# Human Zoo

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-zoo/356507>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [May 12, 2006, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-zoo/356507 "2006-05-12T14:33:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-zoo/356507/1 "2006-05-12T14:33:14Z")

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[http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060511/D8HHHP2G0.html](http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060511/D8HHHP2G0.html)  
I’ve heard of people volunteering to be “zoo subjects” before this, but whyat gets me is this:

> [@](#):
>
> “They won’t turn off the lights or pull down the curtains. They show their whole life, from getting up to going to bed,” Karen Chang, the event’s organizer, told the Shanghai Daily newspaper.
> 
> “People like to watch them taking a shower, so they have to shower at least two times a day,” Chang said. "Of course, one can’t see the key parts, because there is nontransparent glass in the bathroom

“People like to watch them taking a shower”? Unless they’re really good-looking, that’s weird. I notice they don’t say anything about using the toilet.

> [@](#):
>
> Members of the group have been taking Chinese lessons so that they can communicate with spectators, the report said. The public can send e-mail or faxes to them, or put messages on the glass.
> 
> “Interaction is a key element of the performance,” Chang said.

Please Do Not Spam the Australians.

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**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-zoo/356507/2 "2006-05-12T14:48:44Z")

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Once again, life imitates [The Simpsons](http://www.snpp.com/episodes/BABF03).

Of course, The Simpsons, in this case, may have been imitating life. The 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair had an exhibit of pygmies brought back from the Belgian Congo. Check out the Web for “Ota Benga.”

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**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-zoo/356507/3 "2006-05-12T14:58:47Z")

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Why don’t we just send them David Blaine?

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**Author:** ![The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-zoo/356507/4 "2006-05-12T16:16:14Z")

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> [@QuickSilver](#):
>
> Why don’t we just send them David Blaine?

Because nobody has the time to watch someone take a shower for eight and a half years.