tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974406546323301344.post2842466146024354877..comments2023-04-08T06:06:13.055-07:00Comments on Notes from the Pens: Meditation on ViolenceAya Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830585801297506770noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974406546323301344.post-53738196061807588092011-09-25T10:04:23.572-07:002011-09-25T10:04:23.572-07:00Thanks, Aya. At this point, after five years in At...Thanks, Aya. At this point, after five years in Atlantic Canada, I'm happy just going somewhere warm and dry. It is a huge bonus that that somewhere is such a cultural hotspot.<br /><br />Anyway, I'll let you know what develops with the Jerusalem zoo. I think requests of this nature--unusual, but harmless--are often well-received if made in person, so I am optimistic. <br /><br />Cheers!<br />Alan <br /><br />PS: Where are my manners? Please say 'hello' to Bow for me.Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02765458752509942644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974406546323301344.post-85115129954774212302011-09-24T11:48:45.379-07:002011-09-24T11:48:45.379-07:00Alan, it sounds like a fascinating topic, and I am...Alan, it sounds like a fascinating topic, and I am sure you will enjoy your stay in Jerusalem.<br /><br />Zoos in general are not always that eager to involve their animals in anything beyond the prescribed "enrichment". But it's certainly worth a shot...Aya Katzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07830585801297506770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974406546323301344.post-25710904492138070352011-09-24T00:37:48.399-07:002011-09-24T00:37:48.399-07:00Thanks, Aya.
Yes, I will be at the Earth Science...Thanks, Aya. <br /><br />Yes, I will be at the Earth Sciences Institute at Hebrew University. I'm quite excited to go. Jerusalem is a very beautiful and historically rich place. Anyway, my main project there will be to create a chronologic framework for seismogenic rock falls from cliff-faces in the Negev Desert. This will be used as a proxy for determining the recurrence interval of large earthquakes along the Dead Sea fault zone. There are also a few archeological studies I might become involved with, but I haven't been given any information about those yet.<br /><br />As for Bow, once I'm settled and start volunteering I'll ask the staff if a Skype chat with one of their chimps is feasible. I have no idea what kind of red tape Israeli zoos have to deal with, but it can't hurt to ask.<br /><br />Cheers!<br />AlanAlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02765458752509942644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974406546323301344.post-76931197345794244132011-09-23T09:41:46.095-07:002011-09-23T09:41:46.095-07:00Touche IACUC, touche. A very sarcastic shout-out t...Touche IACUC, touche. A very sarcastic shout-out to bureaucratic alienation is in order. Forgive my unintended implication that you hadn't already exhausted this avenue. I suppose that other countries have similar systems in place.<br /><br />Early next year I begin postdoctoral work in Jerusalem, and, since there will be a zoo essentially in my back yard, I plan to volunteer my spare time there. They apparently have a breeding group of chimpanzees. For what it's worth, in the extremely unlikely event that I could be of some assistance, I'd be happy to help you with your Skype goal.<br /><br />Cheers!<br />AlanAlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02765458752509942644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974406546323301344.post-23821286816622509912011-09-22T13:40:54.005-07:002011-09-22T13:40:54.005-07:00Alan, it is surprising that anyone would decline a...Alan, it is surprising that anyone would decline a simple Skype call for institutional chimpanzees. However, there is something called, IACUC, (institutional animal care and use committee), and any researcher with funding from federal agencies must set up such a committee to oversee all research using animals. They must then do as instructed by IACUC or risk losing their funding -- and in some cases risk losing the Federal funding for their entire institution.<br /><br />IACUC quarantines animals not under IACUC supervision and does not allow them to interact with those who are within the system.<br /><br />Bow and I have no Federal funding and no IACUC supervision. As a result of the regulations we have been cut off from meaningful interactions with other chimpanzees and other researchers who are part of the system.<br /><br />You can read more about it here:<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IACUCAya Katzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07830585801297506770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974406546323301344.post-86334324032153664602011-09-22T08:44:40.657-07:002011-09-22T08:44:40.657-07:00Thanks again for you response.
It is surprising ...Thanks again for you response. <br /><br />It is surprising that anyone would decline a harmless Skype chat. I can't imagine it causing a problem. Coincidentally, I've read very recently that the Milwaukee Zoo wants to set up Skype on a network of iPads for play dates with orangutans from different zoos. There are supposedly several zoos interested in doing this and some of them may have chimpanzees as well. The people creating this network are at least of like mind, and perhaps willing to help you set something up.<br /><br />Anyway, I hope you have success expanding Bow's social circle without it limiting your connection to him. I wish you and Bow the best of luck.<br /><br />Cheers!<br />AlanAlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02765458752509942644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974406546323301344.post-12337236555299163792011-09-22T05:57:37.347-07:002011-09-22T05:57:37.347-07:00JewelandtheSun, thanks! Bow is definitely his own ...JewelandtheSun, thanks! Bow is definitely his own person, and while he can be affectionate and playful, he does not want to be told what to do, just like your niece.Aya Katzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07830585801297506770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974406546323301344.post-36619064844471439422011-09-21T18:00:31.767-07:002011-09-21T18:00:31.767-07:00I enjoyed watching you interact with Bow on this v...I enjoyed watching you interact with Bow on this video. He seems to respond to you well, but also he likes to do what he wants as well. He is independent like human kids his age. I know my niece always tells us no one is the boss of her when she thinks she is right about something, like telling someone to clean her room.Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11147781152448695481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974406546323301344.post-4801285102388301052011-09-21T17:58:04.310-07:002011-09-21T17:58:04.310-07:00I enjoyed watching you interact with Bow on this v...I enjoyed watching you interact with Bow on this video. He seems to respond to you well, but also he likes to do what he wants as well. He is independent likes kids his age. I know my niece always tells us no one is the boss of her when she thinks she is right about something, like telling someone to clean her room.Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11147781152448695481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974406546323301344.post-51755454607220048562011-09-21T13:52:06.699-07:002011-09-21T13:52:06.699-07:00Thanks, Alan. I have always felt that it should no...Thanks, Alan. I have always felt that it should not be a choice for Bow between other chimpanzees and the human family he grew up with. He should, ideally, have contact with both.<br /><br />Some censure me for denying Bow chimpanzee companionship, but I was hoping that eventually Bow and I could meet other chimpanzees and humans who would allow our family connection to continue, while Bow made other friends of his own kind and expanded his social circle.<br /><br />One of the outlets for aggression for Bow that I would like to try would be to introduce him to other chimpanzees through Skype video chats. They could practice as much aggression as they liked, but nobody would get hurt. So far, I have not been able to persuade others to allow this.Aya Katzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07830585801297506770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974406546323301344.post-83142708168769397042011-09-21T11:58:47.061-07:002011-09-21T11:58:47.061-07:00Thank you for your response.
Yes, that is what I...Thank you for your response. <br /><br />Yes, that is what I meant. I suppose I am mainly curious about what outlets, imaginative or not, you have explored to engage and/or direct Bow's aggressive tendencies. <br /><br />To digress, I must add that I applaud your commitment and approach to Bow. It seems common, at least historically, for linguistic researchers to discard a chimpanzee once it becomes powerful enough to easily handle. Is it not ironic and a bit sinister that such researchers--often trained in psychology, and certainly aware of a chimp's emotional capacity--fail to recognize, or worse, ignore the trauma they inflict upon their subjects by abandoning them during the most pivotal stage of their development? It's very sad, and I am delighted by those like yourself who take a more responsible and compassionate route.<br /><br />Cheers!<br />AlanAlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02765458752509942644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974406546323301344.post-43818307743226675082011-09-20T17:24:34.031-07:002011-09-20T17:24:34.031-07:00Thanks, Alan!
If by the catharsis hypothesis you...Thanks, Alan! <br /><br />If by the catharsis hypothesis you mean that anger and aggression can be dissipated by imaginative means, then I think it has a limited application. Certainly, fantasizing about violence can diffuse the urge to engage in it right away, but it may not address the underlying need.Aya Katzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07830585801297506770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974406546323301344.post-36097351588730681642011-09-20T16:11:10.185-07:002011-09-20T16:11:10.185-07:00I'd be very interested to know what you though...I'd be very interested to know what you thought about the catharsis hypothesis.<br /><br />Also, I enjoy your blog, and Bow is very cool.<br /><br />Cheers!<br />AlanAlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02765458752509942644noreply@blogger.com