What do Southerners really think of Northerners?

[BrianW]

I worked down South for a bit - albeit quite a while back now - and I remember being asked, in all seriousness, if we all lived in terraced houses like on Coronation Street.

Mind you, not one of the people I worked with had ever been north of Oxford, which amazed me.

On the whole though I found them a decent bunch and the banter was mutual - I often referred to jellied eels and so on.

 

[GoldenSilva]

Because of the recession, I unfortunately have to live in Peterborough for work purposes. I am the only Northerner in my office and I am confronted on almost daily basis with stereotypes from my colleagues.

Do I live in a terraced house? No. Do I know what salad is? Yes. Do I own a flat cap and a whippet? No. Do I constantly wear a parka and pretend to be Liam Gallagher? No.

This weekend I was in London and had some gentleman try and make out (without actually saying it) that all Northerners are simple, and know nothing about the world. I did tell him that I had two degrees, but refrained from spouting some vitriol about the South. The crap taste in music, unnecessary sunglasses, frivolous knitwear, man bags, Vauxhall Corsa's e.t.c

If I was to say things about Southerners in the way they say things about the North, I'm sure they'd get offended!

Am I alone in this experience? Is this really what Southerners think of Northerners?

I grew up in Peterborough, my dad's a manc, and we drove up every week to Maine road. While most of the kids were listening to the spice girls and five, I was into Joy division and Oasis.

I now live in Portsmouth, and it's a bloody long drive up there, (especially getting back at 3 am for Monday night games)

The answer, no you're not alone in this experience....

 

[2bluegp]

As a Midlander I am literally stuck in the middle. My opinion.... Southerners have a misplaced superiority complex, Northerners have a chip on both shoulders ;-)

& gravy? :0)

 

[stonerblue]

Because of the recession, I unfortunately have to live in Peterborough for work purposes. I am the only Northerner in my office and I am confronted on almost daily basis with stereotypes from my colleagues.

Do I live in a terraced house? No. Do I know what salad is? Yes. Do I own a flat cap and a whippet? No. Do I constantly wear a parka and pretend to be Liam Gallagher? No.

This weekend I was in London and had some gentleman try and make out (without actually saying it) that all Northerners are simple, and know nothing about the world. I did tell him that I had two degrees, but refrained from spouting some vitriol about the South. The crap taste in music, unnecessary sunglasses, frivolous knitwear, man bags, Vauxhall Corsa's e.t.c

If I was to say things about Southerners in the way they say things about the North, I'm sure they'd get offended!

Am I alone in this experience? Is this really what Southerners think of Northerners?

Knock the fucker out, then discuss it.<br /><br />-- Wed Jul 27, 2011 12:09 am --<br /><br />

You can probably narrow it down more to Londoners who are the real arrogant arseholes.
I know people from Kent, Portsmouth, Gloucs, etc and they all hate Londoners for their superior attitude.

It depends where in London you go. The parts of South London and East London I've been to are really down to earth.

Fully admit to overplaying the Manc Scally when confronted with snobbery. They drop their load.

Spent a few years living in Brighton doing this and had a ball. Got to know all the local wide boys and did some dodgy stuff but never got any shit of anyone really. It was pretty much 'he's a Manc and will stand up for himself' kind of attitude.
Mind you, there were some very dodgy Manc boys down there at the time and all the seafront nutterrs seemed to be Northern.

 

[Lucky13]

I worked down South for a bit - albeit quite a while back now - and I remember being asked, in all seriousness, if we all lived in terraced houses like on Coronation Street.

Mind you, not one of the people I worked with had ever been north of Oxford, which amazed me.

On the whole though I found them a decent bunch and the banter was mutual - I often referred to jellied eels and so on.

When you move up North you get asked why move , your all on a million quid a week?

[bigimg]http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ9RB9C41zC7QoRI2yqsM8E9onmEZQNe7dAeQuQ94qMssi9b0guHg[/bigimg]

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

I've worked and lived in all four corners of England at some point in the last 20 years.

It's probably a trite thing to say but there's lovely people and dickheads everywhere.

Having said that I found people in London, where I lived for a couple of years, to be by far the rudest. Unless I've got a shitload of money to burn and no more than 48 hours to spend it I still find London a chore to visit for this reason. I lived in Hampshire for a few years and generally found the people there to be pretty nice to be fair.

There's no doubt that people in the North and Midlands are friendlier though. This is evidenced by the frequency by which you are offered a cup of tea if you visit. The same goes for people buying you drinks.

I also think people North of Northampton (as that is where the South ends imo) are generally funnier. Except Yorkshire of course.

 

[peoffrey]

I worked down South for a bit - albeit quite a while back now - and I remember being asked, in all seriousness, if we all lived in terraced houses like on Coronation Street.

Mind you, not one of the people I worked with had ever been north of Oxford, which amazed me.

On the whole though I found them a decent bunch and the banter was mutual - I often referred to jellied eels and so on.

The Corrie question might well have been a joke. Londoners do have a dry sense of humour in comparison to what I find funny. i.e. People falling over or someone belching loudly.

Fully agree with the comment about north of Oxford, though. London isn't the be all and end all. There's no beach, no green, no villages etc.