Hey women

[LostOne4Ever]

613. This is proving fruitless

But I will make one more attempt to explain.

Humans are a type of Ape. This is a scientific fact that has been denied many times in this thread.

You are right that this is not an anti-evolution thread; HOWEVER, that is like trying to excuse a sexist statement by someone talking about living wages by saying "this isn't about sexism." Saying that we are not a type of ape is an incorrect statement used by the right wing to say that humans are somehow separate from Apes and animals; and it is being used in that context.

Why is this happening? Because of a change in terminology that happened in the past.

When the OP says Humans are not apes she is using an antiquated definition of ape from an earlier time where people thought that humans were "exceptional" and separate from other apes and animals. Animals and Apes were seen as being inferior to humans and being compared to them was an insult. To compare someone to one is to dehumanize

However, that antiquated use of the word implies that we are somehow "not apes" and better than apes. Why were we better than them? Because the people back then believed we were created with souls and special to god and that all animals were created to serve mankind and our needs. They did not have souls, they had no feelings, and because they were created for our use there is nothing immoral about using and harming them as we please.

Comparing someone to an ape was a way of dehumanizing them and saying they are not real people with real feeling and could be treated like an animal completely disregarding their own feelings and autonomy.

This is what the OP means by humans are not apes. She even alludes to how it is considered racist to call an African American an ape (which is due to the actions of racists back during said time when Apes were considered different from humans).

However, things have changed and so has the definition of the word ape. We have learned that we are not special. That we, ourselves, ARE an animal, and in fact a type of Ape. Further, other animals feel emotions just like we do and it is not ethical or moral to harm animals just because we can.

Again, we ARE animals. We ARE apes. These are scientific facts that have been denied in this thread. By denying these facts you are not only are giving those opposed to the OP ammunition to derail this thread and divide allies, you are allowing them to LABEL anyone who supports the OP as a bunch of anti-science, woo loving anti-intellectuals.

By denying the fact that humans are apes all a person is doing is setting themselves up to fail. Sticking to that statement is like one trying to dig oneself out of a hole.

And yes, I know that is not the context of how she was using the word. But that is like trying to use the word "nice" to mean its antiquated definition of "stupid." Only people who already support her are going to take the time to try and understand that. Insisting on using it that way will do nothing but torpedo one's own argument out of nothing but pride.