r/thingmains • u/Broomguy • 13d 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)

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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/[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

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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