The Bandwagon Effect Is Kicking In Strongly

[MineralMan]

The Bandwagon cognitive bias tends to get people to jump on board whatever others are jumping onto. We follow the crowd, because there was a time for humans when following others was a survival strategy - for real. There is genuine strength in numbers when it comes to survival.

And we still do it. So, when people see prominent people, like candidates, give their endorsements to another candidate, it's a cue for others to do the same. We're seeing that building right now, with more and more people whose names we recognize following the lead of people like Buttigieg, Klobuchar, and others who have announced their new support for Joe Biden.

It's almost as infectious as the annual flu virus. It starts out with a few notable individuals but spreads out from there in an almost exponential way. Once the bandwagon starts rolling, it builds on its own momentum and drags others along who are following the crowd for the protection of numbers.

At this point, there's a strong chance that the bandwagon effect will reach widely enough to make it impossible for anyone else to gain new support. It may already have gotten to that point as of today, with more and more people climbing up on the Biden Bandwagon.

[beachbumbob]

1. we want to be part of a winning effort built on real world solutions, not pie in the sky pipe dreams

[MineralMan]

8. That's true. Those of us who think that way have been in the Biden camp

all along. However, the bandwagon effect will attract others who are less convinced of either thing. That's how it works. They'll join the crowd and come along to the circus with the rest of us.

That's what the bandwagon was for the circus. Once the tents were up, there was a parade in whatever town it was in. At the rear of the parade was the bandwagon, with music blaring and colors catching the eye. People followed the bandwagon to the big top to see the show. It's advertising, old school.

The same effect still works, though, but in a different way. People still follow the loudest noise to get to the place everyone is going. It's built into our brains by evolution.

A few years ago, my wife and I went to a parade in St. Paul. We were standing where the parade began. As the last entry in the parade passed us, I grabbed my wife's hand and we walked out into the middle of the street and followed the rear of the parade. "Watch," I said to my wife, and started waving at the crowd as we walked. An amazing number of people waved back and applauded us, as if we were part of the parade. And then, a few people came out and walked behind us and waved, too. Pretty soon we had quite a crowd who became part of the parage, simply by following the parade and waving at the audience. Bandwagon effect.

[LizBeth]

13. And most of us haven't been in that camp. It was the blue wave to take down Trump.

This is not about Biden.

[Butterflylady]

2. Biden had me from start

But I agree about the bandwagon effect.

[Sloumeau]

3. Practical and realistic solutions inspire sensible Democrats. :) nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Let the bandwagon become a juggernaut.

The dictionary definition of juggernaut is "a massive inexorable force, campaign, movement, or object that crushes whatever is in its path."

"The word is probably derived from the Sanskrit/Odia Jagannātha (Devanagari जगन्नाथ, Odia ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ) "world-lord", combining jagata ("world" ) and natha ("lord" ), which is one of the names of Krishna found in the Sanskrit epics. The English loanword juggernaut in the sense of "a huge wagon bearing an image of a Hindu god" is from the seventeenth century, inspired by the Jagannatha Temple in Puri, Odisha (Orissa), which has the Ratha Yatra ("chariot procession" ), an annual procession of chariots carrying the murtis (statues) of Jagannātha, Subhadrā, and Balabhadra." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juggernaut

[MineralMan]

10. Now, that's impressive!

[PatSeg]

5. As the excitement builds

it is snowballing! The world loves a winner!

I noticed Joe is up to 27% at DU now.

[IronLionZion]

6. 73% of DU is not supporting Biden

[Thekaspervote]

7. #joementum!!

[relayerbob]

9. "because there was a time for humans when following others was a survival strategy - for real."

This is a strategy for survival for real, now!!

I'm on board

[LizBeth]

11. We are doing what we have to in order to beat Trump. Reducing this to bandwagon is offensive to some

I think both Harris and especially Warren are better choices, hands down and it is with reluctance I let that hope die to support Biden. Don't make it harder by saying I am just a follower without will. Because I assure you, that is not the case with me.

[Sunsky]

15. Exactly

I agree 100%.

[LizBeth]

17. It is especially insulting as we watch capable woman, after beyond capable woman dismissed

in a run for office while we are the strongest block along with the black vote. I said when Super Tuesday wave happened, it is about the voter making a statement and not about Joe. That I hope Biden stays humble getting our votes. Then I read I am just a follower.

[MarcA]

23. Agreed and it applies to Any Candidate or Popular Mood. n/t

[ehrnst]

31. +1000.

[MineralMan]

18. I'm not talking about DUers. We don't have enough votes to matter.

I'm talking about the phenomenon that is changing this primary election.

[LizBeth]

21. The phenomenon is not about Biden, but about the power of the Democratic base showing our strength.

I cannot tell you the number of people I have talked to, that is supporting Biden totally, that are disappointed that he is our nominee and not one of the others. We are desperately looking for things to be excited about with Biden. They are not voting for Biden, they are voting for the Democrat to take down Trump.

[MineralMan]

26. OK, but even all those people are not enough to make Biden the nominee.

It takes far more people to do that. How to get them to go out and vote is the challenge.

If you don't think the bandwagon effect is hugely important in that, you're incorrect. It's essential. It has kicked in, as of Super Tuesday. Others have recognized that and are helping make it even more effective. That's politics. That's the marketing of political candidates. Without that marketing nobody wins. That is the lesson here. All it takes is one thing to trigger the effect, and that thing has taken place. The trigger was South Carolina. Other's recognized that the trigger had been pulled and stepped in to make the effect even stronger. Everyone in politics as a profession understands that.

You look at it from your thoughtful perspective, and that's admirable. But, without triggering the bandwagon response, winning is impossible. Winning takes far too many people who must get on board than logic, reason, and platforms can generate.

[LizBeth]

28. It is not a bandwagon for Biden but the blue wave for a Democrat. Beat Trump. Down ticket taking

house and senate. And ya, look at the first three states. All of us getting on board behind Biden did EXACTLY that. Even at the expense of not voting Warren, to get behind Biden to feed the momentum because we are just THAT smart and responsible.

[Midnightwalk]

12. I'm still not going to name my preference

I don’t want to cause such a stampede that the cart tips over.

[gldstwmn]

14. Unfortunately.

[MineralMan]

19. Inevitably.

[gldstwmn]

20. November is a long way off yet.

[MineralMan]

22. Indeed it is. But, the end of the primary season is not so far off.

That's what we're doing now. The general election is another thing.

[gldstwmn]

32. You've shown me that I should probably

support Bernie after voting for Warren on Tuesday. Thanks for helping me get there.

[MineralMan]

39. I'm not telling anyone how to vote.

That would be very presumptuous of me. I'm describing what people are doing. That's all.

[onetexan]

16. ahem.. almost as infectious as the corona virus

Well said. We are in survival mode right now, & banding together so we survive this horrific administration is key.

[NYMinute]

24. I will take the bandwagon or any effect to WIN against Trump

Winning against Trump is my main issue. There isn't much difference between policy positions of our candidates that would be detrimental to the people.



Joe/Kamala or Biden/Harris 2020!!
Either way they are stronger together & can't be bought!!!
Jump on the Biden Bandwagon & abandon the revolution!!

[William769]

25. Band wagon of the other one.

[MineralMan]

27. That's Trump's wagon there.

[William769]

29. Ok, we'll go with that one.

[NCProgressive]

30. This is more like it

[UncleNoel]

33. I want a list of those who have NOT supported Biden!

LOL! Should be pretty short.

[Scurrilous]

34. I'm less kind. Herd effect.

It was in full stampede post NH. All the polls swung in Bernie's favor. The media went full out for Bernie as presumptive inevitable. Nevada slowed it down a bit but it was still going strong. Some were talking Veep pick. SC was an expected win for Biden but it seemed the media were preparing to almost ignore it. 'Barreling toward Super Tuesday' the paper said pre SC. Would Biden's bump from SC slow down the herd enough to turn it around and the would polls improve in time to affect Super Tuesday? That's where Unity saved the day. Three days of big announcements, media appearances, and a huge televised rally the eve of Super Tuesday turned the herd around and stampeded it over Bernie and his hopes of a decisive Super Tuesday. Epic!

[oasis]

36. Yup. Epic stampede. Love it.

[Scurrilous]

37. Yeehaw!

[Gothmog]

35. I was a first day donor to Joe

I also maxed out to Joe back in October. Being an early donor was recognized by the campaign and I got to meet Joe twice in person and got to discuss stuttering with him. I also have three floor signs from Joe’s speech at the National Convention.

There are a good number of long time Biden supporters

[Scurrilous]

38. Nice!