Did you know that monkeys can’t use monkey bars? Playing on monkey bars requires brachiation, which is the ability to use your arms to swing from branch to branch (or bar to bar). Having this ability requires flexible shoulder joints with shoulder blades positioned essentially on the back. It also requires the ability to grasp. Monkeys do not have these abilities; apes do. Perhaps “ape bars” just isn’t catchy enough but the example highlights one of my ultimate pet peeves that I will be remedying today.
It is illegal to refer to species of apes as monkeys in any published, televised, or educational material.
Chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, gibbons, orangutans, siamangs, and humans are apes. Calling a chimpanzee a monkey is as wrong as calling a human a monkey. If you are making a commercial and want to make some joke about “monkey business” or “monkeying around” use a MONKEY! Get yourself a capuchin, a vervet, a tamarin, a macaque, a spider monkey…there are so many options! Just don’t use an orangutan. Feel free to use an orangutan for a different commercial (they make awesome actors don’t they?), but then you can’t make a monkey joke.
I think the most upsetting violation to this rule I have ever seen was a set of alphabet flashcards for babies. Under the letter ‘M’ was the word ‘monkey’ and a picture of a chimpanzee. The thought that innocent children could be exposed to such a gross misconception was too much to bear. I knew I had to take action right away. In fact, I think this could be my most important decree to date.
As always I remain your all-powerful and benevolent Queen of the World,
Marisa
No comments:
Post a Comment