[ale] Engineering Archaeology

[jc.lightner at comcast.net]

I often illustrated the problem with that mindset by telling folks about the Five Monkeys Experiment:

If you haven’t heard about the Five Monkeys Experiment, here's how it goes: 

Five monkeys are placed in a cage with a bunch of bananas hanging at the top. There’s a ladder leading up to the bananas. Naturally, one monkey climbs the ladder to take them. The moment it does, all five monkeys are sprayed with freezing water.

Soon, another monkey tries. Again, everyone gets blasted with cold water. Eventually, the monkeys learn that touching the ladder equals punishment. The researcher then removes the hose but keeps the experiment going.

Here’s where it gets interesting. One of the original monkeys is replaced with a new one who has never seen the water spray. The new monkey naturally goes to the ladder for the bananas, but the others immediately stop him and even attack him. Over time, more new monkeys are introduced until none of the originals are left. None of these monkeys have ever been sprayed with water, but they all attack anyone who dares touch the ladder.

If you asked them why, the only answer would be: “because that’s the way it’s always been done.”

😊

-----Original Message-----
From: Ale <ale-bounces at ale.org> On Behalf Of Ron via Ale
Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2026 8:36 PM
To: ale at ale.org
Cc: Ron <ron at bclug.ca>
Subject: Re: [ale] Engineering Archaeology

Jeff Lightner via Ale wrote on 2026-01-10 14:50:

> In my later years when I would speak to people about “the old days” 
> and things such as RS232-C and/or Hayes modem commands I realized that 
> while it was likely true I’d forget much of the detail it didn’t mean 
> younger folks would never know more than I’d forgotten.   They would 
> instead have no need for what I’d forgotten (for the most part) and 
> eventually would learn things I’d never learn.

Insightful comment.

Of course, usual disclaimers of "not everyone, not always, not everything" apply:

The "kids today" are learning lots of great new things and pushing boundaries in new directions. They're exploring new ways to do stuff and aren't sold on "we've always done it this way, so we should continue to do it this way".


Too often I see that attitude by other, fellow tech old-timers.


If we applied such logic to when we were starting out - "slide rules work just fine, don't need no electricity, storage, keyboards, monitors, etc." - I'm sure most of us would've found it unconvincing.


Let them have their chance, some ideas will work, some won't, and it's their world now.


Anyway, appreciate the thought provoking post.

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