Pop, Coke, or Soda?

[Pooja]

http://www.popvssoda.com/countystats/total-county.html

check this out... Do you think it's accurate? Just click on your state, and it'll show more exact stats.

I thought that nobody said soda anymore... Doesn't everyone just call it pop? Maybe it's just because I live in "pop territory"

http://popvssoda.com

[Ivy]

We have always said soda. I never hear anybody say pop. I live in NC, which appears to be pretty evenly divided between "coke" and "soda" with a few "pop" holdouts near the northwest border.

I love that link. I saw your thread title and I thought "I have to link her to popvssoda.com!" :)

[jyakulis]

yeah i have a couple buddies from philly and they get so pissed at us saying pop. they go spastic IT"S SODA OHH MY GOD. we already discuss this frequently.

another one we grapple with is sled riding vs sledding

edit: this link is cool i've already sent it to like 5 people via AIM.

[jyakulis]

i don't get southerners.....what if it's a frigging pepsi?

[Ivy]

i don't get southerners.....what if it's a frigging pepsi?

That's a coke, too. And REAL southerners say co'cola.

[joft]

I just had a braingasm from pondering the all networks of complex variables that lead to such regional usages (and then, for all other words too!)

it's accurate for where I am. when I found out, at the age of x, that people elsewhere called it "pop," or "coke" (despite the namebrand), I was shocked- it was one of those things that changed my world.

[Pooja]

who in the hell says "sley riding"!!? It's so obviously "sledding"...the proof is in christmas carols. You can't argue with the carols.

[Ivy]

who in the hell says "sley riding"!!? It's so obviously "sledding"...the proof is in christmas carols. You can't argue with the carols.

Totally, it's sledding all the way. Sleigh riding would be getting in one of those huge ones with a horse pulling it.

[waxwing]

Wow, that map makes me feel suddenly outnumbered. I'm in the 80-100% "soda" range and surrounded by pretty colors.

[Madrigal]

Both pop and soda irritate me. The word is Coke. And if it's pepsi, well, I feel sorry for you, because pepsi sucks. From it's taste, colors right down to its corny name.

[eyebyte_atWork]

i don't get southerners.....what if it's a frigging pepsi?


PepsiCo is a Dallas based company. Part of the whole Frito Lay/Pizza Hut/Taco Bell/KFC thing.

EDIT: and I say Soda.

[Pooja]

My family evenly divides it between Coke and "Pop"... my mom says coke no matter what, but I think it's because when she first came to america, she lived in northern Florida (which is "coke" land)...

[jyakulis]

who in the hell says "sley riding"!!? It's so obviously "sledding"...the proof is in christmas carols. You can't argue with the carols.


i dunno people in pittsburgh say various odd things apparently.

what the fuck is a sley?

[ApeTheDog]

We call them frisdrank, which translates as: freshdrink.

[nottaprettygal]

That's a coke, too. And REAL southerners say co'cola.

Yes. My roommate from Alabama sometimes says co'cola. When she says coke, it's usually pronounced "Caaaaaaaoke." Longest word ever.

I've always said soda. For some reason, I've also always referred to a 2-liter bottle of soda as a "boss." I have no idea why.

[Ivy]

We call them frisdrank, which translates as: freshdrink.

That is cool. I might start saying that and try to start a trend here. Then again, my attempts to rename farting to "windypops," which I heard was a Welsh expression, have been entirely unsuccessful.

[Pooja]

In india, they have carbonated drinks called "Limca" (like sprite), Miranda (orange soda), Freshdrink (which is like a POP), another normal pop, but I can't remember the name of it... They just taste sweeter and fresher there... but that could be from the added bacteria?

[nomir_dva]

I call it soda. I also haven't had any in about four years.

[geniusndisguise]

It's soda.

And um, WTF! If someone asked me if I wanted a "Coke" and then gave me a 7up I'd be like, uh, no!

"Coke" person: Hey, ya want a steak?
Me: Sure!. . . uh, this is a pork chop!
C.P.:Meat is meat!
Me: :blink:

[Madrigal]

In india, they have carbonated drinks called "Limca" (like sprite), Miranda (orange soda), Freshdrink (which is like a POP), another normal pop, but I can't remember the name of it... They just taste sweeter and fresher there... but that could be from the added bacteria?
I tried some weird carbonated drinks in the Caribbean. They have this stuff that looks like it's straight out of the 50's, called 'Ju-C'. Hehe! Totally disgusting, but I wish I had taken a Ju-C bottle with me when I left.

[waxwing]

That is cool. I might start saying that and try to start a trend here. Then again, my attempts to rename farting to "windypops," which I heard was a Welsh expression, have been entirely unsuccessful.

Windypop...sounds like it should be an ice pop, and who wants to eat their farts?

[ApeTheDog]

That is cool. I might start saying that and try to start a trend here. Then again, my attempts to rename farting to "windypops," which I heard was a Welsh expression, have been entirely unsuccessful.

Windypops...

That sounds like a term of endearment for them, as if you love them. It is... strange. Good luck!

[Ivy]

I tried some weird carbonated drinks in the Caribbean. They have this stuff that looks like it's straight out of the 50's, called 'Ju-C'. Hehe! Totally disgusting, but I wish I had taken a Ju-C bottle with me when I left.

We used to have this Jamaican fast food type place and they sold one called Ting. It was pretty strong, but quite good, I thought.

[Ivy]

Windypops...

That sounds like a term of endearment for them, as if you love them. It is... strange. Good luck!

Well, when the kids make windypops, it IS kind of cute. And they're the ones I'm trying to get to say that. I'm not having any luck, though, except when they want to make fun of me. Which is often.

[Madrigal]

We used to have this Jamaican fast food type place and they sold one called Ting. It was pretty strong, but quite good, I thought.
Hehe, yeah, Ting was like another drink called 'Bitter Lemon'. Now that was good, I can't deny it.

[ApeTheDog]

Well, when the kids make windypops, it IS kind of cute. And they're the ones I'm trying to get to say that. I'm not having any luck, though, except when they want to make fun of me. Which is often.

No offense, but I think that makes them smart children. I wouldn't want to be the child who goes to school, and when someone farts, goes: "That guy just passed a windypop!". That sort of thing gets remembered a long time.

but I understand you want to teach them good manners, which is a good thing, and it's probably good to teach them euphemisms at a young age (I was raised to speak clean, standard dutch, and couldn't actually speak the local dialect, which sounds entirely different, until I started going to school. A good advantage to my education) - they'll pick up the other words on their own soon enough :)

[Ivy]

No offense, but I think that makes them smart children. I wouldn't want to be the child who goes to school, and when someone farts, goes: "That guy just passed a windypop!". That sort of thing gets remembered a long time.

but I understand you want to teach them good manners, which is a good thing, and it's probably good to teach them euphemisms at a young age (I was raised to speak clean, standard dutch, and couldn't actually speak the local dialect, which sounds entirely different, until I started going to school. A good advantage to my education) - they'll pick up the other words on their own soon enough :)

Oh, they know plenty of crass terminology-- I just want them to have alternatives to use in the presence of grandmothers and teachers. Also, for my own amusement.

[ApeTheDog]

That's very sweet.

[papertrail]

...there is only soda.

[CreativeChaos]

i don't get southerners.....what if it's a frigging pepsi?

Lol. Yeah it's always Coke down here. Who ever says pop OR soda? Weird.B) Waiters will most often say, soft drink, though.

[Leftfield]

I said 'pop' when I was with an Aussie girl and she laughed in my face asking wtf is 'pop'?

Then I realized how ridiculous some dialects are... hehe

[CreativeChaos]

It's soda.

And um, WTF! If someone asked me if I wanted a "Coke" and then gave me a 7up I'd be like, uh, no!

"Coke" person: Hey, ya want a steak?
Me: Sure!. . . uh, this is a pork chop!
C.P.:Meat is meat!
Me: :blink:

Lol. No it's like:

"You want a Coke?"
"Yeah sure!"
"Okay, what kind. I got 7Up, Doctor Pepper and Root Beer."
"Okay, I'll take Root Beer."

[MacGuffin]

Lol. No it's like:

"You want a Coke?"
"Yeah sure!"
"Okay, what kind. I got 7Up, Doctor Pepper and Root Beer."
"Okay, I'll take Root Beer."Yeah, like that.

Otherwise no one would ever get into specifics.

"You want a soda?"
"Yeah sure!"
*hands person 7up*
"No, I don't like 7up."
*hands person root beer*
"No, don't like that either"
and so on...

[Pooja]

In a lot of other countries, they merge the two together, and say "soda-pop"... nothing annoys me more than this merging. It is incest.

[joft]

"Want a coke?"
"Sure."
"What kind? I've got sprite, pepsi, and coke."
"I said yes... what kind of coke?"
"Sprite, pepsi, and coke."
"But what kind of coke?"

it's a recursive pointer )@*%&U@(*&^(@*

[waxwing]

Yeah, like that.

Otherwise no one would ever get into specifics.

"You want a soda?"
"Yeah sure!"
*hands person 7up*
"No, I don't like 7up."
*hands person root beer*
"No, don't like that either"
and so on...+

So, is there a Coke subset of coke?

[MacGuffin]

+

So, is there a Coke subset of coke?Yes!

[Ivy]

+

So, is there a Coke subset of coke?

Maybe that's Co'cola.

[waxwing]

Yes!

How does one indicate he would like the Coke variety of coke?

[MacGuffin]

How does one indicate he would like the Coke variety of coke?When asked what kind of coke you want, you reply with "Coke". Or "Co'cola" like ivy said.

[Pooja]

(imagine this in conan o'brien's "nerd voice"):
"excuse me ma'am... but I would like a coke squared (coke^2)"

[MacGuffin]

(imagine this in conan o'brien's "nerd voice"):
"excuse me ma'am... but I would like a coke squared (coke^2)"LOL, that gets you a slap in the face.

Nerd.

[Ivy]

(imagine this in conan o'brien's "nerd voice"):
"excuse me ma'am... but I would like a coke squared (coke^2)"

:rofl: I'll take a Metacoke, thanks!

[cjs55]

Calling soda coke is just wrong.

My parents used 'pop', but I have to be an iconoclast so I switched to soda (they are pretty evenly split around here as far as I can tell). But no, I've never ever heard anyone use 'coke' as a generic term for soda. Maybe it's related to the relative low IQ of the southern states, because it's obviously inferior in terms of communication as has been pointed out.

(I kid, I kid!)


I could just imagine...

"Could I get a cherry coke"

"Sure, we have cherry pepsi, cherry fanta, and cherry coke."

ARGH.

[waxwing]

:rofl: I'll take a Metacoke, thanks!

"Global coke" versus "local coke." Haha.

I wonder if INTPs do not respond with "Coke" for fear of being redundant. Maybe they point to the dispenser.

[CreativeChaos]

How does one indicate he would like the Coke variety of coke?

Okay goofballs, it's like this:

"You want a Coke?"
"Yeah, I'll have a Coke"
"Well, what kind? I have Diet and Regular."
"I'll take Diet"

If the person doesn't like Coke, it's like this.

"You want a Coke?"
"Well what kind do you have?" etc.

or:

"You want a Coke?"
"Yeah, do you have Sprite?"

Gee! It's not that difficult.:huh: Just subsitute the word Coke for soda. You guys dense or what? ;)

[cafe]

According to the map, it's Coke here by a small percentage. We have all the colors nearby, though. The next county up is dark green for some reason. I'm going to have to corner a someone from Clinton and find out what the heck is going on up there with the pop.

[joft]

Okay goofballs, it's like this:

"You want a Coke?"
"Yeah, I'll have a Coke"
"Well, what kind? I have Diet and Regular."
"I'll take Diet"

If the person doesn't like Coke, it's like this.

"You want a Coke?"
"Well what kind do you have?" etc.

or:

"You want a Coke?"
"Yeah, do you have Sprite?"

Gee! It's not that difficult.:huh: Just subsitute the word Coke for soda. You guys dense or what? ;)

"Want a coke?"
"Yes, I'll have a coke."

WHAT THEN?

[MacGuffin]

"Want a coke?"
"Yes, I'll have a coke."

WHAT THEN?THEN YOU GET A COKE

It is the same as

"Want a soda?"
"Yes, I'll have a coke."

[waxwing]

THEN YOU GET A COKE

It is the same as

"Want a soda?"
"Yes, I'll have a coke."

Might get somebody who likes repeating the question in the answer, like:

Want a coke?
Yes, I want a coke.
*lady goes to get Coke*
No, I didn't answer you yet!


THEN WHAT?

[CreativeChaos]

THEN YOU GET A COKE

It is the same as

"Want a soda?"
"Yes, I'll have a coke."

THANK YOU!!!! MacGuff. :banghead: You are the only really intellegent person on this thread. :D

[cjs55]

It's just stupid that if I ask for a cherry coke they don't know what I want.

[MacGuffin]

Might get somebody who likes repeating the question in the answer, like:

Want a coke?
Yes, I want a coke.
*lady goes to get Coke*
No, I didn't answer you yet!


THEN WHAT?Then I realize I can mindfuck half this forum using only soft drinks!

[CreativeChaos]

Might get somebody who likes repeating the question in the answer, like:

Want a coke?
Yes, I want a coke.
*lady goes to get Coke*
No, I didn't answer you yet!


THEN WHAT?

You'll look like a total idiot!

[waxwing]

Then I realize I can mindfuck half this forum using only soft drinks!

I'm satisfied with that answer.

[MacGuffin]

I'm satisfied with that answer.Want a coke?

[CreativeChaos]

Want a coke?

:rofl: Gee, I can't wait for you all to come to New Orleans for Mardi Gras! I had no idea!

[waxwing]

Want a coke?
Yes, please mix all of them, including the one with the name you mentioned.

[MacGuffin]

:rofl: Gee, I can't wait for you all to come to New Orleans for Mardi Gras! I had no idea!Already been (2003).

I'd rather come at an off-peak time and see the city. Well what is left of it.

[cjs55]

Don't tell me that if you ask for a rum and coke they need clarification for that too...

[joft]

THEN YOU GET A COKE
THEN I GET WHICH KIND OF COKE!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[Pooja]

my parents used to tease me (when I was addicted to caffeine), and tell people that I had a "severe coke addiction"... they thought it would be "funny" if people thought I was a druggie, *sigh*...

[waxwing]

Don't tell me that if you ask for a rum and coke they need clarification for that too...
Imagine coke as the general term for all beverages, even prune juice.

[CreativeChaos]

my parents used to tease me (when I was addicted to caffeine), and tell people that I had a "severe coke addiction"... they thought it would be "funny" if people thought I was a druggie, *sigh*...

Gee, Pooja. :blink: I'm starting to understand some of your behavoirs now.

[Pooja]

My parents have the most twisted, random sense of humor imaginable. They're lucky that they married each other though, b/c nobody else could put up with it. My sister and I have rolled our eyes so much at them, that we're now both permanetly cross-eyed (jk)...
THey need to get some coke, lol (the carbonated kind)

[cjs55]

Eww, rum and prune juice?

errr....

"could I get an orange coke please?"

we have orange coke coke and orange juice coke.

Orange coke coke.

We have fanta, crush, sunkist cokes...

fanta coke please.

[waxwing]

Eww, rum and prune juice?

errr....

"could I get an orange coke please?"

we have orange coke coke and orange juice coke.

Orange coke coke.

We have fanta, crush, sunkist cokes...

fanta coke please.

Conversational Coke Lesson #14

[cjs55]

My sister and I have rolled our eyes so much at them, that we're now both permanetly cross-eyed (jk)...

Nothing your parents did to you gives you an excuse to make such bad jokes....

(I kid!)

[Pooja]

ironically, it was over THIER bad jokes....I guess it's genetic then.

[cjs55]

Conversational Coke Lesson #14

Once you get past lesson #20 it becomes as difficult as learning a programming language...


ironically, it was over THIER bad jokes....I guess it's genetic then.

Hah, good point! Well, no reason fighting it then.

[Ka.avik]

...there is only soda.
So? Duh.
:thumbup:

[dunee]

I wonder if INTPs do not respond with "Coke" for fear of being redundant. Maybe they point to the dispenser.
I do this. I usually make sure to specify without saying any of the three terms. They'll ask me "what kinda coke you want?" and I'll say right away, "cheerwine please." Or, yes, point. None of that redundant coke coke stuff.
I only ever use "coke" or even "soft drink" when asking someone what they want. Never would I utter the word "pop."

[Pooja]

If you look closely at the map, and try to do a conservative v. liberal scan (or red states v. blue states), you'll see that the vast majority of conservative states prefer to call it "coke"... while the more liberal ones prefer soda. And "pop" is really just a midwestern thing. When I went to Minnesota, a girl in my group said "soda", and everybody looked at her like she was completely crazy. Her name was Sonia, but we called her Sodia... Yeah, that was mature, lol.

[dunee]

Joft, the answer is: whatever kind of coke is in the cooler.

Its a simple (uh, usually...) give and take of information. If there's more than one brand, you/the askee will almost always specify; if there's one brand, then it refers to that brand, even if its really named Orange Crush.

Like Mac said, its the same as saying "what kinda pop/soda do you want?"

[joft]

AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
http://www.dwmdesigns.com/Ahhhhhhhhh.jpg

IT'S SOOOOOODAAAAA

ok?

[Pooja]

It's really a very regional thing, Joft...where you're from, the vast majority of people prefer to call it "soda". I tried this out at "Subway's" today...I said, "Can I have a soda? THe guy behind the counter was like, "Yeah, sure- the pop machine is to your right". (with emphasis on the pop)...

[Jasz]

When I went to Minnesota, a girl in my group said "soda", and everybody looked at her like she was completely crazy. Her name was Sonia, but we called her Sodia... Yeah, that was mature, lol.

:rofl:

[papertrail]

"could I get an orange coke please?"

we have orange coke coke and orange juice coke.

Orange coke coke.

We have fanta, crush, sunkist cokes...

fanta coke please.

just tragic....

[dunee]

Look at the table for CT. There are actually 48 favoring "coke" in CT out of 1550. And 20 for "pop." You can't escape. Muhahaha!

Does anyone still use "soda pop"? That term's probably the worst out of the worst...:banghead:

[MacGuffin]

THEN I GET WHICH KIND OF COKE!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!WHATEVER KIND YOU SAID.

[nottaprettygal]

Does anyone still use "soda pop"? That term's probably the worst out of the worst...:banghead:

Sometimes I say "sodie pop" just to sound cool.

[mr. treat]

i would say soda, in keeping with my regional dialect. i've been to places where it's pop, and once i learned that's what it was called there i would say pop, just to fit in.

in any case, all soft drinks are actually correctly called 'mixers'.

[Master O]

http://www.popvssoda.com/countystats/total-county.html

check this out... Do you think it's accurate? Just click on your state, and it'll show more exact stats.

I thought that nobody said soda anymore... Doesn't everyone just call it pop? Maybe it's just because I live in "pop territory"
For the most part, i grew up in Texas (San Antonio) and we said Coke for everything. When you order you say, "I'd like a coke" and they say what kind.

When I moved to Washington state at 21, and I heard people saying "PoP", it was the most offensive term related to soda i had heard. It just sounded stupid. Although i grew to not be offended (much like a cancer patient learns to not notice the pain) I still don't like it - and I lived in WA for 7 years.

I now say Soda for the most part, but sometimes coke comes out. From what I can see on the map it seems accurate for the south, northwest, and west. I've only heard Pop used once in my 8 years in California and they weren't from here.



Edit: I just remembered the exception (at least for me) in Texas to the "coke" rule was when I wanted a Big Red. It seems to exist in it's own category and I always asked for it by name.

[Nemesis]

Gloucester County, NJ. Totally accurate. I went to South Dakota and asked for a soda once and they looked at me like I had 4 heads.

[Stillwater]

Very cool- I'm a map geek. Personally I say 'cola' although I was raised pop (or brown n' bubbly). We always drank RC Cola as kids. The east coast students that went to university in my city always made a point of saying soda, even though they were deep in pop territory. It was an epic battle of cultures, town vs. gown. I can see from the map that Iowa City, Iowa is soda, I would chalk that up to out of state students at the University of Iowa. I think if I spilled cola in my lap, I would revert to saying "damn I spilled my pop!".

I say sledding, but where I'm at now about half say sliding. Sledding is snowmobiling, sliding is what you do with Rosebud. Tomayto/tomawto. Either way works.



We used to have this Jamaican fast food type place and they sold one called Ting. It was pretty strong, but quite good, I thought.


I got hooked on Ting in Grenada. I always had trouble ordering it though. There is no phonetic difference between thing and ting in Grenada, as far as I could tell.

http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/ting.jpg
Bottle cap found in suitcase.

[CosmicDust]

I'm from New England. Some old people call it tonic; most younger people call it soda. Pop is the music that kids listen to. Coke is either cocaine or cola specifically (not applied to all carbonated soft drinks).

[Johnny]

[Big Red] seems to exist in it's own category...

:rofl:





I love Big Red.

[distraction tactics]

It's always been pop here. No one uses soda at all. 'Coke' usually refers to the specific drink, all though it can be applied to generic colas.

[Fade2Black]

I am in "coke county," USA!

[Ella]

Don't forget Thumbs Up soda, Pooja!

http://www.painetworks.com/photos/ht/ht0515.JPG

I was in a Cincinnati sports arena years ago and went up to the crowded, noisy concession counter and placed my order, and the woman behind the counter said, "Please?" So I sheepishly repeated the order, being sure to include the word "please" this time. Later I found out "Please?" was actually short for "Could you repeat that, please?"

P.S. We say soda in soCal.

[kafkaesque]

After reading this thread I am glad I switched to beer years ago.

(actually I was glad before reading this thread)

[kb1cvh]

I'm from Boston - I understand Tonic, Soda and Coke - meaning can depend on context of course.

My wife is from Philly - they have Frank's Black Cherry Wishniak - which is a carbonated beverage.

I now live in So Cal. I get blank looks all the time for saying that have regional / historical reference :)

[Nyairj]

I've spent more time in the South than anywhere else, so I've come to call it Coke. I think soda is the best word for it, though. "Pop? What the hell is that?" That's what I thought when I first moved to West Virginia.

[CosmicDust]

I'm from Boston - I understand Tonic, Soda and Coke - meaning can depend on context of course.

My wife is from Philly - they have Frank's Black Cherry Wishniak - which is a carbonated beverage.

I now live in So Cal. I get blank looks all the time for saying that have regional / historical reference :)
Yay! Another Eastern Massachusetts native who knows of "tonic!"

When I was in undergrad school, lots of out-of-staters and some people from the western part of the state would find our use of "wicked" (as in "it was wicked warm this winter") amusing, and argue that drinking fountains shouldn't be called "bubblers" because they don't bubble.

Any of that sound familiar?

[CoHo]

This has been brought up so many times I don't remember what I'm supposed to say anymore.

Drinking Fountain VS Bubbler... that's pretty fucking ovbious

[Eileen]

It's soda to me, but I wouldn't get grumpy with someone for calling it pop.

I do get grumpy at people for calling everything "Coke" because that's imprecise.

[Superstring]

We just say soft drinks.... (fast like saying softball in case you never hear it?? no clue) I can't say any of the other words, 'pop' sounds too dumb and 'soda' is too alien....I'd totally be down for saying soda though, if I had to pick one

[Snowflake]

I prefer pepsi.

[Eileen]

We just say soft drinks.... (fast like saying softball in case you never hear it?? no clue) I can't say any of the other words, 'pop' sounds too dumb and 'soda' is too alien....I'd totally be down for saying soda though, if I had to pick one

Actually, come to think of it, I probably say soft drink just as much as I say soda. Pop is pretty alien to me.

[Master O]

I do get grumpy at people for calling everything "Coke" because that's imprecise.Anyone need a Kleenex? What's the big deal?

[Eileen]

Anyone need a Kleenex? What's the big deal?

Well, it's NOT a big deal to me, just a minor annoyance. However, since Coke tastes completely different than Sprite, it seems completely weird to me to call a Sprite "coke." It's like... calling hot chocolate "coffee" ... or something. If you ask for a Kleenex, regardless of whether it's the brand name, you're getting something that's functionally and essentially the same--a tissue. Not so with the coke thing. If I want a cola, I'll ask for Coke or Pepsi. If I want root beer or a lemon lime drink, I'm not going to say coke. If I were a waitress, it would make me insane.

[Master O]

i was just giving you a hard time. it's all relative. if you were down in the south and heard it all the time, your mind would stop distinguishing "coke" as a specific drink. then it would be no different than hearing soda.

[imfrellinggay]

They are wrong about Connecticut and Massachusetts. We call it "soder" and "coke" have the time.

[MacGuffin]

I do get grumpy at people for calling everything "Coke" because that's imprecise.Go back you carpetbagger!

[Superstring]

who in the hell says "sley riding"!!? It's so obviously "sledding"...the proof is in christmas carols. You can't argue with the carols.

For us it's tobogganing.....weed is more often involved than not (not that I necessarily condone either tobogganing or weed)

[Superstring]

i would say soda, in keeping with my regional dialect. i've been to places where it's pop, and once i learned that's what it was called there i would say pop, just to fit in.

in any case, all soft drinks are actually correctly called 'mixers'.

I don't bother trying to use the wrong word either... I even have to repeat myself at least once whenever I use the word 'soda' in New York for some reason...

[mr. treat]

When I was in undergrad school, lots of out-of-staters and some people from the western part of the state would find our use of "wicked" (as in "it was wicked warm this winter") amusing...

i'm from maine, and people say wicked here a lot, as well. i don't myself, but i know what they mean when they say it, and it doesn't seem strange to me.

[Superstring]

This has been brought up so many times I don't remember what I'm supposed to say anymore.

Drinking Fountain VS Bubbler... that's pretty fucking ovbious

You're shitting me....this has been brought up before? Several times?

EDIT: I respect bubbler, it sounds like a pleasantly funny word to say

[Rhu]

This study:


http://www.popvssoda.com/countystats/total-county.html

Reminded me of this study. (http://cfprod01.imt.uwm.edu/Dept/FLL/linguistics/dialect/maps.html) Which for some reason impressed me as one of the coolest things ever.

Edit: I'm exspecially partial to you'uns (http://cfprod01.imt.uwm.edu/Dept/FLL/linguistics/dialect/staticmaps/q_50.html), due to the fact that this is a common word in my area and used almost nowhere else, and also the fact that I still don't have a word for this (http://cfprod01.imt.uwm.edu/Dept/FLL/linguistics/dialect/staticmaps/q_60.html) in spite of having looked at this survey a number of times before.

[coffeezombie]

It's pop. Live with it people. :P

[Superstring]

This study:



Reminded me of this study. (http://cfprod01.imt.uwm.edu/Dept/FLL/linguistics/dialect/maps.html) Which for some reason impressed me as one of the coolest things ever.

Edit: I'm exspecially partial to you'uns (http://cfprod01.imt.uwm.edu/Dept/FLL/linguistics/dialect/staticmaps/q_50.html), due to the fact that this is a common word in my area and used almost nowhere else, and also the fact that I still don't have a word for this (http://cfprod01.imt.uwm.edu/Dept/FLL/linguistics/dialect/staticmaps/q_60.html) in spite of having looked at this survey a number of times before.

Wicked, 'you guys' is at the top.....

I like how 'you' coexists with wherever 'you guys' is used! I can hardly wrap my head around how it would sound using that word to address a group?

[joft]

:P

pop is ok. i wouldn't mind converting to it myself- as long as there's no mainstream brand everywhere named "pop"

[Pooja]

I've conciously made myself say "soda" all day, just to see how the midwest would react...not too well.

[cafe]

This study:



Reminded me of this study. (http://cfprod01.imt.uwm.edu/Dept/FLL/linguistics/dialect/maps.html) Which for some reason impressed me as one of the coolest things ever.

Edit: I'm exspecially partial to you'uns (http://cfprod01.imt.uwm.edu/Dept/FLL/linguistics/dialect/staticmaps/q_50.html), due to the fact that this is a common word in my area and used almost nowhere else, and also the fact that I still don't have a word for this (http://cfprod01.imt.uwm.edu/Dept/FLL/linguistics/dialect/staticmaps/q_60.html) in spite of having looked at this survey a number of times before.

Hmm . . . My dad says you'uns. He's not from any of the shaded areas. Strange.

[Ponderous]

Reminded me of this study. (http://cfprod01.imt.uwm.edu/Dept/FLL/linguistics/dialect/maps.html) Which for some reason impressed me as one of the coolest things ever.


I love it. Makes me think of the Yankee or Dixie quiz (http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/intelligencerreport/yankee_dixie_quiz.html).

Living in Texas and working with Bostonians on the phone every day, there are a number of regional terms that present themselves. It's kind of funny to listen to a meeting end, as the person leading the meeting goes around to see if anyone has anything to add. If the leader says, "All set?" You have to respond "all set." "I'm good," or some other variety doesn't seem satisfying enough... I've even heard folks ask, again, "All set?" with a kind of uneasiness in their voice.

[cafe]

Soda sounded odd to me at first and I usually say pop or coke. I'm fine with whatever. The only time I get irritated is when I order a coke and get told they only serve Pepsi products. Don't be obtuse, just bring me my friggin' cola. Please.

[Ponderous]

Soda sounded odd to me at first and I usually say pop or coke. I'm fine with whatever. The only time I get irritated is when I order a coke and get told they only serve Pepsi products. Don't be obtuse, just bring me my friggin' cola. Please.

Hey you! :)

And, I'm just the opposite. If I ask for Coke and get a Pepsi, I send it back for something I might actually drink.
(Pepsi-free zone here.)

[Eileen]

i was just giving you a hard time. it's all relative. if you were down in the south and heard it all the time, your mind would stop distinguishing "coke" as a specific drink. then it would be no different than hearing soda.

I do live in the south, but the southern dialect isn't completely mine because my parents are Yankees.

[Master O]

I do live in the south, but the southern dialect isn't completely mine because my parents are Yankees.
you leave me with nothing... :sobs:

[cafe]

Hey you! :)

And, I'm just the opposite. If I ask for Coke and get a Pepsi, I send it back for something I might actually drink.
(Pepsi-free zone here.)

Hey there :)

Ideally, they will ask, "Is Pepsi okay?" That doesn't bother me at all. It's thoughtful. I probably just don't like being told I can't have what I asked for and it's purely on principle because I prefer Pepsi.

[bergenski]

If you really want to fuck up your taste buds you can go visit the Coke headquarters in Atlanta...you just keep tasting all different Coke products from around the world for as long as you like...which won't be very long because your mouth will soon be fried from trying all the different flavors...pretty much numb, and kind of puckery too...you feel kind of sick...

[MacGuffin]

This thread needs a bump for the noobs.

[MacGuffin]

Added a poll.

I say all three, but mostly "Coke" from where I grew up (Kansas City area, one of the few non-southern places to do that).

I only recently started saying "soda" upon relocating out to the East Coast.

[augi55]

This thread needs a bump for the noobs.

Sweet. Thanks.

That is an awesome map, and yes very true for me. Kansas City is a "pop" place, St. Louis is a "soda" place. Most kids at Mizzou came from Stl.

I have literally been bashed in classes 2 times for using the word pop. It's hilarious. People are like "Why do you SAY that?! That is so ANNOYING!"

[YardGnome]

I don't know how many times I've had this argument...

"I'd like a Coke."
"What Kind?"
"A Pepsi"

Whoever calls it all Coke is fucking retarded...

[augi55]

I don't know how many times I've had this argument...

"I'd like a Coke."
"What Kind?"
"A Pepsi"

Whoever calls it all Coke is fucking retarded...

:highfive:

And a soda is actually a specific type of drink, kinda like soda water. So naturally I say pop.

I am surprised wisconsin and minnesota are mostly pop. MINN-EEE-SOOOOOODAAAAA.

But seriously, they do say soda.

[MacGuffin]

I don't know how many times I've had this argument...

"I'd like a Coke."
"What Kind?"
"A Pepsi"

Whoever calls it all Coke is fucking retarded...

"I'd like a pop."
"What Kind?"
"A Pepsi"

???

[MadamI'madaM]

"Coke" is a testament to Southern simplemindedness.

EDIT: also, "soda" is the closest to a correct term.

the formal definition of "coke" is way off.

[dexta316]

my co-worker just asked if someone wanted to go get a coke. so wrong! its pop damnit!

my roomies and i had this discussion, they from the south refered to it as 'coke' and i to it as 'pop' and those from new england as 'soda', i gave up

[augi55]

"I'd like a pop."
"What Kind?"
"A Pepsi"

???

What about it?


"Coke" is a testament to Southern simplemindedness.

Actually, could be...

[YardGnome]

"I'd like a pop."
"What Kind?"
"A Pepsi"

???

Soda and Pop are not brand names they are nouns describing a particular type of carbonated beverage. Coke on the other hand is a name brand, a proper noun that labels one very specific beverage, Coca-Cola. This is the only single beverage that should be referred to as Coke...

[Oso Mocoso]

"Coke" is a testament to Southern simplemindedness.

EDIT: also, "soda" is the closest to a correct term.

You are correct sir. It's a soda if you come from a civilized region where people practice widespread literacy. It's a pop if you were raised on a hog and corn farm. It's a coke if your family practices in-breeding and you live in a swamp.

[augi55]

You are correct sir. It's a soda if you come from a civilized region where people practice widespread literacy. It's a pop if you were raised on a hog and corn farm. It's a coke if your family practices in-breeding and you live in a swamp.

Not cool... :sadbanana:

[avolkiteshvara]

As a kid I remember moving from California to Washington and the switch from Soda to Pop. I thought I'd moved to Mayberry.

[earwax]

In my chilhood - all fountain drinks were called cokes. That's just the way it was. I didn't know that it wasn't a generic term.

Now I use the term "soft drink". 'Cuz soda and pop just sound wrong.

[avolkiteshvara]

In my chilhood - all fountain drinks were called cokes. That's just the way it was. I didn't know that it wasn't a generic term.

Now I use the term "soft drink". 'Cuz soda and pop just sound wrong.

So would you say "I want a coke coke" " I want a coke sprite" " I want a coke purple drank"? How do you specify which one you want exactly?

[earwax]

You don't seriously ask for a soda coke do you? Or a pop sprite?

Once upon a time, this was commonly overheard in restaraunts and truck stops throughout the south.

"I'd like a coke."
"What kind?"
"Dr Pepper"

[avolkiteshvara]

You don't seriously ask for a soda coke do you? Or a pop sprite?

Once upon a time, this was commonly overheard in restaraunts and truck stops throughout the south.

"I'd like a coke."
"What kind?"
"Dr Pepper"

Answer my question. No I don't.

But you use coke as both a noun and as a type softdrink. I could see that getting confusing.

Pop or soda or soft drink doesn't make any confusion.

Edit:

Just seems weird to say...........


-What do you want?

-I want a coke.

-What type of coke?
-Ummm..........coke.

[pangolin]

I usually say 'soft drink' or sometimes soda, or sometimes just 'drink' if I'm referencing a fountain machine. I don't say 'coke' unless I'm referring to that particular beverage, and pop is outside my cultural context, though it is completely understandable as it was all once called 'soda-pop'.

[Limey]

Answer my question. No I don't.

But you use coke as both a noun and as a type softdrink. I could see that getting confusing.

Pop or soda or soft drink doesn't make any confusion.

Edit:

Just seems weird to say...........


-What do you want?

-I want a coke.

-What type of coke?
-Ummm..........coke.

That's actually a transcript of a conversation I once had at the Cracker barrel on I-95 in Wilson, NC - a town that is still partying like it's 1959

I couldn't finish my biscuits and gravy, I thought I was going to get lynched, and I'm WHITE!

[rhinosaur]

When I was spending my early childhood in Northern Florida, it was always Coke. Only when I came to North Carolina did I start to find people who were confused by the term.

I'm actually kind of impressed at how "mixed" NC is on that coke/soda/pop/other map. I spent a few minutes thinking about what "other" could possibly be, and decided it is probably "Soft Drink" 90% of the time.

[MadamI'madaM]

That's actually a transcript of a conversation I once had at the Cracker barrel on I-95 in Wilson, NC - a town that is still partying like it's 1959

I couldn't finish my biscuits and gravy, I thought I was going to get lynched, and I'm WHITE!

If you don't have the accent, you're a yankee.

If you still have a remnant English accent, you're a yankee's yankee.

[LastRailway]

I just say "Coca Cola", "Pepsi" or whatever.
But of the three I'd only understand "Coke", before today.

[earwax]

It wouldn't seem weird if you grew up hearing "coke" as a generic term.

How do I specify which one I want now? I say, "I'd like a Dr Pepper." (Actually, it's usually, "I'd like a Guiness please"... But I'm older and wiser.)

[rhinosaur]

That's actually a transcript of a conversation I once had at the Cracker barrel on I-95 in Wilson, NC - a town that is still partying like it's 1959

I couldn't finish my biscuits and gravy, I thought I was going to get lynched, and I'm WHITE!

I thought Wilson was like number three hippy capitol of NC, after Asheville and Chapel Hill.

Last year, 38400 people were lynched in the South for using the word "pop." Stop the killing. Spread the word. It's a coke.

[MacGuffin]

Perhaps Southerners are smarter than the rest of you.

[MadamI'madaM]

Perhaps Southerners are smarter than the rest of you.

Just admit that you say Coke.

We'll still respect you...to your face.

[MacGuffin]

Just admit that you say Coke.

We'll still respect you...to your face.
I already did!

I use all three.

[Oso Mocoso]

Perhaps Southerners are smarter than the rest of you.

Standardized testing would indicate otherwise. They also have the highest murder rate in the country and the lowest rate of literacy. Not that those things necessarily correlate everywhere, I'm just saying.

[earwax]

BTW - When I was a kid, the trademarked drink was called "Coca Cola".

[MacGuffin]

Standardized testing would indicate otherwise. They also have the highest murder rate in the country and the lowest rate of literacy. Not that those things necessarily correlate everywhere, I'm just saying.
Yet they are able to accurately order a carbonated beverage without epic confusion...

[djm]

In Brum any fizzy soft drink is called pop.

Back in my student days I actually got into a fight in a pub in Liverpool over what to call lemonade. A bladdered aging scally started on me with 'your a Brummy, I hate Brummies, my wifes a Brummy, we say Lemo they say pop, they dont talk proper laa' then tried to glass me and fell over.

[YardGnome]

Yet they are able to accurately order a carbonated beverage without epic confusion...

Asking for a coke then subsequently being asked what kind IS epic confusion. I've already specified what I wanted.

[MadamI'madaM]

BTW - When I was a kid, the trademarked drink was called "Coca Cola".

So you actually witnessed the change?

It must've been a cocaine related marketing gimmick.

[LastRailway]

Back in my student days I actually got into a fight in a pub in Liverpool over what to call lemonade.

Something made of lemons, or at least have the flavour, maybe?

[MacGuffin]

Asking for a coke then subsequently being asked what kind IS epic confusion. I've already specified what I wanted.
Hahaha! You still haven't figured it out.

You only ask for a coke if you want a Coca-Cola. Same way you don't ask for a pop and then wait to be asked which kind.

[djm]

Something made of lemons, or at least have the flavour, maybe?

Best lemonade I have had was a lemon and mint sherbert in Damascus, they serve something similar in Jordan but the Syrian version is better.

[MadamI'madaM]

Hahaha! You still haven't figured it out.

You only ask for a coke if you want a Coca-Cola. Same way you don't ask for a pop and then wait to be asked which kind.

Actually, others and myself have been asked, "what kind of coke", otherwise coke would not be a generic term (as it is).

EDIT: that's not even the only redundancy/confusion I could think of

[MacGuffin]

Actually, others and myself have been asked, "what kind of coke", otherwise coke would not be a generic term (as it is).
Where was this?

I only get asked that to ensure I really want diet.

[Limey]

I thought Wilson was like number three hippy capitol of NC, after Asheville and Chapel Hill.

Last year, 38400 people were lynched in the South for using the word "pop." Stop the killing. Spread the word. It's a coke.

No, I spent 18 miserable months working there several years ago, there's nothing hip, hipster, groovy or beatnick about Wilson. There's decent pizza, though, both at the "mall" (NY soup nazi opened up) and on main street, though not in summer, unless you don't mind flies.

[MadamI'madaM]

Where was this?

I only get asked that to ensure I really want diet.

Oklahoma.

Yeah, only a dumb server would actually ask "what kind of coke", but it's the colloquial that's really to blame.

[YardGnome]

Hahaha! You still haven't figured it out.

You only ask for a coke if you want a Coca-Cola. Same way you don't ask for a pop and then wait to be asked which kind.

... Now I'm throughly confused... (Then again it takes very little to confuse me...)

I was under the impression you were one of those call everything coke people.

Yes, when I ask for a coke I expect a Coca-Cola. It would be confusing to me to be asked what kind in response to my question. This has happened to me numerous times, particularly in Texas and it always results in me arguing with whoever asks me about this...

[earwax]

So you actually witnessed the change?

It must've been a cocaine related marketing gimmick.
I think the major change happened in the early 80's, when the entire state of Michigan moved to Texas looking for jobs. Damn Yankees didn't know the difference between "coke" and Coca Cola. They even used some weird word like "pop". WTF?

[avolkiteshvara]

Just thought of another area of confusion.

-What do you want?

-Coke

-What type of coke?

-Oh you have different types. I'll have a Cherry Coke

-We don't have that type of coke.

-Then I'll have a diet coke

-What type of diet coke?

-And on and on and on

[MadamI'madaM]

I think the major change happened in the early 80's, when the entire state of Michigan moved to Texas looking for jobs. Damn Yankees didn't know the difference between "coke" and Coca Cola. They even used some weird word like "pop". WTF?

So "coke" preceeded the corporate name change of Coca Cola?

[earwax]

Californians are easy to confuse.

[YardGnome]

A Cherry Pepsi coke...

[avolkiteshvara]

Californians are easy to confuse.

I am also easily confused by ebonics.

I really need to eat more fish.

[earwax]

So "coke" preceeded the corporate name change of Coca Cola?
Don't know when the corporate change happened. This was all cultural.

But we were still using stone knives and bear skins. TV had 4 channels. Radio was AM. And there were only 8 stations. How the hell could we know what the rest of the world called shit?

[MadamI'madaM]

Don't know when the corporate change happened. This was all cultural.

But we were still using stone knives and bear skins. TV had 4 channels. Radio was AM. And there were only 8 stations. How the hell could we know what the rest of the world called shit?

I'm just confused as hell as to how the word coke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coke_(fuel)) became involved in carbonated beverages.

I'm favoring the coca-cocaine-coke connection right now.

[manza]

Always been "soda", but then, I grew up in New Hampshire, a solidly-yellow state, and I live in that giant yellow Arizona county, north and center.

[foodeater]

I'm good with pop or soda. I lived in the south for my first 9 years of life and the north for the rest.. I never used coke because that's a product name and I wanted to be specific or something. People get confused or pissy when I say soda here.

Why is Alaska so diverse?

[earwax]

Coca Cola was originally made with Cocaine. A person would walk up to the guy behind the counter in the drug store and ask for a "shot in the arm".

The only soft drinks I remember as kid were Coca Cola, 7-up, Frosty Root Beer and Nehi - which came in Grape and Orange... Oh, and down around San Antonio you could get Big Red. There were no variations within brands - no diet or de-caf. So there wasn't really a lot of room for confusion.

[Oso Mocoso]

Yet they are able to accurately order a carbonated beverage without epic confusion...

I don't think anyone has confusion about ordering carbonated beverages (epic or otherwise) unless they are conversing with an inbred swamp dweller. Their dialect is troublesome for those who are not familiar with it.

[lpethe]

my mom is from new york and grew up calling it pop.
here they say soda, but as kids we did the combo "soda-pop"
soda-pop still sounds right to me.

also all colas are referred to as "coke" even when ordering. occasionally a server will specify "pepsi ok?" but the answer is always yes, so that practice is becoming less and less common. If the customer is really particular about pepsi v coke or other colas, they will ask which one the place uses before ordering.

[Shades of Gray]

. Oh, and down around San Antonio you could get Big Red.

Oh, that's one I haven't seen in a long time!


I've used all three names. My paternal family is from north of Philidelphia, where it's all soda. I have fond memories of my grandmother telling me to go get a soda from the fridge. In western Pennsylvania, where I did most of my growing up, it was called pop. The few years of high school that I spent in Texas, it was all coke.

Calling pop coke was the funniest thing, but it wasn't hard to get used to.