We are among you. We're standing next to you at the checkout line in Wal-mart. We are the stereotype you want to ignore. We are born and bred in the North Country. There are many misconceptions people have of us Upstate New Yorkers. We have mullets. We're white trash. We don't have all of our teeth. It's not unusual for us to be seen in various shades of traffic cone orange during hunting season. We're all farmers. These are only a few of the gross misconceptions outsiders have of our way of life. The people who place these stereotypes for us can be broken down into three of their own little groups: the Ignoramus Maximus, the Weather Obsessed, and the Geographically Impaired.

Ignoramus Maximus

"Oh you're from Upstate New York? Do you live on a farm? How come you still have all your teeth? When did you grow out your mullet ? Har har har." Ah yes, the always witty Ignoramus Maximus. They believe that they are experts on all North Country residents, even though they themselves were neither born, nor raised anywhere in the near proximity of northern New York. These are the people who like to believe that we are all trailer trash idiots. These are also the people, who, upon finding you are native to this area, will come up with such witty questions as the ones above. Gee, aren't they original.

Weather Obsessed

"So your high temperature in the summer is probably like -23 right?" The Weather Obsessed focus on the winter aspect of the North Country and that's about it. Every new issue that comes up, they somehow manage to bring it back to the cold. Yes, it can get pretty cold here, but I assure you there are times when it will actually get above zero degrees.

What you think the North Country looks like

Geographically Impaired

"Upstate New York? Oh you're from Albany?" Sound familiar? The Geographically Impaired believe that Upstate New York consists of Albany and the immediate area surrounding it. They are under the massive misconception that anything above that area either does not exist, is a frozen tundra, or belongs to Canada and is therefore not of any interest. If you fall under this category, check out this map for a little refresher course that you're seventh grade social studies teacher obviously never gave you. Better yet are the people who, upon hearing the reply that you live in New York, automatically assume you mean New York City and proceed to ask you questions about an area a good six hours away. Little hint people, New York is also a state.

Natural Habitat

Now when we place such creatures in an environment such as Plattsburgh, they are bound to wreak havoc. Asking idiotic questions and complaining about the lack of "stuff to do," most of the above spread rudeness and dislike in their wake. If you've ever wondered why many Northern New Yorkers seem guarded and slightly xenophobic, it's because we're sick and tired of being told we're hicks or uneducated. "When I'm talking to some people who aren't from around here, a few are surprised that I don't speak like a hick and they look kind of uncomfortable about it. Almost like they'd rather I start saying 'Gawsh, you'se all big city folks hunh?'" says native Potsdam resident Jessie Cassada. Indeed, many of my friends from out of state find it surprising that we have malls up here, much less malls that carry such stores as Gap or American Eagle. It must be that because we are from the North Country, we must only shop at hunting and fishing stores.

Farming for Fun

As far as complaints about Northern New York lacking in the entertainment department, obviously the complainers have not taken the time to do a little research about our area. Most believe that our main form of amusement is cow tipping. Yup, nothing better on a Saturday night than tipping over Old Bessie. Winter sports reign supreme here; I mean we do have a mountain range right in our backyard. Hello Adirondacks! Not to mention hiking, camping, shopping centers, Lake Champlain, and numerous historical points of interest. A large portion of the Battle of 1812 was fought in this area, but most people, again fell asleep in social studies class and are unaware of this. And these things are just a sample of what Northern New York has to offer visitors and residents alike.

There's No Place Like Home

This is not to say that the North Country does not have its quirks. Wal-mart does seem to be a local convention spot for mullets. And there are very few places in the world where you can have the joy of driving down the highway staring into the glassy eyes of the freshly killed deer in the bed of the pickup truck in front of you. And yes, some of us do have a very unique way of expressing ourselves (some of us received a very unique form of "edumacation"). But the fact remains that we Northern New Yorkers are very different from the rest of the country, heck, the rest of the state. All we really want is to not be judged by where we live but as individual people. Isn't that what everyone wants? It's time for Northern New Yorkers to unite and say to the rest of the world "I'm from northern New York and yes, I do have all my teeth."

Been wrongfully stereotyped as a North Country hick? Tell us!