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8 Monkeys In A Room
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 3:50 pm
by SOlid Snake
8 Monkeys In A Room, The Paradigm Of Mob Mentality, Blind Obedience & Inter-Species Self Regulation
Put eight monkeys in a room. In the middle of the room is a ladder, leading to a bunch of bananas hanging from a hook on the ceiling. Each time a monkey tries to climb the ladder, all the monkeys are sprayed with ice water, which makes them miserable. Soon enough, whenever a monkey attempts to climb the ladder, all of the other monkeys, not wanting to be sprayed, set upon him and beat him up.
Soon, none of the eight monkeys ever attempts to climb the ladder. Now one of the original monkeys is then removed, and a new monkey is put in the room. Seeing the bananas and the ladder, he wonders why none of the other monkeys are doing the obvious, but, undaunted, he immediately begins to climb the ladder. All the other monkeys fall upon him and beat him silly. He has no idea why. However, he no longer attempts to climb the ladder.
A second original monkey is removed and replaced. The newcomer again attempts to climb the ladder, but all the other monkeys begin to hammer the senses out of him. This includes the previous new monkey, who, grateful that he's not on the receiving end this time, participates in the beating because all the other monkeys are doing it. However, he has no idea why he's attacking the new monkey.
One by one, all the original monkeys are replaced. Now there are eight new monkeys in the room. None of them has ever been sprayed by ice water. None of them attempts to climb the ladder. All of them will enthusiastically beat up any new monkey who tries, without having any idea why.
Are you one of the monkeys that will without knowing why attack those who are trying to get to the bananas?
Discuss and debate.
Have fun...
Peace.

Re: 8 Monkeys In A Room
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 4:12 pm
by Kit-Fox
This is nothing new.
Just recently a repeat of an old experiment has again proved that people are willing to inflict pain if told to do so by authority figures
Also it is well known that in large groups of people, should someone require emergency assistance they are unlikely to get it as no one in the large group will want to be the one to 'break ranks' as it were with the rest of the normal people carrying on and ignoring the poor person struggling for life on the floor
Re: 8 Monkeys In A Room
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 4:42 pm
by SOlid Snake
Kit-Fox wrote:This is nothing new.
Just recently a repeat of an old experiment has again proved that people are willing to inflict pain if told to do so by authority figures
Also it is well known that in large groups of people, should someone require emergency assistance they are unlikely to get it as no one in the large group will want to be the one to 'break ranks' as it were with the rest of the normal people carrying on and ignoring the poor person struggling for life on the floor
Good post.
What does it take to make the people break ranks and become the one who changes everything?
Also here's a video explaining a little more on the topic:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ptFR71tk9 ... re=channelPeace.

Re: 8 Monkeys In A Room
Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 8:16 am
by semper
oh... this is psychology 101 really.
No, I would be the monkey who evaded the others, climbed the ladder and got everyone sprayed with cold water before proceeding to frantically apologize, but in turn call them tits for not telling me why I should not climb to get the food.
Re: 8 Monkeys In A Room
Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 1:38 pm
by [KMA]Avenger
Semper wrote:oh... this is psychology 101 really.
No, I would be the monkey who evaded the others, climbed the ladder and got everyone sprayed with cold water before proceeding to frantically apologize,
but in turn call them tits for not telling me why I should not climb to get the food.
the other 7 in the room with you having replaced the original monkeys and only knowing that when they approached the ladder they were beaten, would not know why they were beating you, they would only have knowledge of being beaten and then themselves beating any monkey trying to climb the ladder.
Re: 8 Monkeys In A Room
Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 8:57 pm
by Thriller
I would become the alpha monkey, then climb the latter and get everyone sprayed.
Re: 8 Monkeys In A Room
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 3:20 am
by [KMA]Avenger
Thriller wrote:I would become the alpha monkey, then climb the latter and get everyone sprayed.
you bad heartless monkey you

Re: 8 Monkeys In A Room
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 3:39 am
by Juliette
We always like a good beating.
Why else?
Re: 8 Monkeys In A Room
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 8:58 am
by Lore
Well If I was a monkey, I'd act like a monkey.
Why does the monkey never sprayed with water attack the new comer? he has no reason. It is also an assumption you make that he would participate in the beating of the new monkey.
Secondly as a race of being that can communicate, articulate and, and pass along useful information, humans would not follow this path.
Not to mention, if no other food sorce is given, hunger will win and no matter the cost the latter will be climbed and the bannannas eaten.
Re: 8 Monkeys In A Room
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 6:19 am
by urogard
Lore wrote:Not to mention, if no other food sorce is given, hunger will win and no matter the cost the latter will be climbed and the bannannas eaten.
Maslow's hierarchy of needs