Redneck

I've finally deciphered the riddle of the redneck. 

As an outdoorsy Wisconsinite, now living in the state of Arizona, I've never considered myself a redneck. In my mind, whether right or wrong, being a redneck was synonymous with being white trash. 

White trash equals not just being poor, but also being stupid and ignorant.

But I don't think that's the case. 

Just like not all black people are stupid, not all rednecks are stupid. 

So, what exactly is a redneck? 

Typically it is a term used to describe white people, who live in rural conditions, who usually don't have a lot of money, and who don't have a lot of status.

You know if you are white and rich and love being close to nature, living outside in your log cabin, in your tree house, or your yurt, whatever, you probably won't be called a redneck, instead you'll be called rustic, and outdoorsy, and free spirited, and your neck won't be red, unless you fell asleep while sun bathing on the beaches of Tahiti.

Redneck is a term typically applied to white people, of Northern European decent, typically males, with light eyes, usually blue or green, and fair skin, who live in an environment in which they are genetically ill adapted, such as a place that is hot and sunny much of the year, who due to either poverty, or ignorance fail to protect their skin from long-term sun damage. Meaning that when they are outside, and it is very hot outside, and they are wearing minimal clothing, the first place to burn, or to show signs of burning due to long term exposure, is the neck. 

Hence the term redneck. That's all it is, which if you think about it could be perceived as being a racial slur against white people.