Posted on 10/18/2006 11:06:10 PM PDT by Dallas59
You can see it the next time you visit your office cafeteria or a nearby park: Whites sitting together with whites, blacks with blacks, young people with other young people. When individuals from these groups mix, it is usually because they share something else in common, such as a pastime.
Sociologists call this phenomenon homophily, a somewhat grand word to describe the idea that birds of a feather flock together. Thinkers from Plato and Aristotle onward have observed that people seem to be drawn to others like themselves. But while the basic idea is simple, homophily has surprisingly complex causes and consequences. Three weeks ahead of a midterm election, for example, it is playing a powerful, but largely invisible, role in politics.
Studies show that most people interested in politics associate nearly exclusively with others who have similar political beliefs. In fact, research by sociologist David Knoke at the University of Minnesota shows that if you know whether a person's friends are Republicans, Democrats or independents, you can predict with near certainty that person's political views.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
12 of years of college came up with that...
Say what? You called me a homophily?
I need a grant...
WashPost is doing stories about queer horses now?
Nothing. The author is an idiot and this so called 'research' is complete bull.
As a matter of fact, most of my friends are independents and moderates, with a few lib's for good debating measure. I guess I just broke his 'near certainty'. Guess it wasn't as 'near' as he thought.
Whatever. Most of the 'sociology' papers that come out ouf liberal colleges are total crap.
"WashPost is doing stories about queer horses now"
Expands the meaning of bareback riding...
Not in my family
We are a mixed breed .. makes for VERY lively discussions too *L*
Not true in my case. Everyone in my family is liberal first of all and I go to college where everyone is liberal and my high school friends turned out liberal. Where are the conservatives? Of course, on the other hand, all the my liberal friends and relatives only know other liberals, which partially explains why these otherwise enjoyable and varied people turn into a boring, unintelligent echo chamber whenever they start discusses politics.
Tribalism has been around since the dawn of mankind.
Why do we need more studies and words on this? It isn't all that complicated at all.
Many years ago, I think it was on Truth or Consequences, a young couple was asked whether this adage was literally true, and in anticipation of providing a definitive test, there was a cage on the stage equipped with a rope to raise it up, which closely confined a number of geese, ducks, turkeys and chickens.
After consultation, the couple decided, no, it was not true, and the cage was duly raised.
More quickly than you could follow with your eye, the birds formed into separate platoons, each strutting about the stage in unison. Since I had secretly in my heart agreed with the young couple, it's a sight and a lesson I've always remembered.
Every tribe has it's freaks. They used to offer them to the volcano gods. Then they were used for entertainment, playthings for lions and such. Then came the traveling circus.
Now... What happened to tribal customs?
I enjoyed this. Thanks for posting.
At least you're not a philatelist.
Or are you?
Scientists really just needed a reason so they could invent another word with the term "homo" in it. We just can't escape this, can we.
bump ;)
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