Life on Yavin IV: 5 Monkeys

Life on Yavin IV

Hello there. I'm Jedi Knight G. Since the creation of the New Jedi Order by Master Skywalker, the Jedi have been free to take part in previously forbidden activities. One of those being Marriage. The following are the tales of my experiences being married with children. May the force be with you...G.

7.20.2005

5 Monkeys

I got this in an email from a friend of mine. I have no idea of it's origin, but I really enjoyed it. I've always been one to question the status quo, never satisfied with the patent "that's the way it's always been" answer. So I really like this illustration....that and it involves monkeys! Hey, everybody loves monkeys. Right? So take a read and remember to ask this important question every now and then-WHY?

Start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it. Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water.

After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result -all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.

Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him.

After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.

Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm!

Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, then the fifth. Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked. Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.

After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana. Why not? Because as far as they know that's the way it's always been done around here.

posted by G. @ 8:14 PM

1 Comments:

At 12:03 PM, Travis Cardwell said…

That is amazing. I know alot of monkeys...(as I wipe the smushed bannana from my lips)...

Absolutely true. Somebody needs to stop and ask; "why the heck are we beating this unsuspecting little monkey?"
--I love your blogs! Keep it up! Give my love to the fam!