Charleston's less-popular trends

Image by Flickr user Okinawa SobaImage by 20090218-slaves.jpg A photo from Goose Creek Plantation.

Posted as the first of his "great" rejected freelance ideas, Dan Conover has shared "Charleston Trends That Never Quite Caught On Elsewhere."

It's a great tongue-in-cheek expose on some of Charleston's less glamorous parts.

My favorite:
Aristocracy
While America was founded upon egalitarian ideals, Charleston and the Lowcountry were founded by Lords Proprietors who were interested mainly in making a quick buck and remaining happily marinated throughout as much of the day as their livers would allow. We witness this entitled heritage of pickled privilege today on various civic and charitable boards, societies and commissions, but also during walks around the city, where it is not uncommon to be confronted by natives who are prevented only by federal intervention from the practice of releasing their hounds upon anyone who stops to peer through the fence at their landscaping.

Though other great eastern cities preserve remnants of an aristocratic past, Americans have generally rejected the idea that all power and status should be conferred upon an elect class, graced by god with superior wisdom, grace and insight via their family name and fortune. Charlestonians consider such thinking ill-bred and tacky.

See also: "Carolina Yacht Club."

Other topics Dan discusses are: Politely Celebrating Bad Poetry, Episcopalianism, Romanticizing People You Used to Own, Excessive Eccentricity, Inbreeding, Flamboyantly Closeted Homosexuality, and Alcoholism As Civic Virtue.

Go check out the whole piece.

In addition to his blog "Xark!" Dan is an active Twitter user, follow him at @Xarker.