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RetroTony
Dirtbike
United Kingdom
1123 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 6:49:42 PM
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so, americans, forgive my ignorance , does the word yank relate to every American citizen or just one particular state? also is it an offensive word to you?
serious question by the way, i really dont know and ive asked quite a few friends this question (in UK) but no-one knows. |
'Limey ass Douchebag' |
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coreyjdl
Dirtbike
USA
1466 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 6:51:47 PM
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yankees are northerners, or somewhat more precisely, eastern northerners.
its not offensive to me because i'm from little dixie, no one would call me a yankee. |
corey
www.lloydvintage.com |
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leo
White Haired Ass Hat
USA
981 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 7:20:36 PM
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I think it's contextual.
Corey, I would agree with you if we we're speaking American to American.
However, I would venture to guess, that to a Brit especially, a Yank could be any American.
Tony, ask a WW II vet if you can still find one and get his opinion.
Offensive? No more so then calling a Brit a Limey, I guess. No offense.
Just me. |
http://www.cycleicons.blogspot.com |
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RetroTony
Dirtbike
United Kingdom
1123 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 7:23:23 PM
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i once caled a canadian an american and he didnt like that, to us that dont hear many americans or canadians they sound pretty much the same.
so what does 'redneck' mean and is that offensive? |
'Limey ass Douchebag' |
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coreyjdl
Dirtbike
USA
1466 Posts |
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coreyjdl
Dirtbike
USA
1466 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 7:37:40 PM
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you didn't get the blue collar comedy tour over there?
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corey
www.lloydvintage.com |
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UngaWunga
Daemon Racer
USA
4724 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 7:54:41 PM
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You don't call someone a redneck to their face unless you know them and are joking with them. Redneck comes from working in the fields, bent over, getting a sunburned neck.
This is a redneck. Note the mullet, beer, trailer, and the belief that a toilet next to the front door is a good idea.
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coreyjdl
Dirtbike
USA
1466 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 7:57:21 PM
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| that's misleading, most rednecks don't work. |
corey
www.lloydvintage.com |
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UngaWunga
Daemon Racer
USA
4724 Posts |
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Hoofhearted
Minibike
USA
679 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 10:18:20 PM
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| I think most europeans classify all Americans as yanks. Its not offensive but it might be if you refer to someone from Alabama as a yank. Never been to Alabama so thats just a guess. But I do like that great old Jimmy Cagney song "Yank my Doodle its a Dandy". |
Don't cry because its over. Smile because it happened |
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BANDIT
Minibike
Canada
363 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 10:30:06 PM
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Hey Tony
For years my family moved between England and Canada, the lads back home used to call me 'Yank" because of the "accent" I used in some of the words I said. I wasn't offended, but it's a nickname I just could not shake, I didn't mind. |
If you beat me all you have done is beaten an old fat guy. But If I beat you then you have been beaten by an old fat guy! |
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leo
White Haired Ass Hat
USA
981 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 10:31:55 PM
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quote:
I think most europeans classify all Americans as yanks.
My point, exactly.
quote:
Its not offensive but it might be if you refer to someone from Alabama as a yank.
Now that would be funny to witness!
Cheers
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http://www.cycleicons.blogspot.com |
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leo
White Haired Ass Hat
USA
981 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 10:39:30 PM
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Maybe the idea is bound up in America's three Great Wars. The War for Independence, the Civil War, and WWII.
All depends on your perspective, I suppose.
Tony, what a thought provoking question. I've never quite pondered my Americanism this way.
Cheers
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http://www.cycleicons.blogspot.com |
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texmawby
Tex Hombre Gatorade Whore
Nigeria
6764 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 11:08:37 PM
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| Canada is America's Hat! |
advocate for the injured, disabled, and urinated upon.
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coreyjdl
Dirtbike
USA
1466 Posts |
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spacmanspif300
Minibike
Mongolia
654 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2010 : 12:16:59 AM
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1. From a European to a non-deep South American, "yank" should garner no offense.
2. From a European to an American from, and presently in, the Deep South, "yank" could get you hurt. Bad. Seriously.
3. From a Deep-Southerner (Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, Georgia, maybe North Carolina and parts of Arkansas, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, and Florida) to any human person, "yank" is a slur of the highest caliber. Maybe akin to calling someone a "cheese-eating surrender monkey" in the UK, you know-a long standing military disagreement, though in modern times it is generally accepted by the powers that be to be water under the bridge.
4. My family in Pike County, Mississippi, consider the term "redneck" a compliment, and would not pay it to anyone North of Jackson, MS. They also each keep loaded guns in their vehicles at all times, go hunting, have abandoned cars/other vehicles in the yard, etc. Presumably, Southerners in other states than Mississippi draw the line at who can be accepted as a "redneck" just North of their position. Other terms which are similar to redneck include: good-ole-boy, hillbilly, hick, and others, but they are not synonymous.
5. My family in Florida were cattle ranching pioneers over a century ago, and consider themselves "Southerners" but not in a hostile, "all-who-are-not-Southerners-must-die-and-the-South-will-rise-again" sort of way. More in a "be-hospitable-and-go-to-church" sort of way. They likely would laugh at being called a redneck, though this may be in part due to the fact that their own word for a local from Old Florida is "cracker" as in "one-who-cracks-the-whip" both at livestock and slaves.
Generally speaking, within the South, the closer one is to a coastline of any kind, but especially the Atlantic seaboard, the less likely one is to be an ignorant, backwards, racist idiot. Generally. There are, of course, exceptions.
Hillbillies, for example, can be found in any state with hills or mountains. Hicks can be found in any state with isolated, rural communities. Cracker has been extended to include all whites anywhere as a slur by some in the black community.
Does this answer your question? I venture to say that I may be the most Southern person on this board, in heritage and current living family. I grew up in Florida and Mississippi.
Cheers,
Jarrett |
"Hilarious and a pain in the ass at the same time!"
"Woe to they who remove the small green frame ground wire under the seat!" |
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crazypj
Minibike
United Kingdom
992 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2010 : 03:01:21 AM
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I'm British, living in Florida, don't call me English, I'm Welsh
damn rednecks/hillbillies have only had this issue for 150yrs or so Welsh had over 900 yrs of repression by English
'Yank's' don't know who they are, have to have flags flying at all times in case they forget 
PJ |
I dabble in rocket science, when I'm not picking my nose
Q. How do you make a dog drink?
A. axe and blender |
Edited by - crazypj on Jul 23 2010 03:02:43 AM |
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RetroTony
Dirtbike
United Kingdom
1123 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2010 : 05:01:38 AM
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i like to learn stuff about usa, always fascinated me and my trip there in 2006 was awesome, we covered a lot of miles, went to famous places like tombstone, boot hill, and that place where area 51? is/was.. also stopped at lots of weird little towns that id only seen on uk television before, some really strange dudes but then again we have our fair share here in england..
id love to come back to usa one day, before i get too old..
heres a pic or 2 of my usa visit..
absolutely loved the 3months i had out there with my band, didnt have a lot of sightseeing time though. |
'Limey ass Douchebag' |
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Big Bad Bob Dog
Minibike
Australia
423 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2010 : 05:32:31 AM
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In australia they seem to call us "seppo's". Shortened rhyming slang as in, "septic tank yank". Never had anyone anyone under the age of 50 call me that though. Comes from WW2. The slogan for visiting US serviceman by the aussies was, "over paid, over sexed, over here."
My great uncle was in the 5th marines, stopping by in australia. Had some fun, but the men didn't like him much. He was Italian, and when he was called a yank, he was proud. |
Knit Fast, Die Warm
www.gogorosario.blogspot.com |
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RetroTony
Dirtbike
United Kingdom
1123 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2010 : 05:48:42 AM
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"over paid, over sexed, over here."
that was the same phrase used by british people in wartime when the americans stole all our women  |
'Limey ass Douchebag' |
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leo
White Haired Ass Hat
USA
981 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2010 : 07:39:19 AM
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Years ago when visiting bcr while he was in school in Columbia, S.C. we out having lunch at a local watering hole. I thought I was noticing a lot of glances being thrown our way, and a generally somewhat tense vibe. I asked Bill if it was just me.
"Oh no, he said" And went on to say there are still many folks around those parts who view northeners (Yanks) with distain.
"Are they still pissed off about the War?" I asked. "Oh, yeah". he said. And then added:
"What's the difference between a Yankee, and a damn Yankee"
I give up.
"A Yankee just comes and visits the South, a damn Yankee stays" |
http://www.cycleicons.blogspot.com |
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UngaWunga
Daemon Racer
USA
4724 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2010 : 08:43:05 AM
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Nice. When my wife and I went on our first vacation to the outer banks of NC, I had to translate for her when we went out for breakfast. Girl from Massachusetts couldn't understand the southern accents.
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borzwazie
Hipster douchebag
USA
1314 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2010 : 01:09:47 AM
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went to visit a friend in S.C. a few years ago. Some locals reminded me, helpfully, that I-95 (local interstate highway) went south, *and* back north.
I told them I'd gone to school past 8th grade and could read the signs, but thanks for the help. Then I picked the loudest one and told him I'd match him beer for beer until neither one of us could read the signs. then I barfed all next day. nobody won, it was budweiser. |
Vae fossor! |
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YucA
Training wheels
USA
122 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2010 : 07:08:51 AM
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From my experience of the word, i see it like this: When in America, speaking to Americans - yankee/yank means something in particular. If i go visit my fam in Argentina, me and any other "american", regardless of what part- is a yank. Same with the Cuban refs that come down. My boy has two cousins that just recently made it here from Cuba, and when i first met them, it was all about "yankee" style and the "yank" way of doing things.
All in the eye of the beholder. |
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bcr
Dirtbike
USA
1001 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2010 : 12:08:18 PM
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thanks leo, forgot about that one.
when I lived in S.C. in the early 80's me and my buds were into to rockabilly. Tav Falco and the Panther Burns made a record called "behind the magnolia curtain". That title that pretty much summed it up for me. cheers, bcr
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O91Y1pl3M9k
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Ratty-550
Minibike
USA
863 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2010 : 12:56:16 PM
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Like all good US slang, "Yank" started as a racial slur. Don't remember if it was Irish v. English? It means "John cheese" in some language. That's all I remember, before my time.
EDIT: "Yankee" is the slur. Yan's John, kee's cheese.
From Wikipedia; "H. L. Mencken[6] explained the derogatory term "John Cheese" was often used against the early Dutch who were famous for their cheese. An example would be a British soldier commenting on a Dutch man "Here comes a John Cheese". The Dutch translation of John Cheese is "Jan Kaas" where the J sounds like Y. The two words sounded like "Yahnkees", and the term was born."
The term "Redneck" originated with a group of miners that revolted against working conditions. They marched from somewhere to somewhere else so they could shoot at mining company representatives. They wore red bandanas around their necks so they knew who not to kill. So gun possesion, going armed with intent, general beligerence is ingrained in redneck culture. I use the term generously to describe the uneducated, unskilled, unkempt people I come accross. Usually in my best Laotian guy from "King of the Hill" voice.
More Wikipedia: "The 'Redneck War' - 1920-21. Generally viewed as beginning with the Matewan Massacre, this conflict involved the struggle to unionize the southwestern area of West Virginia. It led to the march of 10,000 armed miners on the county seat at Logan, ending in the Battle of Blair Mountain in which the miners fought state militia, local police, and mine guards. These events are depicted in the 1987 novel Storming Heaven by Denise Giardina and the 2005 novel Blair Mountain by Jonathan Lynn."
Tony, You do look eerily similar to Glen Matlock. Of course you all look the same....
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Edited by - Ratty-550 on Jul 25 2010 7:58:52 PM |
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DesmoDog
Training wheels
USA
297 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2010 : 9:48:18 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by RetroTony
This picture makes me laugh... |
-Craig
Team YIKES! Motorsports |
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RetroTony
Dirtbike
United Kingdom
1123 Posts |
Posted - Jul 31 2010 : 04:21:53 AM
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| yeah he was a huge dude! really nice guy tho, he owned one of the clubs we played in, cant remember where tho.1st time he'd ever met an Englishman. |
'Limey ass Douchebag' |
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Whitehurst
Training wheels
USA
81 Posts |
Posted - Aug 01 2010 : 02:25:46 AM
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Redneck isnt a bad word! for most, White Trash is the insult but I have friends that are proud of that to - so there ya go.
Call me a Yank and Ill shake your hand - damned right! Its an American Revolutionary term that got used much during WWII by the English because we marched in proud and loud.
It all comes down to context and how words are used - call me what you want as a friend but dont call me friend if you dont mean it! |
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jro555
Training wheels
USA
56 Posts |
Posted - Aug 02 2010 : 01:21:40 AM
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| Like my grandma said before me: "Yankee and damn proud of it" |
#555 FCB
http://jro555.tumblr.com/
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Hoofhearted
Minibike
USA
679 Posts |
Posted - Aug 02 2010 : 02:43:51 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Whitehurst
White Trash is the insult but I have friends that are proud of that
They must have a double wide and all the pink flamingos out front haven't completely fallen over. |
Don't cry because its over. Smile because it happened |
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yanks
