Here is a good article from the Wall Street Journal today. The article discusses the “cascade effect” of global warming “consensus”. The study of “cascade effect” was also the subject of a Nobel Prize in 2002 to Daniel Kahneman. “Availability cascade” has been coined for the way a proposition can become irresistible simply by the media repeating it; “informational cascade” for the tendency to replace our beliefs with the crowd’s beliefs; and “reputational cascade” for the rational incentive to do so.
It’s an interesting article and I invite comments.
[…] Global Warming: The “Cascade Effect” of Public OpinionBy Tom NeuvilleThe study of “cascade effect” was also the subject of a Nobel Prize in 2002 to Daniel Kahneman. “Availability cascade” has been coined for the way a proposition can become irresistible simply by the media repeating it; …Minnesota State Senator Tom Neuville - http://tomneuville.com […]
The problem, of course, with this argument is that the global warming is not defended because it appears in media, but it was the science is saying. I would suggest everyone stop focusing on what the media has to say, what Al Gore has to say, what your favorite think tank has to say, what your preferred politico has to say; instead focus on what the science is saying. The message the scientists are saying is loud is clear.
Public opinion making each other of us!