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What is a Redneck? Understanding Different Cultures and Thinking

With the world connecting into a single civilization, the ability to understand how others view the world becomes imperative and one of the best ways to understand people around the world is to first look at how people in our own backyard view issues. Consequently, the best way to understand people from other cultures is to comprehend how those people reason as doing so will give an individual the ability to better communicate with those who have fundamentally different views. 

As such, being able to communicate with a subculture within our own Country, such as Rednecks, is helpful in teaching us how to deal with people from around world who are fundamentally different or have had entirely different experiences.A friend of mine once told me that George W. Bush was the first true Redneck president. Incidentally, this friend is undoubtedly a Redneck. Personally, I have always felt George W. seemed like he would be a decent person, someone you could talk to one-on-one and hang out with at a pork roast, or some other kind of event. 

Then again, I have been well prepared for the frustration that comes from dealing with the Redneck demeanor as I am from Crawford County, Pennsylvania and I have been surrounded by Hicks and Hillbillies my entire life. Unfortunately, this includes half of my family. I can, therefore, sympathize with politicians, academics, and journalists, like Dan Rather, who would have done anything to remove a Redneck like George W. from the White House before he damaged this Country. After all, people, who are extreme Rednecks, are the most difficult breed to sway when it comes to issues that they belief they understand, especially when they are blatantly wrong.

One of the most interesting things about the Redneck culture is that to any non-Redneck being called a Redneck is an insult, but to actual Rednecks, the title is the greatest honor you could possibly bestow upon them, with exception to labeling them Texans. Hailing from the South and rural areas across the country, from white-trash Rednecks to blue-collar middle class Rednecks to aristocratic Rednecks, their culture is very diverse and surprisingly influential. Most of them can be seen driving the largest truck they can possibly afford, whether that is a bid rig, a full size pickup, or a cargo van that they treat like a truck. Unless of course, they've fallen from grace; in which case, they will be found driving an early1990's to late1980's technicolor sedan which probably looks as if the cars that make up the Frankenstein auto came out of the factory rusted and caked in body putty. They like to brag about their hunt'n' and fishin' expeditions, even if they are not particularly good at either while they are firmly seated in the notion that the only real work for a true man is in manufacturing, the outdoors, or a garage.

In general, Redneck personalities are friendly but patronizing, until someone corrects them on one of their many subjects of "expertise," then they spend hours repeating the same flawed argument over and over again as if you eventually agreeing with them out of sheer desperation will make their beliefs correct. Meanwhile, they tend to act quite self-confident while socializing with their friends and a case of their preferred beverage, anywhere from Papst Blue Ribbon to Old Milwaukee, even though one sharp cutting jab can send them into a baby-fit. Most unfortunately, like George W. Bush, once they are convinced of an argument, nothing with sway them. Furthermore, they are quite prone to over simplifying issues and over generalizing solutions so they can apply them to problems those solutions cannot possibly solve. On the other hand, there are many other cultures and groups in the United States, as well as around the world, that share limited views of the world like Rednecks, making it difficult to communicate with such groups, and thus, reach any kind of consensus on everyday issues.

One of the most difficult aspects of communicating with someone from another culture is in understanding what leads them to their conclusions. It is much more difficult to sway someone when your reasoning is different from that person's understanding of events; therefore, the ability to understand how someone reasons makes it easier to comprehend what has lead that person to the conclusions they hold, and thus, convince them different perspectives are valid. Furthermore, people reason with different methods, focusing on different types of information and extending their thinking to different situations. Once someone understands basically how someone else reasons, communication becomes much less difficult. I have personally found that describing methods of reasoning in terms of universal logic, universal rationale, personal logic, or personal rationale helps better shape my arguments in such a way that individuals who reason differently can understand my arguments.

In academics, the goal of reasoning is to develop a universal logic that can be applied to new situations in order to assess information in an objective manner. Individual who tend to think in terms of universal logic draw on scientific data and focus on arguments that can be extended beyond current circumstances to form a consistent understanding of the world. For example, someone may personally believe homosexual behavior is immoral and marriage is a sacred religious institute, but because there is a legal component to marriage that same person will support civil unions for homosexuals as the law must equally protect and serve everyone. People who tend to think in terms of universal logic form opinions that are fair and consistent outside of personal likes or dislikes.

Universal rationales involve personal assessments of various personal situations being extended to unfamiliar situations. With this reasoning method, there is a huge chance of personal bias shaping someone's views of the world. People who tend to reason in terms of universal rationales will assess some aspect of their lives, such as the need for gun ownership in modern times, and extend that understanding to the rest of society; everyone in the Nation owns a gun because they want and need it. On the other hand, there is also personal logic which involves a reality very much disconnected from the rest of the world. For example, one might say a wealthy person is more likely to win the lottery than a poor person because the rich always get richer and the poor always get poorer even though anyone playing the lottery has an equal chance of winning. Another example would be to believe a murderer must be innocent because he was a priest and a nice guy. A person who tends to reason by this process has a consistent view on the world but that view does not match up with reality.

Meanwhile, the extremist Redneck is someone who only reasons in personal rationales. Under this process an individual interprets information based on their own personal experiences or on those of others without a consistent and equal application to every situation. As an example, such a person will say smoking does not cause cancer because they knew someone who smoked their entire life and never had cancer, yet someone else they knew had never smoked but ended up having breast cancer. Basically, scientific discovery and universal logic have no significant meaning unless it supports the person's predetermined notions.

The truth is that everyone from time to time reasons by all of these various processes. People like Rednecks have a greater tendency of understanding the world through personal rationales; therefore, when Rednecks believe they understand an issue, it becomes almost impossible to convince them of an opposing viewpoint because they do not reason in such a way that objective information can influence their beliefs. In order to communicate with a Redneck, a person must be able to relate to the Redneck by drawing on analogies to personal experiences of the Redneck Above all, this is accomplished by listening to their reasoning before contradicting their beliefs, but do not expect the same consideration in return. Rednecks are not stupid people; however, their knowledge and reasoning differ from non-Rednecks. Because personal rationales limit the infusion of new beliefs and information, an individual could spend hours successfully demonstrating the validity of their point just to have the Redneck instantly revert back to his or her original ideas. Moreover, gaining the respect of a Redneck is the most important aspect to communicating with one, because even if you never convince them your perspective on a single issue is more correct than theirs, they will support you if they respect you and they feel you respect them.

Finally, Rednecks are certainly not the only ones who tend to reason in personal rationales or other limited reasoning processes. After all, there is much more to the Redneck culture than reasoning and there are plenty of other groups that fail to broadly understand issues. Overall, if you are successful at reasoning with familiar cultures like Rednecks then you are more likely to be successful when dealing with other cultures, but it starts with the ability to understand how others reason.

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      • Retooling the Grand Strategy of the International Community >
        • Recalibrating Our Foreign Policy Vision for a New Middle East
        • How the US Should Engage Political Revolt in the Middle East
      • The Fundamentals of Proper Government in the Middle East and North Africa
      • Implementation of Public Policy: Issues of Theory and Practice >
        • What Are Commonsense Regulations?
        • Should Public Health Be a Priority to the Governments of the World?
        • Dealing with the Ill-effects of Climate Change
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        • Should the Government's First Priority Be to Protect Secrets or to Proactively Give Citizens Information?
      • The Sequestered US Government Needs a Therapist
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      • An Essay on the Role of Government: Why Each Generation Must Define Democracy for Itself
      • Democracy and the Narrowing Power Elite
      • Assessing the Limits of Democracy
      • Do Americans value freedom?
      • Belittling Our Political Leaders
      • Defining "Liberal" and "Conservative"
      • Framing Issues Properly is an Important Political Tool >
        • Assessing US Elections Part I: Framing Issues Properly is an Important Political Tool
        • Assessing US Elections Part II: Focusing on the Economic Frame
        • Assessing US Elections Part III: Looking at the National Security and Military Frame
        • Assessing US Elections Part IV: Focusing on the Foreign Policy Frame
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        • The Bipolar Nature of US Politics: Pros and Cons
      • Voting in Mid-term Elections: The Importance of the Congressional Vote
      • The Role of the Media in Politics >
        • Should the Government Control Talk Radio to Make it More "balanced"?
      • How the People Are Lost in the Extremes of 'Right' and 'Left' in Politics
      • Should One's Faith Influence a Citizen's Vote?
      • Should the U.S. Government Help Fund Election Campaigns?
      • On Defunding Political Science Research
    • Worldview >
      • Justice for All: The Case for Legal, Social, Economic, and Personal Justice
      • Why Hardliner Thinking in the NSA and CIA is Doing Damage
      • On the Baby Boomer’s Self-Centeredness
      • The Case for Personal Responsibility
      • What Modern Day Revolutionaries Need to Learn from Leader's like Mandela
      • Rising Western Acceptance of LGBT Primes Culture Clash
      • The Need for Wisdom Beyond the Numbers
      • Perceptions of the United States
      • How Honesty Relates to the Great Recession
      • Why the Middle Class and Rich Need to Support Their Long-term Interests
      • The Aristocratic Republic of the United States of America
      • Discussing the Need for Community Support
      • Why New Forms of Capitalism and Socialism Will Compliment Each Other
      • The Reason We Need to Understand What it is to Be Poor in America
      • Why the World Needs to Reinvest in America
      • Why Are We Against Terrorism?
      • Why Does Terrorism Exist?
      • US Influence: The Value of American Citizenship Around the World
      • Responding to "the Soldier as Sacrficial Victim"
    • Human Nature >
      • How comfort defines us as people >
        • Is Suicide a Cowardly Way Out?
      • Defense Against the Dark Arts of Manipulators
      • Defining Abuse >
        • On the Willing Victim of Abuse
        • How to Understand Abuse Victims
        • Recognizing Abuse
      • The Role of Substitution in Decision Making
      • Trying to Understand PTSD and Other Trauma-induced Mental Health Issues
      • Exploring Human Emotion >
        • Mental Illness is Not the Cause of Anger and Violence >
          • Trying to Understand the Boston Marathon Bombing and Other Violent Crimes
          • Getting into the Twisted Mind of the Tucson Murder
      • Describing the Mind as Modes of Thought >
        • It’s Just Sex?
      • Relationships, or Arrangement
      • Understanding the Effects of Groupthink in the Workplace
      • Relating Circular, Inductive, and Deductive Reasoning to the Scientific Method and Religion
      • What is a Redneck? Understanding Different Cultures and Thinking
    • Economics >
      • The Need for Greater Economic Leverage >
        • Evaluating NAFTA and TPP
        • Undercutting Logistics with the Underpaid Independent Contractor
        • Unions: Hindrance or Essential to Free Markets
        • Eminent Domain Used Against Banks
        • Haitians Sue the UN for Failure to Help With Cholera
        • Looking at How Corn-based Ethanol and Other Alternative Energy Subsidies Stack Up
      • Empowering the Sovereign Nation-State by Rethinking Trade Policy >
        • Irish Sovereignty Lost Before Bailout
        • Why Sudan's Greatest Long-Term Hurdle is Our Lowest-bidder Economy
        • Reduce US Imports by Buying American Made Products
      • Ending the need for government support and tackling poverty
      • Income inequality: understanding the limitations and psychology of disadvantage
      • Looking at the Future of American Jobs >
        • On Questioning the Need to Address Economic Disparity
        • Minimum Wage is Not the Problem
        • Responding to the "Blip"
        • Why Education Is Not The Civil Rights Issue Of The Twenty-First Century
      • Considering the Impact of the Capital Gains Tax Deduction
      • Embracing a Capitalist Mindset >
        • Capitalism Versus Socialism
        • The Negatives of Socialism
      • Stealing Intellectual Property
      • Changing Business Models: From Enduring Entities to Cash Cows
      • Consumer and Investor Evolution in the Great Recession of 2008-09
      • Dealing with the Issues Surrounding the Patenting of Self-replicating Technologies
      • Is Technology Threatening Jobs?
    • Education >
      • The Role of Education in Creating a More Dynamic Workforce
      • Primary Education in America and the Changing Needs of Society
      • The Greatness of the American Education System
      • Ideas for Improving the United States Education System
      • Are Teachers Treated as Professionals?
      • Is Engaging Parents in Their Children's Education a Major Factor in Turning Around Low-performing Schools?
      • Should Grants Be Awarded to School Districts that Try Innovative Methods to Improve Student Achievement?
    • US Constitution >
      • On Reading the US Constitution
      • The Senate should not do more to limit the powers of the Judicial Branch
      • On the DOJ Justifying the “targeted Killings” of US Citizens
      • Corporations Do Not Have the Same Rights as US Citizens >
        • Corporate America Pleads the First
      • Discussing the Constitutionality of Per Capita Taxes
      • Was the California Supreme Court Right in Legalizing Gay Marriage?
      • Should the Bible Continue to Be Used for Swearing-in Ceremonies and in Courtrooms?
      • Should Religious Student Clubs Be Allowed in Public Schools?
      • Should the Government Control Talk Radio to Make it More "balanced"?
      • The Second Amendment: Not Outdated >
        • Are We Losing Our Second Amendment Rights
      • Eminent Domain Used Against Banks
      • Should a Woman Have the Right to Choose Abortion? >
        • Should Fathers Be Able to Opt Out of Parenthood?
      • Should Smoking Be Allowed in Public Places?
      • Is Teen Driving a Right or a Privilege?
      • Should US Companies Be Required to Provide Equal Pay to Women and Men?
      • Is eighteen too young to vote?
      • First Amendment Rights: The Priviledge of The Press
      • Do Mandatory Seat Belt Laws Violate Individual Rights?
      • Should cell phone use be banned while driving?
      • Dealing with the link between video game violence and children's behavior
      • Should police have to submit to routine drug and alcohol testing?
      • Public schools should not impose mandatory drug testing on students
      • Are High Taxes on Cigarettes Proper?
      • Should pharmacists be required to violate their religious beliefs and dispense the "Morning After Pill?"
      • Should school counselors uphold patient privacy or report students who become unstable?
  • For the record
    • Ongoing Issues >
      • Red Dawn in Ukraine: Understanding the Actions of Russia >
        • On Russia’s Coercion of Ukraine
        • The Russian Annexation of Crimea in the Eyes of the World
        • Putin Has Overplayed His Hand With Crimea
        • Ukraine in Terms of Resovereignization
        • Avoiding a Conflict Between America and Russia Over Ukraine
        • What Drives the World’s Interest in Russia’s Actions in Ukraine
      • China’s Aggressive Pursuit of Interests Demands a Global Response
      • Iran Makes a Deal: A Start to a Long-term Diplomatic Effort to Denuclearize Iran >
        • On the Future of a Nuclear Negotiations with Iran
      • America's Sphere of Influence: Retaking South-East Asia >
        • Power in Asia: Looking at the Power Shift in Japan
        • The China Paradox: Why America is Worried About China
      • Assessing US Support of Israel >
        • Tread Softly Israel for a Heavy Step May Be Your Undoing
      • Understanding the Dysfunctional Nature of the US-Pakistani Relationship
      • Recognizing the True Threat Behind the Current Unrest in the Middle East >
        • Reacting to the Escalating Crackdown in Syria
      • Assessing the Threat of North Korea >
        • Answering North Korea's Call for Food Aid: Breaking the Vicious Cycle Forced Upon Us by a Warring Nation
        • Dealing with the Restarting of the Korean War
        • North Korea Attacks South Korea
      • Dealing with the Ill-effects of Climate Change
      • Racial Inequality and Oppression Do Truly Exist in Today's Society
      • Should energy independence be a high priority in the US?
      • An overview of world wide Human Rights violations
      • Nuclear Threat from Pakistan
      • Return of The Cold War?
    • World >
      • Coverage of FIFA World Cup is a Chance to Focus on Poverty >
        • The FIFA World Cup Offers Benefits for More Than Brazilian Soccer Fans
        • FIFA Can Bring Brazilians Together as a Nation
      • Being Prepared for Any Potential Dangers at the FIFA World Cup Games
      • Treading Softly on the Politicizing of the 2014 Sochi Olympics Over Gay Rights
      • Why NATO Operations in Libya Lack a Well-defined Mission
      • China Hijacks the Web
      • Lessons from the Great Japanese Earthquake of 2011
      • A Modernizing Cuba Offers an Opportunity for Capitalists
      • The Seeds of Democracy Take Root in the Middle East
      • The Rebirth of Democracy in Tunisia
      • What May Come from the Hurt Revolution in Libya
      • Responding to the Violence of Qaddafi and Other Besieged Leaders
      • Embracing the Rise of a Democratic Egypt
      • Protests in Afghanistan Turn Deadly for Coalition Forces and UN Personnel
      • Haiti: Another Failing Humanitarian Investment
      • What Karzai Can Learn from Calderon
      • START II: A Necessary, Easy Success that Nearly Failed
      • Why Does the U.S. Government Support Independence for the Breakaway Serb Territory of Kosovo but Oppose Independence for the Breakaway Georgian Territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia?
      • Iraq's Electric Issues: When Human Wants Trump Economic Sense
      • The International Community Reacts to Wikileaks: We May Be Moving Toward a Third World War in Cyberspace
      • On Climate Gate
      • Assessing Obama's Afghanistan War strategy
      • 2009 Iranian Presidential Election: The Fallout
      • Resolving Sri Lankan Conflict through Free Media
      • What are the Global Consequences of Russia's Invasion of Georgia
      • The War in Iraq: an assessment of President Bush's surge strategy
      • Drug War: Actions of Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador in terms of Resovereignization
      • Is the Iraq Refugee Crisis America's Responsibility?
      • US support for a united Kosovo, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia: why?
      • Should the US withdraw from Iraq?
      • Setting a Timetable for Troop Withdrawal from Iraq is a Terrible Mistake
      • War on Terrorism is needed
    • Law and Order >
      • Rape in the US Military
      • Ethics of Force-feeding Guantanamo Bay Detainees
      • Reacting to the Aftermath of the Tucson Massacre
    • Economy >
      • Affordability Drives Fear of Obamacare and the Individual Mandate
      • Is the Economy Built for a Job's Recovery?
      • Gutting Healthcare Reform of the Individual Mandate
      • Arizona Budget Cuts Lead to Lethal Healthcare Rationing:
      • Shameful Collection Practices of American Banks
      • The Fed Reveals it Actually Undertook an International Bailout
      • Thoughts on French Budgetary Reforms
      • Seniors Start Businesses
      • The Case for Slimming Down the US Military to Make it Better
      • Looking at the Obama Administration's New Approach to Economic Policy
      • Should the Government Regulate the Credit Card Industry?
      • The Big Three's Big Chance
      • The Unhealthy Tone of the Healthcare Reform Debate
      • Should the federal government offer a bailout for home owners?
      • Environmentalists: Do They Do More Good Than More Harm?
      • Responding to Scott Walker's Contribution to the War on Unions
    • US Government >
      • America Needs to Focus on the Impending Fiscal Crisis
      • Reacting to the Bush Era-tax Cut Extension Deal
      • Quitting the Obama Revolution: The Fickle Nature of American Politics
      • John Boehner's Circus
      • Is the Fed Putting Itself in Jeopardy?
      • Wikileaks Goes After the US State Department
      • Discussing the Political Environment Surrounding the 2011 Budget Debate
      • What the Democrats Can Do to Ensure a GOP Year in 2012
      • What the 2010 Midterm Actually Said
      • Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper
      • Democrats Minus Nancy Pelosi Equals Opportunity
      • Terrorists Go Postal: The Terrorism Threat Reexamined
      • Victory in the 2008 Election: Reaction to Barack Obama'a Win >
        • Expectations for Barack Obama
      • President Obama's first one hundred days
      • John McCain's Negative Campaign
      • Reasons People did not Elect John Mccain
      • History judges the George W. Bush Administration
      • Should the next US President focus on domestic issues?
      • President Bush, should he resign or be impeached
      • Should the Ban on Government Sponsored Assassinations be Repealed
    • Off Topic >
      • A Face of America’s Greatest Generation
      • A Story About a Man Who Made the World a Better Place
      • Making the World a Better Place
      • The Bipolar Ethical Nature of Google
      • Learning Computer Plays Jeopardy
      • Verifying Medicine is the Real Thing
      • Taking a Practical Step Forward in Optical Computing Using Slow Light
      • Scientists Take a Closer Look at How Lithium Batteries Work
      • Remarking on the First Blizzard of the 2010-2011 Winter Season
      • Driving in the Snow: Acceleration is the Key
      • How People in Northwest PA Are Coping with the Increasing Cost of Oil
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