What does the hundredth monkey mean?

Question

http://www.worldtrans.org/pos/monkey.html

Indeed they can swim short distances and that might explain a few. But other islands were simply to far for that explanation.

Answer 1

The most positive interpretation of what the 'hundredth monkey effect' means is that some people who WANT to see something will, even if there is no evidence for it:

The evidence originally cited by Lyall Watson was re-examined later. Apparently many of the things the Watson claimed to have happened did not in fact happen at all. There is, and never has been, evidence of any kind that a critical number of monkeys suddenly can spread ideas to other islands. None of the original researchers ever made such a claim.

Of course, if you're a cynic, you would just say that Watson was more than happy to make up results and publicise them to make himself far more wealthy and popular as well as to support whatever metaphysical agendas he might choose to promote. I suppose only Watson himself might explain the discrepancy, and so far he hasn't been forthcoming.

Answer 2

It's a theory. The "hundredth monkey" relates to the point at which enough people are doing something to make large numbers of others spontaneously join in regardless of what's happening or its inherent merits. Kind of when an activity or belief system reaches "critical mass" and can draw others in.

The original story comes from Dr Lyall Watson who claimed in 1979 to have observed a large number of monkeys washing sweet potatoes in the sea. At one point, one more monkey joined the group and suddenly every other monkey on the island knew how to do it and was joining in. The skill had gradually spread, but the addition of the "one hundredth monkey" tipped the balance and the practise became instantly part of the monkey skill-base.

He ruined his theories by claiming that at the same time monkeys on nearby islands also spontaneously joined in...

Answer 3

A Japanese research team were studying Macaques on a remote island. One of them accidentally dropped a sweet potato in the sea and discovered it washed the sand off; she started washing hers deliberately. The others copied.
After a while, monkeys on another nearby island spontaneously started washing theirs too. Scientists wondered if when a certain number of animals or people have an idea it spontaneously jumps in some telepathic way.
The 100th monkey is the number of people needed for an idea to catch on.

What the scientists didn't realise was that the monkeys swim between islands, there was no telepathy involved.

Answer 4

The "Hundredth Monkey Effect" is the name for a supposed phenomenon in which a particular learned behaviour spread instantaneously from one group of animals, once a critical number was reached, to all related animals in the region or perhaps throughout the world

Answer 5

I have not encountered this statement before, no idea. I don't know. maybe I can make a guess, it is a kind of journey that many of the monkeys did not reach the shore and stayed in the water( they enjoyed being there and forgot the shore.) Only a few finished the journey, just joking lol.

Answer 6

This is the ultimate 'monkey'.

It is the 'monkey' after which all question of 'monkey' will cease to be important.

The 'hundredth monkey' signifies great change and, indeed, a major shift in our understanding of monkiness itself.

Answer 7

I think it means that monkeys have a certain amount of intelligence, more in some colonies than others which allows them to work out certain problems. I don't think its a universal passing on of spiritual understanding.

Answer 8

it is a term given to the behaviour of animals in the wild and their ability to lern from one another and or other species i think

Answer 9

It means you had far too many shrooms - now go to sleep.

Answer 10

its time for the vet to introduce some contraception