by One Hungry Jew (NWM Staff Writer)
I got my first taste of this cola controversy back in the fall of ’89. I had left the comforts of my Lon Giland home and entered the college phase of my life at SUNY Fredonia (way upstate in NY). Upon entering the cafeteria the first time is when it happened. I mistakenly asked one of the lunch-ladies where I could find the soda machine. After about 10 seconds of awkward silence, I added, “Um, the Coke machine?” At which point she laughed and said, “Oh, you mean pop. Just make a left by the salad bar dear.”
For the next 4 years at school I continued to receive “pop” jabs, but was never broken. Even when I dated a girl from Rochester, I still firmly held to my soda beliefs. Not saying that was our demise, but I’m sure it was just another sign we were from two different worlds.
If you too find yourself transplanted to another region you could go my stubborn-ass route or take a “when in Rome” attitude (no judgments either way). If it is the latter here’s a handy cheat sheet that breaks "pop vs. soda" down by state. PLEASE NOTE: Because opinions might further differ within the state I also included a detailed "Soda vs. Pop" regional map.
Courtesy of popvssoda.com & beatsdesign.uk.
- Alabama – SODA
- Alaska – SODA
- Arizona – SODA
- Arkansas – SODA
- California – SODA
- Colorado – POP
- Connecticut – SODA
- Delaware – SODA
- Florida – SODA
- Georgia – SODA
- Hawaii – SODA
- Idaho – POP
- Illinois – POP
- Indiana – POP
- Iowa – POP
- Kansas – POP
- Kentucky – POP
- Louisiana – SODA
- Maine – SODA
- Maryland – SODA
- Massachusetts – SODA
- Michigan – POP
- Minnesota – POP
- Mississippi – SODA
- Missouri – SODA
- Montana – POP
- Nebraska – POP
- Nevada – SODA
- New Hampshire – SODA
- New Jersey – SODA
- New Mexico – SODA
- New York – SODA
- North Carolina – SODA
- North Dakota – POP
- Ohio – POP
- Oklahoma – POP
- Oregon – POP
- Pennsylvania – POP
- Rhode Island – SODA
- South Carolina – SODA
- South Dakota – POP
- Tennessee – SODA
- Texas – SODA
- Utah – POP
- Vermont – SODA
- Virginia – SODA
- Washington – POP
- West Virginia – POP
- Wisconsin – SODA
- Wyoming – POP
Well, actually, in Texas (or at least in this part) we ask "What kind of Coke do you want?" Imagine the down home country girl movin' to the big city of Chicago for awhile. I got razzed on the "Pop" thing, too! ;) Great post.
ReplyDeleteWell. Here in Australia we call it "fizzy drink", or it's actually name (lemonade, fanta, coke, etc)
ReplyDeleteIt's weird how it's different all over the world :)
I've lived north and south, and I gave up a long time ago on trying to please the natives. It's whatever I feels like.
ReplyDelete"Pop" is weird - my dad and the word. Canadians use it too. I prefer to stick with "soda" (especially Coke). Looks like someone did a lot of research and got plenty caffeinated for the sake of this post.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Robyn
Just for the record, I mean I know that site states who says what and all, but I never hear anyone ever say pop in PA (at least in my area). It's soda.
ReplyDeleteLike ^ robyn said, I hear "pop" a lot form older people.
BTW I love soda...Diet Dr. Pepper to be exact.
Never "soda," always "pop" - it's a Welsh thing.
ReplyDeleteOoooh, I'm going to call it 'fizzy drink' from now on! Thanks Little Bird!
ReplyDeletePS - Copyboy, I gave your blog a little plug on mine. I think it may've helped a bit. Heidi started it. She probably drinks "pop" too, tho she's a Californian.
ReplyDeleteRobyn
There are a few who co-mingle their words as well---SODEE POP.......But they eat roadkill too so......we don't count them!!!
ReplyDeleteIm from TN and I say soda.
ReplyDeletePennsylvania is difficult to classify as either a soda state or a pop state- the eastern and central portions of the state say soda, while the western portion says pop.
ReplyDeleteAddendum to the above- if I were to classify Pennsylvania as a soda state or a pop state, I'd probably give soda a slight edge over pop.
ReplyDelete