I think that, rather ironically, the whole “Joisey” slur comes from the way old-time New Yorkers used to say it.

Actually, if I remember correctly, it comes from a Joe Piscopo SNL bit. Piscopo is from NJ.

yours/
peter.

I’m from New Jersey (the southern part), and we are not such a homogeneous populace (viz “populous”, your word, although New Jersey is indeed the most densely populated state in America).

Nobody says “Joisey” down here. Perhaps it’s because we’re south of the Mason-Dixon Line?

We do seem to manage to elect leaders that make us the laughingstock of America, though, despite our best efforts. I have no explanation except that the Democratic political machine is well-entrenched here. For all I know, the cemetaries vote “early and often”.

Given that the Mason-Dixon Line was to settle a land dispute between Maryland and Pennsylvania, the line itself runs from the southwest corner of Delaware up to the NE corner of Maryland and then west from there. Thus, no one in New Jersey or Delaware actually lives below the Mason-Dixon Line despite their desire to be considered sons and daughters of the South. They are still Yankees and will always be Yankees though many could also be considered Damned Yankees.

See the map in wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mason-Dixon_Line

John
North Carolina

I think that, rather ironically, the whole “Joisey” slur comes from the way old-time New Yorkers used to say it.

That was always how I understood it as well. For my friends and I it was a way to make fun of NY, NJ and PA all at the same time … of course, conveniently ignoring the “Delaware diphthong” that results in “water” sounding like “woo-ut’r” and “yeah” like “yaee”

… populace (viz “populous” …).

Good catch. Fixed.

Nobody says “Joisey” down here. Perhaps it’s because we’re south of the Mason-Dixon Line?

We do seem to manage to elect leaders that make us the laughingstock of America, though, despite our best efforts. I have no explanation except that the Democratic political machine is well-entrenched here. For all I know, the cemetaries vote “early and often”.

“Joisey” is LAME. No one says Joisey, in Jersey.

Yeah, I know. It’s one of the things people in the states surrounding Jersey say to piss off those living in Jersey. How do I know? I grew up right outside Philly in Wilmington, DE. Believe me, “Joisey” is a common slur.

These urban hellholes are only one of the many problems here.