I have had the misfortune of living the last several years in a semi-rural, semi-urban part of the south in the TX AR LA MS TN area (one of those states, not including western TX or eastern TN). I have found it to be extremely clannish and cliquish. Many adults here go to family reunions EVERY WEEKEND. They spend so much time with their "kinfolk" that they dont have time for new friendships (speaking of men over 45). That causes them to be closed to new ideas and it seems to retard their speech. Some of the results of that inbred kind of culture include wreckless driving, smoking, bankruptcy, illiteracy, obesity, divorce, suicide, crime, etc. - see links below. I have lived in other parts of the country and have not experienced anything like this - especially in the west. Many of them dont even seem to like the kinfolk, but they stick with them anyway. The relationships they have with these kinfolk were formed at very early ages, and accordingly are very often childish. It seems like a very inbred way to live - sort of like a stagnant pond with no water flowing in or out. New people with new ideas are kind of like new water flowing through a body of water that is not stagnant. I have friends in other states that are from all over the world. I love the refreshing experience of interacting with people who have completely different perspectives. What do you southern pickup drivers think about that?
Here are links that show that the South, as a region, taken as a whole, has very very high rates of numerous general types of undesirable characteristics
South has highest crime rates:
South has highest traffic fatality rates: (see page 2, Fatalities per
100,000 column)South has highest respiratory infection rates:
South has highest divorce rates:
South has highest bankruptcy rate: (see "Deadbeat District)
South has high suicide rate (higher rate than Midwest and Northeast)