Having grown up in Deep East Texas myself, I must say this remark from a Henderson County Sheriff's deputy is something you don't hear very often: "Personally I'm having trouble distinguishing the rednecks from the white trash," he announced.Hmmmm. He's got a point. How do you tell the difference? Now that I think of it, I can't recall a circumstance where it became necessary to make a distinction. If you know the answer, tell us in the comments.
The Redneck Games sound like a hoot. Then, it's always fun till someone gets busted.
Get Jeff Foxworthy on the case. He seems to be the leading expert on Rednecks.
ReplyDeleteFoxworthy seems to conflate the terms, too, from what I've heard - his show used to feature a 'white trash yard of the week' segment where the terms were used interchangeably.
ReplyDeleteOf course, you can't trust those folks from Georgia on this subject, anyway - Houston's Pimp C says they're not even in the South! But I don't think the Pimp could question these folks' redneck credentials. :)
I use them as synonyms. By the time you need to make that distinction, you're splitting hairs pretty thin.:-)
ReplyDeleteWhite trash can't be bothered by their ignorance. Rednecks know they're ignorant and work hard to make sure they stay that way!
ReplyDeleteIn support of 10:08, I've seen bumper stickers "Redneck and proud" but I have never seen one that says "White trash and proud."
ReplyDeleteOops, I meant is support of 11:31's comment.
ReplyDeleteI think a redneck is the one where so many of their last words are
ReplyDelete"Here, hold my beer, and watch this". The white trash are the ones who hold the beer, and finish it after the redneck bites the dust.
There are no genetic differences between Rednecks and White Trash. Both species represent four generations of East Texas inbreeding. Some the inbreeds tend to spend more time drinking outdoors which leads to a more magenta like appearance. The slight variation in color, therefore, is the only distinguishing feature separating the two groups.
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree -- a redneck works for a living, your neck doesn't get red watching springer or peoples court, it gets red from driving a tractor or mending fences or digging skniny calves out of the mud.
ReplyDeleteLumping the two together misses the point.
There's nothing wrong with someone who works the fields or with his or her hands, that's who founded this great nation.
i agree with 9:16 p.m. I'm a REDNECK and my neck is red from working; don't matter where. And if I live in a mobile home, it's well-maintained and ain't a trailer home. Rednecks also tend to be conservative and proud, we won't even get into white trash.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to read a little lite humor. Also good to know a redneck will not steal white trash.
ReplyDelete"I have never seen [a bumper sticker] that says "White trash and proud."
ReplyDeleteFWIW, I've seen gals wearing t-shirts with the phrase "White Trash" sprawled across their breasts, so both are embraced, I think, in some quarters.
Both phrases clearly stem from an etymology of derision, but the inclusion of the word "trash" probably keeps the disapprobation a bit more modern, whereas more folks embrace "redneck."