Southern Man Responds to “Accent Criticism”

I can see how being told that your accent "proves that you're not very intelligent" could be a bit annoying. Not being a southerner, I've never been told that my accent demonstrates stupidity (things I've said, yes), but I've heard others say it about those who prefer "y'all" to "you all."

As a kid, we had a neighbor who was classically educated, extremely well read, and had a high-pressure/high paying job. He was originally from Mississippi, and his accent never left, so he constantly dealt with people far less bright who felt a smug superiority to him because...well, because he sounded like some yokel to them. He always took it in stride, telling me that being constantly underestimated and undervalued actually gave him an advantage over others. He thought that being educated and smart was better than being perceived as such.

Chad Prather is a southern gentleman who lives in Forth Worth, Texas, and hosts Ride TV's It's My Backyard. Chad got an earful from someone who called his regional dialect proof of his lack of intelligence. Here's how he responded:

I like Chad. I like the way he thinks on several topics, but this one is one of my favorites:

Y'all have a great day.