142.177.103.144 at 03:32, 16 February 2004

2004-02-16T03:32:51Z

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The "'''broken telephone'''" is an important [[conceptual metaphor]] referring to loss of [[integrity]] in a spoken, and sometimes even written, comment over time. Failure to hear, to comprehend intent or context, paraphrasing, malice, and other factors are all involved. However, even with real incentives to get the message exactly right (such as a cash prize for the group that can create the longest chain of accurately repeated statements) all human groups fail to correctly relay a message past three or four voice-to-ear transactions. When a group relies on such unreliably relayed information and permits it to bounce from person to person, an [[echo chamber]] is created, whose output inevitably reflects not what was said or intended ''by'' the original speaker, but what the group assumes ''about'' the original speaker. This is one factor that goes into creating [[groupthink]] and rendering it impossible to make good decisions.

Having a single common [[due process]] with a clear [[standard of evidence]] that gives [[hearsay]] no status, is probably the only known safeguard against these problems. Ensuring that hearsay has no status in a key decision by the [[sysop power structure]] is a main responsibility of the [[Consumerium Governance Organization]]. Failing to ensure this can make it legally liable.

Broken telephone - Revision history

142.177.103.144 at 03:32, 16 February 2004