That's the way . . .
Hang a banana on a string in the cage, with stairs under the banana. Before long, an ape will go to the stairs and start to climb toward the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the apes with cold water. After awhile, another ape will make an attempt, but the result will be the same - all the apes will be sprayed with cold water. This should continue through several more attempts. Pretty soon, when another ape tries to climb the stairs, the other apes will all try to prevent it. Now, turn off the cold water. Remove one ape from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new ape will see the banana and want to climb the stairs. To his horror, all of the other apes will attack him. After another attempt and attack, he'll know 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 will go to the stairs and be attacked. The previous newcomer will take part in the punishment. Replace a third original ape with a new one. The new one will make it to the stairs and be attacked as well. Two of the four apes that beat him will 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, will have been replaced. Nevertheless, no ape will ever again approach the stairs. Why not? Because that's the way they've always done it, and that's the way it's always been around here. And that's how company policy begins....
Originally published November 14, 2002.
