My taste of music for sure. Based on soft rock, alternative rock, metal yet the latest hip hop and trends. Also loved pop music. Grew up in proper NorCal (around Sacramento)
Whenever I go back to visit my folks they always say “you never used to pronounce x this way or that, I didn’t raise you that way.” Yes mum, I’m sorry I say creek now instead of crik or roof instead of ruff.
Hoarding a little. I’m not fit for the TV show “hoarders” but I tend to get attached to things with two excuses, one that I might need them in the future, and two that we don’t waste anything. I grew up low to lower-middle class so we needed to save every penny.
My Boston accent has softened over time. But I will forever pronounce the word drawer as “draw.” I was embarrassingly old when I found out it wasn’t actually spelled D R A W.
I still live where I grew up, but I think about this particular habit when it gets brought to national attention…
I am a very bad water user. We live on a major river and are fortunate enough to have very good water sanitation. So water is never a problem in our area. No seasonal variation, no shortages or limits outside of disastrous plumbing mishaps. Added bonus, it’s relatively cheap. So I have the luxury of not ever having to consciously consider my water usage. Long showers? Obviously. Fill the kids’ pool or water the lawn? Why wouldn’t I? Wait, people turn off the water while washing dishes?
So any time I see an area in drought having to ‘ration’ water, or a disaster area with no water, or like, Flint, Michigan… I definitely feel guilty. Has been a legitimate concern for any (even hypothetical) discussion of moving in my life.
If I’m not conscientious of it, I cuss like a sailor every other word. Grew up like a hood rat in a poor city neighborhood and the offense for the sake of offense occasionally leaks through.
I hate wasting food and would rather force myself to eat too much than throw that portion away, and get irrationally upset when someone ate a snack/food that i was looking forward to eating myself.
Reticence to make friends at work. I grew up in a company town and witnessed a lot of corporate backstabbing. I don’t gossip at work and keep my private life separate.
I grew up poor in rural Appalachia a coal miners son, and worked hard to get away from there and be more successful. That also meant trying to eliminate my accent.
Even developing a more midwestern type accent there were still words that get the old inflection or phrasing, and when I get in a rush it gets worse
As soon as I speak people know I’m from the south. Not far south but apparently my accent is thick. Once in a Chicago I asked for a Dr Pepper at Dunkin Donuts, clear as day I spoke. They couldn’t tell what I was saying!
My grandparents grew up very poor in the countryside, and even if now they are okay, they never stopped the habit of collecting water from a spring fountain near their hometown
My mother grew up with this as normal, and so did I, paying weekly visits to my grandparents and filling the car with water bottles from the spring
It wasn’t until I started living by myself that I realised how weird it felt to actually buy water
My abuse of the words fixin’, reckon, might could, and my persistent opposition to wearing shoes unless absolutely necessary. Yes, my wife has to make me put my shoes on. I promise I’m an adult lol.
god, there’s a few. accent and dialect probably gives it away first though. if i can hide my accent, then the grammar of my native dialect is a dead ringer. i’m from Newfoundland, but work elsewhere in Canada, so grammatical structures like “Where ye to? Where’s that to?” usually gives it away. some regional words for things, too. what’s known as Pillbugs or Roly-Polies elsewhere (the insect), i’d call a ‘carpenter’. other things like drinking habits, thinking a 45min drive isn’t very far at all, not really phased by dramatic weather events. generally open to hosting people at my house for any reason at all, no problem talking for hours on the phone about anything, i’m an introvert but its just kind of the culture i grew up in to have that “open door” way of interacting with people. boiling the kettle as soon as someone says they’re coming over or as soon as they walk in the door.
ye best keeps your shoes out by da door when ye comes over, though. don’t need to be sweeping up all day after ye leaves.
Comments
My tendency to slip in to a southern drawl when I’m stressed.
accent
Accent and Dialect
It’s the Sears tower.
My taste of music for sure. Based on soft rock, alternative rock, metal yet the latest hip hop and trends. Also loved pop music. Grew up in proper NorCal (around Sacramento)
My confidence
Whenever I go back to visit my folks they always say “you never used to pronounce x this way or that, I didn’t raise you that way.” Yes mum, I’m sorry I say creek now instead of crik or roof instead of ruff.
Hoarding a little. I’m not fit for the TV show “hoarders” but I tend to get attached to things with two excuses, one that I might need them in the future, and two that we don’t waste anything. I grew up low to lower-middle class so we needed to save every penny.
Apparently I have drinking habits that are red flags for alcoholism in many places outside of Wisconsin.
I think of any place within 500 miles/800km as “not that far a drive, practically neighbours.”
I use a word for a pastry that’s only used in this part of my country.
Eating with hands instead of utensils
Homophobia everywhere you go
Yinz guys should figure it out
Y’all
Sprinkling the word FUCK all over like salt in a salt shaker .
Standing on line, not standing in line
My accent the way I say certain vowel sounds gives it away every time
Jasmine flowers – Damascus
My Boston accent has softened over time. But I will forever pronounce the word drawer as “draw.” I was embarrassingly old when I found out it wasn’t actually spelled D R A W.
Affinity for Mike Meyers and donuts
The biggest successes often start out as fantastical goals.
I have depression and anxiety reminding me in what household I grew up lmao
My accent. It’s not typically thick, but sometimes my BFF won’t be able to understand what I said and she’s from Montana.
Especially when I’m emotional, happy or sad. I think. Perhaps some phrases is also an indicator.
I flinch when someone mentions freezer dried pecans
I still live where I grew up, but I think about this particular habit when it gets brought to national attention…
I am a very bad water user. We live on a major river and are fortunate enough to have very good water sanitation. So water is never a problem in our area. No seasonal variation, no shortages or limits outside of disastrous plumbing mishaps. Added bonus, it’s relatively cheap. So I have the luxury of not ever having to consciously consider my water usage. Long showers? Obviously. Fill the kids’ pool or water the lawn? Why wouldn’t I? Wait, people turn off the water while washing dishes?
So any time I see an area in drought having to ‘ration’ water, or a disaster area with no water, or like, Flint, Michigan… I definitely feel guilty. Has been a legitimate concern for any (even hypothetical) discussion of moving in my life.
HONESTY and AUTHENTICITY! Mid-Western upbringing in the 50’s!
Calling the brown stuff in playgrounds “tan bark”
If I’m not conscientious of it, I cuss like a sailor every other word. Grew up like a hood rat in a poor city neighborhood and the offense for the sake of offense occasionally leaks through.
Bubbler
Not panicking when there is an earthquake. Only if the magnitude is above 6, I start thinking about getting up from my seat.
Bringing a casserole to every potluck, no exceptions.
Using the word “hoagie”
I say y’all and folks. I just learned the latter is geographic in usage.
My accent, and keeping a snow brush/ snow shovel in my car well into April.
Heat and humidity don’t bother me at all. I rarely even think about it until someone brings it up, normally to complain.
And there’s still some phrases in my vocabulary that I’ll ride till I die with. Ie. Snowbird, “no-see-ums”, pubsub.
Depression
Regional nasal-ie accent at times…
I eat yoghurt and/or Feta cheese almost daily
I hate wasting food and would rather force myself to eat too much than throw that portion away, and get irrationally upset when someone ate a snack/food that i was looking forward to eating myself.
Reticence to make friends at work. I grew up in a company town and witnessed a lot of corporate backstabbing. I don’t gossip at work and keep my private life separate.
Apparently the dead giveaway is when we say people are standing “ON line” instead of “IN line”.
Wooder
Accent and speech patterns.
I grew up poor in rural Appalachia a coal miners son, and worked hard to get away from there and be more successful. That also meant trying to eliminate my accent.
Even developing a more midwestern type accent there were still words that get the old inflection or phrasing, and when I get in a rush it gets worse
Saying wooder instead of water
Being overly polite to anyone a lot older than me. I’m west African.
Orange crayon is not pronounced arng cran
75°f is “chilly” weather
I get water at the bubbler and your outfit is wicked cute
I never feel at home somewhere, because I’m always aware it can be taken away in an instant.
Four walls and a roof and I’m content, but I’m not attached to any of those particularly. I also don’t really care what they look like.
As soon as I speak people know I’m from the south. Not far south but apparently my accent is thick. Once in a Chicago I asked for a Dr Pepper at Dunkin Donuts, clear as day I spoke. They couldn’t tell what I was saying!
My grandparents grew up very poor in the countryside, and even if now they are okay, they never stopped the habit of collecting water from a spring fountain near their hometown
My mother grew up with this as normal, and so did I, paying weekly visits to my grandparents and filling the car with water bottles from the spring
It wasn’t until I started living by myself that I realised how weird it felt to actually buy water
My abuse of the words fixin’, reckon, might could, and my persistent opposition to wearing shoes unless absolutely necessary. Yes, my wife has to make me put my shoes on. I promise I’m an adult lol.
eating with hands.
god, there’s a few. accent and dialect probably gives it away first though. if i can hide my accent, then the grammar of my native dialect is a dead ringer. i’m from Newfoundland, but work elsewhere in Canada, so grammatical structures like “Where ye to? Where’s that to?” usually gives it away. some regional words for things, too. what’s known as Pillbugs or Roly-Polies elsewhere (the insect), i’d call a ‘carpenter’. other things like drinking habits, thinking a 45min drive isn’t very far at all, not really phased by dramatic weather events. generally open to hosting people at my house for any reason at all, no problem talking for hours on the phone about anything, i’m an introvert but its just kind of the culture i grew up in to have that “open door” way of interacting with people. boiling the kettle as soon as someone says they’re coming over or as soon as they walk in the door.
ye best keeps your shoes out by da door when ye comes over, though. don’t need to be sweeping up all day after ye leaves.
“Oop, lemme just scoot right past ya there…”
“Welp!” slaps knee “Time to hit the hay!” —> “We better start heading out!”
Opening the door and shouting “knock knock” instead of actually knocking.
“No, yeah.” “Yeah, no.” “Yeah, no definitely.”
Failing to pronounce double letters. For example, the word “Mirror” wound become “Meer” and “little” would become “lidle”.
Of course, calling it “pop” rather than “soda” or “coke”.
Ignoring the y. For example “crayon” is “cran”.
Ignoring the g in ing.
Generally fast, lazy speech ignoring certain letters and making odd contractions.
Barefoot whenever possible, which is something I can’t do I’m my new state because of cacti and weird sketchy soil.
Whoever talks loudest gets heard.