What are some manners that I should know in Texas?

Question

I have lived in Texas for a while but I still get called rude by my boyfriend sometimes (he's a Texan, of course). I am a Yankee and I do not know what I am doing that is rude. Please help me! If you have any suggestions on manners I should be aware of, I would appreciate it, thank you!

Answer 1

I'm a southerner and one of my best friends is from NY...poor thing.

She has been here long enough to become more gracious. Yankee's tend to sound harsh and judgemental when they speak. If you are speaking to an elder, yes mam' and yes sir are much appreciated but not required. But" ya"..is not considered polite or educated, "yes" is just fine.

Just be yourself but soften it a bit, you'll do fine.

Answer 2

always offer lemonade or sweet tea when folks come over for a spell

Answer 3

When you answer someone be sure and add ma'am or sir afterwards.

Example: "Yes, ma'am." or "Yes, Sir."

When you say something is "nice," it means you don't think it is nice, but you don't want to seem too negative.

"How nice." is a catty remark.

Answer 4

Basically things just run slower in Texas.  Two of my best friends are from NY (Queens and Long I) and I'm frequently embarrassed at how they talk to strangers.

Mostly it's when we go out to a restaurant and are around people they feel are suppose to be servants.  Ok yes they are serving you but that doesn't make them beneath you.  They both have a tendency to snap at a waiter and scream across the restaurant that they want the check.

When you ask for the check, say something more like "If we could get the check please" instead of "the check" or a hand signal.

My guy friend (from Queens) nearly gets in a fight every time we go out.  He disagrees because he says a fight doesn't happen until punches are thrown.  Otherwise it's a friendly discussion.  I say if you are up in someone's face gesturing and we end up getting kicked out of the bowling alley for your word choices--it was a fight.

Help old people.  You see an old person walking through the door.  Do you hold the door and wait patiently or do you rush to the door to cut them off so you won't be held up?  Never disagree with someone over 70.  Respect your elders and just nod and smile.

A simple "please", "thank you", and "if you wouldn't mind" go a long way.  Smile and relax.  We aren't in a rush.  If you are in a hurry to get your check and leave, it seems like you didn't enjoy being around your friends.  Pick up a book on how to be a Southern Belle or how to be a Yankee living in the south.  There are lots of comedy books on this topic.  Like all good jokes, they are based in truth.

Picking on accents.  Yes I see people on here saying southern accents sound ignorant.  Now if you think a Bronx accent or that mobster way of saying Jersey (Joize) sounds intelligent....well that's why we are laughing at what you think is ignorant.

Most importantly--if you ever ever catch yourself saying We do it this way in NYC...realize we know that already.  That's why we don't do it that way.

Answer 5

heck yeah Texas it just depends what part? im from a small town where you have to bit your tongue and there is racism i mean it is the South but it mostly just depends on what part...i always hear just think on the quote everything is bigger in texas" lol  

Answer 6

say thank you..smile...speak to everyone....southern hospitility

Answer 7

If you ever feel you have made a blunder, just cover it by saying, "Texas is the best state in the Union, and football is the only sport that matters!!!"  That should do it, because all Texans think this is true. They'll quickly forgive almost any indiscretion on your part if they think you're a die-hard Texas and football fan.

Answer 8

Start spittin tobacco and carryin a shotgun

Get a big truck

eat lotsa meat

say "ya'll" alot