The Bandwagon fallacy is one we all know from childhood. Even children understand the concept of pressuring another child by saying things similar to “everyone else does it” or “everyone thinks…”. It is human nature to not want to feel alone, left out, and “different”. We are by nature, meant to be in groups and thrive in a tribe. The bandwagon fallacy exploits this concept of humans wanting to be in groups and not be alone. It can easily make someone question themselves and wonder why would “so many” people think, believe or say this thing, whatever it is. For example, if everyone in class is vegan and there is one meat eater, by expressing the simple fact “everyone else is vegan, you should be too!” is trying to pressure them into the bandwagon. Similarly, if everyone in school wore crocs and a few did not. The non-croc wearers may decide to wear crocs the next day because they saw “everyone else” doing it. Basically it comes down to “following” the crowd, on anything, maybe a belief, idea, speech, style, actions, etc.
5 thoughts on “Leo Rodriguez DB 7 Bandwagon Fallacy”
The explanation was at its best. The example and the picture were even better than the explanation. By reading the caption and looking at the picture, you just woke me up. However, sometimes I just want to be alone, it is not always the case that we don’t want to be alone or left out.
Just because people are doing something in mass, doesn’t mean it’s the correct action to take. I love it! The cartoon illustrates the point fantastically. Honestly, that type of behavior fuels our economy as a whole. Great work!
I like how well you explained the bandwagon fallacy. I agree that “it is human nature not to feel alone” and that’s why many people feel the need to fit in.
Your definition, explanation, and Cartton is the best.
I see this bandwagon fallacy more than I’d like to admit. I work in an elementary school, and the way the kids follow what others are doing is sad. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, they follow bad behaviors over good ones. But sometimes administration is to blame because kids who don’t have the best behavior get the most attention, so others want that same attention which causes them to display bad behaviors.
One thing I noticed today, which isn’t bad behavior, is that yesterday one student wore crocs to school. Today around six students in that same grade/class worse crocs. The student who wore them yesterday said, “I wore crocs yesterday; now everyone wants to wear them today. I set trends.”