Start with a cage containing 5 apes. In the cage,hang a banana on a string and put stairs under it.
Before long, an ape will go to the stairs and start to climb toward the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all the apes with cold water. After a while, another ape makes an attempt with the same
result - all the apes are sprayed with water. This will continue through several more attempts. Pretty soon, when another ape tries to climb the stairs, the other apes will try to prevent it. Now, turn off the cold water and replace one of the apes with a new one. The new ape sees the banana and goes to climb the stairs. To his horror, all of the other apes attack him. After another attempt, and another attack, he
knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.
Now, remove another of the original 5 apes 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. Again, replace a
third origianl ape with a new one. The new one makes it to the stairs and is attacked as well. Two of the four apes 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 the fifth of the original apes, all of the apes that were originally sprayed with cold water are now replaced. Nevertheless, no ape ever again approaches the stairs.
Why not? Because that's the way we've always done it, and that's the way it's always been around here. And that's how policy begins!
**Well, now we know!**
Before long, an ape will go to the stairs and start to climb toward the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all the apes with cold water. After a while, another ape makes an attempt with the same
result - all the apes are sprayed with water. This will continue through several more attempts. Pretty soon, when another ape tries to climb the stairs, the other apes will try to prevent it. Now, turn off the cold water and replace one of the apes with a new one. The new ape sees the banana and goes to climb the stairs. To his horror, all of the other apes attack him. After another attempt, and another attack, he
knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.
Now, remove another of the original 5 apes 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. Again, replace a
third origianl ape with a new one. The new one makes it to the stairs and is attacked as well. Two of the four apes 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 the fifth of the original apes, all of the apes that were originally sprayed with cold water are now replaced. Nevertheless, no ape ever again approaches the stairs.
Why not? Because that's the way we've always done it, and that's the way it's always been around here. And that's how policy begins!
**Well, now we know!**
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