Most bizzare story of the year?

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The case of 2 former caretakers who alleged they were fired after refusing to expose their breasts to the "nipple-fixated" Koko, the sign-language speaking Woodside-residing gorilla, has been settled.

SF Chron: Former gorilla handlers settle lawsuit in bosom-baring case

And furthermore, the aggrieved parties have "settled a lawsuit against the Gorilla Foundation." The Gorilla Foundation! Watch out, Homo Sapiens, we're coming for you!

― viborgu, Thursday, 1 December 2005 20:58 (nineteen years ago)

Yes.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 1 December 2005 21:01 (nineteen years ago)

Disclaimer: the Gorilla Foundation is in no way associated with the Church of Scientology.

― viborgu, Thursday, 1 December 2005 21:01 (nineteen years ago)

Whoops- probably should have g@@gl3- proofed that one. Sorry!

― viborgu, Thursday, 1 December 2005 21:05 (nineteen years ago)

I'm still trying to figure this one out. The best I can imagine is that maybe ... someone there decided that instead of trying to teach Koko human boundaries and modesties, it would better research for them to kinda interact on Koko's terms and whip the boosies out on-demand, and then somehow there was some disagreement there that created serious staff problems? I dunno.

Clearly the best research option here would be to (a) teach Koko she can't see the caretakers' junk, then (b) take her to a strip clubs.

― nabisco (nabisco), Thursday, 1 December 2005 21:07 (nineteen years ago)

I wish it had gone to trial and they had called Koko to testify.

― I do feel guilty for getting any perverse amusement out of it (Rock Hardy), Thursday, 1 December 2005 21:14 (nineteen years ago)

Hahaha!

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 1 December 2005 21:15 (nineteen years ago)

Koko the Gorillesbian.

― andy --, Thursday, 1 December 2005 21:20 (nineteen years ago)

I could easily imagine that Koko would find it odd that her human handlers go clothed and she doesn't, and that occasional nudity would be taken as a proof of kinship or vulnerability or whatever -- I mean, I just totally made that up but it doesn't seem farfetched to me. It's like the Chinese suspecting that Westerners were hoofed like horses because they wore heavy boots with no divisions for toes.

More than anything I feel like the originators of the lawsuit are perverting something by referring to Koko's request as being the product of a "nipple fetish" -- that's just silly, not even the right meaning of fetish!

― Laurel (Laurel), Thursday, 1 December 2005 21:21 (nineteen years ago)

"On one such occasion," the lawsuit said, "Patterson said, 'Koko, you see my nipples all the time. You are probably bored with my nipples. You need to see new nipples."

This is still the best quote in the universe.

― Dan (Animal Rights!) Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 1 December 2005 21:22 (nineteen years ago)

Nipples! Apes! Lawsuits!

― Dan (Flashback) Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 1 December 2005 21:25 (nineteen years ago)

This story is going to show up in a David E. Kelley series within 18 months, I guarantee.

― I do feel guilty for getting any perverse amusement out of it (Rock Hardy), Thursday, 1 December 2005 21:27 (nineteen years ago)

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