THATS THE WAY IT IS: The Experiment of 10 Monkies

This saying is a typical statement heard in the military in response to someone questioning an obviously awkward or stupid way of doing things. Here is another way of looking at this –

“Experiment with 10 Monkeys”

Some scientists take 10 monkeys and place them in a room. This room has metal grated floor and on one side there are three wooden steps leading to fountain for drinking water. Eventually a monkey walks up the stairs to get a drink of water. Once he leaves the metal floor and begins up the wooden steps the scientists send electricity through the metal grate that the remaining monkeys are lounging around on. Of course they all freak out at the hair-raising sensation. This continues each time a monkey ventures up the stairs to get a drink of water. Ultimately, the monkeys realize that if one of them tries to get a drink the remainder are electrocuted. So, they are to physically assault any monkey whom tries to drink.

Now that the monkeys are getting beaten when they try to drink, they stop trying. At this point the scientists take three of the monkeys out of the cage and replace them with three new ones. Once again when the new monkeys – not knowing what will happen to the others – try to get a drink and before they get anywhere near the stairs they are beaten by the other monkeys. Since, the others stopped the new monkeys from getting near the water they are not electrocuted. This happens several times until they eventually give up to avoid being beaten.

Once more the scientists remove three more of the original monkeys and the same result occurs, even the first set of replacement monkeys join in on the beatings even though they don't know why, having never experience the electrocution. The new monkeys are assaulted on attempting to get water. Finally, the remaining four monkeys are replaced with new ones with the same outcome.

At last, now that there are no original monkeys remaining the scientists remove 3 more monkeys and replace them with three new ones who sooner or later attempt to get a drink but are beaten by all the others.

The results: Of the original 10 monkeys who were electrocuted when one of them attempted to get a drink none remained. Each of the new groups who were in turn beaten for trying to get water were unaware of the reasons for their assault. But in turn would join in on the beatings when other new members would attempt to get water. Finally, with no original monkeys left and no knowledge of why the beatings occured, the monkeys would still beat any monkey who tried to get to the water. Thus, their reason for beating each other for trying to get water was “that’s the way it was” or is. So next time someone gives you this response, “that’s the way it is”, recite to them this story and hopefully they will get how stupid their remark is or maybe they just like getting beaten for no reason what so ever.

*Note: there were no monkeys harmed in the writing of the story.