> > This was my experience too! Of course, in my case, I *am* a Yankee, but the kids in the British school I went to basically just called all Americans Yankees.

Right now where I live at least (North London), 'Yank' (and pretty much any other word like that, such as 'Scouser' or 'Taff') can be either affectionate or a scathing insult. To avoid confusion, one usually adds a prefix to the 'Yank', or whatever, to indicate how it should be interpreted.

'Yank' on its own is usually used to justify something silly said Yank has just done, as in "Yeah, but he is only a poor Yank, so."

'Bleedin' Yank' or 'bloody Yank' can be used either as a term of endearment, a matey joke over a few pints ("You're not drinking that again, are you?" "Typical bloody Yank!" *laughter*), or as a fairly mild insult. It all depends on tone of voice.

Once we move into the territory of words that certain easily offendable people might not like, it becomes less a question of whether it's meant as an insult, but how strong it's supposed to be.

Zarn"no, I don't have anything beeter to do"iwoop