lots of minds...............contributing

[Icey101]

is there something philosophical about lots of minds lending advice? is it like a termites nest being steered collectively in some fuzzy logic way?
Do we steer our lives around advice from places like this? How does it all work?


A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never quite sure. ~Lee Segall

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Taking the views or advice from one sorce leads you down a narrow line of thought, the advice from many gives you a broader range from which to decide which is best for you, if you have the capacity to make well reasoned decisions.

Having multiple sources will rarely give you a specific answer, but it does let you mentally calculate an error range. Having a single source gives you a single point of reference, with no way to gather how accurate that single point actually is.

[MJ5150]

Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established.

-Mike

[jasper383]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Taking the views or advice from one sorce leads you down a narrow line of thought, the advice from many gives you a broader range from which to decide which is best for you, if you have the capacity to make well reasoned decisions.

Having multiple sources will rarely give you a specific answer, but it does let you mentally calculate an error range. Having a single source gives you a single point of reference, with no way to gather how accurate that single point actually is.

Studies in confirmation bias tend to contradict this.

Studies have shown that gathering lots of new data, even data that contradicts one's original thesis, only reinforces the original thesis in one's mind. Basically, we form an opinion then spend the rest of our time reinforcing that opinion.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

I dare say it's the difference between genuinely looking for advice or opinion, or just trying to reinforce your own?

[jasper383]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

I dare say it's the difference between genuinely looking for advice or opinion, or just trying to reinforce your own?

How would one know the difference?

[hrodbert696]

Originally Posted by Icey101

A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never quite sure. ~Lee Segall

A man with two watches has a constant reminder that one watch might be wrong.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by jasper383

How would one know the difference?

It'll vary, though I've certainly had a few "I don't have a f-ing clue and need some advice" moments over the years, as well as many "I have an idea of what I want, but need some opinions to reinforce it" (generally on this forum, in the Amp or Basses section )

[knumbskull]

it's usually alright until someone mentions Hitler or Darwin and then things tend to go rapidly downhill.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by knumbskull

it's usually alright until someone mentions Hitler or Darwin and then things tend to go rapidly downhill.

Well, which do you choose?

[DwaynieAD]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Well, which do you choose?

about the same

[MatticusMania]

Lots of minds contributing is great. More so if the person looking for a solution or answer is able to determine what best works for him or her in that particular situation.
A great example is the Internet, itself. Many minds contribute to the content of the Internet, which is as close as one can come to a tangible form of the collective [un]conscious.

[Bloodhammer]

Originally Posted by Icey101

is there something philosophical about lots of minds lending advice? is it like a termites nest being steered collectively in some fuzzy logic way?
Do we steer our lives around advice from places like this? How does it all work?


A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never quite sure. ~Lee Segall

I think your describing wiki sites.

[sneha1965]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established.

-Mike

I recognize that and you're a wise man for knowing.

[Unrepresented]

Crowd sourcing?

If you're looking for a greater perception of reality than your own limited eyes (or PCP) can offer, having a larger data set is going to be advantageous. However, it'll involve sorting through more trash to reach the treasure.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

However, it'll involve sorting through more trash to reach the treasure.

This is true, however, without comparison, a single source could be trash and you don't even realise it!

[Bloodhammer]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

This is true, however, without comparison, a single source could be trash and you don't even realise it!

Like the guy who told me to short circuit a wire to find its breaker. No thanks - there's a tool for that.

[Simo98]

Depends on your desired outcome. To bring one mans vision to fulfillment as he intended, or to alter and "Impove" it to appeal to everybody. There is often a healthy balance between the two, however on a whole I find that things developed towards a single and focused vision are often superior to those that are compromised on.

Take media for example, one band can make their music the way they want, or one director can make his film exactly how he sees fit. To the people it appeals to, it will be a masterpiece, to many others it'll have no appeal what so ever. But a band or director that makes compromises with others in order to keep everybody happy will often end up with a more generic and generally appealing end result, but lose the true potential of the media imo.

[Sonic_Death]

Beware groupthink. I do find the whole idea of a collective consciousness very interesting though.

I like to analogize accepting advice as akin to reading user reviews when shopping for something. You kind of know what you want, and you either want someone to reinforce your beliefs, or to talk you out of something. Odds are you know which way you're leaning before even entertain information from another.

[Musiclogic]

Originally Posted by Icey101

is there something philosophical about lots of minds lending advice? is it like a termites nest being steered collectively in some fuzzy logic way?
Do we steer our lives around advice from places like this? How does it all work?

A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never quite sure. ~Lee Segall

Group think, sheep logic. This is why Trends and Fads exist, why a majority of ppeople wear the same labels, read the same rags, and follow the same "cool" new thing.

A man with an imagination, is free to explore beyond what science presents as fact.

Albert Einstein