Fuck 2020! (Amirite?)

In so many ways, it was a horrible year. But...were there any good moments?

The mighty Gorillamen cannot speak for all humankind, but...we considered all that was horrible this year, while still trying to be cheery.

Specifically, this is what we talked about:

• How did you start 2020?
• When was the first time you suspected the year might not be going well?
• What were some of the early (pre-pandemic) bright spots of 2020 for you?
• What were some of the pre-pandemic bad parts of the year?
• When the pandemic hit, how long did you think it was going to last?
• What was your first "it can't possibly get any worse"… but then it got worse moment?
• What were some bright spots in the last 3/4 of 2020?
• What was your favorite new TV show of this year?
• Movie?
• Album/Song? (as always, feel free to come up with a list)
• What was the best thing about 2020?
• The worst?
• The silver lining?
• What's the future of 2021?

Somebody once told me the world was gonna roll me...so I hurt myself today, to see if I still feel. Now, don't you tell me to smile, 'cause nothing lasts forever -- even cold November rain.

And I know it's up for me if you steal my sunshine because nothing compares (nothing compares) to you. So load up on guns and bring your friends; 'cause after all, you're my wonderwall...

Yep, we're talking about 90s music!

What's discussed this time around:

• What's the first 90s tune you remember hearing?
• While radio was still big in the 90s, what other things drove the rise of 90s music?
• What new style of music that came along in the 90s surprised you?
• What style of 90s music is your favorite?
• Why do you think alternative music took hold in the 90s?
• What is your favorite 90s tune? (Or hell, a list if need be...)
• Least favorite tune of the 90s?
• Do you have a favorite concert of the 90s?
• What 90s tunes do you still go back to?
• Right at the end of the 90s, Napster came along. How big was peer-to-peer shared music in your life?
• This probably leans more into the early 2000s, but did peer-to-peer sharing cause you to stop buying music or buy more music?
• This may seem weird since it's over, but what is the future of 90s music?

'Murica!!!

This time around, we're talking about American Exceptionalism. Specifically these points:

• When were you first introduced to the idea of American exceptionalism?
• Do you believe in American exceptionalism?
• The concept traces back to the mid-1800s. Was America exceptional then?
• What’s the current state of America?
• What’s the current state of American exceptionalism?
• Can exceptionalism be dangerous?
• What’s actually exceptional about America, if anything?
• Has American exceptionalism damaged what is actually exceptional about this country?
• How could we change the idea of exceptionalism for the better?
• What’s the future of American exceptionalism?

You catch the gorilla's eye and he quickly looks away. But fuzzy face be damned, you swear his cheeks turn a bit red.

You look away, and he glances back and smiles.

You go your separate ways, but you cannot stop thinking about that gorilla and maybe, just maybe, you imagine he's probably thinking about you...

This time around, the Gorillamen talk all about...crushes:

• When did you first become aware of crushes?
• Who, or even what, was your first crush?
• How do you define a crush?
• Who are some of your early crushes?
• Any fictional crushes?
• Did you ever have a crush on a teacher? Why?
• Who is your man crush...or even crushes?
• Besides the guys we just listed, any other current harmless crushes?
• Why do you think humans develop crushes?
• Are crushes an issue, or are they harmless?
• If your spouse has any crushes, are you jealous about them?
• Do you think crushes can become something more...even delving into the realm of becoming a problem?
• What is the future of the human crush on others?

* * *

"I Have a Crush on You" Photo: Leonardo Sanches.

We Gorillamen have collected 308 episodes of this show.

So it seemed fitting that we talk about collections...specifically...

• When did you first notice someone collecting something?
• What was the first thing you collected?
• Why do we as humans like to collect things?
• What’s the coolest collectible you’ve seen?
• What’s the coolest collection?
• The weirdest?
• Do you collect anything now?
• If you could have a world-class collection of anything, what would it be?
• What’s the worst gift you’ve gotten because someone thought you collected something?
• Is collecting just another sneaky form of capitalism?
• What’s the future of collections/collecting?

Hello, and welcome to the Men in Gorilla Suits community. Membership has its privileges: no message forums, membership cards, or expectations other than, "We're not the bosses of you...do whatever you want!"

But there are podcasts, organizations, and so many other things around which communities are built. In fact, that's the topic of this episode.

Some of what we talk about:

• What is your first memory of community?
• How important is a sense of community to a person's development?
• What are some communities you have been a part of...or currently still take part in?
• The online world makes it possible for anyone to try establishing communities. What are some online communities that have impressed you...and why?
• What are some examples of online communities having a negative effect on society?
• Have you ever established or managed a community?
• Do you feel we have a community based around this show...and what is your opinion of it?
• Do you ever feel like we should do more to create a sense of community based around Men in Gorilla Suits?
• What's the weirdest community you know of?
• Is there any community you're not a part of that you'd like to join? Why?
• What do you think about people very into something who are not part of any community for that thing?
• What is the future for communities?

Does this podcast really exist? Do you really exist?

Does anything actually exist? (Other than the simulation in which we are all trapped.)

This time around, we get all deep and talk about our very existence...specifically:

• When was the first time you realized that you, as a person, actually exist?
• When was the first time you worried you might not exist?
• Is it possible that none of us exist?
• How often do you ponder your existence? The meaning behind it?
• Do you think people ponder the meaning of their existence enough?
• What do you do to find purpose?
• Why are we here?
• Does how we came into existence matter? (Religious idea vs scientific, etc.)
• What is, in your opinion, the meaning of life?
• What is the end of existence?

We got through this entire episode without making an instrument = penis joke.

Apparently, after 300 episodes, we have become complacent. For that, the Gorillamen apologize.

So...this week we talk about hard wood(en) instruments and playing flutes. (But not skin flutes...another opportunity squandered...) It's all about musical instruments.

Specifically, here's what we discuss:

• What's your first memory of someone playing a musical instrument?
• Do you play any instruments? (What...and how long have you played?)
• Did you ever take any kind of musical training?
• How do you teach yourself new musical skills?
• Have you ever played live music for an audience?
• Who is the best musician you personally know (and what do they play)?
• If you could snap your fingers and play any instrument very well, what would you choose?
• Is there an instrument you feel you'll never play that you still think is very cool? What is it? (And why?)
• Do you believe playing a musical instrument benefits the person playing? If so, how?
• How has social media and YouTube changed the way people play music?
• Would you ever want to build an instrument from scratch?
• If sci-fi has taught us nothing else, it's that musical instruments will evolve. So...What is the future of musical instruments?

Gorilla Christopher almost totally forgot to load this! Sad thing: he got a jump on the episode, but didn't get to this part on Wednesday.

Were he to justify things, he'd say, "Well, technically, our release date is Friday...Wednesdays just happened along the way..." Or he could have said something about a busy work-week or that things got lost in the excitement of an approaching long weekend in the U.S.

But nah, he just totally forgot!

Still...this time around, it's all about how people justify things...specifically:

• When’s the first time you heard someone try to justify something?
• Do you feel the need to justify your actions/decisions much these days?
• What’s the worst thing you’ve ever had to justify?
• What are the little things we all justify every day?
• How do people justify the actions taken by our government lately? The racism, the violence against our own people, the fascism?
• Is use of force ever justified for private citizens?
• How about for law enforcement?
• What’s the most unjust thing you’ve ever done?
• The most just?
• What’s the future of justification?

"Remember the time that I spilled the cup / Of apple juice in the hall / Please tell mom this is not her fault…"

Blink-182 - "Adam's Song"

This time around, we're talking about shame…

Specifically, this:

• When did you first become aware of shame?
• Do you find shame a problematic thing?
• What's the most shame you've ever felt?
• What is something society (or even a large group of people) seem ashamed of that doesn't bother you at all?
• Have you ever shamed others?
• Do you think shame is used to control people?
• How damaging do you think shame is for those on the receiving end?
• We've all heard the saying, "Have you no shame?" Why do you think some people fixate on shame?
• Do you think shame can ever play a good role in society?
• What role does shame play in politics?
• Do you think we'll ever move beyond body shaming people?
• What's the future of shame?