Mishalak Dictionary: Congressional Walk

[mishalak]

Congressional Walk \kən-'gresh-nəl wŏk\ n 1 : a manner of walking in a group where everyone in the group thinks someone else is leading and thus the group's path is a random amble. Similar to the motion of an ouija board or the actions of a committee where no one wishes to be singled out at the guy to be blamed for a decision. See also herd behavior.

Comments

[gomeza.livejournal.com]

See also SF fans at a con trying to get to lunch.

Re: Congress

[mishalak.livejournal.com]

Oh definately. And college students trying to decide what to do for the evening. Lots and lots of this sort of behavior.

"So what do you want to do?"

"I dunno, what do you want to do?"

"Someone decide something already!"

"Are you going to be the one?"

"Ummm. no".

Hydra, ho!

[weirdquark]

My crowd refers to that as hydra behavior. One body, lots of heads. Before the body can do anything, all of the heads need to come to some sort of consensus.

Sometimes movement can be achieved by three heads walking firmly towards the door and yelling at the other heads... they usually all follow.

Perhaps some sort of numerical analysis needs to be done -- what percentage of the hydra's head need to move to put the hydra in motion?