100 men vs. 1 gorilla: Where do the majority of Utah’s X users stand in the viral debate?

SALT LAKE CITY — A hypothetical question has internet users debating who would win in a fight consisting of 100 men vs. 1 gorilla. 

This debate over a hypothetical situation appears to be five years old, according to a report from The Guardian. Yet, it rages on.

Using geotagging data from X, including hashtags and keywords, online gambling company BetOnline put together a map displaying state-by-state popular opinions on the bizarre and violent discussion. According to the data, the majority of Utah X users believe 100 men would prevail. 

Most users in Nevada and Arizona agreed with those in the Beehive State. Colorado, Idaho, and New Mexico users largely disagreed, expressing that one silverback gorilla would prevail. 

A press release from BetOnline explained the general consensus was that 100 men would tire out a gorilla. 

100 men vs. 1 gorilla: What do experts say? 

The International Fund for Animal Welfare explained that gorillas are social animals. They live in groups called troops, and are generally led by one male. Gorillas are intelligent creatures who share 98.3% of their DNA with humans. 

NewsWeek reported that a male gorilla, referred to as a silverback, weighs between 300 and 500 pounds. They’re often four to nine times stronger than a human male. 

Additionally, a gorilla’s armspan is much wider than a human. They can bite at a pressure of 1,300 pounds per square inch, which is nearly double that of a lion’s strength of 650 PSI. 

On the side of 100 men, some argue that they’d simply outnumber the gorilla. They would also have the ability to organize and collaborate. 

One conservationist told Rolling Stone that they’re “gentle giants” and are unlikely to show unprovoked aggression. 

Although they’d never wish to see a matchup become reality, the conservationist said they believe 100 men would win over 1 gorilla, especially if they were in good physical shape. 

Another expert, a primatologist, told the magazine that a silverback gorilla would be more inclined to flee — they often prefer to nap or interact with their children than to engage in aggressive behavior.

Artificial intelligence weighs in on 100 men vs. 1 gorilla

NewsWeek asked ChatGPT. The AI tool concluded that although a single gorilla is much stronger and more durable than one human being, their numbers would lead 100 men to win. 

KSL NewsRadio asked CoPilot, which is AI developed by Microsoft. After laying out the advantages of both sides — reiterating that gorillas are stronger than humans but people would be able to strategize and collaborate, its answer expressed dislike of the hypothetical scenario: 

“I would hope no one would ever pit humans against an animal like this.” 

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