On Nov 1, 2008, at 2:53 PM, Douglas Roberts wrote:
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.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27484976/
I think I'm missing something here. A horror occurred. Apparently
due to religious extremism/fundamentalism. Are you saying that the
all idiocy is of this sort? That it is pointless to wonder why the
elections are so close when there would seem to be good reason for one
candidate to be much preferred? That the election is close due to
fundamentalism?
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.
Er, am I to assume that fear of Islam, or possibly Muslims, is the
core reason for the close race?
Or is this just an example of just how horrid the world can get? I
understand that, at least.
I appreciate being fed up with this sort of horror. But, getting back
to voting, wouldn't that lead to wanting more enlightened leadership?
Or maybe it just gets folks mad enough to go to war to try to stop
it. Looks like a tie in terms of who to vote for. Oh, wait ...
--Doug
PS: No ranting about my bad spelling, please...
My bad .. I included that quip as an indication of the extreme range
of reasons we were groping for.
-- Owen
On Nov 1, 2008, at 2:53 PM, Douglas Roberts wrote:
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
============================================================
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
