Quote Originally Posted by Arnot View Post
I agree. I am an American living in Lancashire, UK. I hear the word "yank" a lot. How I take it depends on how the person uses it. If it's just a substitute for American I don't mind at all. If they act like they have to wash their mouth out after they have said it I take a rather dimmer view. It is funny sometimes, though. Once in a while, someone will say something like "stupid yank" regarding something in the news or whatever before they know they are talking to one. I don't really comment on the yank stuff. I just start speaking. The results show on their face.
Being from a Southern state, the term "yank" or "yankee" has always been used as (and taken as) an insult. I'm sure people overseas know this, which leads me to believe that when it is used to generically refer to Americans, people know it is potentially insulting. They are either doing it on purpose or with no regard to the delicacy of the term. And one of its most well-known uses, "Yankee Doodle Dandy" is an insult.

As for the term "jock", where I grew up it was always used as a pejorative to describe someone who is strong and athletic (usually a member of a school sports team) but who has no other redeeming qualities. For that reason, I've never warmed to the use of Jock as an ethnic description.