# Odd name for a kids theme park **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 13, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155 "2010-08-13T14:46:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155/1 "2010-08-13T14:46:55Z")
It’s in a different country. Maybe the phrase doesn’t carry a negative stereotype. But, seriously? Jungle Bunny? I hope they don’t feature a spear chucker contest. :dubious: [http://www.junglebunny.biz/](http://www.junglebunny.biz/) I have wondered where the term jungle bunny came from. Jungle is obvious. But why associate a black person with a rabbit? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155/2 "2010-08-14T05:51:37Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I have wondered where the term jungle bunny came from. Jungle is obvious. But why associate a black person with a rabbit? 😕 Does the term pre-date Playboy? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155/3 "2010-08-14T05:58:57Z")
I thought along the Playboy lines as well. Bunny=sexy woman and jungle=black. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155/4 "2010-08-14T07:45:53Z")
Uh . . . no. “Jungle bunny” is an extremely racist term for black people. ---
**Author:** ![GHO57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df788c/32.png) [@GHO57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GHO57)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155/5 "2010-08-14T08:10:01Z")
(concrete) Jungle = city Bunny = scared little creature with a tendency to jump fences when chased iirc it originated with the NYPD in the 60’s… ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155/6 "2010-08-14T08:29:53Z")
I see that business is in South Africa. No doubt pining for the goold old days of Apartheid. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155/7 "2010-08-14T13:41:32Z")
Just to point out, it’s a company that specializes in theme **parties**. [List of themes](http://www.junglebunny.biz/jungle_bunny/themes.html). It’s not a theme **park** like the post title says. Just an unfortunate name for a South African business. (Who seem to do a lot of Disney stuff.) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155/8 "2010-08-14T14:13:02Z")
I emailed the owner of the company, informing him of what the term means in the U.S. I got back a message accusing me of being “small minded.” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155/9 "2010-08-14T16:17:57Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I emailed the owner of the company, informing him of what the term means in the U.S. I got back a message accusing me of being “small minded.” :rolleyes: Why would you expect him to care what the term means in the US, since it is a South African company providing parties for South African kids? ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155/10 "2010-08-14T16:47:51Z")
I’m just glad to see they’re taking it back. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155/11 "2010-08-14T17:16:01Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > > [@panache45](#): > > > > I emailed the owner of the company, informing him of what the term means in the U.S. I got back a message accusing me of being “small minded.” :rolleyes: > > Why would you expect him to care what the term means in the US, since it is a South African company providing parties for South African kids? Yeah, I have to wonder what you and Siam Sam are on about. Maybe I am especially sheltered (I doubt it given some of the terms I have actually heard), but as a South African who spent 24 years there I can’t recall hearing this term once in a derogatory context. If I had heard it out of context I wouldn’t know what they are on about - in this context it seems a weird but likely innocent name for a company. Given your knee jerk reaction and assumption that everyone in the world shares your exact slang I’m not sure their response is entirely off base. Siam Sam’s knee jerk accusation is particularly galling. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155/12 "2010-08-15T03:05:05Z")
This is the first inkling I’ve had that “jungle bunny” is not equal to “nigger” everywhere. [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs) and the [Urban Dictionary](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Jungle%20Bunny) detail the term as I’ve always known it. ---
**Author:** ![GHO57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df788c/32.png) [@GHO57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GHO57)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155/13 "2010-08-15T04:04:22Z")
> [@Driver8](#): > > > [@Canadjun](#): > > > > Why would you expect him to care what the term means in the US, since it is a South African company providing parties for South African kids? > > Yeah, I have to wonder what you and Siam Sam are on about. Maybe I am especially sheltered (I doubt it given some of the terms I have actually heard), but as a South African who spent 24 years there I can’t recall hearing this term once in a derogatory context. If I had heard it out of context I wouldn’t know what they are on about - in this context it seems a weird but likely innocent name for a company. Given your knee jerk reaction and assumption that everyone in the world shares your exact slang I’m not sure their response is entirely off base. Siam Sam’s knee jerk accusation is particularly galling. Funny thing… A few of the posters are Americans, I’m a non-English speaking European… and I believe **Sam** is Asian (right?). And we all know the term, I would say your guess of being exceptionally sheltered is correct… you know… culturally sheltered. But don’t worry, [other]([F200M 💰 Zona Bermain Games Online Penghasil Uang di Dunia Nyata, Dengan Reward Log-In Harian Terbesar](http://www.pubutopia.com/pubs/L/Leicester/Whetstone/The) Kaffir Inn/) [people](http://www.manta.com/c/mmfbxyf/kaffer-enterprises-l-l-c)do it too; pick whichever spelling you like and complain away 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155/14 "2010-08-15T04:10:43Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I emailed the owner of the company, informing him of what the term means in the U.S. I got back a message accusing me of being “small minded.” :rolleyes: See, I wonder about that. A person who didn’t know what it meant might express surprise, concern, or plead ignorance (“I had no idea!”). But an immediate accusation of small-mindedness strike me as odd. It’s not just defensive, it’s going right over to the attack. Maybe this person is quite aware of the American connotation and likes it? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155/15 "2010-08-15T04:15:16Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > > [@panache45](#): > > > > I emailed the owner of the company, informing him of what the term means in the U.S. I got back a message accusing me of being “small minded.” :rolleyes: > > Why would you expect him to care what the term means in the US, since it is a South African company providing parties for South African kids? Why wouldn’t you want to know? At best it’s irrelevant–at worst it’s going to reflect very badly on you. The fact that he took it as an insult and responded in kind is a pretty damning. Assuming panache was cordial in the email, an insulting response means he already knew the name was bad, or is just an asshole. It doesn’t help that South Africa is still a rather racist country, and that people are often called closed or small minded for daring to tell a racist that they are making a racist remark. If you only knew what they knew, you’d be racist too. It was, at best, an unfortunate response. ETA: Of course Sailboat could say it in less words. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155/16 "2010-08-15T04:28:46Z")
> [@GHO57](#): > > and I believe **Sam** is Asian (right?). Ah, no. I am a white American who grew up in West Texas. Been living in Thailand for many years now. But growing up in West Texas back when I did, I doubt there’s any derogatory term for blacks or Hispanics that I have not come across. ---
**Author:** ![GHO57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df788c/32.png) [@GHO57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GHO57)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155/17 "2010-08-15T04:37:58Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > > [@GHO57](#): > > > > and I believe **Sam** is Asian (right?). > > Ah, no. I am a white American who grew up in West Texas. Been living in Thailand for many years now. But growing up in West Texas back when I did, I doubt there’s any derogatory term for blacks or Hispanics that I have not come across. Ah, my bad… :smack: … are you sure? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155/18 "2010-08-15T05:10:41Z")
> [@GHO57](#): > > Ah, my bad… :smack: … are you sure? 😃 95% sure. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155/19 "2010-08-15T05:23:02Z")
> [@GHO57](#): > > (concrete) Jungle = city > Bunny = scared little creature with a tendency to jump fences when chased > > iirc it originated with the NYPD in the 60’s… Well, the first time I heard it was in second grade when a black child was introduced to the class. That was 1953, in rural Washington state. Even then it was seen as derogatory, at least by our teacher. The boy who said it was sent to the principal’s office to be paddled. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155/20 "2010-08-16T22:33:05Z")
> [@Driver8](#): > > Given your knee jerk reaction and assumption that everyone in the world shares your exact slang I’m not sure their response is entirely off base. Siam Sam’s knee jerk accusation is particularly galling. I shouldn’t have to point out that every reaction is not a “knee jerk” reaction. I gave this issue a great deal of thought before contacting the owner, and I’ve given your response a great deal of thought before replying to it now. If I discovered that the name of my company is a derogatory term elsewhere in the world . . . especially in a country that has a great deal of worldwide influence . . . I’d seriously consider changing it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-name-for-a-kids-theme-park/550155.md?page=2)