In general the upbringing of a person could dramatically affect the perspective of Appalachia. Every person has different experiences as they grow up and are exposed to different situations. People who grow up in the city will have a different perspective than those who grew up outside the city or even in Appalachia. What feels normal and right to one person will seem strange, weird, or unusual to another person. Perhaps because the difference between Appalachia and rural areas seem like polar opposites to people which makes one seem right or wrong.

Personally I was raised near Appalachia and near a city so I saw both as I grew up, and I now feel more comfortable away from a city. My family is neither rich nor poor so the socio-economic status doesn’t really affect my perspective, but I did grow up seeing my parents interact with a lot of people since they are doctors which makes the lifestyle of Appalachia seem isolated. Having said that I do realize the reason for isolation, but I still tend to generalize Appalachia as being isolated. I am a half Japanese male, so I do know about the minority aspect, but I was never treated as a minority so I do tend to see the people of Appalachia as a minority. In this sense also I have grown up being used to the idea that I was somewhat different so I believe that to others I appear different, but to what extent I don’t know.