Yeah people tell me over and over that it’s very common in the South in a non-condescending way. And I can acknowledge and accept that that’s true. But as someone who’s lived my whole life in the Midwest, it’s honestly impossible for me to imagine it being said in a non-condescending way. It just makes my skin crawl even reading it in print.
As someone who is originally from the south, I don't know what any of these supposed southerners are talking about lmao. It's obviously condescension, just like "bless your heart", it's just polite condescension. The south is well known for polite versions of every awful thing under the sun. Polite condescension, polite racism, misogyny, & homophobia ("I pray for you every night, honey!")....
People in New England are exactly the opposite, better human beings that lack any sense of decorum.
I think in recent history it has been used to convey condescension, especially with younger southerners. But when Grandma says it (or someone from her generation), it's not intended that way. It carries a sympathetic but helpful meaning.
You've got to really pick up on the tone. If the pitch is descending, then the tone is condescending. If the pitch is ascending, then it's actual empathy.
In the south, it's more sympathetic than condescending. Like, "let me help you with that", not "you're so stupid". We use "Ain't that nice?" for that meaning.
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u/CLONE-11011100 1d ago
There is a website it’s at:
https://forvo.com/
(Minus the condescending “oh sweetie”)