The difference is, is that we can have a little dig at eachother and laugh it off. Culturally it's perfectly acceptable here to "call people names", give eachother a little dig in the ribs, that type of thing. You only get derrided it you can't 'take it' or 'take it in the manner in which it was intended' or if you have a little cry about it and go running to mummy for respite.

There's a kudos here for being able to give it as well as you can take it, but if you get all upity and can't take it, then you get laughed at. I'm sure there's a technical Sociological term for it - it's like a rite of passage into a social group I guess.

lhbernhardt, Seppo is not common or derogatory, no. I first heard it from friends who live in Perth, and if you used the term here in Melbourne, not many people would know what you're talking about. In fact, "Yank" is kind of dated so you won't find that used that often either. Mostly 'Americans' are just plain old 'Americans' here at the moment, but in virtua, 'Seppo' seems to be the common slang term for some reason.

Merlinextraligh, as I say to my American friends who call me convict, that's no worries tax evading religious zealot! You can call us whatever you like!