Can Apes Outthink Humans?

by SodaHead News Posted 2012/06/25 13:00:00

Related Topics: Apes, Monkeys, bonobos, Chimps, Humans, Science

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	Yes	206 votes	48%
	No	219 votes	52%

According to The Associated Press, scientists have discovered that the DNA of a bonobo ape is only about 1.3 percent different from humans. And ape behavior continues to astonish scientists as they demonstrate thinking processes and capabilities we never thought possible. For instance, one study showed bonobos will "pack" the tools they need to access food if they're moving to a remote location for the night, and remember to take them with the next day.

Another study showed that if one chimpanzee can see a piece of food and another cannot, the chimp that can see the food is able to recognize this advantage and keep the food hidden -- in other words, chimps are able to put themselves in another's shoes. Another study tried to determine how many pictures baboons could memorize over the course of three years, and by the end of the study, they could remember the pictures better than the scientists testing them.

Emory University primatologist Frans de Waal told AP, "Capacities that we think in humans are very special and complex are probably not so special and not so complex. This research in animals elevates the animals, but it also brings down the humans... If monkeys can do it and maybe dogs and other animals, maybe it's not as complex as you think." Do you think apes have the brainpower to outthink humans?

+30

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irish -liberty or death! 2012/06/25 17:32:11

Yes

+16
at the rate humans are devolving its not surprising.
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More polls by SodaHead News

Lady Wh... to Stan We... 2012/06/26 12:47:15

BINGO!!!

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Dawn Jacquelyn 2012/06/26 04:35:10

No

+1
I don't think so, because if they did they'd be the dominant species on this planet. I have no doubt, however that they're more intelligent than we've given them credit for. Dolphins also. I find the research and studies fascinating.

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alun.pa... to Dawn Ja... 2012/06/26 05:31:22

+1
Grown examples of gorillas and chimps have about the IQ of a human toddler. So, whilst there is an actual overlap, in practice, not so much.

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Nancy Scott 2012/06/26 04:19:36

Yes

+1
it would depend on what the test was to determine this.

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M A 2012/06/26 04:19:14

No

+1
When apes invent a flush toilet, then we can talk intelligence

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Jiorgia to M A 2012/06/26 08:43:36

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein

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Patric to M A 2012/06/26 12:51:13

and when people can hit the toylet with out soil the seat ......
or is this a case of ..

one is dumb the other is ignorant ?

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Corsair 2012/06/26 04:10:50

No

+1
Unless they're smart enough to pull this off:

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Stan We... to Corsair 2012/06/26 04:45:40

+1
Don't you mean smart enough NOT to pull this off?

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Jiorgia to Stan We... 2012/06/26 08:33:03

planet of the apes reference...

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rockyjr5 2012/06/26 04:10:27

Yes

Especially negative people.

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MOMMA THOMAS 2012/06/26 04:10:23

No

.....I CAN HIDE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR ALMOST A YEAR, AND REMEMBER WHERE I PUT THEM. ......AND CAN REMEMBER WHERE, WHO, WHEN PICTURES WERE TAKEN MORE THAN 65 YEARS AGO. ...GREAT GRANDMA

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The One 2012/06/26 04:05:53
Dawn Ja... to The One 2012/06/26 04:37:28

+2
Oh geez, can you tell us where we'd be without them? You're not a fundie who believes in talking serpents, are you?

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Birthpangs to Dawn Ja... 2012/06/26 14:18:41
Grandbr... to The One 2012/06/26 14:36:33

Gotta love the irony of you making this declaration over the internet by typing on your computer keyboard...

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The One to Grandbr... 2012/06/26 16:03:40

So what your saying is you a ...

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Grandbr... to The One 2012/06/26 16:59:03

I said nothing of me. I pointed out the blatant irony of your comment. It's funny.

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gvc to Grandbr... 2012/06/27 22:16:24

I see no irony or humor. Care to share?

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Grandbr... to gvc 2012/06/28 13:51:52

I'll give you a hint - scientists made the internet and computers possible. IRONY!!!

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gvc to Grandbr... 2012/06/28 21:11:33

And exactly what does that have to do with being a Christian?
Little HINT.....NOT A FREAKING THING.
How old are you 10? Only a complete moron would think you can not be a scientist and a Christian.

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Grandbr... to gvc 2012/06/29 03:38:13 (edited)

Who the hell said anything about Christians? What are you talking about? "The One" said "F*** scientists dumb asses!!!!", which I found ironic when he was broadcasting it through means that were afforded him by scientists. Nothing about Christians there, sport. Can you read?

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gvc to Grandbr... 2012/06/29 06:05:55

Oh my mistake...I thought you were responding to the guy that said he was a Christian and a Scientist. I need to stay off this thing when I get sleepy! My apologies!! :-)

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Grandbr... to gvc 2012/06/29 11:21:56

No worries. I've got no problem with Christian scientists, or Christians in general. Not as long as they're respectful of my views in return.

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Zak Smith 2012/06/26 03:56:06

Yes

+2
I'm sure they could do better than most in Congress.

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Dawn Ja... to Zak Smith 2012/06/26 04:38:33

The late Patrick Moynihan for sure. I listened to him once - he spoke non-stop for hours and didn't "say" a damned thing!

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Stan We... to Zak Smith 2012/06/26 04:47:36

Have to agree with you on that one.

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alun.pa... to Zak Smith 2012/06/26 05:32:41

Probably, but that's a really low standard

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(▪‿▪)DoctorWhoGuru(▪‿▪) 2012/06/26 03:19:23

Yes

+6

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madsam 2012/06/26 03:17:43

No

I have dogs that do those same things.. Ever dropped a doggie snack on the ground between 2 dogs, one puppies and the other a mature dog? The same thing. The one with more experience usually gets it and the other keeps looking..Ever heard of burying a bone? Why would they do that? to hide the bone from other dogs... Does that make them smart? Yes. Does that make them smarter than humans? No. Can an ape drive a car in traffic? Can an ape fly a plane? Would you get on a plane that was being flown by a monkey? If the answer is no, your other answer should be no.

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Jiorgia to madsam 2012/06/26 08:44:19

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein

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Autumn 2012/06/26 03:03:24

No

+1
Why do you have to bring political matters into this? This is why the answer is so close to being yes!

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Vis Vires 2012/06/26 03:02:47

No

If humans evolved from apes 8 or so million years ago (scientists believe from African apes) then why do we still have apes? Animals have their own God-given talents for survival but to say they can outthink humans is to deny God and His creation of humankind. (I usually watch birds for impending bad weather...when my dog was alive, I knew bad news of death in my family was near when my dog moped or cried)

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Dawn Ja... to Vis Vires 2012/06/26 04:40:50

+2
Excuse me, but if you knew a little science you'd know birds evolved from dinosaurs. Fact.

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socokid to Vis Vires 2012/06/26 05:56:23 (edited)

+3
If humans evolved from apes 8 or so million years ago (scientists believe from African apes) then why do we still have apes?
Sigh.

We didn't evolve from apes. No biologist in the last 100 years would suggest such a silly thing. You obviously know nothing about evolution... the thing you are "attempting" to denounce.

Humans and the other ape species syill alive today share a common ancestor. We did not "come from" apes, we ARE apes. Definitively.

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Vis Vires to socokid 2012/06/27 04:13:24

Oh, I believe you. I'm sure you look like an ape, too!

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socokid to Vis Vires 2012/06/27 05:24:12

Neither you nor I can escape being primates, by definition of the term itself. Sorry, mate!

It would be like be beagle being offended at being called a dog. A corvette being offended at being called a car.

LOL...

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Jiorgia to Vis Vires 2012/06/26 08:46:29

+2
Humans did not evolve from apes, humans and apes have the same ancestor.
Even those with the most basic UNDERSTANDING of evolution know that.

and the evidence continues to back this theory up.

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Vis Vires to Jiorgia 2012/06/27 04:13:16

Most scientists and evolutionists are atheists. "...evidence continues to back this theory up."? You hit the nail on the head: it's a "theory", dumb ass.

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socokid to Vis Vires 2012/06/27 05:40:22

+2
Not understanding the difference between "just a theory", something you learned in grade school as something between a guess and a hypothesis, and a "scientific theory", is common. It does not make it any less incorrect, however.

The criteria set for "scientific theories" are excruciating, and a "scientific theory" will never be anything else. There is nothing, at all, for a "scientific theory" to "graduate" to. They will always, always have the moniker of "theory" attached to them. They do not become "laws", etc...

Therefore, using this as an excuse to doubt the consensus is completely unreasonable, illogical, and just plain silly. For example... there is this "theory", called the "heliocentric theory". It is this crazy "theory" that the Earth revolves around the Sun, as opposed to the Sun revolving around the Earth (geocentric) where the Earth was basically thought to be the center of the Universe Now, we are pretty damned sure the Earth and the other planets revolve around the Sun and is not the center of a Universe. We have verified this through countless observations, predictive evidence, peer reviewed corroboration and even sent satellites that still station around theSun to this day. And yet... there is that darned "theory" name in front of this idea. Now... do you now ...

Not understanding the difference between "just a theory", something you learned in grade school as something between a guess and a hypothesis, and a "scientific theory", is common. It does not make it any less incorrect, however.

The criteria set for "scientific theories" are excruciating, and a "scientific theory" will never be anything else. There is nothing, at all, for a "scientific theory" to "graduate" to. They will always, always have the moniker of "theory" attached to them. They do not become "laws", etc...

Therefore, using this as an excuse to doubt the consensus is completely unreasonable, illogical, and just plain silly. For example... there is this "theory", called the "heliocentric theory". It is this crazy "theory" that the Earth revolves around the Sun, as opposed to the Sun revolving around the Earth (geocentric) where the Earth was basically thought to be the center of the Universe Now, we are pretty damned sure the Earth and the other planets revolve around the Sun and is not the center of a Universe. We have verified this through countless observations, predictive evidence, peer reviewed corroboration and even sent satellites that still station around theSun to this day. And yet... there is that darned "theory" name in front of this idea. Now... do you now doubt whether or not the Sun revolves around the Earth, as opposed to the other way around because it is called a "theory"?

LOL, dude...

The difference between "theory" and "scientific theory" are vast. You should at least learn the terms as they are used in science before displaying your ignorance to anyone with a modicum of scientific knowledge.

http://www.evolution.mbdojo.c...
(more)

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