Re: Sexist propadanda

Christian Weisgerber (naddy@mips.rhein-neckar.de)
19 Sep 1999 18:37:53 +0200

Lee Daniel Crocker <lcrocker@mercury.colossus.net> wrote:

> The label "Neandthal" bothers me a bit though: Neanderthal man
> was Homo Sapiens, so we /are/ Neanderthals.

Er, no. Neandertal Man was Homo neanderthalensis. Stronger bones, physically much stronger, different facial features, slightly bigger brain, throat sufficiently different that it remains unclear whether Neandertals were capable of articulating speech. It is still subject to scientific dispute whether Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens did (or even could) interbreed. In fact, we know infuriatingly little about the Neandertals and their relation to contemporary modern man.

The use of "Neandertal" as a derogative term is questionable, of course.

-- 
Christian "naddy" Weisgerber                  naddy@mips.rhein-neckar.de