Is the Geico Caveman racist?

January 8, 2005 11:35 AM

The Geico Caveman TV commercial.
Is it racist or just brilliant?
posted by Fupped Duck to society & culture (24 comments total)

Is there a third choice? Although my caveman friend says it's totally racist.
posted by luriete at 11:42 AM on January 8, 2005

Racist against what? Cavemen?
posted by Captain_Tenille at 11:43 AM on January 8, 2005

Would that be racist or stereo-typing?
posted by kamylyon at 11:47 AM on January 8, 2005

You... you... anti-cave-ites!
posted by enrevanche at 11:48 AM on January 8, 2005

Until my cro-magnon and neanderthal friends start complaining, I'm going with brilliant.

If anything, the Geico ads are refuting the common misperception that modern-day cavemen are not very smart ... or it would be, were there any actual modern-day cavemen.
posted by grabbingsand at 11:52 AM on January 8, 2005

I'd go with #3. It's just stupid.
posted by AstroGuy at 12:24 PM on January 8, 2005

Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer has already filed suit against Geico over the ad.
posted by Arch Stanton at 12:49 PM on January 8, 2005

Is it racist or just brilliant?

Are you suggesting that the caveman is a caricature of a stereotype of a particular race or nationality?
posted by 23skidoo at 1:05 PM on January 8, 2005

Haven't seen that one yet -- anyone care to give us a summary?
posted by davidmsc at 1:12 PM on January 8, 2005

In the ads, an announcer says that applying for discounts for car insurance is "so easy, a caveman could do it". Much to the ire of the of the prehistoric PC crowd.

But grabbingsand's right, of course, though a five year old, the dimmest thief, or even...could've figured it out..
posted by Smart Dalek at 1:18 PM on January 8, 2005

Since the caveman is a boom operator in the first commercial, I wondered if boom operators might be offended by it. Even a caveman can stand there and hold the mic over the scene without getting it in frame?
posted by birdherder at 1:47 PM on January 8, 2005

Honestly, I've always thought they're brilliant commercials, funny and totally unexpected (well, the first time you see them). I was waiting for a few sequels -- using other cliches that then got turned on their heads -- and have been disappointed that they never materialized.
posted by delfuego at 2:28 PM on January 8, 2005

They should do one about bloggers. :-)
posted by five fresh fish at 2:29 PM on January 8, 2005

I'm not sure how the caveman commercials would be racist, but the small house reality show commercial is better.

It's too bad the company itself is scumbag even for an insurance company.
posted by dirigibleman at 2:34 PM on January 8, 2005

I have never seen an insurance commercial that entertained me more than Geico's spot with the action figures. Pure brilliance. Not being a caveman, I can't find this one too offensive.

First they came for the cavemen, and I was not a caveman, so I said nothing...
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:26 PM on January 8, 2005

Small house crushes caveman like a grape.
posted by fixedgear at 3:27 PM on January 8, 2005

Not racist, because cavemen don't need insurance.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 3:38 PM on January 8, 2005

Some of those strike me as incredibly stupid, but others -- like the "Tiny House!" reality-show -- just blow me away. I still crack up whenever I see it. And I can't tell you how many times I've gotten sucked in by the "Hair Replacement Clinic" ad.

Alas, I can't say I've seen the "Caveman" ad...

Just to be sure that we don't miss the old standard cretive-vs.-utility debate re. advertising: I have no idea whether they'd make me more likely to use Geico if I didn't already. But I like watching them.
posted by lodurr at 7:58 PM on January 8, 2005

Geico's ads are wonderful...the "Old Navy" spoof is great too, and the "Small House" one really got me the first time I saw it -- I honestly thought it was a real show.
posted by davidmsc at 11:21 PM on January 8, 2005

"Small House" had me totally freaking out at first, and then when I realized what it really was, I laughed so hard I needed an Asthma Inhaler.
posted by exlotuseater at 11:36 PM on January 8, 2005

Every night before I go to sleep I wish and hope that in the morning I will wake up to find it's all been a dream and that "Tiny House" is an actual reality show that I can watch and enjoy at length.
posted by palegirl at 12:01 AM on January 9, 2005

My response to Caveman Geico Ads: This is NOT awesome!
posted by Dreama at 5:22 AM on January 9, 2005

I suppose some people might be able to argue that this commercial is somehow offensive, but you'd have to be working really hard at being offended to argue that.

I'd rather see any energy that anyone might be inclined to spend on that issue go toward actual, real civil rights problems. This commercial will be gone in a few months. And I think it's great (though I like the Old Navy one better because I absolutely fell for it!)
posted by Miko at 2:08 PM on January 9, 2005

Any chance somebody out there can find links to these commercials online? For those of us without TVs in our caves?
posted by codger at 9:12 PM on January 9, 2005