RIP Koko

[Travelman6]

Not sure if anyone heard but Koko the gorilla died 2 days ago. She was known for her ability to learn sign language rapidly, her love of kittens, meeting several famous people and her gentle demeanor.

You taught the world so much in 46 years. RIP gentle Koko.

https://i1./www.mbird.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screenshot-2017-10-24-mr-rogers-koko-the-gorilla-Google-Search.png?fit=290%2C291

 

[Palatine]

Yep, very sad. Koko forever changed the way we looked at animals. The image of Koko and her pet kitten All Ball (who she named) is one of the most striking images of the 20th century.

 

[UCDaveD]

I’m sure her and Harambe are sharing some bananas somewhere

 

[SallyH]

Such a gentle soul in a huge body.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Media hype

 

[intlzncster]

Yep, very sad. Koko forever changed the way we looked at animals. The image of Koko and her pet kitten All Ball (who she named) is one of the most striking images of the 20th century.


View attachment 32348

Incredibly appropriate pet name for this board.

 

[blackbird]

I’m sure her and Harambe are sharing some bananas somewhere

She loved Robin Williams. When I heard she died, I figured they were probably sharing a banana somewhere.

 

[Travelman6]

Media hype? Some people. Wow, Whatever.

 

[Travelman6]

Media hype? Some people. Wow, Whatever.

 

[JCSuperstar]

Rare opportunity to post my favorite Onion link:
https://www.theonion.com/scientists-successfully-teach-gorilla-it-will-die-somed-1819594897

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Phew I thought we lost Koko B. Ware.

 

[Jaker]

who?

 

[Ts5034]

She loved Robin Williams. When I heard she died, I figured they were probably sharing a banana somewhere.

When Robin Williams died, they told Koko what happened and she was sad. It really is amazing how intelligent she was and how she remembered him.

 

[UconnFanNVa]

Is this the koko George got his nick name from?

 

[Mokum]

If these great apes had the proper vocal chords they could learn to speak. That would change the whole concept of using them for lab rats. Then again, there are cynical people who could care less.

 

[Mokum]

Media hype? Some people. Wow, Whatever.

Some people have cold hearts and are cynical about everything. Just the way it is bro.

 

[Deepster]

Is this the koko George got his nick name from?

Yes.

My Koko memory goes back to having a horrible co worker, the worst in my 20+ years in the business. A friend and I had a serious conversation and determined we would rather have Koko in her position. So we nicknamed her Koko behind her back.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Media hype? Some people. Wow, Whatever.

Some people have cold hearts and are cynical about everything. Just the way it is bro.

Some people are experts on communication. They’re called speech-language pathologists. I’m one of them. She was special and came close, but no, did not acquire language. And no, lol, apes need a lot more than “the proper vocal chords” to become verbal communicators; pretty sure that anatomically they have essentially the same larynx we have, and have essentially the same upper aerodigestive tract (if anything, just a relatively elongated oral cavity). There is a whole lot of complex neural circuitry that they just don’t and never will have.

Language acquisition is not achieved through years of operant conditioning training the labeling of simple objects. Language and communication as we humans understand and use it is a lot more than that. She being as rare as she was itself goes to show how far off apes are from actually being linguistic communicators

It was all hype from media and people way too familiar with her who had serious confirmation bias

We should care more about Harambe

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

That chimps alright. High five.

 

[champs99and04]

Koko was never really super popular, even at her peak. Harambe, on the other hand, inspired an entire generation of people and will live forever in the minds of most. Koko is known only for being a female in an industry (rightfully) dominated by males.

Sorry for the loss and all, but please don't waste my time with any more of these threads. One thread on a niche media sensation like this and you open the door for someone's pet goldfish. I come here to talk basketball.

 

[whaler11]

People care more about the goriller than the little boy?

 

[nomar]

Some people are experts on communication. They’re called speech-language pathologists. I’m one of them. She was special and came close, but no, did not acquire language. And no, lol, apes need a lot more than “the proper vocal chords” to become verbal communicators; pretty sure that anatomically they have essentially the same larynx we have, and have essentially the same upper aerodigestive tract (if anything, just a relatively elongated oral cavity). There is a whole lot of complex neural circuitry that they just don’t and never will have.

Language acquisition is not achieved through years of operant conditioning training the labeling of simple objects. Language and communication as we humans understand and use it is a lot more than that. She being as rare as she was itself goes to show how far off apes are from actually being linguistic communicators

It was all hype from media and people way too familiar with her who had serious confirmation bias

We should care more about Harambe

Why Haven’t the Obituaries for Koko the Ape Talked About Her Purported Nipple Fetish?

PENNY: Hey, Cutie. Let me explain what we’re doing.

KOKO: Fine.

PENNY: We’re going to be on the phone with a lot of people who are going to ask us questions …

KOKO: Nipple.

***

Yet it’s not at all clear that she really meant “nipple” when she used the sign, in which she gestured to her own nipple. Koko’s signings tended to be incredibly malleable. According to Patterson and her colleagues, “nice” could be interpreted as meaning “rice.” “Foot” could be interpreted as “man.” “Lip” as “woman.” “Bean” as “cookies.” Or “shoes.” Or “artichokes.” Or a “toy tiger.” Or “Jell-O.” When all else fails, an out-of-context word could be interpreted as an insult. (“Bird,” “nut,” “toilet,” and “devil” were supposedly favorites.) Or interpreted as boredom. Or as bizarre gorilla humor. Even when transcribed by a sympathetic stenographer, Koko’s signing seemed to be littered with non sequiturs, even gibberish. Instead of seeing Koko’s inconsistencies as a sign that the gorilla hadn’t truly acquired language, advocates had to go through more and more intricate—and bizarre—intellectual backflips to try to project a meaning upon them.

 

[Mr. French]

Some people are just miserable.

I’d take Koko’s communication over most on this board.

 

[8893]

Just saw Won't You Be My Neighbor?, the excellent Mr. Rogers documentary this afternoon. Great scenes from him meeting Koko, which I had forgotten all about.

I'm no communications expert, but it was pretty amazing and there is no doubt he connected with her in a special way.

 

[Kembacity]

Some people are experts on communication. They’re called speech-language pathologists. I’m one of them. She was special and came close, but no, did not acquire language. And no, lol, apes need a lot more than “the proper vocal chords” to become verbal communicators; pretty sure that anatomically they have essentially the same larynx we have, and have essentially the same upper aerodigestive tract (if anything, just a relatively elongated oral cavity). There is a whole lot of complex neural circuitry that they just don’t and never will have.

Language acquisition is not achieved through years of operant conditioning training the labeling of simple objects. Language and communication as we humans understand and use it is a lot more than that. She being as rare as she was itself goes to show how far off apes are from actually being linguistic communicators

It was all hype from media and people way too familiar with her who had serious confirmation bias

We should care more about Harambe

Yeah, I remember hearing of all people a comedian talking about how Koko wasn't really as advanced as her trainer made it seem and it blew my mind. Some people are just really set on a lie they've been fed for decades and think anyone who wants to be real about the skills of a trained gorilla are sad sad people