With collective intelligence, scientists learn it’s your thoughts that count

[xchrom]

http://grist.org/business-technology/with-collective-intelligence-scientists-learn-its-your-thoughts-that-count/

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When it comes to climate change, there’s a lot of room for feeling glum. Not only is it a massive problem, it’s hard to understand – and even harder to know what to do about it.

“But there’s also at least one reason for optimism,” says Thomas Malone, a professor in organization behavior at MIT: “Now it’s possible to address really big, hard, complicated problems by harnessing the collective intelligence of thousands of people, at a scale and with a degree of collaboration that was never possible before.”

OK, “collective intelligence” sounds fancy – but what is it? Wikipedia it. No, seriously, search Wikipedia and not only will you find collective intelligence defined as “shared or group intelligence that emerges from the collaboration, collective efforts, and competition of many individuals,” but you’ll tap into collective intelligence just by reading that page. Just think: Who created that entry? In a way, by being Wikipedia users, we did!

How does that relate to climate change? Let’s say you want to save the planet – but it’s been a long day and, hey, you don’t really want to get off the couch. And let’s be real, even if you have the motivation to do your part, where would you start? Slap some solar panels on your roof? Fight for climate-friendly policy changes? Better to leave it to the experts, right?

[MisterP]

1. there's also a very good scenario that explains how everyone can come to an outcome

nobody wanted

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abilene_paradox

[Demeter]

2. that was a fascinating read

but I assure you, it would never happen in my family. too many ruggedly independent minds.