Comments on: Is the Geico Caveman racist?

Question: Is the Geico Caveman racist?

Fupped Duck — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 11:35:03 -0800

The Geico Caveman TV commercial.
Is it racist or just brilliant?

By: luriete

luriete — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 11:42:50 -0800

Is there a third choice? Although my caveman friend says it's totally racist.

By: Captain_Tenille

Captain_Tenille — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 11:43:01 -0800

Racist against what? Cavemen?

By: kamylyon

kamylyon — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 11:47:42 -0800

Would that be racist or stereo-typing?

By: enrevanche

enrevanche — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 11:48:02 -0800

You... you... anti-cave-ites!

By: grabbingsand

grabbingsand — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 11:52:22 -0800

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.

By: AstroGuy

AstroGuy — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 12:24:13 -0800

I'd go with #3. It's just stupid.

By: Arch Stanton

Arch Stanton — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 12:49:42 -0800

Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer has already filed suit against Geico over the ad.

By: 23skidoo

23skidoo — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 13:05:05 -0800

Is it racist or just brilliant?

Are you suggesting that the caveman is a caricature of a stereotype of a particular race or nationality?

By: davidmsc

davidmsc — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 13:12:19 -0800

Haven't seen that one yet -- anyone care to give us a summary?

By: Smart Dalek

Smart Dalek — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 13:18:20 -0800

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..

By: birdherder

birdherder — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 13:47:44 -0800

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?

By: delfuego

delfuego — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 14:28:32 -0800

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.

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 14:29:31 -0800

They should do one about bloggers. :-)

By: dirigibleman

dirigibleman — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 14:34:07 -0800

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.

By: Faint of Butt

Faint of Butt — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 15:26:54 -0800

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...

By: fixedgear

fixedgear — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 15:27:36 -0800

Small house crushes caveman like a grape.

By: DrJohnEvans

DrJohnEvans — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 15:38:28 -0800

Not racist, because cavemen don't need insurance.

By: lodurr

lodurr — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 19:58:46 -0800

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.

By: davidmsc

davidmsc — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 23:21:42 -0800

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.

By: exlotuseater

exlotuseater — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 23:36:26 -0800

"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.

By: palegirl

palegirl — Sun, 09 Jan 2005 00:01:58 -0800

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.

By: Dreama

Dreama — Sun, 09 Jan 2005 05:22:10 -0800

My response to Caveman Geico Ads: This is NOT awesome!

By: Miko

Miko — Sun, 09 Jan 2005 14:08:02 -0800

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!)

By: codger

codger — Sun, 09 Jan 2005 21:12:09 -0800

Any chance somebody out there can find links to these commercials online? For those of us without TVs in our caves?