my favorite counter to "that's the way we've always done it..."
damookster Send a noteboard - 08/08/2010 04:14:15 AM
Start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage,
hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it. Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water. After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result - all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.
Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys 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 monkeys 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! Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, and then the fifth.
Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is
attacked. Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no
idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why
they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.
After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana.
Why not?
Because as far as they know that's the way it's always been
done around here.
hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it. Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water. After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result - all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.
Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys 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 monkeys 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! Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, and then the fifth.
Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is
attacked. Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no
idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why
they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.
After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana.
Why not?
Because as far as they know that's the way it's always been
done around here.
Mook
*MySmiley*
"Bustin' makes me feel good!"
Ghostbusters, by Ray Parker Jr.
*MySmiley*
"Bustin' makes me feel good!"
Ghostbusters, by Ray Parker Jr.
Arguments that detract from someone's position
07/08/2010 07:43:59 AM
- 813 Views
Being called a "Nazi"
07/08/2010 11:47:07 AM
- 302 Views
Now I'm curious, what kinds of statements gets people to call you a nazi? *NM*
08/08/2010 07:16:22 AM
- 122 Views
You know... "I like the smell of Jews burning in the morning. It smells like... genocide." *NM*
08/08/2010 10:18:35 AM
- 220 Views
It sounds anti-semitic and crude. I'm not sure it qualifies for nazi.
08/08/2010 01:16:37 PM
- 355 Views
It used to be my signature!
09/08/2010 02:32:55 AM
- 285 Views
It's an offensive and potentially hurtful statement.
09/08/2010 08:43:22 AM
- 369 Views
Did you read her actual message body? *NM*
09/08/2010 03:47:10 PM
- 220 Views
I'm just explaining the responses, not attributing these thoughts/feelings to Belals girl. *NM*
09/08/2010 04:20:18 PM
- 207 Views
Which is why I've never said it in my life
09/08/2010 03:47:44 PM
- 355 Views
I understand . *NM*
09/08/2010 04:19:40 PM
- 239 Views
Don't believe her. She's a LIAR NAZI. You can trust me. *NM*
11/08/2010 07:22:08 AM
- 214 Views
Please don't make me send the Gestapo to your door at midnight. *NM*
11/08/2010 11:32:36 AM
- 221 Views
Re: Now I'm curious, what kinds of statements gets people to call you a nazi?
09/08/2010 03:18:42 AM
- 384 Views
Those both piss me off.
07/08/2010 02:21:42 PM
- 399 Views
Anyone that argues from within the racial paradigm for issues that aren't racial.
07/08/2010 03:54:56 PM
- 326 Views
Oh yes, I remember the OJ trial. Of course it was because he was black, not because he'd killed her.
08/08/2010 07:18:36 AM
- 333 Views
Not sure this fits the post, but as I'm currently angry about it, I'm sharing.
07/08/2010 07:06:18 PM
- 425 Views
It's important to adjust your message format and phrasing to your audience
08/08/2010 07:24:29 AM
- 378 Views
Disagreeing with me. That really makes me not want to honestly consider their opinion. *NM*
07/08/2010 07:35:58 PM
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Doesn't Sassy have the same view? *NM*
14/08/2010 05:14:46 AM
- 237 Views
Of course. It's always best not to let her have her own opinions. *NM*
14/08/2010 11:10:53 AM
- 226 Views
I hate it when people...
08/08/2010 03:27:28 AM
- 481 Views
Yes, mislabeling people to discredit their position. It gets old. *NM*
08/08/2010 07:25:12 AM
- 203 Views
my favorite counter to "that's the way we've always done it..."
08/08/2010 04:14:15 AM
- 400 Views
I like that story. Have you ever managed to get that entire story out without being interrupted? *NM*
08/08/2010 07:26:15 AM
- 218 Views
I have a lot but I particularly get pissed when I see fat kids.
08/08/2010 05:31:23 AM
- 397 Views
Yes, I know what you mean. It's like parents who say: Look at how my child talks to me!
08/08/2010 07:13:41 AM
- 397 Views
No.
08/08/2010 05:04:09 PM
- 264 Views
of course but i'm sure that group of families isn't what Helene is referring to
08/08/2010 05:16:04 PM
- 353 Views
Parents who have very difficult children won't appeal to me about their children's behavior. *NM*
08/08/2010 05:21:44 PM
- 229 Views
Why not?, if you're friends. *NM*
09/08/2010 12:37:05 AM
- 191 Views
Because people who do their best know why their kids are behaving the way they are behaving
09/08/2010 08:48:12 AM
- 340 Views
I don't know; it really wasn't clear to me from what you said. *NM*
11/08/2010 09:09:28 AM
- 209 Views
I'm describing behavior, poor parenting, that only certain people display, namely crap parents.
11/08/2010 12:40:32 PM
- 320 Views
I agree. The parents with actual screwed up kids know they are screwed up.
11/08/2010 12:43:01 AM
- 329 Views
Mine.
09/08/2010 02:42:46 PM
- 318 Views
my boyfriend hates when I use this one against him
09/08/2010 04:30:50 PM
- 393 Views
it's such an inane statement that it really can only be met with physical violence. *NM*
09/08/2010 06:18:04 PM
- 188 Views