How Army policy began
This is Army policy all begins...
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.
Now, turn off the cold water.
Now, remove one ape from the cage and replace it with a new one.
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."
That's how Army policy begins...