Opus 2014-98: Conditioning the Elephant

Recently the discussion was about how people seem to get into ruts and I brought up the way in which elephants are trained.  The person I was talking to had never heard it before.  I assume it is true.  If you know different, let me know.

Elephants need to be trained when they are small.  You put a heavy iron ring around a leg and attach it to a very well planted stake in the ground.  It is overkill.  There is no way the small animal can break the hold of the stake.  At first the elephant will try to get free.  It will do everything it can to get away.  Eventually it will understand that to struggle is useless and will settle down.  It has now been conditioned.  For the rest of its life it will never fight the stake again.  From that point on all it takes is a light ring and a small stake and the elephant will stay put.

Too often humans are like this.  We are conditioned when young.  An impression is made on our minds.  We never try to break out again.  Think of things like global warming that are easily refuted.  Think of logical things like the chemicals required to recycle paper.  Think of everyone being expected to go to college.  Think of religious traditions.  Think of political parties.

Conditioning works.  Break free. 

Freedom does not mean having no convictions but having convictions based on your own thinking, not what a guru told you.

homo unius libri