It was all over local social media on Monday.  Another national news source mistakingly calling someone from South Boston “a Southie.”  Immediately being outraged and annoyed once again, CIS called out the Associated Press, for their mistake.  Everyone seemed to agree, Southie is a place, not a person.

But of course, the Boston Globe has gotta keep it going! (Gotta have that Southie click-bait i.e space savers, double-parking, etc.) Insinuating that “Southies” could catch on, Nestor Ramos – who spoke to no one from South Boston, old or new for his column – went on to quote an editor-at-large at Merriam-Webster (you know, the dictionary people) and a linguistics professor at UMass instead.

Ramos’ theory of how everyone “grudgingly accepts the title” of  “Southies” goes like this:  With the new influx of residents from outside of our neighborhood, who may have read the phrase “a Southie” in their travels, or may “hear it elsewhere and bring it with them”  could start using the term in conversation and that’s how it becomes a thing.  “Southies” becoming a reality could also spread even more quickly if say someone “cool” like Gronk shouted it from Super Bowl Parade.  So if Ramos’ theory is correct,  my grandchildren may refer to me someday as “a Southie.”

Ramos also used old news headlines from the 50’s and 60’s where the term “Southies” was used.  Once again, we’d have to guess the writer was not from Boston and the use of the term “Southies” went over like a lead balloon.  It didn’t catch on then.  It’s not gonna catch on in the future.

Lastly, did Ramos really need the last line of his column?  “Ridiculing someone from out of town? Sounds like something Southie could get behind.”  There’s such an edge to it – with a hint of disdain and a splash of snark towards the good people of our fair land.

We are not ridiculing people from out of town.  We are ridiculing people who are wrong – no matter where they’re from.

“Southies” will never happen.  Not on our watch!