They definitely can be called that, even if not technically correct: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Monkey%27s_Paw

Urgh, now I'm one of those "actually, language is how people use it" types. Literally.

They said "pawed at", which is a phrase for an inelegant bumbling interaction with something. It is not literal. And they also said "like retarded monkeys", not that they are retarded monkeys.

Paw is sometimes an informal/humorous word for 'hand'.

"paw" means "hand without functional fingers". Monkeys can type.

And as HN shows, being able to type doesn't make someone smarter than someone who can manipulate visual objects.

Does Thread OP "paw" at a Rubik's cube or LEGO?