I like to think of April Fool's as that one day a year where we turn the dial of political correctness from "8" to "2" and cut people some slack for cracking jokes.
I can understand that some people found the lemur thing a joke and funny. Please don't be condescending to the rest of who didn't find it funny by telling us to "lighten up". Lemurs are critically endangered, thus any "joke" about culling them is not funny to those of us who love lemurs.
Lemurs are the predecessors to other primates like humans. We humans have a lot to learn from our ancestors. If you care to learn more about lemurs, please set up a tour at the Duke Lemur Center, it is extremely enlightening.
Fair enough. Just to be clear, I was kinda "meh" on the lemur joke, although I did find the phrase "free range lemurs" funny.
If I personally came off as condescending, that was not my intent and I apologize.
I have long found it strange that people can make jokes about, say, culling Tarheels (or Dukies), and no one complains at all-- but if someone makes a joke about culling lemurs, people REALLY get mad.
I think that's something worth thinking about. One way or the other.
I agree with you that the Lemur Center is wonderful. My wife took my animal crazy son there and it was a wonderful experience for him and I'd like to go myself.
My son was so concerned for the lemurs that he couldn't sleep for hours. I had to lie to him about my perception of the lemurs future to calm him down and stop him from crying.
He took his only three dollars in the world (given to him by the tooth fairy earlier that week) and asked us to give the money to plant trees in Madagascar. We instead made a much larger donation to the WWF fund.
A better understanding of primates, including humans.
Check out this web site, http://www.lemurs.us/faq.html. And, the next time you're in Durham make a reservation for a tour of the Duke Lemur Center, as they can do a much better job of explaining what contributions Lemurs make to the world than I can.
A little clarification folks ...
I work on lemur conservation, ecology, and behavior in Madagascar. My comments earlier, in their proper context, are from someone who studies the interaction between people and their environment, and its effects on rare and endangered primates. Hunting is a severe issue with the primates in question. The comment that set me off is extremely similar to comments I have experienced in the lemurs' native habitat (the comments were by Euros). And when you personally have seen the results of culling/hunting for sport in the wild, the comment, no matter what the intent, simply turns my stomach.
Bye,
Lavabe
Q "Why do you like Duke, you didn't even go there." A "Because my art school didn't have a basketball team."
That's not a personal attack. Tilly could be a wonderful, delightful, saint of a person. Her post sounds ridiculous. Nothing else she has said does. Nothing about her is ridiculous. Just the joke.
BTW, I still can't tell if she's playing around with her own April Fool's Joke.
Because it has nothing to do with you as a person. It has to do with what you're saying. You could easily rephrase that as "your post sounds really ridiculous." And that's the same thing I'd write if someone suggested Duke start Jordan Davidson or the U.S. invade Canada. That's how I've always viewed "personal attacks," at least.
Jumbo,
unfortunately these folks are being serious. Goes to show one can't make an obvious joke and not offend someone, even on April Fool's. I've already PM'd the people I 'offended' so don't jump on me again, just sayin.
FWIW Madagascar and Madagascar II are two of my favorite movies. I will stick to posting about sports as to not ruin anyone else's day.
Folks! Today's supposed to be a little fun!
Don't worry: we can all get back to our regularly scheduled, uptight selves tomorrow.
-jk