I think you'll find that with nationalities that have travelled the outside world a bit, terms like Jock become an endearment rather than an insult. I've worked with Scots for many years abroad in Oil & Gas, and most are proud to be 'Jocks' and refer to themselves as such. Also 'sweaty sock', 'porridge gobbler' etc was /is taken as banter - with replies such as 'cockney w*nker' 'teesside tossbag' 'carrot cruncher' 'fluid druid' 'dog buggerer' etc. etc. Regarding Yanks - 'septic tanks', 'gobshites', and (from Louisiana) coon asses, were taken as banter and returned with the routine 'limey' name tag, again just banter rarely with any malice. Other nationalities were/are 'cloggies', 'frogs', 'yarpies','krauts', 'eyeties', and a notable machinist in Libya (who brewed great wine) who was happy to be known as 'Paki Charlie' and whom everybody loved even when his curry gave everybody the shits. I especially enjoyed the banter with the Germans, 'for you Tommy ze war is over' firing back with 'we'll push you back to the Med' etc. But in the UK, even 'jocks' is offensive [Post edited 17 Jul 2021 9:32]
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