Sounding StOOpiD: A Rant.

I grew up in an east Texas town of around 1800 people. I knew everyone, and they knew me. Besides walking away with a certain innocence to any ideas or perspectives that fell outside of the accepted Bible Belt dogma, I also left that town with a considerably heavy accent. 

Dodged this bullet....

Although College Station isn't known as the center of worldly knowledge or being high society, my freshman year at A&M made me aware that I wasn't like the kids from Dallas or Houston or even Austin. To my own ear, I sounded entirely more sophisticated than the "ain'tcha gonna" or the "fixin' to" of my hometown.  But I still got both envied by my girl friends

 "Awe, your accent is soooo adorable"

 and teased by my guy friends

"Wow do they also teach you how to read in Buffalo?"

for my southern "charm."  I hated it. Most people didn't even notice how impolite their uncalled for critique was. Positive or negative shading aside, these people made me feel like a country bumpkin, and I would not let my past define my future.

So I worked really hard and trained myself to sound at least Urban Texan, and now my accent only makes an appearance when I'm really tired or talking with my parents, as my boyfriend likes to point out. The point is, there is a certain connotation that is attached to both southernisms and slang and ebonics: being less intelligent than everyone else around you.

Now, there is a definite difference between how someone speaks and their accent (whether it be Southern, Indian, Latino, ect.),  the words that someone speaks out loud, and the style of writing someone uses. When I communicate with others, I would rather them think me pretentious or whatever else from being too formal, than willfully stupid. Apparently.... not everyone shares this view.

Why would you want to portray yourself as someone less intelligent than you are? From my first blog, I got a comment asking my views on women in the Catholic Church and whether or not reforming to be more modern is necessary or reasonable in today's world. Perhaps it would be a valid point to say:

"Women should not be allowed to serve as priests because the Bible says that men are the spiritual leaders, and tradition should stay tradition." 

I would agree to disagree, but it would be a legitimate idea. Instead, Rednek2188 leaves this gem of wisdom:

"Thats dumb. Women should nver b priests.they r made 2 serve men n b there subordnates. Read the bible it says it"

..............................

Is this for real?

"Cauze we dont need no edjumacation newayz, Bubba!"

Not only is the spelling/grammar/everything about this comment absolutely ridiculous, but coming from someone using the name "rednek," I'm not even surprised. Granted it is a silly blog by someone unknown on the internet (aka me), but it just reinforces the pretty common idea that everyone in the south IS a "redneck" and IS backassward in both progressive ideas and simple education. It also makes me, the reader, completely discount anything that may have been a good point because no WAY an educated person would ever use that kind of language.

Oh, high school. The days of football games and study hall... From my experience in that joke of a town, its also where people do their darndest to be perceived as dumb as humanly possible, without also being classified as mentally handicapped. To this day, just judging from my Facebook feed and the posts from people that I've known forever, its just not cool to be smart. I am legitimately embarrassed for some of you. I'm so happy that you are

"Makin dat oil feild cash! Caint weight 2c my bby!!!!!!"

but please, could you at least try not to rub your stupidity all over the rest of us?

Is having a dead-end job that you hate also cool? What about not being able to buy your kids new shoes when its time to go school clothes shopping? Everything from getting that awesome job in your chosen career field to dating to making friends stems from how people perceive you. It may not be right, but how you speak and how you write matters. What impression will you make?

Have a beautiful Tuesday,
Brooke