The reason why the cute little guy was in the Ikea store in the first place was because he had been left in a parked car and had let itself out in order to go on a little walk. Though it would be odd enough to have an escaped monkey wandering around an Ikea store wearing a stylish coat and diapers, journalists have further determined that monkey pets aren't legally allowed in Toronto and Yasmin's relationship with Darwin is a bit bizarre on a few different levels.
Journalists uncovered a video showing Darwin and Yasmin brushing teeth together that was filmed prior to the Ikea incident. However, this type of tooth brushing technique is actually damaging to teeth and gums - not a good example for monkey see-monkey do. And, when asked by a journalist in a separate interview, "Did you know when you got him that it wasn't legal to have him?" the answer was basically, "You are told to keep it low profile."
In an ABC news video clip, Yasmin said, "He belongs with his mother, He's not just some monkey, he's my son!" Of course, she does not mean that Darwin is literally her son, simply that she is literally attached to him emotionally as a son. In any event, when asked about little Darwin's place in the family, animal experts advised against this type of live-in relationship. Jack Hannah emphasized that monkeys gradually grow up and can become dangerous. This type of pet ownership is not a good idea for a number of reasons:
1. Purchasing illegal pets helps support a ruthless black-market animal-related economy.
2. Cute little baby monkeys become dangerous to others and house wreckers when they are mature.
3. Particular species of monkeys, such as this rhesus macaque, are highly prone towards spreading diseases.
The ABC interview outlines how Yasmin slept with Darwin, took showers with him, and how he spent a great deal of time living on her back. She has had a monkey on her back in more ways than one, it seems. She was emphatic in explaining that she and Darwin would be back together by Christmas, in time to celebrate the holiday together, and even bought some special clothes for the occasion:
"These are his clothes I bought for Christmas. I'm going to get him and he's going to wear it."
The search for significance
Yasmin has a fairly high intellectual capacity. She is a real estate lawyer. Though she understands that laws are important, however, she has broken a law in harboring an illegal pet. Even so, she is certain that Darwin will be returned to her so that they can share special holiday time together as a family. Somewhere along the line she has lost touch with reality. She is most likely not going to spend Christmas with Darwin. She is not going to co-habitate with Darwin again in her home where she lives. It's not going to happen. How did she end up in such a state of desperation becoming co-dependednt with an illegal exotic monkey? The answer to this question may trace all the way back to her childhood.
Though a monkey surrogate mother has been provided for Darwin, named "Sweet Pea," Yasmine still believes that she would be a better surrogate mother. When she said, "He's not just some monkey, he's my son!" This could perhaps be paraphrased as, 'Darwin is significant because he's my son.' The sum total of her actions and words say something more like, 'I'm significant because I'm Darwin's only mother.'
Both her words and actions signify that Yasmin has some codependent tendencies with the monkey. A codependent attitude is noted when a person needs to be needed in order to have a sense of basic meaning in life. Melanie Tonia Evans has summed up a motivational aspect of co-dependency:
"Co-dependents feel empty on the inside and try to fill this emptiness with things’ outside of themselves. They are personally dis-empowered in this state."
When my young kids saw the videos of Darwin in Ikea, they thought they were funny. But when they saw Yasmin kissing Darwin on the lips they sensed there was something a little off. Some have taken animal relationships to even deeper extremes. The popular atheist blogger, PZ Myers, for example, claims that "Nothing must be held sacred." And when confronted on the question of bestiality, he claimed, "I don’t object to bestiality in a very limited set of specific conditions," but Myers has yet to clarify what these specific conditions would be, though asked a number of times to respond. Most people consider this type of behavior bizarre and immoral because it is believed that a moral boundary line is crossed in this type of activity. But, for some reason, perhaps his atheist stance, Myers feels a need to defend this behavior.
Some people are in a state of denial in that they wish for reality to be a certain way, but they cannot logically reconcile specific attributes of life with their worldview. Richard Dawkins, for example, has offered blatant falsities about Darwin, the historical one, apparently in an attempt to try and justify his own worldview. When people feel a need make illogical statements or to justify immoral behavior in order to defend their worldview, then one has to question the basis of that worldview. Though many of the Ikea Monkey Internet memes are quite funny, the underlying reality about Yasmin's sense of meaning in life is not so funny. It's kind of tragic. When the ABC news journalists described the possible diseases of macaque monkeys they advised people to stay away from Darwin because Darwin could be dangerous. In a similar manner, ascribing to atheistic materialism because of Darwin can be dangerous. Not that one necessarily must follow from the other. Contrary to what Richard Dawkins teaches, Charles Darwin believed that God was responsible for life on Earth. In any event, I pray that Yasmin gets the monkey off her back and finds true significance of life in Christ this Christmas. Her situation is complicated because she is neglecting a very simple answer, the central truth of life. The following are some small images of the Ikea Monkey meme noted on the Internet, including, "Start the car" and "I was supposed to pick up Carl" and the Ikea Monkey with a top hat.
Tags: Ikea Monkey Darwin is an illegal pet, pet laws in Toronto, Ikea Monkey memes, Darwin monkey memes, why Darwin is dangerous, the search for significance in life, atheism leads to illogical behavior, Yasmin Nakhuda quotes about Darwin monkey, signs of a dysfunctional society, Yasmine state of denial, codependence with pets, rhesus macaque Ikea
Related:
Why Top Atheist Apologists Avoid Logic Like The Plague
A Moral Argument as Proof of God’s Existence
How Dawkins Reinvents Darwin
The way you distort other people s words and make fallacious connections never seem to amaze me, Rick
ReplyDeleteYou could have offered one example of one quote that is not referenced to try and back up your claim. But I suppose that would not really be considered necessary when you make your own points.
ReplyDeleteYour whole article is full of distortions. And when they are pointed out you usually just ignore the criticism. Let us review them since I have some time to waste:
Delete1. You dishonestly distort the words Yasmin Nakhuda by claiming that:
"He belongs with his mother, He's not just some monkey, he's my son!" = "Darwin is significant because he's my son" = "I'm significant because I'm Darwin's mother".
Many claim that their pet is their son or daughter. That does not mean they seriously consider their pets as their progeniture. That is just a metaphore. And there is no evidence whatsoever she does not consider herself significant without the monkey.
2. R:The popular atheist blogger, PZ Myers, for example, claims that "Nothing must be held sacred."
You distort PZ s words by claiming he meant that nothing should be valued, which is false.
3.R:Richard Dawkins, for example, has offered blatant falsities about Darwin, the historical one, apparently in an attempt to try and justify his own worldview
That line is a blatant lie. Your article has been rebuted before. Again there is no contradiction about the fact that Darwin was a deist and that his theory offered an explanation for the variety of life wich made the involvement of a deity unnecessary.
R:In a similar manner, ascribing to atheistic materialism because of Darwin can be dangerous.
Yet, history shows that religion is much more dangerous than materialism
R:In any event, I pray that Yasmin gets the monkey off her back and finds true significance of life in Christ this Christmas.
You claim that she does not believe in the jewish zombie is without any evidence. Bold assertion
>You dishonestly distort the words Yasmin Nakhuda...
Delete- I'm sorry you misunderstood. I used the word "paraphrased" for a reason. That means that words are not supposed to be the same as an actual, literal quote from a person. That does not mean that a person is being dishonest, especially when the actual original quote is referenced in context right next to the paraphrased one. You however, paraphrase others and make claims without having any specific reference whatsoever to back up your claims:
http://templestream.blogspot.com/2012/12/faith-through-lens-us-photography.html?showComment=1355445538671#c8748960136522372
And then you make excuses: "It was a long time ago and I fear I will not be able to find the exact quote."
>That does not mean they seriously consider their pets as their progeniture.
- Nor do I.
>You distort PZ s words by claiming he meant that nothing should be valued, which is false.
- Since when is bestiality mainly a question of relative values? For most people it is a question of boundaries. Most people consider having sex with animals to be crossing a line - a sacred line based on something known as human exceptionalism. That's all been outlined before:
PZ Myers' Animal Sex: A Big Question For PZ
http://templestream.blogspot.com/2012/03/pz-meyers-animal-sex-big-question-for.html
- As far as your comments about Dawkins and Darwin are concerned, again, you offer no specifics to back up your point. The specific and referenced quotes of both Dawkins and Darwin are readily available for anyone to read:
http://templestream.blogspot.com/2012/02/how-dawkins-reinvents-darwin.html
Making empty and unsupported claims, such as, 'Your post has been refuted' seems to be pretty much par for the course for practically every atheist who posts comments at this blog. What does that say about atheism?
R:I'm sorry you misunderstood. I used the word "paraphrased" for a reason.
DeleteAnd your "paraphrazing" is a completely dishonest methode. You have no right to conflate a metaphore "He is my son" with a "I m significant because of this"
R:You however, paraphrase others and make claims without having any specific reference whatsoever to back up your claims.
I am saying that in your face and you have the ability to correct me if I am mistaken. I do not keep a track of all your ridiculous and immoral claims, Rick.
R:Nor do I.
Your article implies that. A person can feel significant because of their child. But they cannot feel significant because of their pet.
R:Most people consider having sex with animals to be crossing a line - a sacred line based on something known as human exceptionalism.
Correction, Rick. YOU consider zoophilia a line one should not cross because of "human exceptionalism". Most people can think of much better reasons.
And the initial complaint was about the misusage of PZ s quote about "nothing should be held sacred". He meant that nothing should be excused from investigation. That is not what you present it to be.
R:As far as your comments about Dawkins and Darwin are concerned, again, you offer no specifics to back up your point.
It seems at that time I had better things to do and your assertion could not even fathom that even you believed that bull. Your claim was a complete non sequitor. You found ONE quote that you have tried to twist out of proportion. Oh well...
Never did Dawkins claimed that Darwin was an atheist. His only claim is that his discovery allowed to be "an intellectually fulfilled atheist". Which is true.
Indeed, Darwinian evolution completely rejects a supernatural explanation for the diversity of life. The point of Dawkins was that it was one of the first explanation for how the world works without the invocation of a ghostly thingy. And he is right.
R:Making empty and unsupported claims, such as, 'Your post has been refuted' seems to be pretty much par for the course for practically every atheist who posts comments at this blog. What does that say about atheism?
Look at your previous articles, Rick. 99% of them end with comments you ran away from. Flaws of in your reasoning were pointed out to you, but you just chose to ignore those flaws. That is called "refuted".
>And your "paraphrazing" is a completely dishonest methode. You have no right to conflate a metaphore "He is my son" with a "I m significant because of this"
Delete- Based on your comments, it seems you are perhaps the most guilty party when it comes to misconstruing words and ideas.
I never implied that one phrase alone offers the significance you propose. The article states,
"her words and actions together"
...imply that Yasmin feels a deep sense of significance because of her monkey.
Most people seem to agree that she has a bizarre fixation with her monkey, except perhaps you.
Many of the dysfunctional aspects of their relationship have been listed in the post.
If you cannot understand why the many actions listed in the post out line a dysfunctional relationship between a woman and her pet monkey, then I'm afraid I probably won't be able to convince you and there probably isn't much use in trying to.
R:"her words and actions together"
Delete...imply that Yasmin feels a deep sense of significance because of her monkey.
Nope, her words and actions do not imply she feels a deep sense of significance because of the monkey. That is your own sick interpretention. She leads a normal life and no one of her familly memebers or coworkers seem to be worried about her relationship with the pet.
The only problem is that it is a wild animal that should not be kept at home.
R:Most people seem to agree that she has a bizarre fixation with her monkey, except perhaps you.
Bold assertion, there is nothing abnormal to her atachement to the pet. So far only you think that her relationship is "bizarre".
R:Many of the dysfunctional aspects of their relationship have been listed in the post
And most of those actions are done in families with pets. I can bet you never had a pet at home, Rick.
R:If you cannot understand why the many actions listed in the post out line a dysfunctional...
Even if your statement was true (and it is not), that does not change the fact that your article is full of bold assertions and distortions.
Unfortunately, I cannot view the ABC interview from my country. So I am unable to point out your other distortions.
>The only problem is that it is a wild animal that should not be kept at home.
Delete- It's not just a wild animal, it's an exotic and illegal one and she is in a serious state of denial regarding reality.
My friends took in a wild, abandoned baby bird and their children fed it and nursed it until it could fly away on its own. There was nothing illegal in this or strange. But purchasing an illegal exotic species and becoming co-dependent with it to the point of desperation, as if it were your own child, is not normal.
The fact that she believes she will be reunited with Darwin for Christmas underscores the fact that she does not really have a strong grasp of reality.
Though a monkey surrogate mother has been provided for Darwin, named "Sweet Pea," Yasmine still believes that she would be a better surrogate mother.
DeleteBoth her words and actions signify that Yasmin has some codependent tendencies. A codependent attitude is noted when a person needs to be needed in order to have a sense of basic meaning in life. Melanie Tonia Evans has summed up a motivational aspect of co-dependency:
"Co-dependents feel empty on the inside and try to fill this emptiness with things’ outside of themselves. They are personally dis-empowered in this state."
http://www.melanietoniaevans.com/articles/codependency-issues.htm
R:My friends took in a wild, abandoned baby bird and their children fed it and nursed it until it could fly away on its own.
DeleteCaring for a wild bird is not the same as caring for a pet, Rick.
R:But purchasing an illegal exotic species and becoming co-dependent with it to the point of desperation, as if it were your own child, is not normal
1. You have no idea about how the monkey ended up in the familly.
2. Ask your friends how important is their pet for them, Rick. You have no idea what is normal, Rick.
3. People get attached to their pets. That is what people do. And Yasmin is experiencing grief because her important pet was taking from her. Read about grief stages, Rick.
R:Both her words and actions signify that Yasmin has some codependent tendencies. A codependent attitude is noted when a person needs to be needed in order to have a sense of basic meaning in life.
You are not qualified to pass judgement, Rick. Furthermore, you have little and distorted knowledge on psychology.
No self-respecting psychologist would dare to make a diagnosis like that of someone just because of a couple of clips on TV and the internet.
>No self-respecting psychologist would dare to make a diagnosis like that of someone just because of a couple of clips on TV and the internet.
Delete- Of course, there would be no large recurring pay checks in that case. However, common sense dictates that Yasmin is in a state of denial.
1. Yasmine sincerely believes she will be reunited with her illegal exotic pet before Christmas. This sense of denial was affirmed in that she bought a special Christmas santa costume for Darwin just for the occasion.
2. If you , Anonymous, also believe that Yasmine will be reunited with her illegal exotic pet in time for Christmas, then I would offer that you are also in a state of denial.
3. The fact that you are claiming that her behavior is completely normal underscores the fact that you have some denial issues as well and should probably seek counseling of some sort.
R:Of course, there would be no large recurring pay checks in that case. However, common sense dictates that Yasmin is in a state of denial.
DeleteSorry, Rick. I did forget the you were the kind of person that denies the validity of evolution and psychology.
It is not about the money. It is just impossible to make a correct diagnosis based on such little information. Though, the Dunning–Kruger effect of yours do not care about such things.
You do not just use "common sense" to diagnose or treat a patient, Rick. One makes detailed check ups. If one day you have surgery, pray that the doctor does not use just "common sense" to treat you.
R:This sense of denial was affirmed in that she bought a special Christmas santa costume for Darwin just for the occasion.
That is why I told you to read about the 5 stages of grief, Rick. You did not bother to do so, since you are content being ignorant and you do not care if your claims are accurate or not. Being in denial does not mean a person is codependent.
R:The fact that you are claiming that her behavior is completely normal underscores the fact that you have some denial issues as well and should probably seek counseling of some sort.
From someone, who has no understanding of psychology whatsoever, that does not sound even the least convincing. And yes, her behavior seems within the norm with the situation taken into account.
R:It seems painfully obvious that she her god, so to speak, is little Darwin and living together with little Darwin.
Again a bold assertion. You also seem to have no understanding of what "codependency" means in psychology. Rick, "How to" books are not the best source of information on psychology.
Rick Warden quoted:
ReplyDeleteA codependent attitude is noted when a person needs to be needed in order to have a sense of basic meaning in life. Melanie Tonia Evans has summed up a motivational aspect of co-dependency:
"Co-dependents feel empty on the inside and try to fill this emptiness with things’ outside of themselves. They are personally dis-empowered in this state."
(bolded part by me):
Well, that explains religion right there, doesn't it?
>Well, that explains religion right there, doesn't it?
Delete- When people express pronounced codependency towards other humans or pets it's a sign that there are some deeper issues that need to be worked out. The fact that people desire a sense of meaning and significance in life in general is not strange at all - this is one aspect of life that helps to define humans as distinct from animals.
When people reject the central purpose of life then all sorts of illogical reasoning is noted and all sorts of complicated issues arise. I do not know what Yasmine believes about God, but, judging from her behavior, she most likely does not testify that she worships and loves God more than anything in life. It seems painfully obvious that she her god, so to speak, is little Darwin and living together with little Darwin.