Thanks Bill. Most people are somewhat self-conscious about negative images .

I don't think the negative stereotype of West Virginia and West Virginians is as powerful as it once was. I am concerned about that negative stereotype heating up again in service to the ensuing battle over coal - on two fronts - the environmental destructiveness of mountaintop removal, and carbon emissions. both sides of these related issues regarding coal could find it beneficial to feed different aspects of that stereotype. One side is likely to focus on the absurd romantic notion of those poor West Virginians as victims of out-of-state
robber barons, so stupid and ignorant that they don't see how they are being used. The other side is representing itself as the on-going, and only possible economic saviour, (well, life boat for the few for which there is room, anyway).

As you say, stereotypes always have a toe in reality, while serving to obscure reality.

However, what I am really on about is trying to judge the accuracy of my own roadmap of reality.