Hoopies

I was giving a presentation in East Liverpool, OH yesterday on cultural barriers to higher education. East Liverpool is a small, but a one time much larger, town right at the point where OH, PA and WV meet on the Ohio River. There I met a fellow WV native who was working and teaching in the Human Resource field who grew up in Chester, WV which on this small stage acted as New Jersey to East Liverpool’s New York City.

He informed me that despite being so close and similar, East Liverpool residents have historically looked down on their neighbors across the river. Apparently, instead of being called “hillbillies” the East Liverpudlians called West Virginians “Hoopies.” This was an insult I had never heard before.

It comes from the conceit that back when East Liverpool was the Pottery Capitol of the World, (practically the Paris of the Ohio River!) West Virginians looking for jobs were only fit and smart enough to bang together the metal strips needed for barrel construction. Jackasses.

It seems that no matter how far down you are on society’s totem pole there is always someone else to demonize or belittle; how else to feel better about yourself? Certainly not elect leaders who know what they’re doing, who can uplift the state’s economics and image.

All I can say is Thank God for Mississippi (and VA Tech fans).