The Smiley Smile Message Board

Interesting article

Scientists examine how social networks influence behavior
http://www.physorg.com/news156957899.html

 "In one recent experiment, Watts used the Web to recruit 14,000 people and had them rank a series of 48 new, unknown songs.

Not surprisingly, when the volunteers knew about choices other people made, they changed their preferences completely to conform to the group. But when he divided the recruits into eight groups, he got radically different results. A song deemed No. 1 by one group would fall to 42nd in the next.

"We assume things are popular because that's what people want," he said. "But this is showing that's wrong - people have no idea what they want." Popularity seems to come in equal parts from random luck and merit."

Oh, wow, people are stupid and lack individuality so they follow the movements of the herd - shocking news.

Thank god for groundbreaking research like this that our scientists are doing.
Truly making earth a better place to live.

Hey, I only posted it because I see evidence of this on message boards like SS.
Levels of cynicism and obnoxiousness are also influenced by social networks...   ::)

You're totally right.
Hey, what kind of music do you listen to?
Because that's my favorite type of music too.

I have no personality to speak of. Therefore I always follow what's popular around here. I even got so far as to acquire a Doors album. I hate the Doors intensely.

Ever since joining this board, I realize that I like the beach boys.

What I was thinking of was actually this questioning of the BW Band's motives, the love/hate of Mike, the common dissatisfaction with TLOS (despite critics' praise of it), etc. All these things seem to be common to this board, with a few exceptions.

Anyway, the article's point (one of them) was that even though it's common knowledge that group members can influence one another, this is one of the first studies that gathers hard evidence in this way.

I guess that is why there are so many bands on Myspace.  I had a Myspace account up until a few weeks ago, but had to delete the account, too much spam, never had had Facebook or twitter account, after the mess on Myspace I am done with those sites. 

I never questioned the BW band, I have conflicting opinions about Mike (though I used to outright hate him), and I like most of TLOS!  :afro :afro

I like TLOS quite a bit, too. Mike is Mike, he can be an butthole, but he is somewhat essential...is it possible to be somewhat essential? Imean, your either essential or not...ok, so hes essential....in a somewhat sort of way.

I dont question bwbands motives too much, personally.