pic: The Fighting Rednecks

[ebarker]

I don't want to insult or inflame, but....

FIRST is about changing culture. What culture do we want to change ? The attitudes of people toward scientists and engineers ? or the attitudes of people toward rednecks ?

It seems to me we are picking the wrong fight !!

I grew up in South Carolina, you know, the people that seceded. I then lived in the Washington DC area.

When I lived in that area and had discussions with the folks around town, in my experience, almost without exception the references made to 'those rednecks' were derisive and commonly prejudicial, without merit to the situation being discussed.

The wiki is substantially correct in its history and etymology. The fact that a group of people refers to themselves as 'R' is IMHO not different than another group people that refer to themselves as 'N'.

It doesn't make it correct or proper of suitable for good company. Call me stuffy and uptight but that is the way I see it.

Having said all of that - Jeff Foxworthy et. al. has done more to change the popular definition of redneck than the previous 300 years of history.

Jeff Foxworthy has also clearly stated that his definition of redneck is substantially departed from socio economic class occupation stereotypes and more aligned around specific behavioral pathologies. Hence the California urban redneck, and others.

Jeff Foxworthy's definition is really funny. The prior historical definition is substantially less entertaining.

If the team chooses to keep the redneck monicker they are certainly free to do so but I'll submit that it could run into resistance in the other sub-cultures that exist across the country.

Best Regards and Good Luck.

edit: added a comment.

I'm not beating up the team, just the idea. Tossing around ideas and having a lively debate is a wonderful thing. I've been to Minnesota. It is a beautiful state with wonderful people. I'm sure they have plenty more opportunities to come up with great ideas. I'm just speaking from my life experience as a southerner that I'd advise against the redneck course.

next edit:

Here is how I'd expect the sponsor fundraising meeting to go, really funny. the sales pitch for the team