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See the original image at telegraph.co.uk —

Like ants, humans are easily led

telegraph.co.uk — When it comes to being misled, humans are no more sophisticated than ants or fish. Implications for evacuations and how to guide people safely in an emergency will arise from the discovery that most of us are happy to play follow-my-leader, even if we are trailing after someone who does not know where they are going.

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  • Indyanna, on 02/17/2008, -5/+88"Not me, dude. No way. I'm unique. I'm independent. I'm not like everybody else."
    says everyone who reads this article.
    • capiCrimm, on 02/17/2008, -0/+7I'm not unique, but I do know how to lead buffalo off a cliff.
    • vertinox, on 02/17/2008, -10/+9Yes we can!
    • ObamaWins08, on 02/17/2008, -22/+0You know who was the one lone person who didn't follow the route? Barack Obama. OBAMA 08!!!!!
      • 1310nm, on 02/17/2008, -1/+13Isn't it funny how saturating the media with annoying praise can kill someone's perception of a candidate?
        • yojiffyskippy, on 02/17/2008, -0/+4There's always a few in the crowd that makes any candidate look bad.
      • toxicshok, on 02/17/2008, -1/+9Obama spam, the new RP spam
    • satanatnmtedu, on 02/17/2008, -0/+9What the article didn't mention was peer pressure to conform. I think this is what is going on, but the experiment WASN'T done under duress. So, the conclusions may not be true. They should have planned a mole that tried to convince some of the participants to take the shorter route to see if there was any impact. All in all it is a crappy study.
    • g30ph, on 02/18/2008, -0/+5Here's a test.
      When you go to the movies, after the movie do you use the same exit everyone else uses, through the lobby and the long way around to the parking lot, or do you use the exits down by the sides of the screen which go directly to the parking lot? I'm usually the only one. The doors are clearly marked EXIT, I don't know why people just ignore them and go the long way.
      • phr0stbyte, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1restroom, parents picking you up out infront, sneaking in to another movie
      • bjornski, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1I park by the front doors. So I go out them too.
    • bjornski, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1You too can rebel against society and be unique!

      Here at Hot Topic, we have a new batch of Emo fashions. Collect them all, like your friends!
    • DarkLance, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1Ha! I am different! I didn't read the article like all you sheep... I just went straight to commenting on something I have no idea about. Fight the mold! Form your own opinions. The best way to do that is to form them about things you have no prior knowledge about so you're always guaranteed to be that singular voice. Let's give it a try!

      "I think cloning is bad, because the aliens will be upset if we interfere with their work". Wow see, I different from all of you. Now join my religion.
  • Akraz, on 02/17/2008, -42/+10░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░▐▌░░░ ░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░▐▌░░░ ░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░████░░ ░░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒░░░░░░░░██░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒██▒▒▒████▒▒▒▒▒████▒▒▒██▒░░░░░░░░██░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░██░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒████████░░░ ░░░░░░██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒██████████▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░██░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░██░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░██░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░██░░░░██░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░██████░░░░██████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
    • hmunkey, on 02/17/2008, -3/+5Buried and reported. Screw off.
    • XNihil0Zer0, on 02/17/2008, -1/+2Apparently no one gets the reference he's making. It only happened 1 year and 2 weeks ago. Dugg up.
      • g30ph, on 02/18/2008, -0/+2He clearly intends to commit a terrorist act in Boston. We must waterboard him while tazering him to extract the information and save millions of american lives!
  • bfrank72, on 02/17/2008, -1/+10That first line pretty much ruined my day.
    • iticu, on 02/17/2008, -2/+2Shame it's true.
    • jebudas, on 02/17/2008, -1/+3That last line made me wonder how they arrived at this assertion:
      "In a fire or emergency, then, people would likely stick to the familiar evacuation route, even if it was much slower than an alternative."
      Even sheeple might take a faster route if their life was on the line.
      • frontporsche, on 02/17/2008, -1/+2Agreed. Taking a new, even though shorter, route involves exploration and learning -- in other words, involves mental effort. So normally, why bother? In an emergency situation, though, I think the results might be different.
        • goblindegook, on 02/17/2008, -0/+7No, taking a new route involves exploration and RISK. You also learn when you follow others, and it's the sort of behaviour that kept many of our species alive and safe for thousands of years: eating what others ate, sleeping where others slept, hunting where others hunted, etc.
          • jebudas, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1What you are saying is mostly true, but a scientist shouldnt just make that assumption. I didnt read anything about a fire alarm in the article.

            I just think that humans kick more ass when they need to put up or shutup. If they knew about the faster route, and there was a fire, I think a good percentage of people would take the faster route.
    • frontporsche, on 02/17/2008, -0/+6　
  • ShadySpace, on 02/17/2008, -2/+88Why is the preview image Josh Brolin in No Country for Old Men?
  • kbaz, on 02/17/2008, -2/+16I believe it. But--ants will probably follow out of necessity where as we can be told what to do and believe through marketing, propaganda and the media in general.

    We'd be better off as ants.
    • Scynet, on 02/17/2008, -0/+7Ants trust each others. They move in swarms, with a common goal in mind, throwing themselves to death to save the swarm. It doesn't matter if they're easily led, because they don't screw each others over. The contrary is something like bears or tigers who're extremely independent and won't trust even family members very good.

      We humans are somewhere in the middle, there are people willing to follow others, and people willing to exploit these blue-eyed folks.
      • pilot3033, on 02/17/2008, -0/+4ants are very much like the borg
        • cnot3, on 02/17/2008, -0/+2Good, then Patrick Stewart should know how to take em down.
          • bjornski, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1Or Dale Gribble.

            As soon as he figured out which government agency is behind the movement of the ants.
    • tgc1, on 02/18/2008, -2/+0Speak for yourself.
  • Ephemeralnode, on 02/17/2008, -2/+38Because the unfamiliar is a wise place to venture in a state of duress?
    • kbaz, on 02/17/2008, -1/+8At first I didn't know whether to digg you up or down---then I realized your question is actually a real question and makes me think. I have nothing else to say---dugg up
      • 1310nm, on 02/17/2008, -0/+2It's an overly-generic statement; there are many more factors in that decision than whether or not a place is familiar.
  • Mrdudeperson, on 02/17/2008, -5/+4I cannot belive it...........................Im as sophisticated as ants and fish!
    • Intangible360, on 02/17/2008, -0/+3I don't think you're giving the ants a fair shake.
  • nullcodes, on 02/17/2008, -1/+6Just because we're easily led doesn't mean we're like ants!

    Does it?

    Hmm. Ok, I guess you're right.
  • towtow, on 02/17/2008, -3/+0Forest Gump did it
  • georgetds, on 02/17/2008, -0/+31So, rather then risk getting lost, people will take the same route back. It makes sense to me, but maybe that is because I am only sophisticated as an ant. I wonder what happens when you give people time to experiment? Like say, have them live there for a while.
    • barkus, on 02/17/2008, -0/+3I agree, the article mentions that the decision to take the long way could be fatal... But it could just as well prove fatal to take an unfamiliar route based on someone's directions due to the risk of getting lost.
    • tartle, on 02/18/2008, -1/+0People are like ants when it comes to elevators as well. Those behind me will almost always follow me into the elevator I choose, even if there is another one empty and open. No one likes to share an elevator, but will they pick the other elevator? Never.
  • S1ngular1ty1, on 02/17/2008, -0/+27I must Digg this, it is on the front page. +1
  • EmeraldTsurugi, on 02/17/2008, -5/+2It's like crossing a crosswalk when the light says stop. There's no cars, but most people wait until the light changes to walk, unless someone decides to cross anyway (there's no cars, so why not? When there ARE cars, that's a different story). Then everyone just follows suit.
    • ZenMojo, on 02/17/2008, -6/+4First, it's against the law. Second, I've been stopped by the police for crossing when the light was green but the crosswalk was red. Why? Because it's against the law. By your argument, you might as well litter, pee on the sidewalk when no one's around, and ride a motorcycle without a helmet.
      • tschau, on 02/17/2008, -0/+6nono, you're missing the point; littering, peeing, stabbing children - these things all are harmful towards others. Crossing on a "don't walk" is harmful to no one, the only issue there is making sure that everyone realizes that the law should always be respected.

        Which in that scenario is a little stupid, but whatever.
        • mexicanmonkey, on 02/17/2008, -0/+4yeah, i do that all the time, but the problem is this. The sheeple who are waiting beside you tend to just go without even looking just because you're going. It's happened before where I've had to tell someone to watch out because they were too dumb to look for themselves.
      • ScionX, on 02/17/2008, -0/+3"ride a motorcycle without a helmet"

        That's legal here, not that it matters.
    • centran, on 02/17/2008, -0/+2That is so true. All it takes is one person to start walking without the green and everyone joins in.
      Another one is a long entrance or exit ramp on the highway in heavy traffic. One ***** tries to cut in front of everyone then 10 other people do it as well. Maybe they are assholes as well or just thought another lane opened up cause everyone is doing it!
      • tschau, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1Those 10 people are the closet assholes. I almost have more respect for the first one, who is at least up-front about what kind of person he is.
    • irgeorge, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1In London, and most of the UK for that matter, people pretty much ignore the lights and cross when there's a gap in the traffic.
      • mrfunybuny, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1This is also the case in NYC... however, I recently moved to Oregon and I was absolutely amazed to see all these people waiting at crosswalks when there was no traffic.
    • Skooma714, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1Why is it against the law?
    • altinnovation, on 02/17/2008, -1/+1The only reason why people follow is that if someone is to get hit by a car, it will be the guy who started it all.
      People were intending to cross on a red light anyways, but they were just waiting for the first birdbrain to act as a human shield.
  • Brutis, on 02/17/2008, -1/+4Country for old men screen cap, hmmm
  • Ryan121, on 02/17/2008, -7/+1I don't need to read this to know it's true. After studying sociology I realised humans are pretty dumb. I can easily predict how someone is going to react or behave in certain situations.
    • bassman12593, on 02/17/2008, -0/+2then how do you know your teacher wasn't lying to you the whole time?
    • waspbr, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1okay... I wouldn't comment if you were a quantum physicist, an astrophysicist, mathematician, or even an engineer ... but come on, you studied sociology and you are calling people dumb?
      • whorunbartertwn, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1I majored in applied mathematics but took SOC 101 as an elective. I went to that class about seven times and got a B. A friend of mine in school majored in soc, after graduating he was a cable TV installer for awhile but I heard he manages a Pizza Hut now.
    • Intangible360, on 02/17/2008, -0/+2If you were an intelligent sociologist you would realize that all you could ever be sure about is your inability to reliably predict how anyone would react.
    • manitoba98xp, on 02/17/2008, -0/+3To clarify: humans aren't dumb. But in many situations like the one described in this article, instinct takes precedent over conscious thought. And that instinct is simple, just like any other animal. That's not to say that we can't be conditioned to do something else, or consciously do something intelligent.

      But I'm sure you already know all that.
  • nullcodes, on 02/17/2008, -0/+24If we were like ants, we'd all be 100% employed -- but working as slaves in some sort of dictatorship.

    Hmm, they don't have unemployment .. those ants,.
  • Evolutuon, on 02/17/2008, -1/+3These people should have been separated into more specific groups than just sex. Were those sheep separated into a belief, IQ, occupation, etc? Not very conclusive if its not very specific.
  • cswnow, on 02/17/2008, -20/+2Just ask any democRAT. Easily lead. What a bunch of brainstemed tools.
    • joebaloney, on 02/17/2008, -1/+4Ironic "dittohead".
    • whahaa, on 02/17/2008, -0/+2yes, democrats have brainstems and they will easily lead in this coming election.
  • asklouanne, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1Bavarian Fire Drill.
  • JBmtk, on 02/17/2008, -0/+4Do we really need an article to tell us this?
    • purplelantern, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1Nope. Just look at the comment on diggs should be proof enough.
    • Tarnum, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1Sunday. Slow news day.
  • rattleme, on 02/17/2008, -0/+34These people were in a building they have probably never been to before. The other route is unknown to them. I would rather take the same route back than wonder around the building for 20 minutes. Doing the familiar is not dumb, its basic survival to go with the known instead of taking risks. Why do you think 'less evolved' species are still alive and around?
    • Scynet, on 02/17/2008, -0/+2Actually, all species balance somewhere in the middle. On the other end is the survival of the individual (or the GREED), and on the other end is survival of the race, (the GENEROSITY). Too much on the greed side, and everyone kills each others until the species no longer exist. However, too much generosity and everyone sacrifices himself for the others and again, the species is dead. Ants are near the "species" end, tigers and bears near the "individual" end. We humans are somewhere in the middle.
      • Scynet, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1Oh, and your example of the unexplored building is just a manifestation of these two extremes: from an individual end, it'd be better to go back the same tracks indeed. But on the other hand, it'd be better for the species as whole if the building was explored fully even at the risk of your own death. I agree, neither way is better or worse, it's just a different way of living and surviving.
        • rattleme, on 02/17/2008, -0/+2Total exploration of the building really only benefits the group if they intend to spend a lot of time there. It can be perceived as a waste of energy otherwise. Most of the individuals there probably don't view themselves as part of that group anyway, so taking risks for others is not their main concern.
          • Scynet, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1Maybe, but do realize that in nature you have to find your food, you can't just buy it at a store. This is why exploration is important. Also, you have to find places for safe resting or new nesting places. The reason why most swarm-based species (generous type) are that way because of their huge numbers, which enable exploration with small penalties (loss of few individuals)

            Contrary, species with small amount of individuals indeed are better off not wasing themselves exploring too much
          • rattleme, on 02/17/2008, -0/+0Hence the reason why I think comparing humans to ants is inaccurate. Although humans exist in large populations, we are designed to only care for a smaller group, more specifically a family group.
    • cspivack, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1Yeah, I don't think that the experiment did a good job of testing how people will follow others.
  • rolf, on 02/17/2008, -0/+4http://www.despair.com/connot.html

    http://www.despair.com/tradition.html

    http://www.despair.com/ignorance.html
  • blzbulb, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1Do what now?
  • bassman12593, on 02/17/2008, -2/+4How can they expect us to believe this article after telling us were easily misled? It's like telling someone: You're really gullible. By the way, did you know that gullible is not in the dictionary? How can I expect you to agree with this comment after being informed that you are easily misled? Everything I know is a LIE!!!

    I can see the negative diggs now.
    • RedHeadedFreak, on 02/17/2008, -2/+4I was just about to post this. Diggers are the worst offenders at fish-like behavior. Between Apple products and global warming, this place is like a giant internet ant hill.
      • nblsavage, on 02/17/2008, -1/+1Of course opposing something just to oppose it doesn't exactly show brilliance either.
  • CanTheSpam, on 02/17/2008, -1/+1"Like humans, ants are easily led."

    -made informative
  • ThickGreenPuke, on 02/17/2008, -7/+7This article is very true. All you need to look at is the Obama video posted earlier on the page.
    • nblsavage, on 02/17/2008, -0/+4or observe the average Paul supporter.
      • lolwutpear, on 02/17/2008, -0/+2No, I think Obama is the better example. If the argument is that large numbers of people can be easily swayed, you're not going to convince anyone by mentioning the 5% candidate.
  • ZenMojo, on 02/17/2008, -2/+651% voted for Bush.
  • farnk, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1This study says nothing. What about the social aspects of it. What if I'm talking to someone. Why am I going to go down some other hallway by myself. What if I think the questionnaire is boring and I would gladly take a long route to procrastinate taking another questionnaire.
  • Goldennova, on 02/17/2008, -0/+23Buried as inaccurate.

    First of all, in an emergency people always run and take the fastest route possible. I speak from experience that if an emergency occurs, people don't pay attention to escape routes they learned during fire drills. They just run and take the fastest route out possible.

    The experiment the author is mentioning is also extremely flawed. The people were in a place which they did not know. Obviously they will use the only route they know. If the people were shown several routes and chose to go back to the beginning, I'm sure that most people would take the faster route. It's common sense to use the route you know. They wouldn't go off wandering around an unknown building.

    I completely disagree with this article. Humans are nothing like ants and this is a random opinion based on random "experiments". we are much more psychologically advanced then ants and fish and do not just follow the leader.

    • IlliterateJedi, on 02/17/2008, -0/+0I came in here to say the same thing. There are numerous studies on people 'following the leader,' but this study has several confounds that hurt its credibility tremendously.
    • JAG731, on 02/17/2008, -0/+3At the risk of following the leader. I agree.
    • mexicanmonkey, on 02/17/2008, -0/+2yeah! What he said!
  • mrzack, on 02/17/2008, -12/+7Kinda like Barack O'Bama supporters. http://rense.com/general80/sor.htm
  • dopre, on 02/17/2008, -3/+2sheeple!
  • Misinformant, on 02/17/2008, -4/+10Just like evangelical christians.
  • SOS84, on 02/17/2008, -2/+10Have you bothered to take a look at the evangelical community? You know, the clinically insane who believe that everything in the bible is absolutely true yet support all kinds of anti-Christian causes because their church tells them to.
  • d3mag0gu3, on 02/17/2008, -15/+6Obamabots anyone?

    Obama loves me this I know
    For the TV tells me so
    Republicans can rot in hell
    For my taxes are too low

    Obama loves me!
    Obama loves me!
    Obama loves me!
    Keith Olbermann tells me so!


    Keep the "change", ya filthy animals.
  • londubh, on 02/17/2008, -1/+1This is the best explanation why it was so easy for Bush and Cheney to lead us to invade Iraq. Even though they were a) lying and b) didn't know what they were doing.
  • SoxSweepAgain, on 02/17/2008, -2/+3The fact that Bush won twice is all the evidence I need. Put fear into people and they'll trample all over the Constitution, even if the leader has no idea where he's going.
    • eviscero, on 02/17/2008, -0/+2It would be..simpleton.

      What's going to happen when Bush finished his term...who you gonna blame for everything then?

      Probably Bush again. lol, you lot are severely pathetic.
  • Advenger, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1"All but one person took the route they had been led."

    well, what was this one person like? Was he an independent thinker who is always trying to find a better way, or a trouble maker who goes against the majority for the sake of going against the majority? Either of those cases would have led to the alternative route which just so happened to be shorter.
    • Noviota, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1No, he or she just really needed to pee...
  • DogBotherer, on 02/17/2008, -0/+3This isn't new. I remember when we studied human behaviour in fires as part of my Psychology degree they used the example of Kings Cross Underground Station fire. During that fire people were killed because they took their normal routes through the station even when there were shorter escape routes available.

    Also, some people were directed back into the fire because they were more used to taking instructions from the police (who didn't know the layout) rather than the underground staff (who were intimate with it).
  • getsivakumar, on 02/17/2008, -0/+2Are you kidding me.

    Even if the subjects were in a new building, they were not told that the building is on fire.. when a building is on fire and i see one route choked because there are a lot of people there, trust me, i would run for the open exit.

    If there is no fire and i have no deadline to reach the next room, i have no incentive to explore the other route..

    Duh!
  • rinote, on 02/17/2008, -1/+0Just goes to show that people will follow a leader because at least it's a direction. Sometimes it's not the right direction but you are going somewhere.
  • Ninnux, on 02/17/2008, -1/+1Try telling this to the platoon I led at Fort Bragg.
  • cap11235, on 02/17/2008, -6/+1WAKE UP SHEEPLE!
  • akohut, on 02/17/2008, -1/+5What's with the Josh Brolin/'No Country for Old Men" picture?
  • brokencode, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1We already know this. Just look up the Milgram experiment.
  • frogman54, on 02/17/2008, -1/+2Stupid ants. They're all a bunch of sheep.
  • hyperionshift, on 02/17/2008, -1/+2Is this really true or are we being made to THINK this is true?
  • daxsymbiont, on 02/17/2008, -1/+1Humans also make art and poetry and science and philosophy and sports and celebrations.

    not like ants.
  • Klepto21, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1It makes perfect sense, especially with the "takes the previous route instead of shortest": One person already knew that path, and everyone lived by going that way. It's instinctive that taking any other route poses more risks.
  • protodon, on 02/17/2008, -2/+0Tell me, what am I lookin at? I'm gonna stop lookin soon...
  • AmandaQ, on 02/17/2008, -0/+0Well duh.
  • krnldmp, on 02/17/2008, -0/+2The reason religion exists.
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