery store just like those fancy New Yorkers. It is sad but true and the younger generation hardly ever kills their own possums any more, it’s all store bought mechanically separated, processed and formed possum in a can. Yum yum good ole Possum Treat!
We all know that those from the north are uppity and we southerners are friendly and hospitable. Of course that isn’t really true, I have traveled from Connecticut to Texas and there really isn’t that much difference in people just based upon where you go. So whether you are in Louisville, or Memphis, or New York City you will meet the same kinds of people. Some good, some bad, some stuck up (snobs) and some not. Oh and there are probably just as many stuck up snobs south of the river as there are north of it.
What many of those northerners may not realize is that there is a stereotype for them as well. Ask most anyone around where I live (in the real USA) what they think of a Buckeye for example. They will tell you that a Buckeye is a worthless nut and the only things that likes them are the squirrels. They will also tell you that Buckeyes and all northerners are stuck up snobs.
So the hillbilly stereotype is that of an uncouth laid back ignorant person who doesn’t have any shoes or education. The Northerner stereotype is that of a stuck up snobbish “I’m better than you” and I am just so fancy type individual. Either stereotype is just as accurate as the other. I have met folks here in the south that actually fit that hillbilly stereotype and I have met plenty of northerners who fit their stereotype as well. I have also met a lot of really good people from Canada to Florida.
Some of what I have said here may not make any sense to you, but it all makes perfect sense to me. The purpose of this blog is to poke fun at hillbillies and stereotypes, but people need to learn that we are all human beings and everyone is fairly much the same wherever you go. Sure, they may pronounce their words a little differently and some of them may have to walk uphill both ways while others licked on a silver spoon. That is why I always tell people they shouldn’t make fun of them foreigners up north so much just because they act and talk funny. They can’t help it they were raised that way.
Bottom line? Some folks get their possum from a can, others from the roadside, still others load up the beer and shotguns and get away from the wife for a night of good fun possum chasing (The best way is to pick up a possum from the roadside so you can just stay out drinking all night and let the wifey think you was a huntin’ for her supper). The moral of the story is that we might get our possum in different ways, but we are all still brothers and sisters and in many cases our sister is our mother and we just may be our own grandpa!
Special note to all Notherners who may read this: If you understood some of this then you are probably fine. If you understood most of it then you should worry. If you understood every word you should seek help, don’t even take the time to shut down your computer, run outside right now and yell, “I need help! I think I might be a Hillbilly!” Or better yet pack up your stuff and head south, you’re too close to the North Pole anyway.
Special note to Southerners: Howdy! Yer doin’ jess fine!
Written by David Slone, Copyright 2008 all rights reserved and may not be copied or republished in any way without express permission.
HAHA! But, in Kentucky there’s a fine line
So true, but southern roadkill have four legs and northern roadkill have only two. Ya know what I mean?
They’re buckeyes and were briarhoppers. City people and country kin. Northerners and hillbillies. The gentry and po’ ol’ mountain folks. Cityslickers and rubes. Well I was born in Cleveland, but I’ve lived here so long that this buckeye has grown saw-briar thorns! (Briar: pronounced brahuhr).
I was borned up in Ohi but fortunately my maw and pa moved back to Ky where I was conceived and I got better.
I have met many Northerners that are ignorant, but I have not met a hillbilly that is snobbish… Maybe there is something to be learned from that
I am one of those so called “uppity northerners” and I find your site to be very offensive. Obviously, hillbillies are ignorant jerks and this crap makes all of you look dumb and ignorant.
Hi Sandy
Well, thanks for visiting the site and posting your thoughts. I think you need to lighten up a little as it is all meant to be in fun and I am poking fun at myself and my fellow hillbillies here more than anything. Did you read the entire post? If you did then I can’t really see how you would be offended. My intent is not to offend anyone at all but I would expect a southerner to complain more than anyone else.
Uppity northerners…nah!!…oh wait!! see what you mean – up there ^ ha ha!! Heck!! it didn’t take long did it?
See what you mean about the uppity northerners…proof ^ ha ha!!
I know that you aren’t an ignorant jerk, as was so tastefully put, how else would you have created such a great website.
Anway, i’m from the UK and we also have the north-south divide, only the other way around. Alot of the southerners are the stuck up know it alls, and where i’m originally from, (north) we are supposedly stupid.
I live down south now, but much prefer the true northerners…yorkshiremen and women…salt of the earth. I only live down south as all of my family ended up there…my sis started it.
I think it’s great that you can poke fun at yourself, it’s very amusing how you word it.
I’m from the north originally, so i’m supposedly thick as two short planks, as far as the southerners are concerned. It’s crazy really to judge people like that. You live in the hills, so you can’t possibly be educated as you don’t even own a car!!…Do you live in a mud hut by the way??? lol
Well howdy Jackie!
Actually us hillbillies all live in log cabins if we’re rich or shacks if we’re not.
Thanks for the good words, I appreciate ya!
Howdy Crazy Hillbilly,
I now think i am the thick UK northerner, as look at my message above yours. I’ve repeated myself without even realising…doh!! errr…i meant doh!!
Log cabins eh? lucky you, I live in a shed, in a field, but I don’t know where it is at the moment…
That was my fault, I merged your two comments, I think its fixed now
First off…Sandy was it??, HOOWWDEEEE. I didt think any of the uppity northerners would have the guts to admit they read stuff like this, but you have made that brave step, and for that, are to be commended. The first step is always admitting you have a problem…..
I’m am originally from kentucky. But I got transplanted to the North when I married. I have lived among the northerners for over 40 years. Believe me they are ignorant about so many things. But most are decent and nice folks. They think hillbillies are dumb as a bag of hammers. Surprise! we aren’t! We went to school to.
But hey….I think you site is great! It makes me laught and remember back when I grew up in the hills of Ky on a big farm. We killed those hogs and rendered that lard. Ha..we know about cooking with all that grease to. Making lye soap and bathing in a big wash tub.
i lived up north form 13 years and all the nice people upthere are from the south hillbilly country