The following Dodgers have been smited by the JDK for their crimes against Jam:
All the girls! for picking on the JDK and damaging his already delicate self esteem!
The Basserd Who Nicked Copper's Stuff For the offense of nicking Copper's stuff. You are a tw*t, whoever you are and we all hope you get run over by a tram in Nottingham. Or Liverpool. Or whereever else they have trams!
Copper For the crime of playing with her Wii instead of her Jammie pals!
One for Copper, seeing as she is our resident expert in all things apey.
Can apes untie knots?
An offhand comment by a mate last night developed into a minor debate about the ability of apes to untie knots. The cable of his x-box was all tangled an knotted, so I made some disparaging comment about it. He then told me, knowledgably, that the ability to untie knots was linked to one's intelligence and that it was one of the many things that set us apart from apes - they are, apparently, not clever enough to get their heads around it.
I quite reasonably pointed out however that his opinion on the subject was a load of old cobblers and that it would just be stoopid to believe something as silly as that. Of course apes can untie knots. Duh.
So what I need here is a bit of authoritative backup, Copp. Tell me I'm right. Or at the very least, give me a get-out clause that doesn't make me look like a berk.
He then told me, knowledgably, that the ability to untie knots was linked to one's intelligence and that it was one of the many things that set us apart from apes -
Ok. Firstly let me reiterate that human beings are scientifically classified as apes.
As for the knots, I am sure that knot complexity and 'intelligence' are correlated (along with dexterity), and as such some species of primate can untie them and others can't. I have seen chimps untie knots, and have no doubt that most apes can untie simple knots (probably not complicated ones, but then again, most people can't either - hence the cable discussion).
Ok. Firstly let me reiterate that human beings are scientifically classified as apes.
Hah. Semantics are a wonderful thing, eh!
Thank you for your clarification. As I suspected, I was right. I like being right. I try to be right as often as I can, just for that smugness that I can experience immediately afterwards!
Would you quibble about rats and mice both being rodents? Geese and ducks both being birds?
Of course I would. It's my god-given right to quibble over every little thing. If i can't quibble over the facts of your statement, I'll simply attempt to discredit it by taking apart the grammatical structure of the statement and make dodgy assessments of your character based on my own flawed and somewhat bigoted opinions. Like this:
Rats? Plural. Mice? Plural. There are clearly more than one of each being referred to in your statement, yet you use the word 'both'. 'Both' implies two or a pair. Which means that either you can't count or you simply don't fully understand the English language. Either way, it suggests that you are unqualified to lecture me on science. I believe Dean Yaeger said it best: "Your theories are the worst kind of popular tripe, your methods are sloppy and your conclusions are highly questionable." (extra credit to whoever can place the quote!)
Or something along those lines. Obviously I wouldn't really do this to you as I'm far too nice a guy!
Copper wrote: There are 5 genera of ape (maybe more, but lets not split hairs) - gorillas, chimps/bonobos, orangutans, gibbons and humans. Fact.
ddvmor wrote: I believe Dean Yaeger said it best: "Your theories are the worst kind of popular tripe, your methods are sloppy and your conclusions are highly questionable." (extra credit to whoever can place the quote!)
Rats? Plural. Mice? Plural. There are clearly more than one of each being referred to in your statement, yet you use the word 'both'.
I am clearly referring to each as a category. Therefore, I can refer to 'both' categories quite happily.
You, Darren, are a pedant.
And a pedant who shouldn't post threads about apes/monkeys/evolution/psychology without being fully prepared to air your unfortunate creationist leanings...
A pedant, eh? And I thought you were gonna say 'Gibbon'. So you're saying I'm not an ape. So what classification does a pedant come under then, oh wise and cleverish one?
Oh yeah... and I only support creationism cos I always root for the underdog! Hah!
As I suspected, I was right. I like being right. I try to be right as often as I can, just for that smugness that I can experience immediately afterwards! 
