In the hills of Tennessee,, its a greeting. "Watup Buddie" , "ayyy you doin awright buddie" or talking about another friend , "hows ya Buddie doin?" Maybe ,"weez been buddies fer ever" or the ever popular, "aaaaaay buuuudee". Not an insult in these part. UNLESS , its " Who the **** u think u arrr , BUDDY?" But I guess at that point , its implied AS an insult!