I've Got my Money on the Gorilla

Anatta Blue Chankhunthod

June 6, 2025

With the creation and broadening of social media, numerous trends have come and gone, such as dance trends on TikTok, and editing styles on Instagram. However, one type of interaction has stayed relevant on the internet after its forty or so years existing: debates. Whether it be regarding important topics, such as political values and current political events, or about less serious issues, such as which school subject is which color, conversations and debates have been crucial to the internet’s, and by extension social media’s, existence. These debates often gain fame via social media through the countless memes and videos made about them.

A question that has recently gained popularity is, “Who would win, 1 gorilla, or 100 humans?” I argue that 1 gorilla will beat 100 humans, due to a gorilla's inherent strength and abilities, which far outclasses humans. 

First of all, A gorilla is around four to ten times stronger than the average human, putting even a trained human to shame. This is due to evolution, which led to male gorillas having extraordinary strength, due to strength being a key part of whether a female will mate with them or not. Female gorillas tend to choose the stronger male gorillas, as they possess the capabilities to protect their offspring. Secondly, gorillas have an enormous arm's length, as their arms are always touching the ground regardless of whether they are standing or sitting. By this logic, a gorilla would be able to keep most humans away from its body before they could do any real harm. Thirdly, gorillas have an extremely high bite force, with it being around 1,300 pounds per square inch, or PSI for short. This bite strength is required for gorillas to chew through the tough, fibrous plant matter they eat, and will aid them in fighting humans. For example, a human skull, on average, only requires 1,100 PSI to fracture, meaning if a gorilla decided to bite one of their opponent's human heads, most of the time it would be fatal. With these three physical attributes, a gorilla wouldn’t have much trouble fending off humans who pale in comparison.

While some would argue that 100 humans will beat a gorilla due to a human's higher intelligence and infamous endurance. I argue that a human's natural traits will work against them. When faced with a challenge, most humans try to avoid it. In this case, I doubt anyone would willingly lay down their life so that the 100 humans can defeat the gorilla. I believe that, as opposed to actually coordinating and working as a team, a majority of the humans will try and run away from the gorilla, so as to not become one of the first victims. This fear and mob mentality would work against the 100 humans, as when the first few people begin panicking, the rest will follow and create chaos, which would only benefit the gorilla.

A gorilla will ultimately take the win over 100 humans, due to a difference in physical attributes and the average human’s mentality. But what do you think?