Humor 5/4/98: The Ape Experiment

Hey,

Please remember to send me all future emails to:
joshli@post.harvard.edu and change your email distribution lists and
aliases to use the new email address as well. Thanks!

In response to last week's thought provoking question, whether you would
jump off a helicopter for $50,000, 4 answered yes, and 2 answered no.
My own response is that I would.

This week's thought provoking question is: #59 from "201 Great
Questions" by Jerry Jones. "A football coach once said, "We learn
almost nothing in victory, but we learn much in defeat." Do you agree
with this? In your own life, have you learned more from your failures
or from your successes? Explain." Please send me your thoughts.

This week's humor email comes to us from Elaine Wong. The inspirational
piece after that comes from Moses Lam. Enjoy!

-Josh.
_________________________________________

The Ape Experiment

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, but 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 done around here."
____________________________________________

Things that make sense

I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is
be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.

I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care
back.

I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to
destroy it.

I've learned that it's not what you have in your life, but who you have
in your life that counts.

I've learned that you can get by on charm for about 15 minutes. After
that, you'd better know something.

I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can
do, but to the best you can do.

I've learned that it's not what happens to people that's important.
It's what they do about it.

I've learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you
a heartache for life..

I've learned that no matter how thin you slice it, there are always two
sides.

I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want
to be.

I've learned that it's a lot easier to react than it is to think.

I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.

I've learned that you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we
feel.

I've learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I've learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at
first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take
its place.

I've learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when
it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I've learned that learning to forgive takes practice.

I've learned that there are people who love you dearly, but just don't
know how to show it.

I've learned that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I've learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and
have the best time.

I've learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when
you're down may be the ones to help you get back up.

I've learned that I'm getting more and more like my grandma, and I'm
kinda happy about it.

I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I've learned that true friendship continues to grow, even over the
longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want
them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences
you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how
many birthdays you've celebrated.

I've learned that you should never tell a child her dreams are unlikely
or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it
would be if she believed it.

I've learned that your family won't always be there for you. It may
seem funny, but people you aren't related to can take care of you and
love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren't
biological.

I've learned that no matter how good a friend someone is, they're going
to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world
doesn't stop for your grief.

I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced
who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I've learned that sometimes when my friends fight, I'm forced to choose
sides even when I don't want to.

I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they
don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't
mean they do.

I've learned that sometimes you have to put the individual ahead of
their actions.

I've learned that we don't have to change friends if we understand that
friends change.

I've learned that if you don't want to forget something, stick it in
your underwear drawer.

I've learned that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It
could change your life forever.

I've learned that the clothes I like best are the ones with the most
holes in them.

I've learned that two people can look at the exact same thing and see
something totally different.