defined as

dictionary.com

1. Used as a disparaging term for a member of the white rural laboring class, especially in the southern United States.

2. A white person regarded as having a provincial, conservative, often bigoted attitude.

urbandictionary.com

1. redneck

Mildly offensive term for a lower class white person from the southeastern states of the USA. Derives from someone who spent a lot of time on manual labour outside and so received a "red neck" from the sun.

While I know bigoted rednecks not all are. Everyone seems to have their own definition of redneck.

I thing these two definitions got it right.

I was out in the sun working in the yard over the weekend and I now have a red neck.

No we don't fit in with that white collar crowd

We're a little too rowdy and a little too loud

But there' s no place that I'd rather be than right here

With our rednecks, my white socks, and Blue Ribbon beer

would calling someone a redneck in a disparaging way

be considered a hate crime?

will we now have to refer to it as the R word?

This is regionism. There are plenty of rednecks in the Midwest. Its not only a Southeastern thing.

I agree with EI- we should all refer to it as the "R" word.

Nice work, EI.

you is a red neck if your from san antonio...

Its a term of endearment up here in SW PA.......unless yer talkin 'bout dem Wes Virginny rednex.

Yeeee Haaaaa!!!

I met a girl that moved to Wisconsin from Southeastern Alabama. I asked her the difference between Southern and Northern Rednecks.

'Most Southern Neck carry knives. Many Northern Necks carry baseball bats.'

From the many NorthNecks and the few SouthNecks I've known, that sounds pretty close to right.

I used to have a neck

Then

I got fat!

the only good neck is a red neck.

Gentlemen, I have to tell you that I am growing weary of "redneck" being tossed about as an insult by those who generally espouse tolerance and acceptance of everyone else. They want to instill shame. They want to make those whom they have called "redneck" feel as though they are less intelligent; that somehow having values that they don't agree with would make one less of a person. It is a shame, because it shows them for the hypocrites that they really are.

Heather

Heather,

I like you more every time I read something by you.

Well said

Steve

Atta girl Ruggy's!!!

I have used the name to bid on cigars here since 2000.

Please don't flame us rednecks on the "Misc." board....

"you is a red neck if your from san antonio"

And

"There are plenty of rednecks in the Midwest"

Uh oh....

I moved from San Antonio to Wisconsin.... Hmmmm....

I might resemble those remarks.

Deb

i have been called a hippie, a flower child, a redneck, a good ol'boy, and a biker. now i think i am just confused.lol.

no disparaging from me. you left out the Midwest rednecks. I carry a knife.

This was spawned by steve-o's thread. And I was curious cause I know folks who are proud to be a redneck and many who look at necks as lower class. I think they can be either since I visit Arkansas too often(sorry Homebrew). When I see furniture outside the trailer it's time to go.

gimme a gimme a gimme a redneck girl.

(Nitty Gritty Dirt Band)