I'm planning to begin a nursing career in the fall of 2007 (accl. BSN program) and was wondering about something. I have a STRONG southern accent. I'm not ashamed of it, I love my accent. I had no idea I even had one until I was 16 and while on a trip to California some people let me know. The question I have is could I anticipate any issues or trouble with my accent? Also, and PLEASE be honest, it won't hurt my feelings (much =) but what would your reaction be if you are from a place where southern accents are not common and heard your nurse have a twang to the voice?
I work in the healthcare industry and deal with RNs, Quality Improvement personnel, Administrators, Drug Reps, etc on a daily basis and most of the ladies (99% of the people I work with are female) don't seem to mind. However, I feel like a few are looking down their respective nose at me while I talk. I even had a person who thought they were on mute one time say to a group I was on a conference call with "this guy from KEN-tucky thinks he's going to teach us something". One of those real sarcastic tones. I rolled my eyes and smiled because I knew they were the ones making an a$$ out of themselves.
I'm already somewhat apprehensive about being a guy in this profession and fighting off sterotypes. I had never given much thought to any preconceived notions about my my voice though. Will I have another sterotype to deal with? Honestly, what do you think when you hear a guy (or a lady) with a southern accent? Please don't think we're dumb....
Any feedback or commentary would be greatly appreciated!
Yes, i sure do. I do have issues with racists. I don't like that way of thinking. You should have a problem with it, too. Or are you part of the problem youself? If not, then don't worry about it. I obviously hit a nerve. I say if the shoe doesn't fit, then don't wear it.
It is rhetoric like this that alienates "the south" from not only the rest of the country, but the rest of the world. It's inflammatory. This attitude that God favors the South first, the rest of the old U.S. of A. second, and that he couldn't care less or is contemptuous about the remaining world at large facilitates all of the negative stereotypes of the south and its southerners. Quite a thoughtless comment.
Oh my goodness. Thank you so much for your response on this. This is exactly what I told him/her. And a lot of this rhetoric is hypocritical seeing as how most of them are intolerant to anything outside of the South or it's beliefs.
I understand what you are saying here completely, and of course there is nothing wrong with someone referring to a fine piece of real estate as "God's country". The only problem is, I do not believe the poster was referring to real estate at all, and I do not think my interpretation was inaccurate.
No, my friend. You're interpretation was right on the money. He/she said, "come on back to God's country". And since he/she was from the South, that's what they were referring to. And the others know it, too. They're just got outted and they can't deal with it.
You're packing an awful lot of assumptions (and hostility?) into your comments.
I hear this poster reminding the OP that she can always come back home, and a darn fine home at that, and she'll find people who speak her language.
Calling your home territory God's country doesn't HAVE to be interpreted as a slap to everyone else.
But it is and was interpreted that way because that's what was inferred. Of course, I see mostly southerners having offense to this. Well, usually people stay silent on issues until they hit home. The truth always does that to people.
Well I Swanee I never picked up on so many knickers in a knot as thay is here.
How on earth did the way I enunciate turn around to becoming a racial discussion? I'll tell you something else, most Southerners can place another's southern accent within about 50 miles. I was "reared" in Columbia SC, but now live about 40 mi from Augusta. I can pick out location difference 9 times out of ten.
Then you have your "Upstaters","charles-Tonians," and your "South of the Borders" from the near NC line.
And you know what else I love to hear just about any accent from around the globe as long as the speaker is gentle, kind and not making unfounded assumptions about anyone I know and love or anyone I may ever meet in my lifetime.
Y'all (plural you know) gotta get cooled on down, there's a lot more in this world that's fun and happy than there is sorrow and pain.
Well I Swanee I never picked up on so many knickers in a knot as thay is here.
And you know what else I love to hear just about any accent from around the globe as long as the speaker is gentle, kind and not making unfounded assumptions about anyone I know and love or anyone I may ever meet in my lifetime.
I am a senior nursing student, and I work on the ortho-neuro floor in a local hosp. I TOO TALK REAL SOUTHERN No one has ever had a problem with my accent.
These so-called Christians are the same ones that are racist in their beliefs.
A rather wide brush you paint with. I love it when people who make comments such as this lecture me on tolerance, being unbiased, and having an open mind. Tell me, how is the view from that Ivory Tower?
Perhaps you view Christians the same way a racist views one of another race? If not, why single out Christians in such a way? Perhaps YOUR bias leads you to seek out negative examples that reinforce YOUR notions of what being a Christian is all about? Do you take the time to make a special note when you see a Christian do good? For some reason I doubt it. I'm a proud Christian and as far from a racist as you could get. I have dear friends AND FAMILY of all colors and religious back grounds. Your statement was the equivalent of saying all Muslims are terrorists or all British soccer fans are hooligans.
Way to hijack a thread.....tell me again how any of this relates to nursing?
BTW, I live in Kentucky and God is my next door neighbor. You call it arrogance, I'll call it pride.
Right on natron20!!!! If it is the term Gods Country that has caused SO much offense, do a goggle... you will find everywhere from Missouri to Paris labled as such.
As far as "getting outted and unable to deal with it", I have yet to discover what that refers.
I find that the opinion that all people in the south MUST be racist, because of their geographic locale absurd and narrowminded. Yes, there is an awful and horrendous history of racial discrimination. No one can deny that... where there are people there will be those who judge, prejudice and even injure. Whether it is on the grounds of race, sex, social class or sexual orientation. Is is ok, HECK NO.. it sucks, its offensive and dead wrong. But to prejudge someone based on the state in which they were born, to assume that they are something without proof... I ask.. Whats the difference? It stems from the same supperior ideals, just a different angle.
Yes, i sure do. I do have issues with racists. I don't like that way of thinking. You should have a problem with it, too. Or are you part of the problem youself? If not, then don't worry about it. I obviously hit a nerve. I say if the shoe doesn't fit, then don't wear it.
I didn't know that this thread was about rascism. I thought it was about southern accents. If people want to equate rascism with the south, well, THAT seems to be narrow minded and bigoted. I have lived all over this country....north, south, and west. Trust me, the south does not hold a monopoly on rascism. It is the stereotyping that keeps the myth alive.
People who criticize the south do as much flame fanning than any redneck ever could.
A rather wide brush you paint with. I love it when people who make comments such as this lecture me on tolerance, being unbiased, and having an open mind. Tell me, how is the view from that Ivory Tower?
Perhaps you view Christians the same way a racist views one of another race? If not, why single out Christians in such a way? Perhaps YOUR bias leads you to seek out negative examples that reinforce YOUR notions of what being a Christian is all about? Do you take the time to make a special note when you see a Christian do good? For some reason I doubt it. I'm a proud Christian and as far from a racist as you could get. I have dear friends AND FAMILY of all colors and religious back grounds. Your statement was the equivalent of saying all Muslims are terrorists or all British soccer fans are hooligans.
Way to hijack a thread.....tell me again how any of this relates to nursing?
BTW, I live in Kentucky and God is my next door neighbor. You call it arrogance, I'll call it pride.
Oh, you can hang your coat right there. True Christians need not be offended because they are not hypocrites. I am talking about the so-called southern Christians that claim to love God, but hate everyone in the process. I won't say what other attributes these perpertrators possess because they know who they are. That's who I'm referring to.
How in the world can I be biased against Christians when I worship God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit just like any real Christian ought to? You have it twisted. But, you're right, I am biased. I'm biased towards racist people and the beliefs that they hold. I just can't stand people who are always claiming to be of God, but yet, they can't tolerate thier fellow man. This is a very prominent attitude in the South. How do I know? Because I live down here and I see it manifest itself in everyday interactions. The same people who attend church everytime the door opens are the ones that will be the first to condemn gays, minorities, northerners, anyone who is not like them.
So, you misunderstood me. I'm not singling out every Christian, because like I said, I'm Christian, too. Real Christians won't be offended by what I'm saying because they know of what I speak. See, the Lord Jesus Christ told me to love my brother as myself. So that means I don't turn my nose up at others because they are a different color or because they don't hold separatist views like so many southerners do. I'm talking about southerners that claim to be holier than the rest of the country and yet are card carrying members of the KKK or other racist organizations. They need to stop claiming to be Christians.
Oh!!! You have dear friends of all colors and religious backgrounds? Well good for you. That proves it. You are not a racist.
Look, I don't know you so I can't judge you. But as I've said before, if I struck a nerve, then there is an ounce of truth to what I'm saying to you. And don't worry, I'll be sure to call it arrogance when I see it. Especially if it's coming from Kentucky.
Right on natron20!!!! If it is the term Gods Country that has caused SO much offense, do a goggle... you will find everywhere from Missouri to Paris labled as such.
As far as "getting outted and unable to deal with it", I have yet to discover what that refers.
I find that the opinion that all people in the south MUST be racist, because of their geographic locale absurd and narrowminded. Yes, there is an awful and horrendous history of racial discrimination. No one can deny that... where there are people there will be those who judge, prejudice and even injure. Whether it is on the grounds of race, sex, social class or sexual orientation. Is is ok, HECK NO.. it sucks, its offensive and dead wrong. But to prejudge someone based on the state in which they were born, to assume that they are something without proof... I ask.. Whats the difference? It stems from the same supperior ideals, just a different angle.
I don't care how you feel about me calling people in the South racist. I call it how I see it. You may not want to acknowledge it, or you may not know. I mean, if you're not black or hispanic, you probably haven't experienced it. You may have even perpetuated it and didn't realize it. After all, racism is passed down from generation to generation. So some people may have been raised that way and not realize they are not supposed to be that way. But the truth be told, when the day is over, my family and I have experienced a lot of bigotry in my short life. And a lot of it has come from the so-called right-wing conservative Christian society of the South. So, it is a big deal to me and I feel like talking about it. If you haven't been one to be racist, then you shouldn't feel the need to defend the people I am referring to. It just makes me suspect that you have held some beliefs that you, a southerner are not as tolerant to certain groups of people as you should be. I know you may be saying, "How in the world did it come to this topic?" Well, when I hear a southern accent, it just reminds me of so many that choose to not like others because they are different.
Are there racists in other parts of the U.S.? Of course, there are plenty. But do they claim to be the Bible Belt? Nope.
No one has ever had a problem with my accent.
OliveVinesRN
100 Posts
Yes, i sure do. I do have issues with racists. I don't like that way of thinking. You should have a problem with it, too. Or are you part of the problem youself? If not, then don't worry about it. I obviously hit a nerve. I say if the shoe doesn't fit, then don't wear it.