All about context. A Hoosier is someone from Indiana (I believe that is the correct state) and also meant in other contexts as a derogatory term, like red neck or hill billy, etc.
Context is indeed important.
Excellent point OM.
The term "Red Neck" was not originally a derogatory term.
It came from the first union organized West Virginia
coal miners, who proudly wore red bandannas to signify their
membership and/or support of the unionization of coal miners.
This practice spread to other coal mining states.
The history of the first union organized coal miners, like
the history of the Union Movement in the USA in general,
was fraught with much deadly violence from management hired
thugs and frighteningly corrupt Law Enforcement Officials.
