In a lab, a banana was placed in ape’s 1 cage. When the ape went to grab the delicious fruit, it was flushed with a jet of painful cold water. Repeatedly so, until the ape eventually stopped it’s attempt to reach for that banana and ate anything else peacefully.
They brought in ape-2 to that cage. Instinctively, it too went for that banana, and as it reach for it, both apes were sprayed with that painful cold jet of water. Eventually ape-2 stopped as well…
And so on, with apes 3 & 4.
As ape-5 was brought in, and obviously tried to go for the banana, something different happened this time: the first four apes concluded the likely consequence, and started to beat ape-5 so to prevent it from reaching the banana. Eventually ape 5 stopped trying.
When Ape 6 was brought in, and went also for the fruit, the first four apes obviously have beaten, but something else happened this time as well: Ape-5 joined the group frenzy and started beating ape-6 as well… And so on ape-7 was aggressed by all 6 apes, out of which 4 have tasted pain, and two followed the frenzy.
Apes 1 through 4 were then removed from the cage. Water tank was drained from water and the water hose removed.
Apes 5 through 10 never tried to reach for the banana, they also have beaten every new ape introduced and tried to go for the fruit. All this without even knowing the true reason why this has became a feared from banana…
Here’s another behavioural prediction: a year from now, june 2013, we will vote, either March 8, or March 14, or abstain from voting, without even wondering truly why we did either, except by fear of having our ego bruised by our own.
Or will we?…
one of the best posts i read so far. bravo !
The question is who is the Lab staff in the behavior of june’13 ?
Thank you
For June ’13 I think the lab staff is long gone:) we just need to realize that & dare to step out of our past habits…
In June 2013, if we go unprepared, of course we should put in a blank ballot.
However, if during the next ten months, somebody thinks of preparing a comprehensive and detailed socio-economic program for the country and offers it to us, then, by no means, let us study that program and take the appropriate decision.
Contrary to what happened during the past 67 years, I predict that the June 2013 elections will be conducted on the basis of “programs”. The power of the “zaims”,the “money” incentives, the lure of “ideology”,and “religion” will matter less this time. We have less than ten months left to convince the voters to go for those who will offer them the best “program” for Lebanon.
Hi George,
I think you are right, I argue as well that white ballot is better than boycott and abstaining, and a good candidate (in your sense of the word, not our street description) is better than white ballot. I will be very happy to vote for one in my casa and encourage others in other casas, next 2013 elections, else, I will only cast my vote for my nation, a white ballot nation.
Tx for your comment
Great Article! Lebanese Politics has become a farm! herds of “sheep”, following a “shepherd” and controlled by a “dog”.
Didn’t this guy present himself to the presidential elections in 2000?