why popularity matters
There is some disdain for the herd mentality. Maybe in terms of cultural tastes, there is a point there. I think majority opinion is important b/c it represents the wisdom of the crowd. Collectively, we stand a better chance of finding the truth than singly. This isn't just socialist bullshit. It's a fundamental reason why stock markets work, gambling businesses turn a profit, anything that relies on information, etc.
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/wisdomofcrowds
Are you seriously advocating that if everyone decides to jump off a bridge I should too?
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<b><i>If you can't respect that, your whole perspective is whack
Maybe you'll love me when I fade to black</b></i>
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<b><i>“When you’re creating your own shit, man, even the sky ain’t the limit.†Miles Davis</b></i>
So good, in fact, that I'm voting for the candidate that most exemplifies the foreign policies of Bush 41. (My apologies to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/31/opinion/31friedman.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fOp%2dEd%2fColumnists">Friedman</a>).
Didn't it used to be Democrats were the ones trying to put government in control of our lives b/c people couldn't be trusted otherwise? Funny how things change.
Actually, the wisdom of the crowd would probably be to not jump off a bridge.
(Warning: no political content or implications here)In my particular experience, I have never seen crowds to be brilliant when they are together- ever people watch at a concert or a movie theater or a mall? No hard evidence here, but dealing with individuals I would argue will yield better and smarter results than dealing with a crowd..
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“When you’re creating your own shit, man, even the sky ain’t the limit.†Miles Davis
Most of the Reagan tax cuts go rolled back. Except for some silly missile defense spending, increases to the defense (er, offense) budget priced the Soviet Union out of the Cold War.