I’ve a confession to make. I write a private finance weblog, however I hardly ever learn different private finance blogs. There’s a purpose for that. Right here is the explanation. I discover that after anybody get actively concerned in any group, they’ll begin to (subconsciously) undertake the pondering modes of the group nearly like by osmosis. This results in comparable pondering. As well as, it results in eager about the identical issues on the identical time whereas reaching the identical conclusions. In different phrases, herd habits is born. If people in such a herd are very busy as individuals typically are when there’s a quantifiable efficiency strain — extra, larger, quicker, there may be too little time to step outdoors of the field when a lot time is devoted to following the remainder of one’s friends.
There’s a comparable phenomena in scientific analysis. Feynman (a well-known physicist) as soon as remarked that one of the best ways to seek out new insights into an issue was to disregard earlier publications and simply come to your personal conclusions. Clearly this ought to be carried out after reaching some technical proficiency in addition to some maturity, in any other case crackpot theories get hold of. In an identical vein, Einstein did his best work revolutionizing the understanding of particular relativity, Brownian movement, and the photoelectric impact whereas working in a patent workplace with little or no contact to the excitement of the ivory towers. I feel it’s pretty accepted that one thing much like Einstein’s miracle 12 months would by no means occur in the present day (that’s why it was thought-about a miracle). With the publish or perish mentality of contemporary academia and its expectation of attending a number of conferences and presenting a number of papers yearly (moderately than a brand new thought each different 12 months) it has been rendered almost unattainable to step again and take a inventive have a look at the basics. As a substitute all the things appears a lot the identical as final time.
It’s troublesome to say which system is best when they’re so completely different. In a mass manufacturing system, brokers distinguish themselves by amount and matching expectations. Reputation within the present mass market philosophy clearly requires rocking the boat as little as attainable whereas giving credit to the system by imitating it or quoting it. The important thing right here is telling the end-consumers what they need to hear. That is carried out by telling them what they already know. As an illustration, contemplate trendy pop music; it’s a completely forgettable expertise, but it’s a common selection of music. It’s broadly consumed as a result of it’s acquainted and folks know what to anticipate(*). This ends in a herd that strikes slowly but strikes constantly and steadily. It serves a function. As an illustration, running a blog about index funds, tips about profession development, and lists on many some ways to save cash reinforces the established order pondering. The efficient function is to reassure those that they’re doing alright. That is naturally a extremely prized product that may usher in a number of promoting income.
(*) I’ve a concept that claims that writings, analysis, statements, something, are more likely to be thought-about to be of top quality if the recipient agrees with the content material or the philosophy behind it. Very only a few individuals are above this pure tendency.
Authentic concepts can’t be mass produced. I can’t say that my posts are completely unique however to the extent a few of them are, it’s definitely getting tougher to give you new insights. New insights can regularly be had by way of interdisciplinary means. These areas are considerable as a result of they haven’t been harvested by specialists. This isn’t to say that every one unique concepts are helpful. Nonetheless, incremental concepts usually are not all helpful both which is why I have a tendency to not learn them 
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Initially posted 2008-03-26 07:20:04.