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This is
Army policy all begins...
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 to the stairs
and start to climb towards the Banana. As soon as he touches the stairs,
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 stairs, the other apes
try to prevent it.
Now, turn off the cold water.
Now, remove one ape from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new ape
sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his horror, all of the
other apes 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 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 original ape 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 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 original apes, all the apes which have
been sprayed with cold water have been replaced. Nevertheless, no ape ever
again approaches the stairs. Why not?
"Because that's the way it's always been around here."
That's how Army policy begins...
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