Monkey Business and Freakonomics

marct22 writes "Stephen J Dubner, co-writer of 'Freakonomics' said there will be a second Freakonomics book. One of the items that will be covered is capuchin monkeys' use of washers as money, buying sweets, budgeting for favored treats over lesser treats. He mentioned that one of the experiments had similar outcomes as a study of day traders. And lastly, he watched capuchin prostitution!"

Washers

[Anonymous Coward]

And lastly, he watched capuchin prostitution!

Wow! I need to hit up home depot!

3 week later, in prison... "I need to learn how to spell Cancun."

May I be an early welcomer...

[Anonymous Coward]

of our monkey-shagging overlords?

1) capture monkeys
2) provide a selection of washers
3) !!sex!!
4) profit!!

In Africa, monkeys shag you!

God, Slashdot is soooo predictable these days....

And why was my capcha 'incest'? Is someone trying to make a point?

From my personal experience

[metushelach]

If anything, Day Traders are the closest thing you can find to prostitutes.

Only difference is that prostitutes usually dress up nicer and generally have a better taste in men.

Re:fiznizzy piszszzzy

[Anonymous Coward]

Good thing you're here.

Re:Monkey prostitutes

[antoy]

I find it interesting how monkeys can be compared to day traders. I think to goes to show how similar us humans really are to other animals.

I think it simply goes to show how similar day traders are to monkeys.

Washers as money?

[yada21]

How can they use washers as money? I assume they're the normal kind made of base metal (not silver or gold) so anybody could mine some more zinc or steel and make more of them. Where's the intrinsic value? It's just another fiat currency like dollars except in this case the 'the man' is the zookeeper.

What makes monkeys so special?

[iminplaya]

The only reason you don't see amoebas doing the same thing is because they don't have opposable thumbs.

Re:Monkey prostitutes

[montyzooooma]

Careful - the monkeys may sue for defamation of character.

Re:What amused me..

[cntlzed]

That is because there were twice as many chairs for this guy.

Re:What amused me..

[Opportunist]

Be honest: Given the choice of hearing a guy speak about the new features of Vista and one speaking of monkey prostitutes and how they do it for bottle caps, which one would you pick?

Also, bear the probable audience in mind...

I've read the book...

[rinkjustice]

and I've taken economics in college, but the kinda freakonomics people should hear more about (and do something about) is how the top 1% of the American population controls 95% of the wealth. Between 1979 and 1997, income for the middle class rose 9%m while income for the top 1% rose 140%! Now that's freaky [nader.org]!

Re:Bonobo prostitution

[PateraSilk]

An even funnier clip I saw had the male bonobo minding his own business, eating a bunch of bananas. A female comes over to him, rolls over and spreads her legs. You could clearly see the male thinking, "Uh, okay, sure!" He drops the bananas, is all ready to get it on, and the female gets up and steals the bananas. The male is left with no bananas and a raging hard-on.

Re:There's only been half a book so far..

[Scaba]

So, you're saying independent thinkers should take your word for it and do what you demand?

Monkeys...

[Mockylock]

Lucky little bastages. I wish I could toss my wife some washers or food for some service. He needs to do experiments to see if a metal band around a Capuchin's ring finger stops the process of copulation. The males will give the females all of the washers and food, and the females will in turn become celibate or have intercourse with different monkeys.

Re:Monkey prostitutes

[ronanbear]

in that case they really are very similar to day traders

Re:Bonobo prostitution

[pohl]

...then he went back to his buddies and said "I slipped her the banana, heh heh heh..."

Obviously that researcher isn't married

[JustNilt]

My first thought when I read that description was this:

1. Monkey finds money laying around.
2. Monkey brings the money home and shows it to his wife.
3. Wife is impressed and, after a little heavy petting, puts out.
4. Guy's happy, wife goes shopping.

Sounds to me as though the researcher's proved monkeys essentially get married. Nothing new there as far as I know.

Re:Monkey prostitutes

[veganboyjosh]

no worries, the settlement will be in washers.

Re:they are like us

[Herkum01]

Considering how many internal memos, legal documents and news reports that I have read follow the same structure; I fail to see how their understanding is any different from a persons.