On Fri, 14 Jul 2000 10:13:27 -0700, "Ward... James Ward" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>I have my own pet theories about human social evolution.  Man's
>closest relative is the bonobo.  We share 99% of our genes with them.  Their
>socio-sexual arrangement is much more to my liking.  Check this out:
>http://songweaver.com/info/bonobos.html

This is an interesting and amusing article.

It is interesting in how much the observer's viewpoint can affect the
observations.   There are many generalizations and conclusions that are
contradicted by the data he presents (for example, he states that the bonobos do
something a certain way, and then later reveals that they only did that one out
of three times.)

The only conclusion that can be made from that article is that since there are
such significant differences between the behaviors of the chimpanzees and the
bonobos, and also between both of them and the other apes, that therefore none
of the behaviors observed have the slightest effect on survival (and thereby
evolution).

PS  In general, the chimps and bonobos reminded me strongly of human children
(aged 6-10). :-)


--
Cheers,

Ken
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