Topic: Wrench monkeys?

[lucky]

I would like to say something about a term I am hearing lately.
"Wrench Monkey"
In the past going back all the way to 1950 and earlier, the term "wrench monkey" has always been a derogatory term.

I think there is even a business (new one) name "Wrench Monkey".

No one calls a computer worker a computer monkey because it implies the person may not know what they are doing except just pounding fists on a keyboard and that they look like a monkey.

Although Computer people call people not proficicent on a computer a "computer illiterate."

But I have never heard mechanics call business people "mechanical illiterates"

A "monkey" is just not thought of as a very smart person.

[KennyRedman]

I would like to say something about a term I am hearing lately.
"Wrench Monkey"
In the past going back all the way to 1950 and earlier, the term "wrench monkey" has always been a derogatory term.

I think there is even a business (new one) name "Wrench Monkey".

No one calls a computer worker a computer monkey because it implies the person may not know what they are doing except just pounding fists on a keyboard and that they look like a monkey.

Although Computer people call people not proficicent on a computer a "computer illiterate."

But I have never heard mechanics call business people "mechanical illiterates"

A "monkey" is just not thought of as a very smart person.

Have you never heard "Code Monkey"?

Code Monkey

[Muckinfuss]

Language and terminology are inherently fluid.  Sometimes it's hard to keep up.

[lucky]

Now that you mention it ....I have heard of that term "code monkey" but it is very derogatory.

Just seems negative and a put down. "Wrench Monkey, Code Monkey"

I would not want to be called any kind of monkey.
It implies that you are not very smart.

[Magilla]

Who says I'm not smart?

Magilla

[mcswny]

I think these dudes are embracing it.

They look pretty smart to me..

http://www.wrenchmonkees.com/

[lucky]

I think these dudes are embracing it.

They look pretty smart to me..

http://www.wrenchmonkees.com/

Yes, that is the company I was thinking of.
Maybe in that part of the country they live in, "Wrench Monkey " is acceptable.

I would never personally have a shop with a name like that.
 Their bikes will have to speak for them fortunately .

[Magilla]

I grew up in the North East and the term hear was Grease Monkey.  That is what was used for a mechanic.  It was not meant to be bad at all.  It was used the same way you would use Gearhead.  I never knew anyone that was insulted by it.  Most of my friends were grease monkeys and they referred to me as a Yuppie because I had a white collar job.  We were never insulted by these terms.

[Magilla]

Here not hear.  Stupid auto correct!!

[Stoli]

Seems to be acceptable in TX as well:

http://www.gasmonkeygarage.com/

I'd rather be a Wrench Monkee than a Gas Monkey though.

On a more important note - what the f*%& is wrong with this web site today. Is it me or is everyone else getting connection errors about half the time? Someone please send in the code monkeys to fix this...

[Vinhead1957]

I believe the term is Grease Monkey

[Magilla]

Seems to be acceptable in TX as well:

http://www.gasmonkeygarage.com/

I'd rather be a Wrench Monkey than a Gas Monkey though.

 

I would not mind being a Gas Monkey.  Richard Rawlings has a net worth in the millions.  Also from what I understand he can really drive.  Read the book "The Driver".  It is about one mans obsession with driving cross country in record time.  Rawlings is mentioned many times in the book.

New York to LA in under 32 hours is no joke.

[Black 750K8]

Lucky should know this should be in the open forum

[Pecantree]

Side car Monkey!

[flybox1]

I believe the PC term is Mease Gronkey

FIFY 

[Roach Carver]

Seems to be acceptable in TX as well:

http://www.gasmonkeygarage.com/

I'd rather be a Wrench Monkee than a Gas Monkey though.

On a more important note - what the f*%& is wrong with this web site today. Is it me or is everyone else getting connection errors about half the time? Someone please send in the code monkeys to fix this...

Yes. Glenn is working on it I believe.

[aggiepike]

I think George Carlin said it best on this subject.

George Carlin "They're Only Words"

[333]

Seems to be acceptable in TX as well:

http://www.gasmonkeygarage.com/

I'd rather be a Wrench Monkee than a Gas Monkey though.

On a more important note - what the f*%& is wrong with this web site today. Is it me or is everyone else getting connection errors about half the time? Someone please send in the code monkeys to fix this...

Yes. Glenn is working on it I believe.

I hope Glenn doesn't find it a derogatory term.

[bikerbart]

Spank the monkey?

[Xnavylfr]

They even thought the word MECHANIC was too derogatory in the Aviation field , so they changed it so everyone is now a AMT  Aviation Maintenance Technician.  I guess Technician is better than Mechanic. Sounds MORE official!!


Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

[Retro Rocket]

Language and terminology are inherently fluid.  Sometimes it's hard to keep up.

Exactly, there were a lot of people in the 1920's through the 1940's that had a gay time every time they partied, totally different meaning today....

[KennyRedman]

It's kind if like F*g, or N-, or Cracker. Double standard when you call yourself the word.

[Retro Rocket]

It's kind if like F*g, or N-, or Cracker. Double standard when you call yourself the word.

Its also like "rooting" when you guys root for someone you show support and encouragement, when we are rooting well lets just say i prefer our version of rooting....

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=rooting

[70CB750]

hey hey! we're the monkees!

[demon78]

They unwashed masses used to call us fitters or riggers it wasn't until later that we were called technicians. To that thought/end there was a very,very funny "old airforce"
ditty about Mortis was a rigger, Vulcan was a metal basher, Leonardo Da Vinci was an A/C refinisher, Hero was a fitter (A/C engine tech) and you checked for altitude with a rope and lead weight ( it came back with blood on it you knew you were over a town ).
So "grease monkey" was for ground bound people not the elite. it amazes me how nicknames/terms have changed Gay, Sick, Punk etc back in the day some of the things people say now could get your lights punched out  quickly. Mind you I suppose now teenagers posting naked or worse things on the net gives you an idea of how morals/taste/language have slipped over the years. I'm not calling it down, just saying things are changing.
Bill the demon