So when it's a story about white people in the world who is struggling in life and got it bad we can then act like we are caring people and we have respect for others humans. You people disgust me! What makes me proud is how black people are not flooding the comment section with slurs like white trash and things like that. Prove my point that to many white people are racist and hateful. And blacks are just reacting to how they are being treated unfairly.
props to abc for somewhat recognizing poor whites in america. the media and the rest of us only focuses on inner city minorities and their needs and welfare and rights when poor whites are left out and are not shown in the media.
I'm from the rural country in southern WV, and saw a lot of things growing up that most people would describe as "third-world," and yet, I never knew a single family who didn't have food, water, health care, clean clothes, decent shelter and education if they wanted to work for it like everyone else. I define "poverty" as not having those things, as would most WVians...so maybe we have a different standard than the rest of the materialistic country.
@gypsyjazzbo yeh so sick of ppl saying wvians are cavemen or cannibals living in filth and poverty..which is what the media makes ppl think..hence the wrong turn movies.
What does the narrator mean "unthinkable conditions"? It's not that hard to keep your house clean.
I watched this documentary, and I found it offensive. Half the issues covered here were problms that the people made for themselves. Nobody forces them to drink mountain dew.
Lol at people crying "stereotype!" It is real. Some places are worse than others here, and this shows the worst of the worst. The majority of people in Appalachia live like people anywhere else.
The fact that not all of Appalachia lives in first world conditions doesn't demean you or anything. It's frankly quite stupid to react as if it was a blow to your personal pride, which is the impression I get from comments here.
STFU retards who think this is stereotyping. This video was made to call attention to their impoverished lifestyle and suggests that such a lifestyle was beyond their control. It shows how many of us are unaware of the hideousness of our next door neighbors and how we only see America as this wonderful flourishing country, when, in fact, it is not. Not only that, it implies that such an atmosphere was created due to neglect and greed of capitalist thinking.
@aznlalaland: and all i want to say to YOU is this: don't speak on OUR behalf and tell us what WE need to say. all you see about the hills on TV is bootleggers, pillheads, poor people, etc.
I live right smack dab in the middle of Appalachia (Appalachia, Virginia if you care to argue about it), and if you think it's that bad you have no idea. Sure, alot of families are below the national poverty line, but the prices at our stores are less as well, and starting pay in those mines is around $22/hr.
@aznlalaland: so when you go on about our "impoverished lifestyle", think about how much of that is by choice. the pillheads and welfare-grabbers have it rough but not near as rough as those of us who are able and willing to go work a couple hundred feet underground to make enough to provide.
the truth is that the show being advertised here exists because diane sawyer left kentucky long ago and decided she would rather hide behind her heritage than embrace it.
This show kind of buges me cause it was basically just stereotyping everyone up there as dumb rednecks when thats not the truth. I would have preferred if they would have just documented about the culture like the music and the history, and the patriotism that comes out of Appalachia. If you want to help Appalachia write a letter to congress telling them to stop Mountain top removal. Thats the real disaster in that area.
if ur car is cost more than ur house ur probably a kentuckiann??? well if ur mouth runs more than ur fist ur PROBABLY a city slicker mostly dat guy dat posted the comment on the car
These people don't need charity. They need a state government who will relax its business taxes to lure industry to Appalachia/WV to take advantage of the lower cost of living/labor cost, they need to be eased off of welfare, and then they need to get to work.
The poverty in this video is a product of two stupid people who didn't take advantage of their public education, had children, and are struggling as a result. They are the exception to life in Appalachia, not the norm.
I beg to differ on your opinion. I know of very well educated men, here in central Appalachia PA, with many years mining experience that haven't been able to find a job in well over a year.
From the looks of this video, the community that Sawyer went to doesn't look that impoverished, compared to many other pieces I've seen on Appalachia. They had very nice winter coats, automobiles, high school sports and teeth for crying out loud!
Why don't you worry about YOUR state falling off the face of the planet since its so broke. You should do some more history research in WHY these people are up in the hills. Most want to be left the fuck alone by outsiders, and govt. assistance programs.
Pretty sure I'm not "brown." Get a life and stop hiding behind a computer. You don't talk shit like this in real life because you'd get your ass kicked.
Nothing is ever free. And some people actually have principles and don't want charity out of pride. Its called being independent, and minding your own business.
i watched this when it aired and it was very good. in one of the clips of shawn grim playin football it showed clips from the high school i went to when we played them his senior yr
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
I'm from southwest Va. and yeah there is need but I sort of resent stereotyping people in this area as drug addicted losers who can't take care of themselves. I have a good job and my girlfriend just graduated from ETSU with a bachelors in accounting. Also there are hard workers in this area. I'm talking about people that work long hours of manual labor and then go home and raise a garden and keep llivestock on the side. Plus great, friendly, mountain culture.
Yeah, but its ok to stereotype black people as being ghetto? If this was a show about the inner-city, everyone commenting would say all blacks are like "that". Plus the video would be flooded by racist comments.
I just watched this whole thing and I feel bad for all the people in this video. They were really exploited and even though I'm sure there's lots of poverty and drug use going on, you can find that everywhere. I'm from Seattle and could show you places here. OT, I think the woods of the Appalachians look awesome and I'd like to see them in person sometime. I love the forest and the woods you have over there in KY it's a lot different than the woods of the Cascades here in WA, different trees
I think Abc are trying to show a different demographic of American poverty.
Often, when one thinks of poverty in the states it is of minorities, illegal immigrants, etc. These people need just as much help and live just as poorly, yet they are a demographic rarely touched on by the news or helped by celebrities and do-gooders in the country. I think that was the point.
See what's funny is all of you crying are crying because you feel that your entire state/region is being stereotyped but I guarantee when you see a special on poorness in a black community, hispanic community, or whatever you finish watching and go "yup they're all lazy bums". Now that you're the victim of the stereotype you hate the news huh? Anyway it's called Hidden American because a lot of whites on the coasts think most whites make $100k a year like them. This was meant to show the truth.
diane sawyer just wants it to seem to every body else that life is bad in these parts so they'll feel sorry for her becasue she grew up in kentucky. but in reality it is nothing like this at all.
I have seen some of this first hand, being from Floyd Co. myself. I have since moved away but still live in the state. I still visit eastern kentucky from time to time, and I can see the drugs and poverty getting worse all the time. I think one of the reasons for this is Eastern Kentucky politics. There are two main ways to make money in Eastern Ky, and thats coal or drugs. The feds need to step it up and shut down all the corrupt politicians and cops that are in the area, that gets drug money.
just to let people know, most of us DO NOT live like this, most of us live very clean lifestyles and we are not all toothless hillbillies living in some hillbillie shack... thats just what is steriotyped
basically the morons and toothless people in kentucky tend to be the scotch-irish. it's the germanics that excel and it is the germanics that have made and built this country up until the inferior chimpanzee aka britonic, irish and scottish losers started to work with the zionist neo-liberal jewish ilk in destroying our dollar.
Lets take our unfortunate inbred fellow from Plymouth rock, once he meets a nice southern girl with a completely different set of genes and they have cute little babies the genetic effect on their offspring is the same as if his father had bred with the southern girl himself thus the inbreeding is bred out after one generation, isnt nature amazing?
Lets say a case of inbreeding occurred at, oh Plymouth Rock, each person has genetic errors, an offspring is the direct result of both parents genetic contribution. If the errors line up from both parents then deformities occur, since people in the same family have similar genetics, the deformities are more likely to line up if relatives breed.
Kentucky was settled in the north down and east to west meeting in the center of the state with people from all northern colonies and Virginia. The people of KY from the start were a varied mixture of Europeans, Africans and American Indians. There is more variation in genetics in KY than most countries and races.
With 4 million plus people in the KY do people really think we cant find a mate we are not related to? I know what your thinking, well years ago there werent many people in KY so they had relations with their relations. How many people do you think survived the Pleistocene period? For that matter how many people do you think got off of the mayflower?
this is so stupid...not all of eastern kentucky is...all of us here are pretty pissed off...that they would do such a thing...get the worst shape people in the eastern part of kentucky and put them on camera...everyone already thinks we are nothing but hillbilly's that dont kno what technology is...we sure as heck didn't need this..!!!!!!!!
Cost of living index in San Francisco County: 180.2
In Menifee County Ky: 75.6 (U.S. average is 100)
U.S. Poverty threshold for four, in 2007 was US $21,027.
In San Fran 1.8*21,027=37,848
In Menifee .75*21,027=15,770
So 37,848 in San Fran = 15,770 in Menifee KY. Above 15,770 to 21,027 in Menifee is considered impoverished when its not and 21,027 to 37,848 in San Fran is considered not impoverished when it is.
So more percent people are in poverty in KY on paper, but not reality
I would much rather be earning 37,848 in SF than 15,770 in Menifee County. Generally, the more you earn while working, the more you'll have when you retire.
They probably do it that way because there are more people in big cities, that why they only have to help the least amount of people, but it looks like they are helping everyone, its politics. The poorest people are better of in E KY at least they have trailers and shacks, in cities they live under a bridge.
About Shawn, I heard the reason he was living in his truck was because a family took him in and he didn't want to abide by their rules, he wanted to do what he wanted to and they kicked him out. There's alot more to the stories on this show. Also, people around here who are on the "draw" and on drugs don't want to better themselves. It's easier for them to get hand outs, and not have to work for it. You can give them a thousand dollars and they'd squander it and go back to that old lifestyle.
that show is a bunch of horseshit yeah there drugs here yeah theres fuckin drugs everwhere but them people chose how they live i dont care how poor u are u can pick the damn trash up out of ur yard i live in kentucky and i know that no matter how fuckin poor i got i cant pick the trash up out of my yard people chose how they want to live there life they choose to drink they chose to do drugs and yeah i think if u choose that fuckin life ur fucked anyways
does anyone have a way to get a hold of shawn grim? i think i have a way to help him get into school and get a job up in northern kentucky. if anyone can help, please leave me a message on my page. thanks!! :)
I live in Kentucky, my Daddy died of a percription drug overdose, my husband's father worked in the mines, my husband works for AK Steel. I thought they should have done a segment on all of the industrial plants around here, I mean, he has a really good life insurance policy and can retire in 30 years because the chances of him getting cancer are so hight working where he works, and the company pays for my life insurance policy because he comes home with cancer-causing chemicals still on him
The reason the goverment will not step up and build bigger and better highways is because they dont want jobs to come to the area.. if jobs came to eastern kentucky, they would not have people work the coalmines.. and we all know if it wasnt for the hard working men that work the mines, the spoiled mercedas driving starbucks drinking people of San Francisco and New York city would not have electricty...
The government does not want jobs to go to the area because they would not have people work the coal mines.....are you insane? There are no jobs in eastern Kentucky because nobody in their right fucking mind would want to move a government agency or a major company there because the roads suck and they would never find enough employees to pass a drug test to get hired. It has nothing to do with taking away mining jobs.
Duhtruth42 is a closet hillbilly redneck.. if u duhtruth is from Scranton Pa.. and if anyone knows the area, they will agree with me, its a Hick town in Pa.. a lot of toothless hicks in Scranton... So Duhtruth does not to run he/she its mouth
You visit Kentucky often. You lived in central Florida for 2 years. You told me on a private message that you have been to Scranton. You swear like a sailor. I have three questions. First: Are you bipolar? Second: Why the hell did you come to Scranton? I moved here because my job transferred me here. It's not the greatest place in the world, but it's a hell of a lot better than any podunk town in Eastern Kentucky. Third: Where do you allegedly live now?
I am from Harlan Co. and I think Diane did a disservice to the people of her state. She did not do her job. If she did she would have pointed to her term mountain dew mouth could be attributed to the SUPER FUND site where studies show it is destructive to teeth and has been a factor in that part of Kentucky having a cancer rate higher than the USA rate. Why she did not show how companies have been instrumental in keeping Kentuckians down starting with coal operators so long ago.
No, Diane Sawyer didn't do you the biggest disservice, it was the movie "Deliverance", that's the image the rest of the country has in mind when they think of KY, WV, & TN. Unfortunately it tainted their views of the southern mountain states. While I know the majority of folks aren't like that there still are many that are & can be found on videos right here on youtube.
How about a storyline on how our region has been less affected by the economic crisis than most of the rest of the country, or how our housing market has been less affected? We have good jobs here, good people and those who are well educated. What Diane showed was a small percentage of our region for a ratings boost. It's the same shamful POS reporting that CBS pulled on their 60 Minutes bit on "Muddygut" several years ago. What a joke!
I am from the same area of Johnson County as Shawn. Actually I grew up just a few miles down the road. It's a wonderful place to live. Where people still believe in helping their neighbors. I hope that the viewers of this show realize there is more to this county than what they showed. We are not perfect no, but I'd still rather live here than anywhere else in the world. Atleast my children are safe and know how to appreciate life.
The media is just wrong for exploiting these people,anything for a story .if U listen ,watched and depended on the media your life will be lived in a BUBBLE with little chance of being free spirted and not peaceful at all.If only the real stories could be spread we would most definitly have a bit more compasion for one another.They are destroying us so their lives can be full of stuff and things that we dont need .I love Playing video games and driving a nice car,.but...
Sorry to say it but these People are no different then the people of Ethiopia At least these lazy fucks have some where to go that will better their living situations like right down the damn street.These People want to be where they are and put their childrens lives in danger and unfortunate situations,They dont want to deal with society and the rules and regulations we all have to abide by so they seclude themselves.Their are far worst mistreatment of peoplelivingright next to the white house.
u fucking dumbass.. the people of the mountains are not lazy u piece of shit.. no jobs, the fucking government forgot about them and plus why would the goverment put jobs in eastern kentucky, because no one would work the coalmines so spoiled americans can have electricity... so tippaugh fuck off .. makes me sick to hear people like you run your mouth when you don't know what your talking about..I work the summers in eastern kentucky... some of the sweetest and honest people you'll ever meet..
Your wrong, we're certainly not lazy, my husband works 16 hour days 6 to 7 days a week to provide for his family. You don't think we follow the same rules? The law dosn't change when you get to Kentucky, luv. And we can't just leave, where would we work? How could we afford a house when they're so expensive everywhere else? The min. wage where I live just went up from $5.15/hr to $6.15/hr, We work hard and provide a lot of the things you take for granted, like oil and steel and coal.=
i feel horribel for the sister of shawn grim, she has to attend school after Diane sawyer exploited her, with the incest storyline. yes they blocked her face out, but everyone in her region knows who she is.. i bet her fellow school mates have trashed her to her face over that... it think that was a low blow on Diane Sawyers part.. just shameful
I'm from this area as well. & this pissed me off. we aint like this. drugs are everywhere you go. And we do take cre of our kids. you dont hear around here about people killing their own child how about Caylee thats in fl. try to go down their and make a story you might get somewhere. Yea. we are from the hill and very proud of it. if you dont like it oh well thats on you.
YES!!!! people do live there, and if you would come out of that cave your living in, you might know a few things about the US. Say, have you found out about 9/11/01 yet?
i watched this was a great show sad tho the football kid got me the most so did the girl whos house burned down what was the naem of the football kid again?
hez a great kid { my cuz } he'z had dozenz of offerz since da show aired & iz contemplating them fully ... but he IZ goin back 2 school ... we r prayin 4 him & wishin him da best !!!
okay, i'm from the dead center of eastern kentucky and this absolutely drives me insane. most people aren't like that at all. we might have issues, but look around. i'm sure that there are places that have much worse issues than we do. the people in our area are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. we care for each other. seriously, eastern ky is NOT like this. we have people with great homes and great jobs. everywhere, you will have poverty. so think before you make fun of us. okay?
I too am from East KY and I must agree that this was a very one sided interview. It really makes me mad that anyone they interviewed who did have something nice to say about this wonderful place, was either not added in the interview, or the nice comments were. Seriously though, we aren't the only people who have problems, and even more importantly, we aren't the only people who have these problems.
I watched this documentary and was disapointed in the priority's they chose to put there time into! The reason they have such poor teeth may be the "mountain dew" but lets look at why ppl drink this? Its more afordable then juice or milk even. They did not even look at the why. Also the prescription drug abuse?? Why not look at the fact they have one Dr, and look into why he is writing all these ppl the scripts that are assisting in the demise. These issues are world wide!
I live in KY and it pisses me we are being discriminated bc of a stereotype. There are many intelligent individuals who choose to do something positive with their lives. I use to live in Cleveland, OH. Crime and drugs are horrible in OH. Drugs being sold everywhere you looked, drive by shootings. My father was shot in the head. I would prefer to live in a town where people are courteous to each other; then to live in a city that is corrupted with drug dealers and crime knocking at every corner.
I was born and raised in Magoffin. Let me say something about this county. Drugs are a problem. I feel for this county because it is run by a bunch of idiots. They don't have a walmart, kmart or any department stores. All they have is a couple of Dollar General Stores and a Family Dollar Store, a Rite-Aid, 2 grocery stores- IGA and Save Alot. The council there keeps voting against a walmart cause "it will hurt our local business'". What business'?? There are none.
They have no jail so their inmates goes to Paintsville and Magoffin pays Johnson County for that. Also, their telelphone company is out of Johnson County. Magoffin had a new courthouse built when they could've took that money and built something they actually needed and quit giving their money to Johnson. No wonder Johnson county is growing so fast. So when someone say there are JOBS here, trust me there aren't, not in Magoffin anyway. Everyone goes to other counties to shop and work.
I am from Eastern KY I know what it's like here. Not everyone is a poor pitiful soul who can't afford food. You can find poor people anywhere you go in America. I think it's a shame that she has to make it look like we all suffer and can't eat or something.
I shiver to think the type of drama that would insue over 20/20 "California; Homosexual Heaven"...or 20/20 "A hidden america; Children of the housing projects"....Or maybe even 20/20 "Florida; Children of the immigrants"....Those programs would not be tolerate and they very well shouldnt be...So why are the educated hardworking people of eastern kentucky subjected to this descrimination...
Believe it of not, there are educated and hardworking people in eastern ky. . . Not enough, but there are some. . . Its just that there aren't enough opportunities around. . . This place is dying, I won't deny it, but when we are all painted with one brush because of the ignorance of others it pisses me off!!
if those points are that Kentucky has some serious problems, then yes I have proved all of your points. Did you watch the follow up last night on 20/20? it looks like this show did a lot of good for the people profiled and brought nationwide awareness to the problems there.
You proved that people from outside the area make assumptions about us based on stereotypes. The stereotypes are generated by these shows, most people have never been to the area. If they want to help poor people that's good I have no problem with that but its wrong to make us look like a circus side show and reinforce negative stereotypes for sensationalism.
What have you done for the poor people in your area?
I am not from "outside the area." I grew up in eastern Kentucky and even attended college there. As a matter of fact, my parents still live there. As for poor people in my area, I do volunteer work for Scranton Tomorrow. I also donated to the Christian Appalachian Project. Arguing aside, you have to admit that there are some serious problems in the area and if everyone stopped bitching about "they need to show the good in the area" and just acknowledged the problems maybe they would get solved?
I cant get access to your previous commit, I think it has been removed but if I remember correctly you stated directly that people in E KY are uneducated and lazy. I just didn't realize that you were so much better than me until you informed me of the fact.
There are problems, but I don't think they are worse then anywhere else, in fact I think Kentucky is one of the safer, better places to live and raise children. It is you, that won't admit the stereotypes exist, There is no reason they couldn't have done this show without making everyone look like uneducated, inbred, poor, drug addicts how is that unreasonable?
so are your parents uneducated and lazy? Just type in tent cities, you will see people poorer than that all over the country
I'm very familiar with E, KY what county are you from? Where did you go to college? Funny you said everyone in E KY was uneducated and lazy, there must have been other people in the college with you, so they should have some education, or were you the only one at the school?
I am from Menifee County. When I said I went to college there, I didn't mean the eastern part of the state. I went to NKU and then later transferred and finished at the University of Louisville. I do not recall saying everyone there was uneducated and lazy, but a great deal of people in the area are. According to the United States Census Bureau, 18.6 of Kentuckians have a Bachelor's degree, making it 49th in the US behind only West Virginia (another central Appalachian state). Where are u from?
I responded to you because you had a commit that everyone in E KY is uneducated and lazy, I don't agree with that and I think its wrong to perpetuate a false stereotype. The commit is gone now, if you didn't say it or mean it that's good. Many people just don't want to leave their home, friends and family whats wrong with that? A lot of people go to MSU it may not be MIT but they qualify as educated.
I live in Atlanta now, I was born in Rowan county, I bought a cabin near cave run in menifee off 1274. I really think the place is great. I love Frenchberg, true KY is not a southern st, but most people up north think that it is. A lot of people like you and I probably earned a degree and live elsewhere so we may not be included in the count for E KY.
My parents live in Menifee County off 1274. Is your cabin near Morganview and "the Big Bull" gas station? How odd is it that 3 people who have commented on the same video all have ties to a county as small as Menifee?
I have thought before those surveys may be flawed, look at Boston with some of the top universities in the world, you have Havard, MIT, Tufts, Boston College, most of the people at these schools are from around the country and world, they graduate and go to work in Boston. In surveys their education level doesn't count for the little town or the country they came from, it counts for Boston. So they think they are more educated than us. When it is us, people from all over America.
Morehead State University just the next county over from menifee, has 10,000 students, population of rowan county 22,000. That's a lot of educated people almost half. I think it must have been great growing up right there on cave run lake, people come from Ohio, Lexington and all around to go to that lake what a great place.
This lady, and by not saying her name im implying that she is not and should not be a household name, is bringing stuff to the attention that should be brought up. However parading stereotypical individuals like she does is not the way to do it... It is prejudice appalachians are considered a minority and if any of you kids didnt know that it can benifit in college aid out of the state. So since "this lady" is being stereotypical upon minorities whats next?
well many places need help I was just in Detroit and San Diego for business those places are in big trouble. Kansas suspended income tax returns and missed payroll. Europe is in financial meltdown. Again Ky is no different.
Sorry, my responces have been very Fired up? I just feel like people honestly think that this is all Eastern Kentucky is made up of. This show makes those people look like idiots, not that a lot of them aren't hopeless and ignorant, but still it's called RESPECT. Almost all of them are on government funds and will spend their life like that. They waste money on Dollar Stores and choose not to clean their homes and self. Soap & water does wonders and cost under $5. This makes KY look like TRASH!
My vast experience with this subject has taught me most people not from Kentucky are too stupid to understand what we go through. The worst is when you have a friend for a few years and they drop a commit that shows they assumed you were inbred all along, do they know how mean, disgusting, sick and stupid that is? No they don't know. They assume your subhuman and don't even see anything wrong with it because they saw it on TV.
Kentucky has all types of people just like any place, I know I have lived and worked all around the country and world there is no difference. That's my point we are no different and they are no better. Don't group us as all the same based on stereotypes it's not only mean it's ignorant.
you know I don't think you should apologize, they make shows treating us like zoo animals. People think we are and treat us like inferior sub humans, even the civil rights act prevents discrimination based on national origin but you can discriminate against someone on state of origin what sense does that make?
you know I don't think you should apologize, they make shows treating us like zoo animals. People think we are and treat us like inferior sub humans, even the civil rights act prevents discrimination based on national origin but you can discriminate against someone on state of origin what sense does that make? p.s. I didn't give you thumbs down
I didn't watch this show,but from this commercial I honestly don't understand why everyone is freaking out.
It never states that everyone is living like this. I can't think of any city that is all poor or all rich. Their trying to help these people, not bash them and bring them down. Yes, the commercial focuses on the people living in the worst situation. It's to get more peoples attention. Your comments are bringing negative attention to a positive movement.
You are not from KY, You haven't been treated like a subhuman because of where your from, you really have no clue what your talking about. We don't need your help or sympathy any more than anyone else because you are no better than us. Whenever you confront people about the stereotypes with logic and knowledge they just deny the stereotypes exist.
What help are you talking about? They have done these shows before they showcase the people like zoo animals for sensationalism and say they are helping so they don't look like jerks. All the people of Ky are hurt badly by these shows, our accent marks us, imagine you cant move around the country as an equal based on stereotypes as soon as you speak.
I'm from KY, I had to work really hard to get rid of my accent. I went to Philidelphia and someone actually had the gall to ask me if I usually wore shoes! WTF?! Yes, because I'm going to go around in the MOUNTAINS in the SNOW without any shoes on! I hate it when people make stupid comments like that once they find out where I'm from, it's annoying.
People may have very little knowledge or experience with a subject, yet their opinions are completely formed, based mostly on misinformation from TV. when you confront people with reality it doesn't matter, the TV world is more real in their minds then reality, How warped from reality are our thoughts on so many issues due to TV programming?
It's spelled Laughing. and There was nothing whatsoever FUNNY about this 20 20. I come from Eastern Kentucky and I feel very very well off comparied to these people. I do disagree with harsh focus on JUST the poverty struck and drug addicted, because that isn't what our state consist of. But for an idiot like you to think it's FUNNY, shows how lame and moronic you truly are. God Bless you and your cruel ignorant mind and may he change how you see the world.
That Mountain Dew shit was just stupid. Not getting dental work done and not brushing are their problems. I know for a fact (some of my family work in Social Services in Kentucky, where I'm from) That if they get EBT and a Government Disability check that they also get Government health care as well. Some of these people are just to simple minded and lazy to pick up a tube of $1 toothpaste or go see the dentist. It's sad and shound be blamed on soda. errr.
In addition many people away from towns are on well water, well water doesn't have fluoride in it, fluoride is good for your teeth it keeps your teeth from rotting but its probably not good for the rest of your body.
I live in this place wehre this was taped in Inez people dont live like that there was just a very few that they showed plus Inez is alot nicer than what they showed they are some people on drugs but nothing like they made us look.
These people dont know what real suferin is. To live in the us n to livn in poverty is nothin but ur fault all the aid all benfits tat the us offers its people u shouldnt be cryin. if a country like india pakistan indonesia algeria or any other country offerd its people the oppertunities n benefits the us offers its the people would be grateful n wouldnt cry abot how there livn n do somthin with those benefits n improve their lives
what pisses me off about this is they are focused on the worst of what is here. That is our homeless or poor people. The difference is, they live in shacks. its no different than the ones in new york that sleep on the park benches or the crack houses. They never showed any of the good around, only all the negative..it makes me sick, and Diane Sawyer should have driven around while she was there and seen the beauty instead of the all the negative..
ok im from ky and i just wanted to let everyone know that not everyone is likew that yeah there are some people like that here but there are also very wealthy people here to and were not the only people who are like that i know people that are in california and dont have homes!!!
I don't have a lot financially, but I have what I need. I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, food to eat, and a job that I love. The most important things in my life were free. They can't be bought with any amount of money. Those are my love for my children, my family, and my friends. I can even find love in my heart for my fellow man, and for these things I consider myself RICH.
One other thing you forgot to mention, and one thing that really pisses me off about these documentaries. On the way to most of these places, the media had to pass several VERY EXPENSIVE homes.
You never saw one of those on 20/20 did you? I never saw you mention the 3.5 million dollar home located within 15 miles of your hometown. I'm not trying to say that poverty and crime doesn't exist here, it certainly does. Unfortunately every state has their fair share of it.
I know several people from there, who are making it quite well financially. They may have to drive a few miles to work, but oh well, the price one has to pay. The drug problem does exist. If you're getting any news from home, you may have been told that the arrests are increasing. The sheriff took over 100 marijuana plants and almost 1300 pills off the street just in the past 2 weeks. (With assistance from the State Police and UNITE of course) Things are improving in that area.
There are many people there who are doing well financial (my aunt and uncle for example). But for every person who is doing well, there are 2 people who are not doing so well. Congrats on the drug busts. It is a step in the right direction indeed.
So when it's a story about white people in the world who is struggling in life and got it bad we can then act like we are caring people and we have respect for others humans. You people disgust me! What makes me proud is how black people are not flooding the comment section with slurs like white trash and things like that. Prove my point that to many white people are racist and hateful. And blacks are just reacting to how they are being treated unfairly.
J3551K4 2 days ago
props to abc for somewhat recognizing poor whites in america. the media and the rest of us only focuses on inner city minorities and their needs and welfare and rights when poor whites are left out and are not shown in the media.
Dude0096 5 months ago
What is the name of the song that is played in the background through out the video?
czarinaa15 8 months ago
@czarinaa15 say what you need to say by John Mayer played on the movie Bucket List
jovelnom 8 months ago
Sickening mainstream media sentimentality and schmaltz.
ReligiousZombie 10 months ago
was a serious show?
actionbaseballgreen 11 months ago
I'm from the rural country in southern WV, and saw a lot of things growing up that most people would describe as "third-world," and yet, I never knew a single family who didn't have food, water, health care, clean clothes, decent shelter and education if they wanted to work for it like everyone else. I define "poverty" as not having those things, as would most WVians...so maybe we have a different standard than the rest of the materialistic country.
gypsyjazzbo 11 months ago 5
@gypsyjazzbo yeh so sick of ppl saying wvians are cavemen or cannibals living in filth and poverty..which is what the media makes ppl think..hence the wrong turn movies.
1986TruthSeeker 8 months ago
What does the narrator mean "unthinkable conditions"? It's not that hard to keep your house clean.
I watched this documentary, and I found it offensive. Half the issues covered here were problms that the people made for themselves. Nobody forces them to drink mountain dew.
MondoBeno 11 months ago 5
Lol at people crying "stereotype!" It is real. Some places are worse than others here, and this shows the worst of the worst. The majority of people in Appalachia live like people anywhere else.
The fact that not all of Appalachia lives in first world conditions doesn't demean you or anything. It's frankly quite stupid to react as if it was a blow to your personal pride, which is the impression I get from comments here.
Appalachia has it better than most of the world.
IPlayWithFire135 1 year ago 3
I want to say this:
STFU retards who think this is stereotyping. This video was made to call attention to their impoverished lifestyle and suggests that such a lifestyle was beyond their control. It shows how many of us are unaware of the hideousness of our next door neighbors and how we only see America as this wonderful flourishing country, when, in fact, it is not. Not only that, it implies that such an atmosphere was created due to neglect and greed of capitalist thinking.
aznlalaland 1 year ago
@aznlalaland: and all i want to say to YOU is this: don't speak on OUR behalf and tell us what WE need to say. all you see about the hills on TV is bootleggers, pillheads, poor people, etc.
I live right smack dab in the middle of Appalachia (Appalachia, Virginia if you care to argue about it), and if you think it's that bad you have no idea. Sure, alot of families are below the national poverty line, but the prices at our stores are less as well, and starting pay in those mines is around $22/hr.
PooPoo2U 1 year ago
@aznlalaland: so when you go on about our "impoverished lifestyle", think about how much of that is by choice. the pillheads and welfare-grabbers have it rough but not near as rough as those of us who are able and willing to go work a couple hundred feet underground to make enough to provide.
the truth is that the show being advertised here exists because diane sawyer left kentucky long ago and decided she would rather hide behind her heritage than embrace it.
PooPoo2U 1 year ago 2
This show kind of buges me cause it was basically just stereotyping everyone up there as dumb rednecks when thats not the truth. I would have preferred if they would have just documented about the culture like the music and the history, and the patriotism that comes out of Appalachia. If you want to help Appalachia write a letter to congress telling them to stop Mountain top removal. Thats the real disaster in that area.
prettyfyed 1 year ago
Is the girl at 0:10 Native American or of Melungeon descent?
lexxypexxy 1 year ago
if ur car is cost more than ur house ur probably a kentuckiann??? well if ur mouth runs more than ur fist ur PROBABLY a city slicker mostly dat guy dat posted the comment on the car
SecretSnipeZZZ 1 year ago 2
these people need help
TheNewMusicNetwork 1 year ago
These people don't need charity. They need a state government who will relax its business taxes to lure industry to Appalachia/WV to take advantage of the lower cost of living/labor cost, they need to be eased off of welfare, and then they need to get to work.
The poverty in this video is a product of two stupid people who didn't take advantage of their public education, had children, and are struggling as a result. They are the exception to life in Appalachia, not the norm.
qtipmotha 1 year ago 5
I beg to differ on your opinion. I know of very well educated men, here in central Appalachia PA, with many years mining experience that haven't been able to find a job in well over a year.
geo01367 1 year ago 6
From the looks of this video, the community that Sawyer went to doesn't look that impoverished, compared to many other pieces I've seen on Appalachia. They had very nice winter coats, automobiles, high school sports and teeth for crying out loud!
sdrawkcabdaeri 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
If your car is worth more than your house you are probably a Kentuckian.
Duhtruth42 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
be carful the mountains have eyes :I
YourChalker 2 years ago
be carful the mountains
YourChalker 2 years ago
Americans shouldnt have to go through this
JonSpencer915 2 years ago
i live in eastern kentucky well louisa, ky and thats not as bad as it is yea some people are like that but not all of us
speaker24 2 years ago 4
Not all, but most.
Duhtruth42 2 years ago
will people just leave us alone? like-ever?
roundhouseJIZZ 2 years ago 17
thank you!!!
KaptainKaka 2 years ago
@roundhouseJIZZ because of your name, lols.
Howtoisfun 1 year ago
these people need some donations
TheNewMusicNetwork 2 years ago
these people wouldn't take your donations. They just want to be left alone. Thanks.
KaptainKaka 2 years ago
sure they would. i'd rather give these people donations than some afro bozo monkeys in haiti
TheNewMusicNetwork 2 years ago
Why don't you worry about YOUR state falling off the face of the planet since its so broke. You should do some more history research in WHY these people are up in the hills. Most want to be left the fuck alone by outsiders, and govt. assistance programs.
KaptainKaka 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
racist fuck
cmfisch978 2 years ago
I agree, you are a brown turd colored racist-fucktard.
TheNewMusicNetwork 2 years ago
Pretty sure I'm not "brown." Get a life and stop hiding behind a computer. You don't talk shit like this in real life because you'd get your ass kicked.
cmfisch978 2 years ago
ya sure brown shit stain. sure.
get a life, faggot.
TheNewMusicNetwork 2 years ago
Coming from the guy with a Go Go's video on his page. LOL.
cmfisch978 2 years ago
Yeah, because we all know Kentuckians don't want free handouts.
Duhtruth42 2 years ago
Nothing is ever free. And some people actually have principles and don't want charity out of pride. Its called being independent, and minding your own business.
KaptainKaka 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Right....nothing is ever free. Those lazy bums live off my hard earned tax dollars!
Duhtruth42 2 years ago
all these haters FUCK YOU if you lived in this situation you would NEEED money they are poor and starving and all they could do is drugs and sleep!
colincman 2 years ago
give money to them not haiti
TheNewMusicNetwork 2 years ago
i watched this when it aired and it was very good. in one of the clips of shawn grim playin football it showed clips from the high school i went to when we played them his senior yr
1sick95venge 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
eww
Dude0096 2 years ago
Let's pray to God that you never have to go through that! It's not wise to look down on someone who has less, alot less than you.
PassionateGoth 2 years ago
Matthew 7:13-14
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Amen
juslookin3 2 years ago
I'm from southwest Va. and yeah there is need but I sort of resent stereotyping people in this area as drug addicted losers who can't take care of themselves. I have a good job and my girlfriend just graduated from ETSU with a bachelors in accounting. Also there are hard workers in this area. I'm talking about people that work long hours of manual labor and then go home and raise a garden and keep llivestock on the side. Plus great, friendly, mountain culture.
Tabfort 2 years ago 38
@Tabfort
then.. i think you should be thankful. you say this as stereotype.. i say this as revealing another unknown side of the place to others
FATLOKLOK 1 year ago
@Tabfort
Yeah, but its ok to stereotype black people as being ghetto? If this was a show about the inner-city, everyone commenting would say all blacks are like "that". Plus the video would be flooded by racist comments.
ErikandAndreea 1 week ago
I just watched this whole thing and I feel bad for all the people in this video. They were really exploited and even though I'm sure there's lots of poverty and drug use going on, you can find that everywhere. I'm from Seattle and could show you places here. OT, I think the woods of the Appalachians look awesome and I'd like to see them in person sometime. I love the forest and the woods you have over there in KY it's a lot different than the woods of the Cascades here in WA, different trees
spikedurden 2 years ago
@spikedurden I don't consider them exploited.
I think Abc are trying to show a different demographic of American poverty.
Often, when one thinks of poverty in the states it is of minorities, illegal immigrants, etc. These people need just as much help and live just as poorly, yet they are a demographic rarely touched on by the news or helped by celebrities and do-gooders in the country. I think that was the point.
IngaBekymmer 2 years ago
See what's funny is all of you crying are crying because you feel that your entire state/region is being stereotyped but I guarantee when you see a special on poorness in a black community, hispanic community, or whatever you finish watching and go "yup they're all lazy bums". Now that you're the victim of the stereotype you hate the news huh? Anyway it's called Hidden American because a lot of whites on the coasts think most whites make $100k a year like them. This was meant to show the truth.
ImperialEmpire 3 years ago
diane sawyer just wants it to seem to every body else that life is bad in these parts so they'll feel sorry for her becasue she grew up in kentucky. but in reality it is nothing like this at all.
tyro391 3 years ago
during the show she said, lots of the area live just like your typical suburb.
stuntflix 3 years ago
stuntflix is a toothless hillbilly. Trust me. I know him.
thrustiswaspinator 3 years ago
I have seen some of this first hand, being from Floyd Co. myself. I have since moved away but still live in the state. I still visit eastern kentucky from time to time, and I can see the drugs and poverty getting worse all the time. I think one of the reasons for this is Eastern Kentucky politics. There are two main ways to make money in Eastern Ky, and thats coal or drugs. The feds need to step it up and shut down all the corrupt politicians and cops that are in the area, that gets drug money.
stuntflix 3 years ago
i hit that bitch diane sawyer in the face with a muthafuckin shuvel
BeatThaCity 3 years ago
just to let people know, most of us DO NOT live like this, most of us live very clean lifestyles and we are not all toothless hillbillies living in some hillbillie shack... thats just what is steriotyped
camzlikes2dance 3 years ago
basically the morons and toothless people in kentucky tend to be the scotch-irish. it's the germanics that excel and it is the germanics that have made and built this country up until the inferior chimpanzee aka britonic, irish and scottish losers started to work with the zionist neo-liberal jewish ilk in destroying our dollar.
ne0nsurf 3 years ago
@ne0nsurf you aren't in the neighbourhood are you?
Ms2blackcats 7 months ago
Lets take our unfortunate inbred fellow from Plymouth rock, once he meets a nice southern girl with a completely different set of genes and they have cute little babies the genetic effect on their offspring is the same as if his father had bred with the southern girl himself thus the inbreeding is bred out after one generation, isnt nature amazing?
andrewmag1 3 years ago
Lets say a case of inbreeding occurred at, oh Plymouth Rock, each person has genetic errors, an offspring is the direct result of both parents genetic contribution. If the errors line up from both parents then deformities occur, since people in the same family have similar genetics, the deformities are more likely to line up if relatives breed.
andrewmag1 3 years ago
Kentucky was settled in the north down and east to west meeting in the center of the state with people from all northern colonies and Virginia. The people of KY from the start were a varied mixture of Europeans, Africans and American Indians. There is more variation in genetics in KY than most countries and races.
andrewmag1 3 years ago
With 4 million plus people in the KY do people really think we cant find a mate we are not related to? I know what your thinking, well years ago there werent many people in KY so they had relations with their relations. How many people do you think survived the Pleistocene period? For that matter how many people do you think got off of the mayflower?
andrewmag1 3 years ago
this is so stupid...not all of eastern kentucky is...all of us here are pretty pissed off...that they would do such a thing...get the worst shape people in the eastern part of kentucky and put them on camera...everyone already thinks we are nothing but hillbilly's that dont kno what technology is...we sure as heck didn't need this..!!!!!!!!
unitedcheerstar 3 years ago
thrustiswaspinator 3 years ago
Cost of living index in San Francisco County: 180.2
In Menifee County Ky: 75.6 (U.S. average is 100)
U.S. Poverty threshold for four, in 2007 was US $21,027.
In San Fran 1.8*21,027=37,848
In Menifee .75*21,027=15,770
So 37,848 in San Fran = 15,770 in Menifee KY. Above 15,770 to 21,027 in Menifee is considered impoverished when its not and 21,027 to 37,848 in San Fran is considered not impoverished when it is.
So more percent people are in poverty in KY on paper, but not reality
andrewmag1 3 years ago
I would much rather be earning 37,848 in SF than 15,770 in Menifee County. Generally, the more you earn while working, the more you'll have when you retire.
thrustiswaspinator 3 years ago
They probably do it that way because there are more people in big cities, that why they only have to help the least amount of people, but it looks like they are helping everyone, its politics. The poorest people are better of in E KY at least they have trailers and shacks, in cities they live under a bridge.
andrewmag1 3 years ago
I agree its a good Idea to work in a high COL area and retire to a low COL area, that is what I plan to do.
andrewmag1 3 years ago
Where did you find the cost of living index for Menifee County? Please post a link I want to check it out for some other areas. Thanks.
thrustiswaspinator 3 years ago
just type
"cost of living index Menifee county ky"
into google, first link has the COL.
andrewmag1 3 years ago
Its all relative. Thank you for putting that out there for these people to see.
KaptainKaka 2 years ago
Diane Sawyer is from Kentucky.
oh and that football player(from what i heard) doesn't live in his truck
xD
xXBridgettxX 3 years ago
About Shawn, I heard the reason he was living in his truck was because a family took him in and he didn't want to abide by their rules, he wanted to do what he wanted to and they kicked him out. There's alot more to the stories on this show. Also, people around here who are on the "draw" and on drugs don't want to better themselves. It's easier for them to get hand outs, and not have to work for it. You can give them a thousand dollars and they'd squander it and go back to that old lifestyle.
clerinda 3 years ago
that show is a bunch of horseshit yeah there drugs here yeah theres fuckin drugs everwhere but them people chose how they live i dont care how poor u are u can pick the damn trash up out of ur yard i live in kentucky and i know that no matter how fuckin poor i got i cant pick the trash up out of my yard people chose how they want to live there life they choose to drink they chose to do drugs and yeah i think if u choose that fuckin life ur fucked anyways
kylew2007 3 years ago
does anyone have a way to get a hold of shawn grim? i think i have a way to help him get into school and get a job up in northern kentucky. if anyone can help, please leave me a message on my page. thanks!! :)
and yes, i am being serious!
kygal00 3 years ago
I live in Kentucky, my Daddy died of a percription drug overdose, my husband's father worked in the mines, my husband works for AK Steel. I thought they should have done a segment on all of the industrial plants around here, I mean, he has a really good life insurance policy and can retire in 30 years because the chances of him getting cancer are so hight working where he works, and the company pays for my life insurance policy because he comes home with cancer-causing chemicals still on him
DesolateYetUndaunted 3 years ago
The reason the goverment will not step up and build bigger and better highways is because they dont want jobs to come to the area.. if jobs came to eastern kentucky, they would not have people work the coalmines.. and we all know if it wasnt for the hard working men that work the mines, the spoiled mercedas driving starbucks drinking people of San Francisco and New York city would not have electricty...
blondekaylee22 3 years ago 2
The government does not want jobs to go to the area because they would not have people work the coal mines.....are you insane? There are no jobs in eastern Kentucky because nobody in their right fucking mind would want to move a government agency or a major company there because the roads suck and they would never find enough employees to pass a drug test to get hired. It has nothing to do with taking away mining jobs.
Duhtruth42 3 years ago
Duhtruth42 is a closet hillbilly redneck.. if u duhtruth is from Scranton Pa.. and if anyone knows the area, they will agree with me, its a Hick town in Pa.. a lot of toothless hicks in Scranton... So Duhtruth does not to run he/she its mouth
blondekaylee22 3 years ago
You visit Kentucky often. You lived in central Florida for 2 years. You told me on a private message that you have been to Scranton. You swear like a sailor. I have three questions. First: Are you bipolar? Second: Why the hell did you come to Scranton? I moved here because my job transferred me here. It's not the greatest place in the world, but it's a hell of a lot better than any podunk town in Eastern Kentucky. Third: Where do you allegedly live now?
Duhtruth42 3 years ago
I am from Harlan Co. and I think Diane did a disservice to the people of her state. She did not do her job. If she did she would have pointed to her term mountain dew mouth could be attributed to the SUPER FUND site where studies show it is destructive to teeth and has been a factor in that part of Kentucky having a cancer rate higher than the USA rate. Why she did not show how companies have been instrumental in keeping Kentuckians down starting with coal operators so long ago.
moonbowfalls 3 years ago
to: moonbowfalls -
No, Diane Sawyer didn't do you the biggest disservice, it was the movie "Deliverance", that's the image the rest of the country has in mind when they think of KY, WV, & TN. Unfortunately it tainted their views of the southern mountain states. While I know the majority of folks aren't like that there still are many that are & can be found on videos right here on youtube.
ObamaMama2 2 years ago
How about a storyline on how our region has been less affected by the economic crisis than most of the rest of the country, or how our housing market has been less affected? We have good jobs here, good people and those who are well educated. What Diane showed was a small percentage of our region for a ratings boost. It's the same shamful POS reporting that CBS pulled on their 60 Minutes bit on "Muddygut" several years ago. What a joke!
duelingswords 3 years ago
Im from eastern ky .. and this .. some of it is true but at the same time you have to wonder why the government has not stepped in to help out.
Jesikka06 3 years ago
Too bad 20/20 and diane sawyer are to much of a ratings slut to see the good and beauty that truly is Eastern Ky.
DJslurredspeech 3 years ago 2
I am from the same area of Johnson County as Shawn. Actually I grew up just a few miles down the road. It's a wonderful place to live. Where people still believe in helping their neighbors. I hope that the viewers of this show realize there is more to this county than what they showed. We are not perfect no, but I'd still rather live here than anywhere else in the world. Atleast my children are safe and know how to appreciate life.
theinfamoussalt 3 years ago
The media is just wrong for exploiting these people,anything for a story .if U listen ,watched and depended on the media your life will be lived in a BUBBLE with little chance of being free spirted and not peaceful at all.If only the real stories could be spread we would most definitly have a bit more compasion for one another.They are destroying us so their lives can be full of stuff and things that we dont need .I love Playing video games and driving a nice car,.but...
tippaugh 3 years ago
Sorry to say it but these People are no different then the people of Ethiopia At least these lazy fucks have some where to go that will better their living situations like right down the damn street.These People want to be where they are and put their childrens lives in danger and unfortunate situations,They dont want to deal with society and the rules and regulations we all have to abide by so they seclude themselves.Their are far worst mistreatment of peoplelivingright next to the white house.
tippaugh 3 years ago
u fucking dumbass.. the people of the mountains are not lazy u piece of shit.. no jobs, the fucking government forgot about them and plus why would the goverment put jobs in eastern kentucky, because no one would work the coalmines so spoiled americans can have electricity... so tippaugh fuck off .. makes me sick to hear people like you run your mouth when you don't know what your talking about..I work the summers in eastern kentucky... some of the sweetest and honest people you'll ever meet..
blondekaylee22 3 years ago
Your wrong, we're certainly not lazy, my husband works 16 hour days 6 to 7 days a week to provide for his family. You don't think we follow the same rules? The law dosn't change when you get to Kentucky, luv. And we can't just leave, where would we work? How could we afford a house when they're so expensive everywhere else? The min. wage where I live just went up from $5.15/hr to $6.15/hr, We work hard and provide a lot of the things you take for granted, like oil and steel and coal.=
DesolateYetUndaunted 3 years ago
i feel horribel for the sister of shawn grim, she has to attend school after Diane sawyer exploited her, with the incest storyline. yes they blocked her face out, but everyone in her region knows who she is.. i bet her fellow school mates have trashed her to her face over that... it think that was a low blow on Diane Sawyers part.. just shameful
blondekaylee22 3 years ago
I'm from this area as well. & this pissed me off. we aint like this. drugs are everywhere you go. And we do take cre of our kids. you dont hear around here about people killing their own child how about Caylee thats in fl. try to go down their and make a story you might get somewhere. Yea. we are from the hill and very proud of it. if you dont like it oh well thats on you.
angelmm7770909 3 years ago
WHAT?!?!? People actaully LIVE up there??? I never knew.
InsaneWombat 3 years ago
YES!!!! people do live there, and if you would come out of that cave your living in, you might know a few things about the US. Say, have you found out about 9/11/01 yet?
wvhilllbilly 2 years ago 3
i watched this was a great show sad tho the football kid got me the most so did the girl whos house burned down what was the naem of the football kid again?
yankeefan2k7 3 years ago
shawn grim ... aka ... grimreaper
hez a great kid { my cuz } he'z had dozenz of offerz since da show aired & iz contemplating them fully ... but he IZ goin back 2 school ... we r prayin 4 him & wishin him da best !!!
fAnGeDkOrNfAn 3 years ago
are you serious?
yankeefan2k7 3 years ago
yeah ... he'z had offerz from numerous collegez 4 their football teamz & even had a celebrity offer 2 pay 4 hiz education
thingz look hopeful 4 him ... FINALLY
fAnGeDkOrNfAn 3 years ago
okay, i'm from the dead center of eastern kentucky and this absolutely drives me insane. most people aren't like that at all. we might have issues, but look around. i'm sure that there are places that have much worse issues than we do. the people in our area are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. we care for each other. seriously, eastern ky is NOT like this. we have people with great homes and great jobs. everywhere, you will have poverty. so think before you make fun of us. okay?
kbrianne002 3 years ago
I too am from East KY and I must agree that this was a very one sided interview. It really makes me mad that anyone they interviewed who did have something nice to say about this wonderful place, was either not added in the interview, or the nice comments were. Seriously though, we aren't the only people who have problems, and even more importantly, we aren't the only people who have these problems.
bendover185 3 years ago
I watched this documentary and was disapointed in the priority's they chose to put there time into! The reason they have such poor teeth may be the "mountain dew" but lets look at why ppl drink this? Its more afordable then juice or milk even. They did not even look at the why. Also the prescription drug abuse?? Why not look at the fact they have one Dr, and look into why he is writing all these ppl the scripts that are assisting in the demise. These issues are world wide!
Coffeegirl28 3 years ago
I live in KY and it pisses me we are being discriminated bc of a stereotype. There are many intelligent individuals who choose to do something positive with their lives. I use to live in Cleveland, OH. Crime and drugs are horrible in OH. Drugs being sold everywhere you looked, drive by shootings. My father was shot in the head. I would prefer to live in a town where people are courteous to each other; then to live in a city that is corrupted with drug dealers and crime knocking at every corner.
mintoswoman0925 3 years ago
I was born and raised in Magoffin. Let me say something about this county. Drugs are a problem. I feel for this county because it is run by a bunch of idiots. They don't have a walmart, kmart or any department stores. All they have is a couple of Dollar General Stores and a Family Dollar Store, a Rite-Aid, 2 grocery stores- IGA and Save Alot. The council there keeps voting against a walmart cause "it will hurt our local business'". What business'?? There are none.
clerinda 3 years ago
They have no jail so their inmates goes to Paintsville and Magoffin pays Johnson County for that. Also, their telelphone company is out of Johnson County. Magoffin had a new courthouse built when they could've took that money and built something they actually needed and quit giving their money to Johnson. No wonder Johnson county is growing so fast. So when someone say there are JOBS here, trust me there aren't, not in Magoffin anyway. Everyone goes to other counties to shop and work.
clerinda 3 years ago
its bad i guess, but it's not like the slums of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, or New Jersey
cheeser1532 3 years ago
I am from Eastern KY I know what it's like here. Not everyone is a poor pitiful soul who can't afford food. You can find poor people anywhere you go in America. I think it's a shame that she has to make it look like we all suffer and can't eat or something.
CuteNCuddlyCrystal 3 years ago
I shiver to think the type of drama that would insue over 20/20 "California; Homosexual Heaven"...or 20/20 "A hidden america; Children of the housing projects"....Or maybe even 20/20 "Florida; Children of the immigrants"....Those programs would not be tolerate and they very well shouldnt be...So why are the educated hardworking people of eastern kentucky subjected to this descrimination...
keenancampbell 3 years ago 4
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Educated and hard working in the same sentence as eastern Kentucky? Sounds like an oxymoron to me.
Duhtruth42 3 years ago
u sound like a TOTAL moron 2 me
fAnGeDkOrNfAn 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Let me reply in whatever language you are using to type: OMG! WTF ru say'n 'bout me? TTYLaturzzzz.
Duhtruth42 3 years ago
blow me douchebag
fAnGeDkOrNfAn 3 years ago
What an awesome comeback. datruth hurts, doesn't it?
Duhtruth42 3 years ago
ill let u know when i find it loser
fAnGeDkOrNfAn 3 years ago
Believe it of not, there are educated and hardworking people in eastern ky. . . Not enough, but there are some. . . Its just that there aren't enough opportunities around. . . This place is dying, I won't deny it, but when we are all painted with one brush because of the ignorance of others it pisses me off!!
CelestialEngel 3 years ago
yeah dis guy needz 2 get a clue ... i guess itz easy 2 talk about ppl when ur workin hard @ sittin on ur ass n front of ur pc bein a sarcastic jerk
fAnGeDkOrNfAn 3 years ago
If you worked as hard at finding a solution to the problems your area faces as you do denying them on youtube, then the issues would be resolved.
Duhtruth42 3 years ago
like i said ... a jerk ... i haven't been denyin nething u idiot
fAnGeDkOrNfAn 3 years ago
See sir, you prove all my points.
andrewmag1 3 years ago
but what do you expect from someone who knows duh truth
andrewmag1 3 years ago
lol
fAnGeDkOrNfAn 3 years ago
if those points are that Kentucky has some serious problems, then yes I have proved all of your points. Did you watch the follow up last night on 20/20? it looks like this show did a lot of good for the people profiled and brought nationwide awareness to the problems there.
Duhtruth42 3 years ago
You proved that people from outside the area make assumptions about us based on stereotypes. The stereotypes are generated by these shows, most people have never been to the area. If they want to help poor people that's good I have no problem with that but its wrong to make us look like a circus side show and reinforce negative stereotypes for sensationalism.
What have you done for the poor people in your area?
andrewmag1 3 years ago
I am not from "outside the area." I grew up in eastern Kentucky and even attended college there. As a matter of fact, my parents still live there. As for poor people in my area, I do volunteer work for Scranton Tomorrow. I also donated to the Christian Appalachian Project. Arguing aside, you have to admit that there are some serious problems in the area and if everyone stopped bitching about "they need to show the good in the area" and just acknowledged the problems maybe they would get solved?
Duhtruth42 3 years ago
duh truth
I cant get access to your previous commit, I think it has been removed but if I remember correctly you stated directly that people in E KY are uneducated and lazy. I just didn't realize that you were so much better than me until you informed me of the fact.
andrewmag1 3 years ago
My pleasure.
Duhtruth42 3 years ago
duh truth
There are problems, but I don't think they are worse then anywhere else, in fact I think Kentucky is one of the safer, better places to live and raise children. It is you, that won't admit the stereotypes exist, There is no reason they couldn't have done this show without making everyone look like uneducated, inbred, poor, drug addicts how is that unreasonable?
so are your parents uneducated and lazy? Just type in tent cities, you will see people poorer than that all over the country
andrewmag1 3 years ago
duh truth
I'm very familiar with E, KY what county are you from? Where did you go to college? Funny you said everyone in E KY was uneducated and lazy, there must have been other people in the college with you, so they should have some education, or were you the only one at the school?
andrewmag1 3 years ago
I am from Menifee County. When I said I went to college there, I didn't mean the eastern part of the state. I went to NKU and then later transferred and finished at the University of Louisville. I do not recall saying everyone there was uneducated and lazy, but a great deal of people in the area are. According to the United States Census Bureau, 18.6 of Kentuckians have a Bachelor's degree, making it 49th in the US behind only West Virginia (another central Appalachian state). Where are u from?
Duhtruth42 3 years ago
I responded to you because you had a commit that everyone in E KY is uneducated and lazy, I don't agree with that and I think its wrong to perpetuate a false stereotype. The commit is gone now, if you didn't say it or mean it that's good. Many people just don't want to leave their home, friends and family whats wrong with that? A lot of people go to MSU it may not be MIT but they qualify as educated.
andrewmag1 3 years ago
I live in Atlanta now, I was born in Rowan county, I bought a cabin near cave run in menifee off 1274. I really think the place is great. I love Frenchberg, true KY is not a southern st, but most people up north think that it is. A lot of people like you and I probably earned a degree and live elsewhere so we may not be included in the count for E KY.
andrewmag1 3 years ago
My parents live in Menifee County off 1274. Is your cabin near Morganview and "the Big Bull" gas station? How odd is it that 3 people who have commented on the same video all have ties to a county as small as Menifee?
thrustiswaspinator 3 years ago
I have thought before those surveys may be flawed, look at Boston with some of the top universities in the world, you have Havard, MIT, Tufts, Boston College, most of the people at these schools are from around the country and world, they graduate and go to work in Boston. In surveys their education level doesn't count for the little town or the country they came from, it counts for Boston. So they think they are more educated than us. When it is us, people from all over America.
andrewmag1 3 years ago
Morehead State University just the next county over from menifee, has 10,000 students, population of rowan county 22,000. That's a lot of educated people almost half. I think it must have been great growing up right there on cave run lake, people come from Ohio, Lexington and all around to go to that lake what a great place.
andrewmag1 3 years ago
No way! My folks live in Menifee County. Small world.
thrustiswaspinator 3 years ago
This lady, and by not saying her name im implying that she is not and should not be a household name, is bringing stuff to the attention that should be brought up. However parading stereotypical individuals like she does is not the way to do it... It is prejudice appalachians are considered a minority and if any of you kids didnt know that it can benifit in college aid out of the state. So since "this lady" is being stereotypical upon minorities whats next?
keenancampbell 3 years ago
This is my home, my backyard. . . I live here. . . yes this place needs help, but we are not all like this
CelestialEngel 3 years ago
well many places need help I was just in Detroit and San Diego for business those places are in big trouble. Kansas suspended income tax returns and missed payroll. Europe is in financial meltdown. Again Ky is no different.
andrewmag1 3 years ago
Sorry, my responces have been very Fired up? I just feel like people honestly think that this is all Eastern Kentucky is made up of. This show makes those people look like idiots, not that a lot of them aren't hopeless and ignorant, but still it's called RESPECT. Almost all of them are on government funds and will spend their life like that. They waste money on Dollar Stores and choose not to clean their homes and self. Soap & water does wonders and cost under $5. This makes KY look like TRASH!
pohochic 3 years ago
Comment removed
fAnGeDkOrNfAn 3 years ago
My vast experience with this subject has taught me most people not from Kentucky are too stupid to understand what we go through. The worst is when you have a friend for a few years and they drop a commit that shows they assumed you were inbred all along, do they know how mean, disgusting, sick and stupid that is? No they don't know. They assume your subhuman and don't even see anything wrong with it because they saw it on TV.
andrewmag1 3 years ago
Kentucky has all types of people just like any place, I know I have lived and worked all around the country and world there is no difference. That's my point we are no different and they are no better. Don't group us as all the same based on stereotypes it's not only mean it's ignorant.
andrewmag1 3 years ago
you know I don't think you should apologize, they make shows treating us like zoo animals. People think we are and treat us like inferior sub humans, even the civil rights act prevents discrimination based on national origin but you can discriminate against someone on state of origin what sense does that make?
andrewmag1 3 years ago
you know I don't think you should apologize, they make shows treating us like zoo animals. People think we are and treat us like inferior sub humans, even the civil rights act prevents discrimination based on national origin but you can discriminate against someone on state of origin what sense does that make? p.s. I didn't give you thumbs down
andrewmag1 3 years ago
I didn't watch this show,but from this commercial I honestly don't understand why everyone is freaking out.
It never states that everyone is living like this. I can't think of any city that is all poor or all rich. Their trying to help these people, not bash them and bring them down. Yes, the commercial focuses on the people living in the worst situation. It's to get more peoples attention. Your comments are bringing negative attention to a positive movement.
babymakemyheartbeat 3 years ago
You are not from KY, You haven't been treated like a subhuman because of where your from, you really have no clue what your talking about. We don't need your help or sympathy any more than anyone else because you are no better than us. Whenever you confront people about the stereotypes with logic and knowledge they just deny the stereotypes exist.
andrewmag1 3 years ago
What help are you talking about? They have done these shows before they showcase the people like zoo animals for sensationalism and say they are helping so they don't look like jerks. All the people of Ky are hurt badly by these shows, our accent marks us, imagine you cant move around the country as an equal based on stereotypes as soon as you speak.
andrewmag1 3 years ago
I'm from KY, I had to work really hard to get rid of my accent. I went to Philidelphia and someone actually had the gall to ask me if I usually wore shoes! WTF?! Yes, because I'm going to go around in the MOUNTAINS in the SNOW without any shoes on! I hate it when people make stupid comments like that once they find out where I'm from, it's annoying.
DesolateYetUndaunted 3 years ago
People may have very little knowledge or experience with a subject, yet their opinions are completely formed, based mostly on misinformation from TV. when you confront people with reality it doesn't matter, the TV world is more real in their minds then reality, How warped from reality are our thoughts on so many issues due to TV programming?
andrewmag1 3 years ago
OOoooOO lala that was a good one... haha i almost fell off my chair from luaghing haha ... ahhhh im still luaghing at that one tooo FUNNY [=
Chick6517 3 years ago
It's spelled Laughing. and There was nothing whatsoever FUNNY about this 20 20. I come from Eastern Kentucky and I feel very very well off comparied to these people. I do disagree with harsh focus on JUST the poverty struck and drug addicted, because that isn't what our state consist of. But for an idiot like you to think it's FUNNY, shows how lame and moronic you truly are. God Bless you and your cruel ignorant mind and may he change how you see the world.
pohochic 3 years ago
mountain dew the true enemy
pattert 3 years ago
That Mountain Dew shit was just stupid. Not getting dental work done and not brushing are their problems. I know for a fact (some of my family work in Social Services in Kentucky, where I'm from) That if they get EBT and a Government Disability check that they also get Government health care as well. Some of these people are just to simple minded and lazy to pick up a tube of $1 toothpaste or go see the dentist. It's sad and shound be blamed on soda. errr.
pohochic 3 years ago
i was just kiddin
pattert 3 years ago
In addition many people away from towns are on well water, well water doesn't have fluoride in it, fluoride is good for your teeth it keeps your teeth from rotting but its probably not good for the rest of your body.
andrewmag1 3 years ago
I live in this place wehre this was taped in Inez people dont live like that there was just a very few that they showed plus Inez is alot nicer than what they showed they are some people on drugs but nothing like they made us look.
matthewpenix 3 years ago 2
These people dont know what real suferin is. To live in the us n to livn in poverty is nothin but ur fault all the aid all benfits tat the us offers its people u shouldnt be cryin. if a country like india pakistan indonesia algeria or any other country offerd its people the oppertunities n benefits the us offers its the people would be grateful n wouldnt cry abot how there livn n do somthin with those benefits n improve their lives
masiumf 3 years ago
what pisses me off about this is they are focused on the worst of what is here. That is our homeless or poor people. The difference is, they live in shacks. its no different than the ones in new york that sleep on the park benches or the crack houses. They never showed any of the good around, only all the negative..it makes me sick, and Diane Sawyer should have driven around while she was there and seen the beauty instead of the all the negative..
sugarcookeez 3 years ago 2
ok im from ky and i just wanted to let everyone know that not everyone is likew that yeah there are some people like that here but there are also very wealthy people here to and were not the only people who are like that i know people that are in california and dont have homes!!!
-Vampire L:ove
~Brooke Adams
cutiegirl6742 3 years ago
I don't have a lot financially, but I have what I need. I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, food to eat, and a job that I love. The most important things in my life were free. They can't be bought with any amount of money. Those are my love for my children, my family, and my friends. I can even find love in my heart for my fellow man, and for these things I consider myself RICH.
Proud2BfromKY 3 years ago
One other thing you forgot to mention, and one thing that really pisses me off about these documentaries. On the way to most of these places, the media had to pass several VERY EXPENSIVE homes.
You never saw one of those on 20/20 did you? I never saw you mention the 3.5 million dollar home located within 15 miles of your hometown. I'm not trying to say that poverty and crime doesn't exist here, it certainly does. Unfortunately every state has their fair share of it.
Proud2BfromKY 3 years ago 2
I know several people from there, who are making it quite well financially. They may have to drive a few miles to work, but oh well, the price one has to pay. The drug problem does exist. If you're getting any news from home, you may have been told that the arrests are increasing. The sheriff took over 100 marijuana plants and almost 1300 pills off the street just in the past 2 weeks. (With assistance from the State Police and UNITE of course) Things are improving in that area.
Proud2BfromKY 3 years ago
There are many people there who are doing well financial (my aunt and uncle for example). But for every person who is doing well, there are 2 people who are not doing so well. Congrats on the drug busts. It is a step in the right direction indeed.
thrustiswaspinator 3 years ago