Matthew Henry John Bartlett

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Friday 25 June, 02004

Evil from the East

by Matthew Bartlett @ 11:48 am

It appears trite at first, but I think the question at the end of this quote (from ZMM) is very profound:

The South Indian Monkey Trap
The trap consists of a hollowed-out coconut chained to a stake. The coconut has some rice inside which can be grabbed through a small hole. The hole is big enough so that the monkey’s hand can go in, but too small for his fist with rice in it to come out. The monkey reaches in and is suddenly trapped… by nothing more than his own value rigidity. He can’t revalue the rice. He cannot see that freedom without rice is more valuable than capture with it. The villagers are coming to get him and take him away. They’re coming closer — closer! — now! What general advice… not specific advice… but what general advice would you give the poor monkey in circumstances like this?

4 responses to “Evil from the East”

  1. Sternum says:

    “If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell”

  2. Matt. Baird says:

    Leave the rice. Grow bigger. Beat the stupid villagers.

  3. david says:

    an option would be to start spitting blood and farting, then they would think the monkey is diseased and leave it alone. That’s what I would/do do.

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