Guest guest Posted November 11, 1998 Report Share Posted November 11, 1998 >BUREAUCRACY IN ACTION! > >1. 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 toward the Banana. > >2. 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. > >3. Turn off the cold water. If later another ape tries >to climb the stairs, the other apes will try to prevent >it even though no water sprays them. > >4. 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. > >5. 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. > >6. 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. > >7. 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 done around here." > >[forwarded by Warren Kramer] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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