Is calling someone an "ape" racist? iin?

25 Comments

I live in Australia and I watch Australian Rules Football (AFL). On the weekend the AFL was celebrating Indigenous Round, which is in respect for the Aboriginal players of the game. Towards the end of one of the games, a spectator sitting near the boundary line called out over the fence at a nearby aboriginal player, calling him an "ape."
The AFL has a zero tolerance towards racism, so the aboriginal player who heard the insult, pointed at the spectator and security escorted the young teenage girl from the ground.
Much has been made of the incident and Australia's need to stamp out racism.
My question is do you think "ape" is a racist insult? It definitely is offensive, but is it racist?

Yes 61
No 65
Other (comment) 6
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Comments ( 25 )
  • [Old Memory]
    10 years ago

    Not really... But, I think context should be taken into consideration.

    By calling someone an ape, it's being implied they are quite primitive. Aboriginals have a semi-recent history of being a so-called primitive/tribal culture, particularly when compared with the rest of human 'civilization'.

    I think calling an Aboriginal person an ape could be thought of in a similar way to if they were called a 'savage'. It's only a racial slur due to their history/culture and using the same words to insult a white-skinned Australian would not have the same connotations.

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    • dom180
      10 years ago

      Great answer :) I completely agree.

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      • [Old Memory]
        10 years ago

        Thanks, dom180. :)

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  • anti-hero
    10 years ago

    Depends on your intent behind saying it. If you are calling someone an ape just because of their race, then it is racist. If you are calling them an ape for acting like a goon then it is not racist.

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  • Titant
    10 years ago

    It is derogatory to call someone that for sure, especially if you were making reference to his race. By doing that you are insulting the whole race.. Obviously she wouldn't have gotten kicked out if she had just called him a "mother fucker"..

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  • imadragon
    10 years ago

    It's racist if the person's intent is to be racist.

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  • SuperBenzid
    10 years ago

    Humans are apes.

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  • [Old Memory]
    10 years ago

    No. It could actually be taken as a compliment. We are primates. Apes are strong by nature.

    This is the kind of overreaction that breeds more racism, in all honesty.

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  • Goomats
    10 years ago

    Assuming someone is racist for calling an Aborginal person an "ape" makes you slightly racist yourself.

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  • davesumba
    10 years ago

    So call a white person an ape and it's okay, but call a black person an ape and it's racist. I freaking hate all the darn racist black people in the world. I thought it was mostly the stupid American blacks who did that non sense, I guess I feel better than it's not just here.

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    • lufa
      10 years ago

      I think it's seen as racist because it's too close to the truth. Some black people really do look like apes. This is also how I know Evolution is definitely scientific fact.

      Don't get me wrong there's some black people I like others I don't. I'm about that way with any race.

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      • davesumba
        10 years ago

        Yeah, that's what I meant. If there was a white person who looked like an ape and you called him that, then it would be okay. They are simply giving them a nick name based on what they look like, similar to if you refer to fat people as whales, it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with race. It still isn't nice, but it isn't racist.
        Black people are always trying to play the victim and/or race card, and I'm sick and tired of it.

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        • lufa
          10 years ago

          You nailed it brother-too often people wrongly reduce everything to 'racism', it's really annoying.

          And I agree blacks pull the race card far too often. Probably cause it works on useful leftist idiots.

          I will say I do like the chilled-out black people. The ones who just live and don't like things bother them-they're not prickly and aggressive.

          Just recently I saw some fat black bitch start yelling and screaming at a cashier because she accidentally put her some of her groceries on the wrong checkout lane. The woman apologized but the black woman wouldn't shut up. I wanted to punch her in the mouth so badly.

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        • Sog
          10 years ago

          This person was white. Or at least was "light skinned".

          There goes that theory out the window.

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        • loopoo
          10 years ago

          Truth.

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  • Jfdp
    10 years ago

    One of my girlfriends sisters called me an "Ape" ounce, she's 9 so I just laughed it off, (I'm lily white but do have some pretty rough features)

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  • RomeoDeMontague
    10 years ago

    Some people say that black people look like monkeys. I have used this insult before but I usually use it on people who are being rude, loud, obnoxious and stupid. So I call them a "Monkey" but I am never referring to blacks just people. I would never insult someone on looks since that is just vain. If someone is being a jerk yes I might tell them but I would never insult someone on appearance. If I thought they looked sloppy I might give some advice on how to present themselves better. Its rude to judge people on how they look as that does present character. Now if they are clean and dressed nice that is different. Some people are just not attractive though and they should not be judged for it.

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  • dom180
    10 years ago

    In that context, it sounds racist to me.

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  • loopoo
    10 years ago

    Ape is just a word, if someone called a white person a 'racist' name no one would think anything of it. It's time we stopped getting so offended over names, and started growing up a little.

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  • handsignals
    10 years ago

    Adam Goods is pretty hairy.

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  • KeddersPrincess
    10 years ago

    Depends on why you're calling them an ape.

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  • patriot9878
    10 years ago

    If you call a white person an ape, cracker or honky no, but if you call a black person other than African American then you should be executed

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  • PureLikeSnow
    10 years ago

    Not at all.

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  • [Old Memory]
    10 years ago

    no , he looks like an extra in a neanderthal movie

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    • [Old Memory]
      10 years ago

      but hes a great player , he needs a shave

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