Since I first got on the 'net, I've been reading all sorts of memes about Texas. Most are funny, some are stereotypes but true, but there are several that just aren't true. I see people write that Texas is flat - not so, not even here in the Panhandle. Part of Texas is called the Hill Country for good reason. There are mountains in far west Texas. Another misconception is that Texas is hot. People who think that should spend a winter here in the top of Texas. Another is that Texas is all desert. Good grief. Texas borders the Gulf of Mexico and has some lovely beaches; east Texas has loads of timber and from here to Lubbock is some of the finest farmland in the U.S.
That's OK, though...those ideas are from people who just don't know any better. There's one thing, however, that's perpetuated by Texans themselves and I want to set the record straight.
There was a recipe post that hit my reader yesterday that finally made me decide to rant. The post - The Texican Burger - brought up the "what kind of coke do you want?" meme.
Me: Do you want a coke?
Not me: Yes.
Me: What kind?
Not me: Dr. Pepper.
This is such crap. I was born and raised here in Texas, lived here for over half a century and I've NEVER heard anyone say that nor been asked anything like that when ordering a soda. If you asked for a Coke, that's what you got. If you ordered a DP, they knew you meant Dr Pepper. (which originated in Waco, Texas, btw.) If you asked a waitress for a strawberry coke, she would probably tell you they had Fanta or Big Red or maybe you'd get a Coke w/ strawberry flavoring added.
Maybe this all stems from the popularity of Coca-Cola and being asked if you would like a coke. "Yeah, gimme a DP." That's the only thing I can think of that comes close to "What kind of coke...?" meme.
I belong to a couple of Texas Facebook groups which have posted this among other Texas "truths". Along with this (and that Texans all drive pickups with gun racks and school lets out during hunting season or that all the women are blonde and have "big hair"), they also state that "true Texans" don't say "soda" or "pop" or "soda pop". Like I said, I'm a native Texan and I say soda and pop and soda pop.
Do a search for "texas what kind of coke do you want" and you'll see thousands of posts that continue this idiotic idea. Maybe there's something to the stereotype that Texans are stupid - maybe I've just grown up around the smarter ones and the rest of Texas is filled with dumb asses.
That's OK, though...those ideas are from people who just don't know any better. There's one thing, however, that's perpetuated by Texans themselves and I want to set the record straight.
There was a recipe post that hit my reader yesterday that finally made me decide to rant. The post - The Texican Burger - brought up the "what kind of coke do you want?" meme.
Me: Do you want a coke?
Not me: Yes.
Me: What kind?
Not me: Dr. Pepper.
This is such crap. I was born and raised here in Texas, lived here for over half a century and I've NEVER heard anyone say that nor been asked anything like that when ordering a soda. If you asked for a Coke, that's what you got. If you ordered a DP, they knew you meant Dr Pepper. (which originated in Waco, Texas, btw.) If you asked a waitress for a strawberry coke, she would probably tell you they had Fanta or Big Red or maybe you'd get a Coke w/ strawberry flavoring added.
Maybe this all stems from the popularity of Coca-Cola and being asked if you would like a coke. "Yeah, gimme a DP." That's the only thing I can think of that comes close to "What kind of coke...?" meme.
I belong to a couple of Texas Facebook groups which have posted this among other Texas "truths". Along with this (and that Texans all drive pickups with gun racks and school lets out during hunting season or that all the women are blonde and have "big hair"), they also state that "true Texans" don't say "soda" or "pop" or "soda pop". Like I said, I'm a native Texan and I say soda and pop and soda pop.
Do a search for "texas what kind of coke do you want" and you'll see thousands of posts that continue this idiotic idea. Maybe there's something to the stereotype that Texans are stupid - maybe I've just grown up around the smarter ones and the rest of Texas is filled with dumb asses.
