# My roommate knows (and doesn't know) the weirdest things **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 6, 2009, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496 "2009-05-06T01:42:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/241 "2009-05-07T22:51:44Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > And if you google “Northern Virginia is part of the South”, you get 3 hits, two of which are this thread. What’s your point? That virtually no one distinguishes northern virginia from the south. ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/242 "2009-05-07T22:52:45Z")
> [@Ruminator](#): > > I didn’t think there were many people of **Captain Carrot** ’s age here on SDMB so there wouldn’t be any replies to a thread targeted to a non-existent group here. (Disclaimer: That’s NOT a STRAWMAN… just a guess.) My feeling too, but over time I have seen enough mentions of age to wonder if it is not so. Also, parents might be inclined to ask and provide the answers… > [@](#): > > On the other hand, **Captain Carrot** already said history that’s 123 years old “doesn’t affect him” and it seemed like he said it with a hint of smugness. Therefore, I thought he was game for explaining his rationale. I would certainly encourage him to answer, here or on another thread. If you won’t open another thread, I just might. Do you want credit for the question where credit is due? ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/243 "2009-05-07T22:53:20Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > No, no smugness, it just seems that a war that ended so long ago doesn’t matter anymore. Oookay then. That’s a strange way to see the world. But maybe it’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/244 "2009-05-07T23:04:04Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > That virtually no one distinguishes northern virginia from the south. Except that’s not remotely true. For one thing, the results I got were from googling the entire phrase, and a phrase that long is very unlikely to get many hits. For another, it is very widely acknowledged that Northern Virginia carried the state for Obama, and in the past few years people like Kaine and Webb have counted on that region to act unlike the rest of the state, and vote for Democrats. > [@Nancy Pfotenhauer](#): > > “I did say outside of north – well, I mean real Virginia, because northern Virginia is where I’ve always been, but real Virginia I take to be the – this part of the state that is more southern in nature, if you will,” she said. “Northern Virginia is really metro D.C., as you’re aware, Kevin.” I’m sure she’ll be glad to hear that Northern Virginia is like the rest of the state, and that it’s part of the South. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/245 "2009-05-07T23:05:39Z")
> [@not\_alice](#): > > I would certainly encourage him to answer, here or on another thread. If you won’t open another thread, I just might. Do you want credit for the question where credit is due? Please do. I’d prefer not to hijack this thread further, and it is an interesting question. Quite frankly, I’m not sure how well I can answer it, both because I’m probably not a typical 20-year-old, and because figuring this sort of thing out can be a bit difficult. ---
**Author:** ![Ruminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Ruminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruminator)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/246 "2009-05-07T23:23:29Z")
> [@not\_alice](#): > > I would certainly encourage him to answer, here or on another thread. If you won’t open another thread, I just might. Ok, I put the poll up: > **[Is the knowledge of history important to you or is it just trivia?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=516836)** > > This original motivation for this poll was to understand the mindset of today’s college generation but all ages are welcome. I enjoy studying history but I realize that not everyone shares that enthusiasm. I’m just wondering how other folks view... I hope I structured the questions the right way to satisfy your curiosities too. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/247 "2009-05-08T01:01:31Z")
> [@Ro0sh](#): > > This sums it up quite well. I like it. If it makes you feel better, you can just Call yourself a Virginian instead of Southern and just have some State pride and that way you can differentiate yourself from the rest of “The South” if you feel better… Robert E Lee thought of himself as a Virginian first. Thus, he picked a side to fight on… ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/248 "2009-05-08T01:15:11Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > No, no smugness, it just seems that a war that ended so long ago doesn’t matter anymore. But it does, and the Supreme Court will make a ruling soon that relates directly back to the Civil War, about the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Federal government has special oversight powers over redistricting of the formerly Confederate states because of this law. Interestingly, NONE of the states affected are contesting the federal oversight, and two of them have actually sided with the Feds in the attempt to keep the Act intact. Very interesting Post story about it [here](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/28/AR2009042803666.html). FYI, Virginia, has decided not to oppose the Act. If you are in the South, odds are your voting district lines are drawn the way they are, today, becuase of racial issues dating back more than 150 years. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/249 "2009-05-08T01:26:40Z")
> [@Litoris](#): > > I grew up (and went to school) in TN. We read Mark Twain – Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, etc – never once had a teacher even mention LHotP. I still have no interest in reading the books, the show sucked (IMO). Must Step In and Clarify Gross Misconception: The show bears no resemblance in tone and plot to the books. I repeat: do not judge the books based on the show. The books are a wonderful insight in growing up as a pioneer girl (I love the fact that the real Laura Ingalls traveled by covered wagon to settle the West before electricity and before she died flew by airplane to visit her daughter Rose in Connecticut, from Missouri- how amazing is that!). They document, as close as is reasonable, the way life was lead- the technology, society, attitudes, types of people etc etc that populated the American West. The show was preachy and ridiculous. The books were wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/250 "2009-05-08T01:37:30Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Must Step In and Clarify Gross Misconception: > > The show bears no resemblance in tone and plot to the books. I repeat: do not judge the books based on the show. > > The books are a wonderful insight in growing up as a pioneer girl (I love the fact that the real Laura Ingalls traveled by covered wagon to settle the West before electricity and before she died flew by airplane to visit her daughter Rose in Connecticut, from Missouri- how amazing is that!). They document, as close as is reasonable, the way life was lead- the technology, society, attitudes, types of people etc etc that populated the American West. > > The show was preachy and ridiculous. The books were wonderful. As much as I hate the phrases, I just have to say: QFT, +1 and This. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/251 "2009-05-08T03:47:01Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > And as far as I can tell, nobody saying that has actually _lived_ in Northern Virginia in the last ten or fifteen years. See, when you live somewhere for a while, you’re likely to have a more accurate **perspective on what it’s like** than someone who lived somewhere nearby more than a decade ago. Funny how that works. bolding mine. Maybe this will fix it: “Northern Virginia, A Part of the South that Feels More Like Part of the North” Does that satisfy everyone? ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/252 "2009-05-08T03:55:37Z")
I don’t think they need a new name, they already have one. “NoVa” (Sounds like like the Car or the Flaming Hot Star). They just need to get the REST of the United States behind it now. We’ve already figured it out here in VA. So now you guys deal with them. ---
**Author:** ![put\_down\_the\_sabre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/da6949/32.png) [@put\_down\_the\_sabre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/put_down_the_sabre)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/253 "2009-05-08T08:42:37Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > Actually, my parents lived in Connecticut, California, and France. But did YOU live in any of those places after the age of 5, or are you as poorly-travelled as I suspect? pdts ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/254 "2009-05-08T14:44:28Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > bolding mine. > > Maybe this will fix it: > > “Northern Virginia, A Part of the South that Feels More Like Part of the North” > > Does that satisfy everyone? No, not really. While I can buy someone thinking it doesn’t “feel southern,” it’s silly to say it “feels northern” instead, and suggests an uninformed opinion of what they’re comparing it to (like you’ve never spent time in the north). To this northerner, NoVa has a distinct air of not-northern to it which was one of the appealing things about visiting there. If you want to say that it’s not like the south, okay, but it’s “other” then because it’s sure not like the north either. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/255 "2009-05-08T15:39:54Z")
> [@Sauron](#): > > I see. You wanted to insult the South just as a way to determine what the OP meant. I understand that. > > So I’m safe in saying that you’re ignorant, ugly, and yo’ momma dresses you funny. Just to see if that’s also how the OP views you. Right? > > I can’t decide if you’re intentionally obtuse or just slow. > > Bless your heart. Nice Try, not biting. I know who I am, and don’t care whether you choose to get to know me or not. You can be wrong if you like, no skin off my back. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/256 "2009-05-08T16:02:10Z")
Forget about history and culture. Talk strictly about geography. According to the census bureau, Virginia is in the South region, specifically the South Atlantic division: [http://www.census.gov/geo/www/reg\_div.txt](http://www.census.gov/geo/www/reg_div.txt) Ed ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/257 "2009-05-08T17:39:14Z")
What you people fail to realize is that nothing is more Southern than hundreds of thousands of transplanted Northerners. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/258 "2009-05-08T17:51:08Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Forget about history and culture. Talk strictly about geography. > > According to the census bureau, Virginia is in the South region, specifically the South Atlantic division: > > [http://www.census.gov/geo/www/reg\_div.txt](http://www.census.gov/geo/www/reg_div.txt) For at least the fifth time, I am not saying that Virginia as a whole is not Southern, though that does seem to be changing. However, Northern Virginia is not like the rest of Virginia. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496/259 "2009-05-08T18:18:50Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > For at least the fifth time, I am not saying that Virginia as a whole is not Southern, though that does seem to be changing. However, Northern Virginia is not like the rest of Virginia. I don’t know **Captain Carrot** , it just seems like you are torturing the definition of “southern.” I mean, Chicago is nothing like the rest of Illinois…does that mean I don’t live in the Midwest? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-knows-and-doesnt-know-the-weirdest-things/495496.md?page=12)