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Man And Monkey Mystery Solved

Astroboy

ਨਾਮ ਤੇਰੇ ਕੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਲਗਾਈ (Previously namjap)
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Jul 14, 2007
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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 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 never knew why.

A 2nd monkey was substituted and the same occurred. The 1st monkey participated on the beating for 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 sounds familiar?



http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/07/a-monkey-on-the-loose-at-la-guardia/
 
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spnadmin

1947-2014 (Archived)
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Jun 17, 2004
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DrKhalsa ji,

I like that baby.

namjap ji,

Funny thing, I read the last part of the story -- because of the way it was positioned in my browser. When you read the last part first, it seems to say this. That monkeys (people) here are insisting on conformity -- no one should be higher than the others. The expression in Australia is "No high poppies" No flower more noticeable than the others. Each member of the group will beat the one who dares to aim higher or try for a reward into submission. That is very human.

But, then when you read the first part of the story, and get the whole picture, a different message is sent. The original group learned to connect climbing to get a reward with pain and suffering -- hosed down with cold water. So when newcomers arrive, then they are beaten, so that they will not even dare to try. in other words, the original group is saying, Don't Climb That Ladder! Don't Aim for the Fruit! If You Do You Will Suffer! We Suffered and We Know! So We Have To Stop You for Your Own Good! Also very human.

Is that what we are doing when we tell children not to aim higher, or punish them when they want to experiment with new concepts and ideas? Or just talk about new things?

Are we trying to protect them from pain, but in reality teaching them to be conformists?
 
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