# Smarter dogs and apes:  a good idea?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smarter-dogs-and-apes-a-good-idea/294674>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [March 15, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smarter-dogs-and-apes-a-good-idea/294674 "2005-03-15T18:39:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smarter-dogs-and-apes-a-good-idea/294674/61 "2005-03-20T05:30:46Z")

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“We are Devo.”

Yeesh, the second time in two weeks I’ve responded like that. Has this thread been hijacked enough? I must be losing my touch, though, not being the hijacker. Unless you consider the OP 90% hijack with just enough debate topic tacked on the end to keep me from getting reprimanded.

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**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smarter-dogs-and-apes-a-good-idea/294674/62 "2005-03-21T15:38:05Z")

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> [@Dixi](#):
>
> There is a semi-plausible conspiracy theory that he was assassinated by factions who were afraid of what an armed ape population could do to the balance of power in the colonies.

“In the retrospect it is strange to remember how soon I fell in with these monsters’ ways, and gained my confidence again. I had my quarrels with them of course, and could show some of their teeth-marks still; but they soon gained a wholesome respect for my trick of throwing stones and for the bite of my hatchet. And my Saint-Bernard-man’s loyalty was of infinite service to me. I found their simple scale of honour was based mainly on the capacity for inflicting trenchant wounds. Indeed, I may say–without vanity, I hope–that I held something like pre-eminence among them. One or two, whom in a rare access of high spirits I had scarred rather badly, bore me a grudge; but it vented itself chiefly behind my back, and at a safe distance from my missiles, in grimaces.” – _The Island of Dr. Moreau_, H.G. Wells

Stranger

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