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The Math Behind the Hipster Effect

Posted by samzenpus on from the we're-all-individuals dept.

rossgneumann writes If everyone always wants to look different than everybody else, everybody starts looking the same. At least, if you use a recently published mathematical model describing the phenomenon. "The hipster effect is this non-concerted emergent collective phenomenon of looking alike trying to look different," in the words of Jonathan Touboul, mathematical neuroscientist at the College de France in Paris.

1 of 176 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Great! More hipster hate. by zieroh · · Score: 3, Informative

    we perform a service for society akin to that peformed by record or film studio executives - we watch shitty movies and listen to shitty music, so you don't have to. you may call it peacocking, but if you think there's value in predicting the future of the culture - and shaping it - i'd suggest that hipsters play a useful role in society.

    DO NOT WANT.

    --
    People who say "sheeple" have about as much sophistication as an AOL user, and in fact are probably actually AOL users.