More humour

[Ergodyne 19]

Start with a cage containing five apes. In the cage, hang a banana on a string and put a step ladder under it. Before long, an ape will go to the steps and start to climb towards the Banana. As soon as he touches the steps, spray all of the apes with cold water. After a while, another ape makes an attempt with the same result - all the apes are sprayed with cold water.Continue until, when another ape tries to climb the steps, the other apes try to prevent it.

Now, turn off the cold water.

Next, remove one ape from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new ape sees the banana and wants to climb the steps. To his horror, all of the other apes attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the steps, he will be assaulted.

Remove another of the original five apes and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the steps and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm.

Again, replace a third original ape with a new one. The new one makes it to the steps and is attacked as well. Two of the four apes that beat him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the steps, or why they are participating in the beating of the newest ape.

After replacing the fourth and fifth original apes, all the apes which have been sprayed with cold water have been replaced. Nevertheless, no ape ever again approaches the steps. Why not?

 

"Because that's the way it's always been around here."

 

That's how Army policy begins...

Edited May 3, 2008 by Graham Sears