Kentucky anyone?

I am from and in Kentucky.

I guess you take things for granted but I am not a fan of the state...to humid, no jobs and little educational oppertunities.
While there is a diverse topography and each region differs greatly in its landscape, Kentucky is also a state that lacks in areas such as education.  There are some unique qualities about the culture of Kentucky that one may find interesting if not from here though.  
Traditional folk art is a dying art and Kentucky is rich in Appellation culture but saddely that too is diminishing.  Kentucky is the home of Bluegrass music to name but one.  To keep what little cultural heritage remains, one of the universities in Eastern Kentucky offers classes in Kentuckian folk art where "tatting" (kind of like knitting...makes very delicate lace like sticking), quilting, wood crafting (whittling) and other folk art traditions are taught.  

As for some of the stereotypes about people from Kentucky....(I for one am sitting here in barefeet..I hate shoes and ware them only when I must...ha ha)...
Here is a side fact for you, it is illegal in the state of KY to drive barefooted (how we say it here)  

One other COOL fact about Kentucky

It is the ONLY place on the earth where the CORVETTE is made!!!
I think that is cool anyways.

I think when you come from the South of the United States, everyone likes to go barefoot.  (I do-never wore shoes as a kid either.)

Here is a side fact for you, it is illegal in the state of KY to drive barefooted (how we say it here) 

Isn't that illegal most places in the US? I speak as a fellow barefoot person, so I've looked into this in other states! I hate shoes, and I wasn't even born in Kentucky! 

Johnny Depp was born there so Kentucky can't be all that bad.  

I hate shoes, and I wasn't even born in Kentucky! 

Better do a family tree check......

Tom Cruise lived here a while too...but then again Charlie Mansons mother was born here as well....never mind. ha ha

Better do a family tree check......

Uh-oh! 

It really kills me how some people will blindedly follow typical stereotype branding just because this shallow misconception of a certain creed or race of people and their customs.

A 'spot-on' comparison of this sadly mistaken falsification of the southern people in the USA in general would be in the instance of the once sociological study made of an asumption that if you were black American, or just black from any nation, that you would have a lower IQ than say a white or any race of person. After extensive testing, historically, the results showed that was not true indeed. IQ testing and its inovation proved this to be true.

The point is, never judge a book by its cover.

Welcome Southern Boy and thank you for your sermon.

I do think however, you have the wrong forum jumping into a  light-hearted thread this way and preaching to us- it's really not on old chap, no-one here is blindly following any sort of stereotype, the people here have responded from their own viewpoint and I am more than capable of making my own mind up when I get the opportunity to visit.

In the meantime, there are a great many well travelled, educated and intelligent people on this forum and I appreciated their responses.

Now, would you like to start again?

LOL, Sheril.

Just thought I might clear up any misunderstandings anyone may have about my previous post, should that be one of the ones that may have caused irritation. I was 1. speaking about members of my own family being white trash - not talking stereotypes, this was fact   and 2. not being overly serious - I'm sure they would have been who they were no matter where they were raised. But they did happen to be from Kentucky. I think Sheril took my post the way I meant it. Sorry to have caused people any irritation....  

LOL, Sheril.

Just thought I might clear up any misunderstandings anyone may have about my previous post, should that be one of the ones that may have caused irritation. I was 1. speaking about members of my own family being white trash - not talking stereotypes, this was fact   and 2. not being overly serious - I'm sure they would have been who they were no matter where they were raised. But they did happen to be from Kentucky. I think Sheril took my post the way I meant it. Sorry to have caused people any irritation....  

You have nothing to apologise for at all.

There is simply no-one on here ignorant enough to think that every person in a statestates/country is below par in some way, but that does not and will not stop us from having some light hearted jokes about such stereotypes.

It's called taking the piss and it's what we do sometimes, good lord, if we believed all the cultural stereotypes that abound we wouldn't ever go anywhere.

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Southernboy

Please speak a bit slower and use smaller words as I am but of one of the many  representatives
of the stereotypes of which you speak!!! JUST KIDDING!!!!

However, I am not sure what your post was intended to illustrate, nor the point you wished to make.   I am also not sure what part of the world you are from but, having grown up in Kentucky (other than living a few years in Alabama) I can attest that many of the "stereotypes" that are branded upon "southerners" are the results of cultural aspects of life in that region.  The beliefs about Southern Culture (some stereotypical) are many times a realistic yet satirical view of the way things really are.  Yep we do eat grits and going bare footed is a part of our culture….like it or not, IT IS!!! This is not to say that ALL Southerners eat grits and some may wear shoes but  there is a general understanding among most that not all of the stereotypes are true reflections of southern culture.  Some views may be founded from a misunderstanding of Southern culture or an extension of an exaggerated view of reality, but they have merit and are worth exploring.
 
Ever heard a "You might be a redneck" joke and laughed?  It is the irony in the humor and understanding that the joke has a great deal of truth about the culture of the South that makes them so damn funny.  It is a part of "our" way of life and a means by which we can not only laugh at, but embrace and celebrate its uniqueness.

Anyone who fails to see some of the humor in the culture of the South also fails to embrace and celebrate it.  If you were to look objectively at life in the Southern Part of the US (Excluding Fla....they don't count...ask any true Southerner) you would see that many of the negative stereotypes have merit.  The south statistically has been far less progressive in policies that impact women and minorities, have lower then national average educational outcomes, higher illiteracy rates, higher then average poverty levels, (need I go on?). 

I fail to see the point in your post but believe you have a great deal to offer this forum in means of your experiences and knowledge.  While I am not the most poetic in my words, and am known to make WAY TO MANY grammatical errors, (thank God I was not an English Major) I do however know a little bit about Southern culture.  Presently entering my first year in post-graduate research, my graduate and post graduate research emphasis has been policy development and social work interventions in rural communities.  Rurality is an area I am well versed in.  I dare say there are few exceptions to stereotypes having some merit, and historical factual validity. 
I challenge anyone to question their viewpoint or belief about individuals from the rural southern part of the United States.  Find out about the history behind the stereotype and embrace the culture. Learn what you can about it.  NEVER BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS!
If someone were to run into me today they may find me to fit many of the stereotypes associated with "Southern Women"....Jolly Good Time...I embrace my culture and am not ashamed to be who and what I am...bare feet and all!!!