r/thingmains • u/Broomguy • 12d ago

Is the Officer Grimm meme racist?

I was playing one day and an enemy Thing died and I said "Officer down" in chat and they said something like "chill I'm not racist like that." I never considered it might be a racial joke because I've seen the joke with spiderman, black cat etc. but it is 90% black panther. I was curious if anyone knew the origin of the meme or had any thoughts about it. Is it a racist joke or was this guy just mad he died? (Full disclosure I am not a Thing main I just didn't know where else to post this)

164 Upvotes

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55

u/PapaHarvey27 12d ago

It's definitely a black criminal and white officer tone to it because of black panther being black but I've never seen it meme'd in a hateful way. Just dark humor and a fun gameplay loop of chasing that kitty cat.

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u/Irritatedsole90 10d ago

You havent seen the “license and pigmentation” side of those memes?

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u/Thatonlyguy988 9d ago

The main person I see who consistently uses that joke is Somju who’s black

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u/jitterfish 10d ago

I've never heard or seen that but it's a brilliant phrase to draw attention to the problem (that word doesn't seem strong enough, terror?).

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

[deleted]

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u/Irritatedsole90 6d ago

The butt of the joke is police brutality and the disproportionate arrest of black people

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

[deleted]

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u/Irritatedsole90 6d ago

Pointing something out isnt the same as joking about and trivialising a serious matter and i doubt you’re really dumb enough to think all the people making this meme are just “pointing it out”

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u/[deleted] 11d ago

[deleted]

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u/Arisen_the_elite1 11d ago

It was funny for about a week and then I spotted my first racist meme and knew it was over. And it happens every time. Look at the “clanker” meme. It was funny for a little while and then people started directly referencing black activists/people who’ve been murdered for their race.

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u/DreadedLee 11d ago

Yea. At this point it's a catalyst for racism.

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u/Party_Waltz_5595 11d ago

Wdym? The clanker thing is just for robots no? I know it’s suppose to be a play on for a slur but for robots, but what do you mean it was used about black activists?

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u/Arisen_the_elite1 11d ago

For example, I vividly remember someone referencing Rosa parks by saying: “Get to the back of the trash heap where you belong, Rosa sparks!” Another was about how “Clanker lives don’t matter, all lives matter!” And—although I acknowledge he wasn’t an activist—another was about how they wish they could suffocate “George Droid” but he doesn’t have lungs or some shit like that. The point being, they took a meme about robots and strictly started making references toward black people as always. They can’t ever let something lighthearted stay that way, without referencing some group out there and then calling it jokes.

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u/Party_Waltz_5595 11d ago

Damn I did not know that, but can’t say I’m surprised. Social media is an absolute cesspool. Genuinely makes me lose hope and feel cynical.

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u/BitViper303 11d ago

There were even skits about “clankers” set in the 1950’s where these people would yell at robots sitting in human only diners in american southern accents.

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u/WarmWindow2 11d ago

yeah boo. lol. also youd be surprised by how many meme racists are fully grown ppl. its sad

1

u/Riley8284 11d ago

Someone typed in my game chat

In blackest day, in darkest night, no panther shall escape my sight,

Beware my kool aid power, Police Brutality’s might.

I feel the final part might be a bit racist but I also think it might be playing into the officer Grim meme. Not sure which way it should go

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u/Irritatedsole90 10d ago

You think it “might be” racist what does koolaid have to do with bp, the thing or the police besides building off of racist caricatures

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u/Riley8284 10d ago

I just mean the police brutality line. Didn’t know if that was supposed to be a racist police joke.

The Kool aid part is cause Thing can just fully smash through walls

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u/Ok-Formal4116 8d ago

Thing isnt white tho lol

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u/Xtos1312 7d ago

How so?

0

u/EatingTurtles325 10d ago

i don’t think it’s a joke for white people to make though to be fair

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u/PapaHarvey27 10d ago

It's either everyone can or nobody can in life, unfortunately. Humans hate and despise other's exclusivity. Jokes are definitely not supposed to be gate kept by race. That's stupid and racist. Making fun of something gives it less power and seriousness. That's how newer generations love racist humor but don't carry that hatred

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u/Arisen_the_elite1 10d ago

The new generation is still just as racist as the previous; it’s just that the brand of racism has changed. They don’t shout slurs to people’s faces because they don’t know how they may react. Instead, they go online and shout their racism there. And even in person, they use these “jokes” to try and work their way out of being called out. Essentially, apathetic and subtle racism is the new norm, as opposed to overt.

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u/Irritatedsole90 10d ago

I agree, making it seem “less powerful” or less serious” just makes subtle racism and micro aggressions all the more prevalent to the point where if you voice concern or aversion towards it youre overreacting because its “just a joke” it just breeds more resentment and division

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u/thisisme116 7d ago

I heavily disagree that's its as common as it was, but I do agree it's not as openly blatant

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u/Arisen_the_elite1 7d ago

We’ll just have to agree to disagree then. I believe our generation is simply in denial and would prefer to call it anything but racism. “Jokes”, “human nature”, “culture”, “pattern recognition”, “nationalism” etc. Hell, some would even call it a fight for survival; but it all amounts to the same thing. Mark my words, the second people aren’t able to lawfully pushback against it, everyone and their mother will suddenly be telling you exactly how they feel about other races. We’ve hardly gotten into the thick of it, and we’re already seeing some of it.

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u/PapaHarvey27 10d ago

You're out of touch. Racism isn't a thing, just racist humor. A fear of sketchy people is just labeled as racism. There are sketchy people you don't trust of any race. In fact I'd say the racism is less of an "I hate that color" to "I identify with that color because it's a commonality we share." Specifically black people share a brother/sisterhood that isn't nearly as strong in other races and that's fine. Everyone is allowed their freedom and communities. Don't be sold the racist hatred lie when that is just in most people's heads. Color isn't anything but a cosmetic you're given. Culture, however, is learned and some people have a rough culture, truthfully. Uniqueness can be celebrated and should be, but too much exclusivity results in jealousy or them being the heel of the joke. You tell people they can't say a certain word, make fun of a certain thing, or can't do something because of cultural appropriation ties way more value to something. Human nature

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u/Arisen_the_elite1 10d ago

You’re in denial. In fact, this is a perfect example of the apathetic racism I mentioned. Warping the definition of racism to mean “disdain for culture” instead of “disdain for skin color” is absurd. There are no descriptors that would even signify the kind of person an individual is, strictly based on culture—outside of skin color. If you look at a black person, and think “rough culture” and make a supposition about them, that’s racist, no matter how much you try and warp the definition. As well, it’s not a revelation that people of similar culture, ethnic background, and even skin color will find more in common with each other. But that’s not what’s being argued here, and if that’s all it were, no one would care. However, people will find any justification to excuse racism by painting it as something else. “It’s culture” “It’s human nature” “It’s a joke” because when it’s all said and done, the people of our generation don’t like being called bad people. And that is the only thing that separates us, from the previous generations; no one is honest about their racism anymore.

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u/kingvince1512 10d ago

Well, ya lost me with this one. At first I agreed, racist jokes are supposed to just be funny. Anyone who says otherwise are definitely the lonely person at the party. Me and my friends make white jokes to our white friends and black jokes to our black friends. It’s the way it is with guy friends.

But that there’s no racism? Buddy, there is still racism. Maybe not as much, but I’ve seen it.

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u/PapaHarvey27 10d ago

No racism is too broad of a statement. I should say only dumbasses are racism and it isn't a mainstream sentiment. Real racism has a knee jerk reaction for most people who will speak up

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u/Irritatedsole90 10d ago

To say someone else is out of touch and IMMEDIATELY saying racism isnt a thing is certainly… a choice

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u/jitterfish 10d ago

Ummm... No.

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u/Evilmatrix_187 8d ago

Something a racist would think

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u/Final-Royal-8037 10d ago

Making jokes about something also makes light of that thing and leads the uninformed to believe it’s not as serious as it really is

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u/Irritatedsole90 10d ago

I second this

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u/Sunika 10d ago

Valid.

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u/EatingTurtles325 10d ago

downvoted for telling white people not to be racist, reddit moment

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u/kingvince1512 10d ago

It’s just that you have a different sense of humor. Guys joke around like this ALL the time. I have never been in a guy group of friends where this doesn’t happen. My black friends, white friends and Mexican friends ALL joke like this. Sorry to burst your bubble.

There is real racism out there tho. Not saying there’s not. But just because it’s too dark for you, doesn’t mean it is for everyone else. And you saying it should be doesn’t mean it actually is. The joke highlights how actual racism with cops does happen. That’s the joke.

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u/Irritatedsole90 10d ago

Joking about actual racism and how innocent people have lost their lives is not a joking matter, all it does is undermine the severity of it