In days of old, asses were wild creatures that looked similar to horses, but with long ears.

Nowadays, when we hear the word 'ass' we tend to think of the thing we sit on, [regardless of what's under it].

When Mankind domesticated asses, we created what we now know as donkeys, [see picture above].

Human beings have a habit of using animal names to describe one another. When we call a person an ass, we mean the person is difficult to take. When we call a person a donkey, it means the person is stubborn or stupid. And, we use both words to describe people who annoy us.

After everything asses and donkeys have done for Mankind over the last few millennia...we repay them by using their names to ridicule one another!

I wonder if this is an example of anthropomorphism...or, is it the exact opposite...like zoomorphism?

And, when did we start doing these cross-species insults?

PS: an article about no carrots, no sticks...& no donkeys.