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[personal profile] ciphergoth
Just randomly found this on Wikipedia: Abilene paradox - the possibility that a group decision will be made for X even though every single person in the group would prefer Y. This is a familiar situation to me, and I'm sure that's usual. It can be hard to express a preference weakly - you say "I'd slightly prefer not to get starters", and no matter how many caveats I put on that, it's rare that anyone is prepared to say "well, I really like their spring rolls so I would like to get starters if everyone else is OK".

On the other hand, it's kind of a good problem to have - I'd rather these problems than have everyone fighting to put their own needs ahead of everyone else's...

Date: 2007-04-25 08:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] devilgate.livejournal.com
Yes: the father-in-law in the original anecdote as cited on Wikipedia is an idiot, because he suggests doing something he doesn't want to do, when everyone else is happy as they are. If he was worried that they were bored, as suggested, he should just have asked them.

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Paul Crowley

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