Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

Calling her a monkey is unbearably and unquestionably racist, and I think you might want to take a minute or two and think about why you said that.

From http://www.aaronsw.com/weblog/semmelweis :

"Looking at ourselves objectively isn’t easy. But it’s essential if we ever want to get better. And if we don’t do it, we leave ourselves open to con artists and ethical compromisers who prey on our desire to believe we’re perfect."



> Calling her a monkey is unbearably and unquestionably racist

How so?


To many people to call someone a monkey is to say that the race they belong to is less evolved; biologically closer to monkeys.


Sure, but what indication is there that the comment is referring to her race?


Absolutely none.

Indeed, to accuse an insulter of racism for deriding someone as belonging to another species is to conflate the concepts of race and species. At best that's ignorant; at worst it's racist!

As to the prosecutor's species, isn't the saga of Aaron Swartz sufficient evidence? As to her race, have a look at her picture and judge for yourself:

http://goo.gl/JNck7


Yes, because people who call out racism are the REAL racists.


Google it


It is certainly insulting and inappropriate, but I am surprised that the racist connotation has managed to endure eight years of "Bush is a chimp" jokes.

(Yes, I know chimps are apes and not monkeys.)


No it is not racist. I called her a monkey because her actions show that she can't be a higher developed primate.

I don't know her race.


Yeah, about that "higher development" thing - that's not the way evolution works (every organism on the planet is the result of the same 4.5 billion years of adaptation), but it is the way racism works. Let's keep this kind of sentiment away from HNN, OK?




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: