How easy/hard is it to mix gibbons and orangutans?

[FunkyGibbon]

I wasn't the first one to use it in this thread... I also don't think it's strictly a human concept. The textbook definition widely varies, but forced copulation certainly fits.

We are about to disappear down a massive tangent.

I was prompted to comment not because Hipporex used the term 'rape', but because you suggested that the National Zoo did on their sign. That surprised me and I'm happy to see it's not the case. I know my initial post came across as a rebuke; that was unhelpful. I would rather have an honest discussion. I also should have been more precise with my own statement; of course human sociological concepts can be applied to other species. However, this should be done carefully and with consideration for what those definitions mean exactly.

Specifically here, I would just point out the following: if you say that the forced sex orangutans engage in is rape, you are then faced with two choices. One is to say that under some circumstances rape is ok, the other is to say that we need to stop the orangutans doing this. I don't think that either of those things are good things to say (at all!), so I would much rather narrow the definition and avoid the unnecessary controversy all together.

Hopefully that makes my position much clearer.