really?

Jul 1, 2008 at 5:09 PM
5 comments

Is it an extraordinarily slow news day, or has the American definition of "news" really sunk that low? I was getting ready to check my email today on Yahoo, when I noticed this on the homepage...see any headlines in the news section that just jump out at you?

Monkey children (3)

*In case you can't read the print because it's too small (sorry! I tried...), the headline reads

"Empty nesters adopting monkeys to raise as children"

That headline seems a bit, um, I don't know...hilarious and somehow really tragic at the same time? I actually snorted while laughing when I stumbled on this at work today, which is definitely not considered good office manners. I thought it might be a joke. I'm not even going to post the link to the article, because I can't imagine that you care enough to read the article. The short version: bored American boomers are adopting "monkids" or monkeys as surrogate children to fill their lonely days. Seriously?

The only thing that was really thought provoking about the whole article/video is...can't people find something more worthy to do with their time than adopt monkeys for pleasure? Last time I checked, there's a whole lot of famine, oppression, suffering, and starvation in the world, that involvement in might bring more meaning to your life....as opposed to adopting a monkey.

Oh, America.

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monkeys

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I saw this on tv and wondered, is their relationship so bad with their own children that they need to do this? Most of the empty nesters I know are refilling their nest...with time spent together in retirement and grandchildren visiting. People who treat any animal like a child always puzzle me. I have had both children and animals and I can tell you, they ain't the same! As much as our family loved our dog for 17 years, and we miss her, but she was a pet, not a child.

prairieplains replied to Random Musings’ comment:
Jul 2, 2008
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I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought it a bit unusual. And you're right....I don't know anyone adopting monkeys for children, and I have to wonder how much this is actually happening, although the piece claimed the numbers are surprisingly high. Most of the nesters I know have quite full lives, with jobs or hobbies or grandchildren or school, etc. Who are these people?