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.

And that is how company policy is established.

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This is a perfect analogy for a friend of mine who is employed by a major U.S.Corporation {a.k.a. Monkey Biz}. He just recently received an offer from a small but successful company. He's confused on what do but your post will enlighten him. Thanks!

minstrel's sad tale, of good times lost, of dreams shattered, of hope all but quenched by a society of dullards.
We have much to learn from our furry cousins.
Bananas are bad for you!

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What I am is what I am, are you what you are, or what.
Eddie Brickel

You know, no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't make that one work :o(

lol

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What I am is what I am, are you what you are, or what.
Eddie Brickel

I think this is where the phrase "Monkey see, monkey do" probably came from, eh? ;0)

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Web Design & Development News
The BoG Reborn

Here's a song I wrote years ago:


Monkey See Monkey Do

Little monkey's eyes
Glued to the TV set
Suckered by the lies
He lives overly in debt

Chorus 1:
Monkey see monkey do
Eskimo built an igloo
Monkey see monkey do
Monkey tried to build one too

It's a jungle out there
People trying to follow
A path that leads nowhere
But to pain and sorrow

Chorus 2:
Monkey see monkey do
No matter what you do
Monkey see monkey do
He'll try to better you

Bridge:
Living life aimlessly
There's more to this life than
Just swinging tree to tree
Trying to grab whatever you can

Chorus 1:
Monkey see monkey do
Eskimo built an igloo
Monkey see monkey do
Monkey tried to build one too

Chorus 2:
Monkey see monkey do
No matter what you do
Monkey see monkey do
He'll try to better you

© 1999 JRSMUSIC

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Very informative Minstrel! If 'a friend' were to start up a similar business, would it help if the monkeys had previous experience? Or is it better to have fresh-faced simian sorts... like having a blank sheet of paper to work with?

Paul

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Hmm what if the monkeys are blank faced and the paper is fresh?

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Hmmm... sounds like plenty of places I've visited! :o)

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EVOLUTION
When Scientists Made Monkeys Of Themselves.

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minstrel wrote:

"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."

Eventually, you'd have a situation where a would-be "alpha Male" attacks each monkey individually, forms a majority, and goes for the bannana. That, or he'd send a subordinate up the ladder to see what happens?

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Pete

www.celna.co.uk

Nothing ever changes - Still stuck in the same damned corner!