Comments on: Great Apes LOL Like Human Too

By: Preston

Preston — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 19:50:02 +0000

Laughing does not denote a sense of humor. However, it would be an indication of the possibility. Do apes make each other laugh without physical contact? Are there certain apes that appear to be more silly than others? In ape courtship, is there laughing?

By: Wanda

Wanda — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:02:53 +0000

Primates have their own ways, just as humans. If it feels good, do it. If it hurts, what then????
We may not smile the same way, primates express joy in the primate way…..
Anthropromorphise?????

By: prancingpapio

prancingpapio — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:36:44 +0000

Danielle, while we feel like animals (esp. our pets) show signs of joy, we cannot be sure scientifically if they indeed do ‘laugh” and what role laughing fulfills. We must be careful not to anthropromorphise animals (esp. primates) with human quality. One good example is smiling. Some primates smile to show submission (not because they are happy).

This study not only prove that great apes laugh but it suggest that laughing started and had evolved since our last common ancestor. However, one question still remains. Why do great apes laugh?

By: Danielle

Danielle — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 08:10:38 +0000

im not sure why this would come as a shock at all. anyone who has a pet or even spent more then 2 mins around a primate, should be insulted how much money must have been wasted persuing this discovery! clearly we are not the only animals who have outward shows of joy.

By: prancingpapio

prancingpapio — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 20:21:40 +0000

It appears that the gibbon pulled the dog’s tail, twice. I don’t see the correlation or evidence from the clip that would support gibbons have a sense of humor.
Unfortunately I cannot explain or speculate why the gibbon did that from a short clip.

But, thanks for sharing the Youtube clip

By: René

René — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:23:09 +0000

Then explain. What is the gibbon doing, and why…

By: prancingpapio

prancingpapio — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:16:18 +0000

René, I’m not sure if the Youtube clip conveys the fact that gibbons have a “sense of humor”.

By: René

René — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:29:51 +0000

“She doesn’t rule out if apes or monkeys have a sense of humor”. Really?

By: Four Stone Hearth #71: Australiana edition « Neuroanthropology

Four Stone Hearth #71: Australiana edition « Neuroanthropology — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:02:29 +0000

[...] And it turns out that other apes laugh too. [...]