One would have to grow up in old school Fernie to understand all this. Yea, it was “redneck”. Getting in fights is a defining part of some peoples lives. Among these people fighting isn’t really viewed as a big deal. You either win or lose, and depending on that outcome you either get to do as you please or shut your mouth. So when people show up from other cultures they get freaked out. Perhaps they were tricked in to thinking they were coming to a resort town. Sorry, you were misled. Fernie may be in a transition, but ATM its still very much a coalmining, sawmill, logging, riding horses and hunting kind of place. The only advice I could offer is if you don’t want to run the risk, don’t drink with these people. And don’t waste your time trying to convince them you’re a local.
I am however starting to believe we’ve “out-rednecked” ourselves. And it all started the day some young MoFo told me not to park where I did and to respect the locals or get out of his f*ckin town.
