Snake-Eyes
Master
Psychology 101
By: Dick Anderson
Anderson4theConstitution.com
December 12, 2020
"If you start with a cage containing four monkeys, and inside the cage hang a banana on a string from the top, then you place a set of stairs under the banana, before long a monkey will go to the stairs and climb toward the banana. Now spray ALL the monkeys with cold water. After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with same result. As soon as he touches the stairs, you spray ALL the monkeys with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it. Now, put the cold water away.
Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new monkey. The new monkey sees the banana and attempts to climb the stairs. To his shock, ALL of the other monkeys beat the crap out of 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 four monkeys, replacing it with a new monkey. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment - with enthusiasm -- because he is now part of the "team".
Then, replace a third original monkey with a new monkey, followed by the fourth. Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked.
Now, the monkeys that are beating him up have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs. Neither do they know why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.
Finally, having replaced all of the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys will have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, not one of the monkeys will try to climb the stairway for the banana.
Why, you ask? Because in their minds, that is the way it has always been!
This is how today's House and Senate operates; and this is why, from time to time, ALL of the monkeys must be replaced AT THE SAME TIME!"
The preceding excerpt is from an article I received via email. Credit goes to the author, Mr. Anderson.
I thought it was a different way to look at current events. It explains why/how the weak-minded just go along with the crowd, and the brave innovators are necessary for a group to reach its potential. Individual character, sense of right and wrong, creative thinking, and bravery vs cowardice. All of these traits guide our actions.
Which monkey are you acting like, and how do you feel towards the others?
Imagine if one of the new monkeys won the 1-vs-3 fight?
Granted, they're all still prisoners in a cage, at the mercy of their captors, but the lessons are still valid.
And for the Varsity players: how many of you relate more to the captor(s), simply manipulating the monkeys?
By: Dick Anderson
Anderson4theConstitution.com
December 12, 2020
"If you start with a cage containing four monkeys, and inside the cage hang a banana on a string from the top, then you place a set of stairs under the banana, before long a monkey will go to the stairs and climb toward the banana. Now spray ALL the monkeys with cold water. After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with same result. As soon as he touches the stairs, you spray ALL the monkeys with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it. Now, put the cold water away.
Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new monkey. The new monkey sees the banana and attempts to climb the stairs. To his shock, ALL of the other monkeys beat the crap out of 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 four monkeys, replacing it with a new monkey. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment - with enthusiasm -- because he is now part of the "team".
Then, replace a third original monkey with a new monkey, followed by the fourth. Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked.
Now, the monkeys that are beating him up have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs. Neither do they know why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.
Finally, having replaced all of the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys will have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, not one of the monkeys will try to climb the stairway for the banana.
Why, you ask? Because in their minds, that is the way it has always been!
This is how today's House and Senate operates; and this is why, from time to time, ALL of the monkeys must be replaced AT THE SAME TIME!"
The preceding excerpt is from an article I received via email. Credit goes to the author, Mr. Anderson.
I thought it was a different way to look at current events. It explains why/how the weak-minded just go along with the crowd, and the brave innovators are necessary for a group to reach its potential. Individual character, sense of right and wrong, creative thinking, and bravery vs cowardice. All of these traits guide our actions.
Which monkey are you acting like, and how do you feel towards the others?
Imagine if one of the new monkeys won the 1-vs-3 fight?
Granted, they're all still prisoners in a cage, at the mercy of their captors, but the lessons are still valid.
And for the Varsity players: how many of you relate more to the captor(s), simply manipulating the monkeys?
