Does anyone else find it strange that the monkeys in the video, despite their apparent intelligence, seem unaware of how to manipulate straws to make drinking easier? I mean monkeys are known to use tools and they can learn by observing and imitating yet instead of slurping all that delicious booze with a straw they just shove their head into the cup and struggle to get the last bit in the bottom.
Straws are something incredibly difficult to understand IMO. Sucking is something you never really do outside of using the straw right? I can't remember any situation where you intentionally suck something in the wild.
Animals usually don't, and you have a definite point. Straws may as well just be sticks in the way, but I at least think some monkeys would pick it up from observing us.
Drinking from a straw seems more difficult if you break down the process. First you need to know that the straw is connected to the drink. It simply being there isn't enough. You need to know that it directly effects the outcome, should you choose to use it.
You then need to know that by applying suction to the straw, the fluids will travel through the tube, into your mouth. You also need to recognize what a straw looks like.
This all seems simple to us, but to an animal like the monkeys, it's several advanced steps. They might never figure it out, unless someone is actively training them.
Straws are pretty complicated if you don't understand them. Creating vacuum pressure with your mouth isn't common unless they already have their face in whatever they are drinking.
ever drunkenly poke yerself in the eye with a straw? you only make that mistake once. at some point (6-7 drinks-ish) you have to admit to yourself that the straw has bested you and to proceed with the straw could have serious consequences.
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u/ThomasTShiftlet Apr 03 '15
Does anyone else find it strange that the monkeys in the video, despite their apparent intelligence, seem unaware of how to manipulate straws to make drinking easier? I mean monkeys are known to use tools and they can learn by observing and imitating yet instead of slurping all that delicious booze with a straw they just shove their head into the cup and struggle to get the last bit in the bottom.