Is there anything that the wisdom of the crowds can be wrong about.?

Question

Everyones answers welcome. (even the socially unaccepted ones)

Answer 1

There's not doubt that sometimes the herd charges off the cliff.

BUT the crowd has been getting it right often enough for Darwin.    

Crowd wisdom may not guarantee victory, but failure to act as a group virtually guarantees defeat.

So give that angry mob a break.  I know they don't always get it right, but I gotta tell ya, when the 'civilized' folk acquit OJ and prohibit the execution of child rapists,  ya just gotta wonder if it's time for some rambunctious group therapy.

Hey, I do get it.  No one wants the Hatfield's & the McCoy's going at it.    But would it have such a  bad thing if the cops had taken a donut break before rescuing Richard Ramírez from the mob?

Basically the Night Stalker's 23 year death row incarseration @ $120,000 per year comes to $2,760,000.   To which we must add to an additional 1-2 million dollar cost if we ever ACTUALLY execute the man.

Got it?   It's 4 million of your tax dollars to do to 1 murderer,  what a small hispanic mob was willing to do for free.

And they wonder why California has a budget crisis.

It's easy to say the mob has no wisdom,  but seriously, compared to who?   The Government?

Answer 2

Well, I'd rather ask "Is there anything that the wisdom of the crowds can be right about.? "

Answer 3

2,000 years ago everyone believed the world was flat. Two million Romans, plus the Celts , Goths, Gauls, et al;crowds and crowds of them. ALL WRONG.

Answer 4

Since crowds cause a pack mentality then I find they are usually wrong.

Answer 5

Beating someone to death would qualify, like mob mentality.

Answer 6

YES.

Answer 7

Well...let's see...there's...uhhh...EVERYthing and then there's...uhhh... hmmm...I guess "everything" pretty much covers it.

Answer 8

Crowds don't make wisdon correct, the more people who believe something only means it's more popular, note that just because something is popular doesn't mean it's right.

Answer 9

superstitions, corporal punishment, commercial air fresheners, public education, shopping at wal-mart......?