It's no surprise that this would be common, especially in some subverses. But those that are supposed to be serious and for discussion often get poisoned by this. Up-votes and down-votes can make things rather one-sided and into a hive-mind of sorts.
How can we, mods or the community at large prevent hive mind mentality? Even if people don't downvote comments or posts that go against their beliefs they are less inclined to upvote than someone that agrees and makes other good points. Doesn't this foster some sort of hive mentality and where is it a good thing and where is it a bad thing? If I don't have an opinion yet about a topic and the highest comments are all about x is really y does this mean that it is right?
Does this promote conformity and stifle discussion indirectly?
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[–] Stavon ago
If you recognize it, you're less likely to adapt to it.
That's why people sharing an opinion gather and tell themself that this opinion is the right one. When the group grows it's now longer important who it is, as long as he belongs to the group.
If your opinion is slightly off, you likely adopt, if it's far off you seek another hive with might fit better. The interesting states are inbetween, the insecure ones. Studies showed that the unsure members of a hive are most extreme in defending it and "missionaring" for it. Another part of unsures tries to rebel and see what happens.
Negative feedback coming for the group identifing with is very strong, probably stronger than positive one. There is not much you can do about that, the human mind is not as smart as it thinks it is. All you can do is to be aware of the cognitive biases your brain suffers from.
[–] nilceps [S] ago
My question then would be, coming away from acknowledging hive mind and be wary of it, is there any way to get rid of the hive mind of a community? Or at least dampen it's effect so a group with another opinion doesn't leave and take the possible conflict and resulting discussions with them?
Because it seems everyone wants meaningful discussions but everything right now seems counterintuitive towards that goal so do people want pseudo-discussions or is the system not good enough to promote it. Could discussions be promoted by mods? Or is it the inevitable fate of bigger subs?
[–] Stavon ago
I don't think so, there are communities with less hivemind, but they are made up of smaller communities with a lot of hivemind.
That's possible, although some members of a hive can be extremist enough to block this.
Most people don't actually want to discussed, but be told that they're right. That's how the hives grow.
Probably, but users in disliked hives will move to their own
It seems so, for any number of people sharing some kind of "culture".