masterwordsmith-unplugged

The Bathtub Test

During a visit to the mental asylum, a visitor asked the Director how do you determine whether or not a patient should be institutionalised.

‘Well,’ said the Director, ‘we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub.’


‘Oh, I understand,’ said the visitor. A normal person would use the bucket because it’s bigger than the spoon or the teacup.’


‘No’ said the Director, ‘A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?’