The Dangerous Power of Crowds (2011)

> Hillsborough disaster

The "We'll There's Your Problem" podcast had a interesting episode[1] about the Hillsborough disaster.

> a large fluid mass

Apparently mosh pits are an ideal gas. From [2]:

>> ... we examined the 2D speed distribution; previous observations of human pedestrian traffic and escape panic led us to expect a broad distribution not well described by simple analytic expressions. However, the measured speed distribution in mosh pits wads well fit by the equilibrium speed distribution of classical 2D gassed, otherwise known as the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2BjTfwhbh8

[2] https://arxiv.org/abs/1302.1886#

Ezra Kliens new book why we are divided asserts that rationality is also an emergent phenomena, individuals post hoc justify even smart ones. then I am reminded of the nietsche quote about groups being mad and indivuals rational. both positions have good supporting evidence and show we need more specificity, and need to talk about a distribution not just an average.

I suspect there are pronounced peaks accross different group sizes where rationality is more emergent, and of course it depends on lot of factors: subject matter, groups homogeneity, expertise, connectivity probably this is a game theory field of study.

I think luskin's citizens assembly research showed that a few hundred people from a culture, without any prior training, could with the help of domain experts make seemingly excellent policy decisions about difficult moral and technical issues.

Ah, you're probably right. I see now that the date on the NY piece is January 30, 2011.

In 1998, the Czech hockey team won the Olympic Games at Nagano and there was a huge crowd waiting for their return on the Old Town Square in Prague.

I went there too, having no experience with crowds of that size. Waves of movement started going through the crowd, sudden bursts of violent pressure that moved you 10 feet or so suddenly. I found it hard to stay upright. Of course, everyone was screaming, so no cries for help would be of any use.

I fled the situation as soon as there was an opening in the crowd. AFAIK no one was hurt that night, but I am still glad I didn't stay. The vicious power of the surges was overwhelming.