Sounding STOOpiD: A Clarification

You know what's funny about blogs? They are the opinions of the author. This blog is mine. The opinions in this blog are mine. If you don't agree with anything I have to say, then please leave a comment or call me/text me if you would prefer, and I would be THRILLED to discuss with you, debate with you, or clarify what I meant. Maybe my writing wasn't very clear and you took it another way than I had intended for the piece to be read. Its possible.

But do not call my mother complaining. 

I am twenty two years old, and I may not have all of the answers, but I certainly know a little something something about the world. Well, at least enough to be able to form opinions for myself on MY blog.

If you haven't read it yet, check out http://playniceladies.blogspot.com/2014/02/sounding-stoopid-rant.html before you read the rest.

I'll wait.....

Apparently that post caused just quite the uproar in Buffalo, so I feel like I should say what I really  meant.

1. I spent the first 18 years of my life in that town. Small towns are definitely charming in a "know your neighbors" kind of way. If I had grown up in a bigger place there is no WAY I could have cheered, played so many sports, done 4H, competed in theatre and UIL academics, then finish top 10%. Not possible. There just would be kids way smarter or way more athletic, so I am very grateful to have the opportunity. Would I move back to a small town as an adult? Not a chance. But that doesn't mean that small town living isn't perfect for someone else.

Front porches and sweet tea.... Southern comfort at its best :)

2. In no way did I mean that by growing up in a small town (or choosing to live there as an adult) you are automatically less intelligent than anyone else in the world, including myself. Do I think that learning comes from being exposed to new ideas and different cultures? Absolutely. Do I think that people in small towns are usually more closed minded or stuck in their ways than their urban neighbors? For sure. But there are exceptions to every rule.

3. I do NOT think that you have to have a formal education to be "smart." You do not need to go to A&M, UT, LSU, or any other in order to not be like the people I meant in my last post. If you went to public school beyond about 6th grade, then the only excuses you have for portraying yourself like that are either you are lazy or you are stupid. So which is it?

THIS.

4. I do not think I am "better" than anyone else on this Earth. I think I am blessed with certain talents, and I am lacking in other areas, just like you reading this. But I will not discount the time and effort I just sank into my education for the last four years. My dad busts his tail every day to be financially able to support both me and my sister, and I am blessed beyond belief to have had to not take out loans. That doesn't mean I should feel bad about it. It doesn't mean I should apologize for my time here in College Station, either.

5. If you are really offended enough to need to call my mother to discuss MY thoughts, then maybe you should take a long look at yourself.  Why are you so offended by a post about people using grammar incorrectly? Why are you upset about people coming across as ignorant? Maybe you're mad because you KNOW you are guilty of this. Well, as they say folks, if the shoe fits....

To wrap up, I'm really very happy that people like to read this blog. I love to hear your feedback! I'm so sorry if that last post came across as offensive or judgmental, because its not what I meant at all. I'm not looking down my nose at anyone. I simply want you to be better than you already are, and to never stop learning and growing. If I can facilitate that through a silly internet post, then I'm absolutely thrilled to have had the opportunity to add a little something
to your life.

Until Next Time,
Brooke

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