[wisconsin_cur]

Crowds "Pick Leaders to Follow"

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'P')eople behave like sheep when they evacuate a building in an emergency, blindly following one or two people who seem to know what they are doing.

Researchers at Leeds University believe their findings could have important applications, notably in the management of disasters.

The team, led by Prof Jens Krause, conducted a series of experiments in which volunteers were told to walk randomly around a large hall without talking to each other. A select few were then given more detailed instructions.

The results published today show that it takes a minority of just 5 per cent of what they called "informed individuals" to influence the direction of a crowd of a minimum of 200 people. The remaining herd of 95 per cent follow without realising it.

[mmasters]

Another study to point out the obvious!

[americandream]

Crikey....5% non-sheep must find it frustrating!

[TheTurtle]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mmasters', 'A')nother study to point out the obvious!

[americandream]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('americandream', 'C')rikey....5% non-sheep must find it frustrating!

[Revi]

Have you read The Tipping Point? He says that it is even less than 5%. There are people who are innovators and others that are communicators. I am an innovator. I can have great ideas, but nobody follows me because I'm not a communicator. It takes those people who have a multitude of friends to move the herd.

I think people are beginning to be moveable.

The herd is beginning to realize that the way that they are living is not going to work.

Now all we have to do is to get them to move to sustainable ways of living.

If we can get just 5% moving the rest will follow.

Do we want them all to follow?

[PopeGideon]

"Now all we have to do is to get them to move to sustainable ways of living. "


Well, just get about 4 billion of them to willingly check out, and you'll be on your way.

[kjmclark]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('americandream', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('americandream', 'C')rikey....5% non-sheep must find it frustrating!

[SILENTTODD]

Baaaah!!!

[zoidberg]

what about the oddballs who either dont move, or consciously move away from the herd?

[big_rc]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('zoidberg', 'w')hat about the oddballs who either dont move, or consciously move away from the herd?

[mos6507]

I don't think anyone here are sheep because I don't think you'd be able to fit your tinfoil hats on top of your horns.

[Newfie]

Ayn Rand

Atlas Shrugged etc.

Idea has been around for a long time.

Some 19th century economist found that that 80% of anything is accomplished by 20% of the population. My understanding that has been refuted, the number is general closer to 10% (or less) accomplish 90% or more.

And, in Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared Diamond observes the traits of animals fit for domestication. One of which is that they are easily led.

Seems to fit my observations.

I have quit referring to cities as cities. I call them "hives" or "ant hills." Pisses off the wife something fierce.

Off to work.......BAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[Pablo2079]

repeat after me "I am an individual."

[gnm]

Just remember that you are unique and special just like everyone else...

-G

[PrairieMule]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('gnm', 'J')ust remember that you are unique and special just like everyone else...

-G

[ALBY]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('americandream', 'C')rikey....5% non-sheep must find it frustrating!

[Battle_Scarred_Galactico]

All of us PO aware folks think we're the non-sheep, but what if Yergin, the Prez, etc. are really the leaders after all

I think its' pretty clear you are correct there. We've all had our experiences that show us who people are more willing to believe despite the mountains of evidence.

Us PO'ers are idividual thinkers, but not leaders I would say. I think there are two main reasons why not -

1. Most PO'ers tend to be individualists, and not interested in leading.

2. The message of reality is bleak (ie. your way of life is over, and must change). People will only follow leaders when they believe it will benefit them, and the 'changes' (bit of an understatement) will make people personally worse off.

This leaves the way open for frauds and phoneys, people will follow them and keep making excuses even when everything falls down around their ears.

[Aaron]

All I know is that no one is better than anyone else, and everyone is the best at everything.

[Kingcoal]

Actually, if you don't have any time to analyze, it is a life or death situation and most importantly, you haven't planned or prepared, then you have to make do the best you can, which is oftentimes blindly following a leader until you can come up with a plan.

However, I think what this study points out is that even in non life or death situations, people follow leaders. Most people are security freaks. They like familiarity and hate taking risks. The average person is also lazy, which is the biggest problem. Remember having to get up in the front of class and give presentations? Very quickly, they all tend to look the same. People don't want to stick out; they'd rather stick with the herd. Everyone wants to be on the winning team, the good guy’s side, etc. It's human nature, probably because most of the time it works.

However, people get lazy. Most people don't plan, they don't see the writing on the wall, in short; they aren't paranoid enough. "The paranoid survive;" a quote by one of the founders of Intel Corp. I agree with Grove; rational paranoia, which is simply planning around Murphy's Law (what you don’t know can and will hurt you), is always good advice. Always have a plan, that's what successful, leader types do.