I think it goes with stage Irishman, which was an insult. But mostly the other insults were not so bad..shanty Irish..bog trotter, Mick or Paddy..some were not used insultingly and some were..but they were used by "strangers." Plastic Paddy essentially I think is Irish and/or Irish Americans turning on each other, which makes it sick I think. I think it started with Irish turning on Irish Americans..and there are probably complicated anthropological reasons or whatever. But for other Irish-Americans to turn on their own..I don't get it. I think it is way worse than other historical insults, which by and large were not that awful, at least the ones I know about. It is a word that is designed I think to hurt and insult and question a person's authenticity or whatever. Their sophistication may not be high, but I think they are authentic something. Well, my sophistication is not that high either..I still want that ice cream with the shamrocks in it and a tiara that lights up and plays Irish eyes are smiling. mg