Why do Southerners value 'purity' and 'simplicity' when they are globally regarded as the most complicated society in the United States?

[Jaysonava]

They talk about the simple rural life. Southerners who are very traditional like to exalt the purity and simplicty of their thinking, and the their realistic worldview, and their detachment from the excesses of the city life.

But to most people around the world, the American South has reputation for being one of the most complex, artificial, superficial, contrarian, and downright COMPLICATED cultures in the United States.

The Etiquette is based on the treatment of inferiors to superiors, not the other way around. Charitableness is directed toward the rich instead of the poor. Military violence is perceived as neccesary and virtuous. etc.

Why is the South so complicated, but claims to be so simple?

[najekim]

Having lived in the deep south for a decade, I found that most folks there refuse the ideas of there being "shades of grey" in life. It's either good or bad, right or wrong, true or false, etc. Life is slow in the deep south because they want to be sure things get done right and not let stress get to you because it doesn't do any good in the first place. Northerners worry about deadlines and schedules while the southerners believe it'll get done when it gets done. Most people think southerners are slow and dumb when in fact most southerners take the time to think of what they're going to say before answering. I still carry many of the southern ways of life with me even though I haven't lived there in about 30 years. Sometimes irritates my northern friends and co-workers but 9 times out of 10 my actions or answers are correct and if I am wrong or mistaken, it's not by much.

[nodnol32]

When your question started with southerners I was like what? Then i saw United States at the end of it. I'm a southerner of England lol.

[scarlett774]

I don’t like the history of the south nor do I like most southern states nor do I like the people in southern states, all the southern pride and shit is just really annoying?

[Jaysonava]

I am a Kiwi. When I went there it was so un American. It was the opposite of the rest of the states.

It was classist, militaristic, rank obsessed, emotionally repressed, artificial, impractical, inefficient. Again 'upward' charity. Charitable to rich people, callous to the poor. Obsessed with being the opposite of the rest of the country. And succeeding...

[scarlett774]

I lived in the south for most of my life and it’s horrible, filled with a bunch or delusional racist

[Jaysonava]

What state?

[whatthehellwasthat]

Prefers to give charuty to the rich instead of the poor? Are you dimply talking about being a republican vs a democrat or is there something more to that?

[Jaysonava]

People in Texas think that it's a 'good attitude' to accept a low wage and mistreatment from their bosses. They think it's good form and it shows high morals because it proves you 'care about the company and are not selfish'.

Where i was the people believed that 'it's not the company's job to support your lifestyle' ... but... it is. Why would it not be in a wealthy society like Texas? The worker supports the company and the company supports the worker's lifestyle...
they think the poor owe the rich more charity than than the rich owe the poor. backwards.

Texas was a cool place but some people had ideas that were a little bit artificial.

[whatthehellwasthat]

Yeah, im confused by that. Im from Ohio on the border of KY and its pretty country. Country enough that I've gone on amish runs with family. So pretty country. But we still believe in a decent living. Especially since im the only woman in my family to go to college. The rest of the women are stay at home wives by the age of 16 to 23 and the men work on mechanics or welding. You can't support a family one one income without a decent wage, but they also go in to trades, and depending on the trade you can come out on top.

[Jaysonava]

Kentucky is pushing it. They have the southern drawl but i mean deeper south

[joeldalton]

Because like most people we’re a mixture of our experiences and not consistent.

[mich15smith]

people like to play pretend

[Jaysonava]

You know what i'm saying