Apes, Stairs and a Banana

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.

At this point, turn off the cold water.

Now remove one ape from the cage and replace it with a new ape.
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."

And that's how corporate policies begin.

----------- Today's saying or thought -------------------------

A thought about aging: It's scary when you start
making the same noises as your coffeemaker.

Apes, Stairs and a Banana