[burzum]

It's called diffusion of responsibility. When people are in a group they think that it is the group's responsibility to solve a problem, not their own. Diffusion of responsibility is greater when the group is large, respected, and has an authority figure.

In rare instances there are cases where people will take action. This is because these people are either not 'in tune' with the group or because they have a very strong level of personal responsibility. I believe in liberal areas there is a very strong level of group-think and a very weak level of personal responsibility, which is why the greatest atrocities in history have been committed by leftists (because noone would speak up).

[Old Professer]

101 doesn't take the place of 911; amateur psychology aside, the point here is the man was smoldering along with his blanket; at least someone might expect the smell to interfere with their enjoyment of the evening and piss on the poor bastard.

[randog]

I would only add to your assessment that the nanny state has everyone conditioned to "let the authorities take care of it". You don't need a gun to protect yourself/family--call 911 and let the cops handle it. Don't teach your kids anything (especially about sex)--let the state do it. Don't worry about being financially stable before starting a family--we'll take care of everything. Don't worry about that burning human being--there must be someone in "the system" that's in charge of burning people.

[khnyny]

Interesting premise, probably true.

[Itzlzha]

It's called diffusion of responsibility. When people are in a group they think that it is the group's responsibility to solve a problem, not their own. Diffusion of responsibility is greater when the group is large, respected, and has an authority figure.

In rare instances there are cases where people will take action. This is because these people are either not 'in tune' with the group or because they have a very strong level of personal responsibility. I believe in liberal areas there is a very strong level of group-think and a very weak level of personal responsibility, which is why the greatest atrocities in history have been committed by leftists (because noone would speak up).

BUMP and repeated for poignancy!

That might be one of the clearest explanations/rationale for Liberal mass psychosis I have ever seen...BRAVO!

I do have one nit to pick....while I believe your explanation about group-think is spot on, unfortunately it also applies to (unfortunately) Right-Wing Statists who believe in total Gub'Mint authority.

It is innate to all Liberals, and it happens (occasionally) to one-time Conservatives that begin to believe their own hype and press releases, and feel that THEY are the best Moral Authority.

I HATE that any Conservative could become this way, but it is an ultimate reflection of weak character (as you point out) and the inability to resist temptation, matched to the idea that they need to do "something", which eventually becomes complete dominance and control.

It is also the result of the belief that "they know better" than the public that elect them...just look around Free Republic and you can spot them.

Anyway, again, your nicely distilled explanation is fantastic.