Is it racist to call someone a Jungle Bunny?

[10ClarionSt]

In Barnstaple, a member of staff at the local hospital said someone looked like a jungle bunny because they had a sun tan after being on holiday. Someone else heard it and reported it. The police were called and the member of staff was taken away for questioning with regard to racism. Can you believe that? Have the police, and others, got nothing better to do than investigate a common expression? What would they say to someone in this situation when questioning them anyway?

[Kerplunk]

A racist incident is any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person.

So in answer to the first question. It could be racist. But it might not be. But it probably is if the person reporting it thought it was. Maybe.

[Pippa68]

I might not be able to say it in the USA, but apparently it is still ok to use the term in Blighty :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_(game)

Apparently 'Chinese' is used as it is an incomprehensible language to us. This being th case, I could probably say 'Russian Whispers' too. Surely deeming a language incomprehensible isn't racist.. ;o)

[missrandom]

oh thank god there are lots of non racist people on this site, i was getting worried. its pure ignorance.

[Solarjunkie]

NJOK - just what is racism is a moot point. In five different dictionaries I have found five different definitions. The general feeling seems to be that it is using a derogatory term.
What puzzles me is the divinding line between celebrating diversity and being racist.
I read a headline recently about the election of the first black Irish councillor. Fine, I thought, but isn't noticing his race being racist?

Keeping up with the acceptable pc terms is very hard sometimes. I presume way back at the beginning of this thread the term Jungle bunny was used to jocularly suggest such a deep sun tan as to have taken on the appearance of another race.

I teach people from many different parts of the world and their uncomplicated, matter of fact discussion of skin tones can only be described as refreshing!

[BIG DAD]

Sticks and stones!!!!

[missrandom]

but names do hurt peoples feelings, though. i know they do for me anyway.

[anotheoldgit]

What is disturbing is the fact that the police actually turned out to this minor incident. If one's property is broken into and all one's worldly possessions have been stolen, the most one could expect from the police, is to be issued with a crime number. That is of course if it was not racially implemented.

Are there any names that it is a criminal offence for a white person to be called, if not why not? We should all be equal in the eyes of the law, no matter what our skin colour.

You hang onto your Golly-*** Dot, I intend to hang on to the Big Black Mama (complete with her big round eyes, her white head scarf and red dress) that I bought my wife when we were holidaying in lovely Cuba.

[anotheoldgit]

Ah sorry about that the secret is to make it one word just like Dot, let's try again golliwog. There that's much better, hope MI5 didn't notice.

[NJOK]

Pretty sure Liverpool knocked United out of the FA Cup in 2006.

[bongovanman]

nofin wrong with it.just a figure of speech....i hear people say i'm off down the darkies for a loaf.which has been getting said for years.someone says to came to my shop an said i just came down the whities for a drill i wouldnt be the slightest annoys.tooo many folk on the bandwagon these days,time to get a grip