geek/dork/nerd: japes-on-a-plane edition

You didn't think of "Jakes" on a plane? I think a jape is a jest, a parcel of tomfoolery, some manner of whimsical shenanigan. Unfortunately, "Japes" in this context also sounds a little like a racial slur. I mean, it ISN'T one, but it just kind of SOUNDS like one. You know, something like, "Don't even think about goin' into that part of town after dark. They'll take you for all you got. Buncha dirty stinkin' japes over there."

I did think of "jakes," but I don't consider these characters "jakes." The contexts in which they appear, however, can be considered "japes." I never heard of "japes" being considered vaguely offensive, but then again, you don't hear too many people using the word "japes" to start with.