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Recovering backpacker, Cornwallite at heart, political enthusiast, catalyst, writer, husband, father, community volunteer, unabashedly proud Canadian. Every hyperlink connects to something related directly or thematically to that which is highlighted.

Wednesday 21 August 2013

All Along the Firewall: Bullying Monkeys and Attack Ads


Maybe I could look into this and tell you whether the story is a metaphor or reality-based, but that would be a bit like committing sociology.  I'd be better off spending that time creating attack ads - after all, that's how things are done around here.

Image shows text and cartoon illustrations. Transcribed below.

  • A group of scientists placed 5 monkeys in a cage and in the middle, a ladder with bananas on the top.
  • Every time a monkey went up the ladder, the scientists soaked the rest of the monkeys with cold water.
  • After a while, every time a monkey went up the ladder, the others beat up the one on the ladder.
  • After some time, no monkey dare[d] to go up the ladder regardless of the temptation.

  • Scientists then decided to substitute one of the monkeys. The 1st thing this new monkey did was to go up the ladder. Immediately the other monkeys beat him up.
    • After several beatings, the new member learned not to climb the ladder even though he never knew why.

  • A 2nd monkey was substituted and the same occurred. The 1st monkey participated on [sic] the beating for [sic] the 2nd monkey. A 3rd monkey was changed and the same was repeated (beating). The 4th was substituted and the beating was repeated and finally the 5th monkey was replaced.

  • What was left was a group of 5 monkeys that even though never received a cold shower, continued to beat up any monkey who attempted to climb the ladder.

  • If it was possible to ask the monkeys why they would beat up all those who attempted to go up the ladder ... I bet you the answer would be ... "I don't know — that's how things are done around here" Does it sound familiar?

  • Don't miss the opportunity to share this with others as they might be asking themselves why we continue to do what we are doing if there is a different way out there.
  • This seems like an experiment, but now I'm wondering... Was this experiment ever conducted? If not, was any similar experiment conducted that shows the same effect?

    "There must be some kind of way out of here,"
    "Said the joker to the thief..."

    But we won't find it by walking in circles.

     

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