Men in Gorilla Suits
Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 182: Last Seen…Playing Board Games

"Men In Gorilla Suits" spelled out on Scrabble tiles - Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 182: Last Seen…Playing Board GamesThere are many things in life where strategy and luck come together, but few things living up to that description are as loved as board games.

In ancient times all the way up to right now; played in the dirt or on special tables made for board games -- humans love board games...and the Gorillamen are no different. In fact, this is one of those episodes that made us think, "It took us this long to get to this topic?"

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We begin by going back in time and kicking it all off talking about the first board games we remember. After that, we discuss our favorite board games back then -- and if we still play board games with any regularity today.

Find out what the last board game we've each played was...and why we think board games have such a huge appeal.

We run through lists of our favorite board games, and then dedicate a bit of time to what a Men in Gorilla Suits board game might be like.

Is there a certain kind of mind that's most appealed to playing -- and even making -- board games? And do we see a difference between board games, war games, and table top role playing games - or are they all the same to us?

We chat about our favorite board game memories (Christopher made a grown man cry) and how technology has influenced modern board games...before wrapping it all up by talking about the future of board games.

Do not pass go or collect $200 until leaving a comment about your favorite board games below.

Direct download: migs182.mp3
Category:Pop Culture -- posted at: 1:13pm CDT

Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 181: Last Seen…Reveling in Chaos
astro photo by Tom Wideman - Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 181: Last Seen…Embracing in Chaos
Photo by the mighty Tom Wideman! https://www.flickr.com/photos/tomwideman

Ask most people if their life is chaotic, and they will say "Oh hell yes!"

There's rushing about for work, taking the kids to 20 different kinds of practices, errands, working around the house, and hours of Candy Crush while watching a myriad TV shows. Teenagers will talk about how much school work they have (and they do!)...as well as the pressure to pick their life path before even experiencing what will become most of their lives. Millennials will talk about how busy they are trying to balance work and life. And we two Gorillamen will talk about chaos in a much different manner.

For us, chaos is an unpredictable system in which certain patterns often emerge. It is not something to be feared, but surfed!

So this week, we talk about all facets of chaos: how for many it's a hectic thing, how it can destroy us all, and even how it's beautiful when viewed a certain way...

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We kick it all off discussing if the universe tends toward chaos or order -- and then jump to which we tend toward in our own lives.

Life can be chaotic. We talk about whether or not it bothers us when our lives are chaotic...and who we know who has the most chaotic life -- and the most ordered.

We get all trippy for a moment and ask if reality is subjective or objective. Sticking to that kind of thinking, we move on to whether or not one's mental attitude can affect the world around them.

Getting back to ourselves, we reveal if we can alter our perceptions and points of view easily. After that, we ask if it's possible to modify reality.

Then we devote some time to the big point of the episode: is there order in chaos? Also: whether or not chaos can be a good thing.

And we wrap it all up talking about the most chaotic our lives have ever been.

As always, we'd love to hear your thoughts about this week's topic in the comments.

Direct download: migs181.mp3
Category:Pop Culture -- posted at: 7:45am CDT

Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 180: Last Seen…Talking about Millennials

A Millennial on her phone - Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 180: Last Seen…Talking about MillennialsEverywhere you turn, lazy Millennials are taking their parents to job interviews, watching their YouTubes, mainlining text messages like junkies, and using slang the rest of us don't understand.

How could such a self-centered, good-for-nothing generation come into existence when their Baby Boomer grandparents and Gen-X parents are so damn flawless?

Or...is that all bullshit? Could Millennials be doing well, all things considered, with what they're being handed? Could it be they are more likely to not care if a black guy is dating a white girl or -- GASP -- if two guys want to marry? Could it be that much of their negative press isn't wholly true; that maybe they write articles about themselves in defense of Gramps in a Crosby, Stills, and Nash t-shirt shaking his cane on his front lawn while his Nirvana-wearing T-shirt son (Bleach t-shirt, at that; you know, to prove they were fans before Nevermind, even though they weren't) throws Pabst Blue Ribbon cans of irony at a 24-year-old passer-by just wanting to pay off her student loans?

Or...could it be something somewhere in between (but probably skewed toward bitter Boomers and jealous Gen-Xers just being grumpy before their time)?

Step into your safe place and listen to this week's episode of Men in Gorilla Suits!

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We cut right to it at the start and talk about how many Baby Boomers (and Gen Xers to a degree), say Millennials are lazy and financially irresponsible. But is there truth to that? After that we discuss our personal experiences -- good and bad -- with Millennials at work.

We devote some time to the traits we believe Millennials have over those before them...and also where they may be a bit lacking than previous generations.

But one thing is certain: Millennials are cowards compared to Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers, right? We destroy that bit of stupid before jumping to why we think Boomers and Gen-Xers have such an issue with Millennials.

Some evidence points to Millennials not being as entrepreneurial as the generations before them. Find out if we think that's true and, if we do, why we think that might be. (And maybe point out that many Boomers and Gen-Xers don't quite get that ways of making money on one's own no longer relies solely on starting a traditional company.)

Next, we get a bit specific, talking about our generation (Gen-X). Are we just jealous that Millennials got more attention and opportunities in their early 20s, while we were handed nothing much at all? (And, if so, doesn't that make us the whinier generation complaining about the generation we spawned?)

You can probably guess by reading this far that we don't have issues with Millennials...you might even say we like them. But...would we want to be a Millennial -- or continue clutching our Dinosaur Jr. CDs and remain Gen-X? (Somewhere in a dark bar outside of Seattle, two 45-year olds are drinking Rainier Beer while arguing about who's better: Mudhoney or Tad! They leave when an old guy drinking a Busch shouts, "I'm sleeping with the ghost of Janis Joplin!" and poops his Depends.)

As positive as we are about Millennials, we do wonder how they will react when Generation Z comes into their own and gets the limelight. We talk about that a bit before moving on to whether or not the so-called "Millennial [distracted] Mind" is real or not. (Hint: Christopher knows 70-year-olds who can't get through an in-person conversation without playing Words With Friends.)

And we close it all out with this: will there be a day a Millennial in a Lorde t-shirt shakes her fist at a GenZer while shouting, "Get off my lawn, ya punk!" (i.e. that Millennials will one day become critical and bitter)?

(If so, we'd still call that progress over sad old men getting riled up about things that really don't matter...)

Be like an old person and leave a comment, 'cause we're afraid of the Snapchats and the Bemes.

Direct download: migs180.mp3
Category:Pop Culture -- posted at: 7:46pm CDT

Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 179: Last Seen…Being Responsible

Man tightening his tie - Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 179: Last Seen…Being ResponsibleFor many of us it came with chores. Others, with school. Later, it carried over to our first jobs...and then when we found ourselves out on our own.

Responsibilities.

What is seen as responsible to some is seen as taking on too much for others. In turn, some people look at a person making riches surfing or skateboarding and claim that person isn't responsible...because they aren't in an office job with standing. (Perhaps that's just jealousy that someone figured out a way to make millions doing what they love, while most people are stuck in jobs they'd not do were they independently wealthy.)

What constitutes responsibility is an interesting thing, so that's the topic for this week's episode of Men in Gorilla Suits.

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We begin by talking about our first responsibilities and then move on to when we actually became aware of this thing called responsibility.

Find out if we actively seek out responsibilities today...and if we consider ourselves responsible people. After that, we chat about whether or not we currently have a lot of responsibilities.

We devote some time to discussing the times in our lives when we were the least responsible -- and the most! Sticking to that thought, we get more specific and talk about the least responsible thing we've ever done...as well as the most.

Perception can be a strange thing. We wrap up this episode discussing whether we think people see us as responsible adults or overgrown children...and whether or not those two things are mutually exclusive.

Feel free to do the responsible thing and leave a comment about this episode.

Direct download: migs179.mp3
Category:Pop Culture -- posted at: 7:41pm CDT

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