Quote Originally Posted by Tobus View Post
Of course. I usually don't assume that offence is intended unless it's obvious that the speaker is hurling an insult. But I do think that people display varying degrees of casual diminution of other groups by using slang terms such as these. It's a subtle psychological tool, and one that many people don't even realise they're utilising when they do it. Even shortening the name of a nation or region can carry a slight edge of sarcasm, like the way people here in my area often refer to "Brits". It's not necessarily meant to be insulting, but it's definitely not meant to be respectful. And adding a diminutive at the end like "Aussie" or "Frenchie" can be anywhere from casually slang to downright rude. So much depends on context that it's impossible to know whether the person/group will take offence, or to what level.

I don't give too much thought to so-called political correctness, nor do I advocate toe-tipping through life. People nowadays seem to take offence at everything and it can be impossible to communicate effectively in that sort of environment. But I've always held the position that it's better to call a person or a group by their official name out of respect, unless one is in the company of intimate friends. Resorting to slang names amongst strangers seems a bit linguistically lazy and tactless.
I can't disagree with that either. But from personal experience as someone whom believes in and practises personal free agency, I've never used Brit, or the others as a negative, unless preceded with words inappropriate for the forum. The same would hold true for Christain names or Surnames. Without the prefix, it's just a word with no more meaning than as a description of origin.

The biggest use of a known insult on this site has always been Sassenach. Translated it is nothing more than Southerner. But it's intended meaning has always been as an insult to the English, no different than "come from away", which is common in the Atlantic Provinces of Canada.

A bit rambling and disjointed but I hope my point comes through.

Frank