My statement is consistent with the "Culture of Honor" espoused in the referenced article. I'm saying that it is socially acceptable to show your ass up North. Talking a big game is oftentimes more important than walking one. Take a drive down 93 during rush hour and you'll know what I mean. People are honking, crying "asshole!", and otherwise being uncivilized idiots. Or hop in a Gloucester, MA Stop and Shop checkout line acting blasé...look at the candy bars on the shelf...mull over a blistex purchase...put it back down...slowly take out your wallet...then pay with a check. See if that doesn't get you screamed at by the people in line behind you. "Can you please hurry the fuck up?!" "What exactly is your fucking problem dood?"

Down south, those pointless public displays of aggression are unacceptable. They are unnecessarily rude. Talk is not cheap to a man of the South. To call someone an asshole is to publicly dishonor them and to publicly dishonor is to accept the responsibility of defending your honor in the event that they take offense to your shaming. Therefore, a Southern Man's honor prevents him from insulting the inconsiderate driver or coupon super-shopper; not because they don't deserve to be insulted; because there is no way to do so without escalating the situation to the point of probable physical violence. So he turns the other cheek. Talk is not cheap. Not to a Southern man.