I found this on a Joke List. I think i'ts appropriate to post here too
Primate Committee Thinking Experiment
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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.
Turn off the cold water.
If, later, another ape tries to climb the stairs, the other apes will try to
prevent it even though no water sprays them.
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."
Sound familiar?
Don