The Abilene Paradox

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abilene_paradox

by gprisament • 17 years ago

7 2 17 years ago

en.wikipedia.org

I learned recently there's a term for when everyone agrees to something that nobody actually wants: The Abilene Paradox. Any good examples from your lives?

gprisament• 17 years ago

Any good examples of this paradox from your lives?

RobGR• 17 years ago

I would have never thought that I would read a reference to Coleman, Texas in a link from YC. For what it's worth I've been there a few times and it's a nice town.

I think one example of this happening is in deed restrictions and HOA rules in modern subdivisions. The vast majority of residents do not worry that their neighbor's kids leave tricyles out on the front lawn, dry clothes from a line in the back, leave the garage door open other than when moving a car in or out, let the lawn get over four inches high, etc. But they do fear that most everyone else does care about those things, and the paranoia associated by their over-extended housing finances drives them to support the enforcement of rules they would blush to describe otherwise.

The Abilene Paradox

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