Here you go, Owen. I propose this example of a particular class of social dynamic to used as a case study for developing science-based explanations for human behavior patterns, rather than religious ones. I believe there are possibilities with the first and second categories that you suggest below, and particularly the Central Limit Theorem.
This is an especially interesting study candidate, seeing how the many parts of the rest of the world are so *hugely* for stoning. What's different about us? And don't tell me Muslims are smarter than us, they aren't. Different, yes. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27484976/ --Doug PS: No ranting about my bad spelling, please... On Fri, Oct 31, 2008 at 10:30 PM, Owen Densmore <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > People: I'm thinking Freakonomics here. Statistics. Human behavior > patterns. You know, Science! > > Thus far I've heard only rants on religion, stupidity, and probably bad > spelling. > > Is there *any* reason for the close vote (especially in the 2000 2004 2008 > elections). > > Here are a few possibilities: > - Parties form attractors. > - Classism. > - Single Issue voters. > - Marketing to a tie. > - The Central Limit Theorem. > > This is especially interesting seeing how the rest of the world is so > *hugely* for Obama. What's different about us? And don't tell me Europeans > are smarter than us, they aren't. Different, yes. But they elect assholes > as often as we do. > > I heard an interesting talk about how historians look at this: > http://radioopensource.org/a-longer-view-of-2008-historian-gordon-wood/ > One of his points is that: "I think that all of these candidates will find > that they have been carried along by forces that they can scarcely > understand." > > -- Owen > > > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org >
============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
