A group of scientists placed five monkeys in a cage and in the middle, a ladder with bananas on 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 other ones beat up the one on the ladder.
After some time, no monkey dared to go up the ladder regardless of the temptation.
Scientists then substituted one of the monkeys. The first thing this new monkey did was to go up the ladder. Immediately, the other monkeys beat it up.
After several beatings, the new member learned not to climb the ladder even though it never knew why.
The second monkey was substituted and the same occurred; the first substituted monkey also participated on the beating of the second monkey. A third monkey was changed and the pattern was repeated. The fourth was substituted and the beating was repeated. Finally the fifth monkey was replaced.
Now, there is a group of 5 monkeys, none of which ever received a cold shower. Yet they continue to beat up any monkey that attempts to climb the ladder.
If it were possible to ask the monkeys why they beat up those who attempt to climb the ladder, no doubt their answer would be: “I don’t know. That’s how things are done around here.”
Does that sound familiar?
In our lives, is there a way other than the status quo?
Source: some post on FB full of grammatical and spelling errors.
