[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by lostalex

well, actually Yankee does specifically refer to Americans in the New England(north eastern) region, but i guess it's different in the British vernacular....

That's not the point though. The point is I couldn't then use the word "yankee" and say it's an insult I'm directing at an American person for doing something I don't like or agree with. As you said, it refers to a specific person in a specific area of the country. Same goes for "redneck".