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Note:
This was emailed to us
by someone who does not know the original author. Normally, I would not
post such material, but this is too good not to share. If you know who the
author is, please let us know.
"Start
with a cage containing five apes. In the cage, hang a banana on a string
and put stairs under it. Before long an ape will go up the stairs and
start to climb towards the banana. As soon as the ape touches the banana,
spray all apes with cold water. After a while, another ape makes an
attempt with the same result - all the apes are sprayed with cold water.
Then turn off the cold water.
"Now if another ape tries to climb the stairs
for the banana the other apes will try to prevent it even though no water
sprays them. Now remove one of the five apes from the cage and replace
with a new one. The new ape sees the banana and tries to climb the stairs.
To his horror, all of the apes attack him. After another attempt he is
again attacked. He knows now that if he attempts to climb the stairs he
will be assaulted.
"Next,
remove another of the original five apes and replace with a new one. The
newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes
part in the punishment with enthusiasm. Again, replace a third of the
original five apes with a new one. The new one makes it to the stairs and
is attacked as well. Two of the four apes that beat him up have no idea
why they were not permitted to climb the stairs, or why they are
participating in the beating of the newest ape. After replacing the fourth
and fifth of the original apes there are no longer any apes that have been
sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no ape ever again approaches the
banana. Why not ??
"Because
that's the way it's always been around here."
That
is how policy begins!!!"
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