Holler (updated)

I’m not going to write about this.1 I’m just going to link to it and let you read it.

“Some of these ‘holler’ people — because they are insular and clannish, and they don’t leave their area — there is literally inbreeding, and the people there often have a different kind of look. That’s what we’re trying to get.”

Thank you, Corry Lee Smith, for ruining my evening.

Edited to add: I should have checked Hillbilly Savants sooner because I knew there’s be some excellent writing about this over there.

1. Subject to change. Expect me to hold forth in the comments at least if I cannot contain myself properly.

Post a comment | Trackback URI

Comments (15)

  1. Ogre wrote::

    “It’s not meant to be a generalization about EVERYONE in West Virginia.”

    Well of its course not… In the same way that racial or misogynistic jokes are not aimed at EVERYONE of a particular race or gender. You know, just the ones who really ARE that way. Just the 99.9% who actually DO fit the stereotype.

    Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 7:24 pm #
  2. jagosaurus wrote::

    Ogre: How do you really feel?

    I think that bit you quoted has to be the worst disclaimer ever.

    Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 7:30 pm #
  3. Ogre wrote::

    Yes. The article made me feel sort of… you know, insular and clannish.

    Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 7:34 pm #
  4. jagosaurus wrote::

    Ogre: Funny. It made me feel otherworldly and visually different.

    Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 7:37 pm #
  5. Ogre wrote::

    I can only imagine what it must feel like to be intellectually and morally superior to a whole segment of the human population. It must be …invigorating.

    I will have to ask a sophisticated person about that. …if I ever meet one.

    Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 7:45 pm #
  6. Going Like Sixty wrote::

    here via Tiny Cat Pants.
    I sure hope they don’t come to Kentucky!
    I’ll bet the W. Va. Film Commission gives them money? Any takers?

    Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 7:59 pm #
  7. k wrote::

    I’ll tell you that what I’ve learned in my short life is that the folks who appear “normal” are usually the scariest humans of all. I’m sad that this seems to even take away the humanity of people. This comment was almost as disturbing to me, “From the standpoint of being a lifelong West Virginian, it’s upsetting, because there are so many wonderful people to come out of this area,” said Jeff Pierson. “So many” insinuates for me that there is a population of some number that does mirror Belajac’s image. But truly, I guess that any response other than WTF?!!! would be less than satisfying. And he’s a professional, while I am a mountain girl, who occasionally can be found roaming a “holler” here or there. Grossly deformed, I do possess normal mobility…could be an alternate career in my immediate future.

    Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 8:08 pm #
  8. Meetzorp wrote::

    Oh lordy.

    There are about a hundred different ways they could have put that casting call out that would have been less offensive. However, they went straight for the gut, straight for the lowest common denominator, straight for the stereotype.

    Also, who would admit to looking like an inbred hick? (I’ve fought that stereotype plenty, coming from the wilds of rural western Nebraska – I don’t look pink-eyed enough to suit, and normally my grammar is regular enough to pass).

    Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 8:09 pm #
  9. jagosaurus wrote::

    k: Who knew we all had such grossly deformed potential?

    Meetzorp: Except that they couldn’t have done it any differently because they probably don’t—even now that it has been pointed out to them—understand the problem with what they said.

    Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 8:27 pm #
  10. Ogre wrote::

    I may have found just the face they’re looking for… clearly demented, very likely inbred, obviously Appalachian in appearance , and as you might expect, just asawin’ on his fiddle.

    This is just the look of indolence and dim witted vacancy that says, “West Virginia” to anybody who sees it.

    Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 8:39 pm #
  11. marigoldie wrote::

    Isn’t everybody’s granny a “holler witch”?

    Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 8:45 pm #
  12. jagosaurus wrote::

    Ogre: Heh. Too bad he’s dead.

    Marigoldie: Of course.

    Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 9:01 pm #
  13. tracy wrote::

    Well those fuckers–heh. They need ta’ be a watchin’ out for us holler folk. I’m gonna’ posse up all my ugliest lookin’ buds and go up thar after ‘em now, by god!

    Dirty rotten SOBs.

    Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 11:07 pm #
  14. sisiggy wrote::

    What kind of stage mother would put her kid up for a role described this way?

    “Oh! Tiffany Amber! Inbred mutant! It’s just the role for you! Don’t cry. . . after all, you’re closer to God. . . and magic!”

    Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 9:06 am #
  15. elise wrote::

    Do you think they would take my baby? I know its not here for another few months but you saw the sonogram pictures right?

    Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 6:05 pm #

Trackbacks/Pingbacks (2)

  1. See, It’s Okay Because They’re Only Talking About Folks from the Holler, Not Everybody from West Virginia « Tiny Cat Pants on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 7:37 pm

    [...] from the Holler, Not Everybody from West Virginia Posted on February 26, 2008 by Aunt B. Yes, it’s true, the Appalachians are full of quaint little hollers filled with deformed blind ….  And what’s even scarier is that they don’t have the cable tv or the internet or [...]

  2. And They Wondered Why Folks Got A Bit PO’d … « Newscoma on Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 6:34 pm

    [...] Why Folks Got A Bit PO’d … 28 02 2008 This bit of news will make Jane at Hillbilly, Please [...]