Comments on: You damned dirty ape!

You damned dirty ape!

miss lynnster — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 10:15:28 -0800

If you're going to work with Koko the Gorilla, the famous talking ape, you've got to know more than sign language. Allegedly, Dr. Penny Patterson insists you've also gotta show your boobs... who knew?

By: AlexReynolds

AlexReynolds — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 10:20:34 -0800

"Koko: that chimp's alright; high five!"

By: fandango_matt

fandango_matt — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 10:24:30 -0800

I Am a Gorilla Artist

By: trondant

trondant — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 10:26:24 -0800

OK, you got me. I'm speechless.

By: BobFrapples

BobFrapples — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 10:28:44 -0800

I smell a new reality show out of this... "Koko's Apprentice". Show the gorilla your boobs or you're fired.

By: mcgraw

mcgraw — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 10:29:03 -0800

You know, my favorite part is that all four of them-- the two fired employees, their boss who demanded the nipple show and the gorilla are female. Most. Bizarre. Harassment. Ever. Three-month employee Alperin, 47, has returned to social work and is seeking $719,830 in damages. Four-month employee Keller, 48, a longtime sign language interpreter, is asking for $366,192. Uh, for seven months combined service between the two, do they actually think over $1m (between 'em) is reasonable?

By: agregoli

agregoli — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 10:29:26 -0800

Geez whiz. What a weird thing.

By: dhoyt

dhoyt — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 10:30:49 -0800

Sounds like Penny Patterson spends her vacations muffdiving around the coral reefs of Lesbos Island if you catch what I'm...if you see what I'm...you know...if you're understanding me. f_m: that link was depressing on all levels

By: jearbear

jearbear — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 10:34:21 -0800

If this is what gorillas want, then it makes me fear for anyone working with the always uber-horny dolphins!

By: mkultra

mkultra — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 10:36:37 -0800

So, does Koko throw you beads when you do?

By: soyjoy

soyjoy — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 10:41:15 -0800

Fascinating. I can't decide whether to cry or laugh. Except at this quote, where the choice is easy: "There's a history with this nipple thing," he said, leafing through the transcript and pointing out the word "nipple" -- which he'd highlighted in pink -- each time it appeared.

By: odinsdream

odinsdream — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 10:41:37 -0800

Metafilter: You need to see new nipples. I will turn my back so Kendra can show you her nipples.

By: painquale

painquale — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 10:42:13 -0800

I was watching a show on PBS the other night about a famous orangutan king that lives somewhere in a jungle. It showed clips of orangutan females acting submissive in front of him; they would pick things out of his hair, then lay on the ground in front of him and spread their legs. IMMEDIATELY after this clip, the show went into an interview with Julia Roberts, in which she said she really wanted to meet the orangutan. I couldn't decide if the juxtaposition was intentional or not. Either way, it was hilarious.

By: delmoi

delmoi — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 10:45:45 -0800

Heheheheh. What a weird story.

By: Shane

Shane — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 10:55:09 -0800

What? Can't a gorilla wonder if we have nipples hidden under our clothes or if we're nipple-less (nippless?) freaks? Koko's not perverse, she just finds nipples ... calming. Metafilter: You need to see new nipples. I will turn my back so Kendra can show you her nipples. Metafilter: ~~You~~ I need to see new nipples. ~~I will turn my~~ Will you turn your back so Kendra can show ~~you~~ me her nipples?

By: chaz

chaz — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 11:22:48 -0800

This is a great page: Index of Famous Monkeys

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 11:23:03 -0800

So what's the sign for "Show me your boobies?"

By: dejah420

dejah420 — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 11:52:22 -0800

This is the strangest damn thing.

By: VulcanMike

VulcanMike — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 12:13:11 -0800

Thought that Cal/OSHA spokesman was Deep Fryer, and I suddenly thought "Nice that they have a fridge for lunch and a place to make some wings."

By: X4ster

X4ster — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 12:19:06 -0800

srboisvert, Thank you. Thank you. And of course thank you to miss lynster for providing another source of smiles and laughter.

By: sellout

sellout — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 12:24:10 -0800

What a hack.

By: AlexReynolds

AlexReynolds — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 12:32:40 -0800

So, does Koko throw you beads when you do? You're the winner!

By: fandango_matt

fandango_matt — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 13:05:41 -0800

By: Coda

Coda — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 13:13:02 -0800

Sign Language Interpreters Gone Wild!

By: PinkStainlessTail

PinkStainlessTail — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 13:20:41 -0800

I'm remembering an anecdote about a scientist Koko didn't like. She supposedly would refer to said scientist by making the signs for "shit" and "scientist" together. Maybe shit-scientist refused to give Koko a peek.

By: graventy

graventy — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 13:46:40 -0800

Aw, man, Koko's just preppin' for Mardi Gras.

By: elderling

elderling — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 13:47:25 -0800

The US freaked out when Janet Jackson almost showed her nipple. These plaintiffs want a million bucks for what amounts to a dirty kitchen and nipples. Yep, that gorilla's a freak for placing so much importance on nipples. Has anyone considered that clothing might be really weird to a creature that doesn't wear clothes at all? Perhaps to a gorilla, a female wearing a shirt is tantamount to wearing a mask. Maybe gorillas think human females have a "shirt fetish."

By: mcgraw

mcgraw — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 13:56:36 -0800

...talk about Friday Flash Fun!

By: thedevildancedlightly

thedevildancedlightly — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 14:44:57 -0800

Where is the Smoking Gun when we really need it?

By: kcds

kcds — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 15:17:36 -0800

This is nothing. The gay German penguins insisted I show them my weener. At least, that's my story, your honor, and I'm sticking to it.

By: PinkStainlessTail

PinkStainlessTail — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 15:20:48 -0800

Has anyone considered that clothing might be really weird to a creature that doesn't wear clothes at all? Yeah, but hasn't Koko had decades to grow accustomed to this pretty consistent human trait?

By: Four Flavors

Four Flavors — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 16:17:29 -0800

"So what's the sign for 'Show me your boobies?' " I'm pretty sure you throw beads.

By: fixedgear

fixedgear — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 17:11:32 -0800

I'm probably the only MeFite who watches Monster Garage. If not, let me know. Anyway, there was an episode where Jesse James was visiting Koko and she was giving him many nipple twists. I think Koko has a breast fetish myself.

By: eriko

eriko — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 18:59:54 -0800

Anyway, there was an episode where Jesse James was visiting Koko and she was giving him many nipple twists. I never imagined I might actually read a sentence like that! Metafilter: Giving him many nipple twists.

By: drezdn

drezdn — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 23:53:39 -0800

I'm probably the only MeFite who watches Monster Garage. you're not the only one

By: joedan

joedan — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 23:54:44 -0800

i watch monster garage, but i don't remember that episode...damn, looks like i missed a good one.

By: strawberryviagra

strawberryviagra — Tue, 22 Feb 2005 05:03:32 -0800

Seems reminiscent of Captaintripps post on Carl Sagan's Dolphin experience (read down to Flooded House)

Peter began exhibiting courting behavior. He lightly nibbled Howe's legs, getting erections, and rubbing against her ardently. As a matter of expediency, Howe took to giving the dolphin hand jobs. Peter would "reach some sort of orgasm, mouth open, eyes closed, body shaking, then his penis would relax and withdraw." Dolphin libidos being what they are, this had to be repeated two or three times; then, finally, the dolphin could concentrate on its lessons.

If an ape has to pay half a mill to see a nipple, how much does it cost a dolphin for a wank?

By: VP_Admin

VP_Admin — Fri, 25 Feb 2005 01:32:57 -0800

I'm glad those women were fired. Their frivolous lawsuit only proves that it was the right decision to fire them.

By: rdr

rdr — Sat, 26 Feb 2005 08:02:08 -0800

Although Koko was confined to a wire cage, her behavior was suggestive to the point that Rivera didn't want to wait around and find out what might come next, Adams said.

By: agregoli

agregoli — Mon, 28 Feb 2005 10:33:15 -0800

Wow, sexual harrassment is fine with you then, VP_Admin? How lovely.