Breaking news on the linguistics front!

[LMNO]

...Apparently, the phrase "banana-eating jungle monkey" is not racist.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/07/30/2009-07-30_boston_cop_jason_barrett_suspended_for_calling_henry_louis_gates_a_jungle_monkey.html

A Boston cop who was suspended for calling Henry Louis Gates a "banana-eating jungle monkey" in a mass email insists, "I didn't mean it in a racist way."

[Elder Iptuous]

HA!

"The words were being used to characterize behavior, not describe anyone," Barrett told WCVB-TV.

sooooo.... it was a metaphor commenting on his poor enunciation, as one with a mouth full of banana might have, along with his proclivity for 'flinging shit'?....

seriously, i'd like to hear him wriggle his way out of that comment...

[Jenne]

Does this mean the beer summit went poorly?

Jenne,

Goes to bed on Eastern time these days...

[AFK]

Now why would anyone think that some cops still engage in racial profiling?  

[LMNO]

Does this mean the beer summit went poorly?

Jenne,

Goes to bed on Eastern time these days...

No, it means for every Boston cop that honestly over-reacted, there is another that's a flat-out asshole Klansman.

[MMIX]

Does this mean the beer summit went poorly?

Jenne,

Goes to bed on Eastern time these days...

No, it means for every Boston cop that honestly over-reacted, there is another that's a flat-out asshole Klansman.

Is that the Bostonian version of good cop/ bad cop?

[LMNO]

Yeah. 

They both arrest you, but only one of them calls you a spearchucker to your face.

[Bruno]

Clearly not racist. Most primates have white skin.

Also, white people are hairier than blacks.

[Captain Utopia]

Clearly not racist. Most primates have white skin.

Also, white people are hairier than blacks.

Facts are meaningless?

[Bruno]

wut

[Captain Utopia]

wut

Sorry - too brief. I meant that if you told those facts to the cop, he'd not give a crap since those phrases he used are loaded with meaning which better conveys his intent than "Hey, look at how our skin is coloured differently. Incidentally, I have an irrational hatred of you, and I want you to feel bad about yourself." Secondly, since we know the cops intent in using the phrase, us knowing the inaccuracy of the comparison adds no additional meaning other than the cop displays common ignorance. Finally, pointing this out to the cop, or anyone of racist intent, is not likely to meaningfully change their actions since they are more concerned with maintaining the hate, not the logical aesthetic of the insult used. Especially as the hate is directed not at monkeys, but at people of different races/backgrounds/etc.

[Iason Ouabache]

Yeah. 

They both arrest you, but only one of them calls you a spearchucker to your face.

Every single time I see the word "spear chucker" I can't help but think of this guy:

[Bruno]

wut

Sorry - too brief. I meant that if you told those facts to the cop, he'd not give a crap since those phrases he used are loaded with meaning which better conveys his intent than "Hey, look at how our skin is coloured differently. Incidentally, I have an irrational hatred of you, and I want you to feel bad about yourself." Secondly, since we know the cops intent in using the phrase, us knowing the inaccuracy of the comparison adds no additional meaning other than the cop displays common ignorance. Finally, pointing this out to the cop, or anyone of racist intent, is not likely to meaningfully change their actions since they are more concerned with maintaining the hate, not the logical aesthetic of the insult used. Especially as the hate is directed not at monkeys, but at people of different races/backgrounds/etc.

Oh. I was just making fun of him for being stupid.

Also, "spearchucker" is not racist because white people also throw spears! 

[LMNO]

Oh, did I say "spearchucker"?  I meant "Porch Nigger".

[Captain Utopia]

wut

Sorry - too brief. I meant that if you told those facts to the cop, he'd not give a crap since those phrases he used are loaded with meaning which better conveys his intent than "Hey, look at how our skin is coloured differently. Incidentally, I have an irrational hatred of you, and I want you to feel bad about yourself." Secondly, since we know the cops intent in using the phrase, us knowing the inaccuracy of the comparison adds no additional meaning other than the cop displays common ignorance. Finally, pointing this out to the cop, or anyone of racist intent, is not likely to meaningfully change their actions since they are more concerned with maintaining the hate, not the logical aesthetic of the insult used. Especially as the hate is directed not at monkeys, but at people of different races/backgrounds/etc.

Oh. I was just making fun of him for being stupid.

Fair enough! Speaking of stupidity, I just realised that my first and third points are almost identical.