Pop v. Soda v. Coke mapped

[infinitesymphony]

Looking through the results of states with counties that had "other" as the top answer, I was really surprised by the prevalence of "tarzan slam." Never heard that one before.

 

[Elec]

I grew up in the midwest but my parents are from the East coast and I now live in Maryland, so I'm ok with pop or soda.

People using Coke as a generic name for all soft drinks bugs the crap out of me. But, you say, people do this with Kleenex! Which is true, although if I ask for a Kleenex, I don't mind if I get a real one or a generic facial tissue. If I order a Coke, I expect a brown, sweet, fizzy cola...yes Pepsi or RC or whatever is usually an acceptable substitute if I said I wanted Coke. Other flavors and varieties of soda are not Coke. There is no such thing as Sprite Coke. If I order a Coke at a restaurant and the person asks me what KIND of Coke I want, my usual response is "...a-Cola. Coca-Cola."

 

[Azure]

SODA!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denim /img/forum/go_quote.gif Another interesting map to see would be "For here" vs. "To stay" and "To go" vs "Take away". Anyone got one of those?

Here it is "for here" or "to go." I've never heard "to stay" or "take away" before

 

[KYTGuy]

Born in Texas, raised in Texas, Virginia, and Florida - for me, it is always a "coke", after which I specify what it is I want - Nehi, Strawberry, RC, Choco, or whatever, maybe even a "Cocola" - you know, "The Real Thang".

You Pop and Soda folks are just WRONG!

 

[oicdn]

My ol' lady is from Ohio...her entire family calls it pop, whether it's Dr. Pepper, root beer or Coke. But they all prefer Pepsi except my GF, who hates Pepsi, but loves Dr. Pepper.

My family calls it soda or coke. And doesn't know What they're talking about when they say pop. Old people in her family call it soda pop, and my family is further bewildered as to why they're stuck in the 50's...

I think it's funny...

 

[Comfy]

It's called beer in Finland.

 

[virometal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samgotit /img/forum/go_quote.gif Alaska is the melting pot of soft drink colloquialisms. Go Alaska.

It's an interesting way to track culture.

For example, I live in Oklahoma. Tulsa in the east is more culturally connected with Kansas City. Oklahoma City in the center is more culturally connected with Dallas.

The yellow dominates on the coasts, but what about St. Louis? Could the Mississippi have an effect on that?

Anyone have a cultural history of St. Louis?

 

[Samgotit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by virometal /img/forum/go_quote.gif It's an interesting way to track culture. For example, I live in Oklahoma. Tulsa in the east is more culturally connected with Kansas City. Oklahoma City in the center is more culturally connected with Dallas. The yellow dominates on the coasts, but what about St. Louis? Could the Mississippi have an effect on that? Anyone have a cultural history of St. Louis?

That is a pretty interesting line that runs from NE Oklahoma up to SW Indiana?

**************************************************

As far as "pop" goes, for a long time I thought that word was a temporal term more than a geographical one. That is, I thought it was only used in old B&W, family themed sitcoms. I learned otherwise when I started to travel out of the south. Ya'll cats that use "pop" are weird IMO. Still, I like the researcher's highly academic conclusion:

"People who say "Pop" are much, much cooler."

 

[warubozu]

In the state of Hawaii soda is the term universally used. I don't anyone that's born and raised here locally uses the term pop as reference for soft drinks, that's more of a US mainland used term. Coke or Pepsi is used in Hawaii to describe more specifically what brand we want when asked.

 

[virometal]

I love this map. It's printed out next to my desk as I type. Many people here have commented on it.

I wish there was a sociologist in the house. Can we get a sociologist please!

 

[Klarus]

I like "soft drink". Seriously though, I'm surprised the other two Minnesotans in this thread say "soda" instead of "pop".

Guess I'm the odd one out--always, always "pop".

 

[PiccoloNamek]

People actually call it "pop"?

I'm in Atlanta here and everyone says "coke", whether they're referring to Coke or Pepsi.

 

[Superpredator]

What I need to know is how soda invaded the greater St. Louis / Jefferson City area. Look at that big blob of awesomeness. Now those are my kind of people.

Forget red and blue states. I'm gold, baby!

 

[goldenratiophi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elec /img/forum/go_quote.gif yes Pepsi or RC or whatever is usually an acceptable substitute if I said I wanted Coke

IMO Pepsi and RC are just no match for Coke, and certainly not an acceptable substitute

*ducks away from attacks by Pepsi fans*

 

[splaz]

I don't even get how you come up with those weird terms...

They are called softies, soft drink, carbonated drink or cool drink, but don't ask about cool drink I think it's stupid as well.

Then you refer to specific brands or flavours.

ie.

Can I have a softie thanks, coke/cola/coca cola/pepsi then follow with any flavours/variations if you want, cherry/vanilla/diet.

Soda as duggeh pointed out refers to soda water or may be attached to the end of "red creaming" to refer to a certain style, it shouldn't be a generic term.

Coke is a brand of cola. Can be you used generically to just mean cola however the reply is often, "We only have pepsi/kole beer etc.".

Pop doesn't have much to do with anything other than rocks.

Well hope everyone found that informative.