Is it me or is this truly redneck?

Question

To get all matching RIP shirts for a funeral?I mean who does things like that?

I just have never seen that done and yesterday a girl my daughter had grown up with her parents had it done.

I felt it was bit tacky.

Answer 1

Its a little odd but maybe the person had a sense of humor and that was the family's way of honoring that.  Maybe they were making a statement, because you have to ask youself 'where would they ware those T-shirts again?' but I have been to a truly redneck funeral in that case it really wasn't about the person it was about the free food afterwards.

Answer 2

When I first read your question I thought, "Wow, that is fairly redneck/tacky." Then I remembered attending my older brother's funeral a few years ago. He was the essential 60's Hippie who, as far as I know, never owned or wore a suit. During the viewing, I was semi-shocked (as was my family) at his friends attire. These were people ranging in age from late 50's-early 70's who apparently didn't realize it was 2005. I'd never seen so much hair, tie-dye, faded jeans, & old army jackets in one place. It finally dawned on me that this is exactly what he would've wanted (and would've done himself), so at his funeral I decided to wear a t-shirt, jeans and an old pair of Converse. My family was more than a little mad, but it was my way of honoring him, which is the purpose of a funeral.

So, what may seem tacky or redneck to you may be quite the opposite for others, and in the end who really cares?

Answer 3

It's a bit odd, for sure.  However the acronym, RIP, does stand for "rest in peace," which is not really a red-neck or even a disrespectful adage.  My family is a bit more formal, perhaps, and t-shirts of any kind would probably not be worn to a funeral, but everyone's different.  I wouldn't fret too much, dearie.

Answer 4

What would you have called it if the persons you were referring to were black? Gangster? Or what if they were g*y, then would you have asked if it was a truly q***r thing to do? Just wondering, because it sounds to me that because the people who chose to wear the shirts happened to be white, and because they did something out of the ordinary, you were itching to turn them in a stereo type. I listen to country music all the time,  is that tacky too? Who cares in what ways people honor the dead? I see people walking around with faces of loved ones who passed on t-shirts all the time, or on buttons, or tattooed on their chest... Tacky is asking this question online hoping everyone would agree with you.

Answer 5

It's very tacky. A funeral should be a dignified occasion, and T-shirts are sloppy attire. The printing on them makes it even worse. I wonder whose bright idea that was. By any chance, was there an advertisement for the local diner painted on the coffin?

Answer 6

Yeah, definitely very redneck. But it may have been what the deceased wanted, he very well may have been a redneck too.

Answer 7

That makes me think when Britney Spears wore those tacky *** pink track suits for her wedding and the guys wore the white one was it? So any one that follows in that kind of direction must be a redneck, because they don't come any more of a redneck then Britney Spears.

Answer 8

Oh my GOODNESS!  That is so tasteless, it can't even be categorized as tacky, or even "redneck".  Terrible.  Just terrible.

edit after reading some of the other posts:

By the way, I was born in the south and have spent most of my adult life in the south, and can give/take plenty of "redneck" jokes, but what happened at this funeral cannot be categorized as "redneck".  There is a big, HUGE, difference between tacky (in poor taste) and tasteless (lacking taste).  Usually, calling something "redneck" is funny -- the disrespectful behavior such as these family members at their loved one's funeral isn't funny.  Not at all.

Answer 9

Funerals are about honoring the dead, it's not a fashion show.  I personally wouldn't wear a matching t-shirt to a funeral myself but if that is what made the family feel better than more power to them.

Answer 10

"A grandma at 43"? If that's not redneck I don't know what is!

Answer 11

Well, as an observer of the species "Redneck" a lower life form that inhabits various rural areas of the USA, I can say I've never seen a member of this debased class wearing matching RIP shirts at a funeral.  Instead Rednecks are more likely to wear overalls.

It's not really tacky, what is tacky is the funeral itself.  I say the best way to dispose of Uncle Joe is cremate the bloody wanker and flush his ashes down the commode.

Answer 12

I am sorry that some posters have taken issue with the way you presented your question. But, it does strike a point.  

Within cultures, there are great differences on what is proper and what is improper in response to death.  Irish wakes and the the parades held in New Orleans may seem garish or inappropriate to many who believe that the revelry is crude on such a somber occasion.  Like wise some people believe you should celebrate the life and not morn the loss.

Then you have the individuals.  We are an odd group and some look at death and its rituals in very strange ways.  Some may request certain things be said or done at their service to get a final blow of defiance at someone or death itself.  Many executors are bound to follow the instructions, "last wishes", of the deceased, no matter how bizarre.  On the flip side, some individuals or families may try to make a last statement to the deceased by their behavior.

The human response to death is cultural and individual.  This may be just the time to review your will and instructions for your ceremony.

p.s.

I am a child of the South and understand the intent of the question and am not offended by your use of slang.

Answer 13

People deal with grief in very different ways.   It does sound a little tacky, but perhaps there was a family reason, an 'in joke' or something we don't know about.

At a friends funeral recently, there was a precession of juggling jesters leading the funeral car, but my friend would have loved that because he ran a juggling workshop and loved his hobby.

Answer 14

and why do you suppose that anything and everything that is a bit tacky or doesn't match up to your stands has to be red neck?????   Let me tell you... country people can  go to the city and fit in if they want to (not to say they always want to)  but just try to put a true city person in the country and not have him stick out like a sore thumb...so who is better prepared to get thru a situation and not look stupid????   just wondered