Originally Posted by $5 submissions

Here's a question for you, Carlos: Since the Internet is "democratic" and is open to mob rule, can it also "import" checks and balances from real world democratic societies that keep mob rule/collective delusions in check? What technical analogs are available.

In forums, one often used check against mob rule is to dig up a link that points to a rational and real answer. However, this is often attacked on the following bases: it is located on a site that is opinionated or has a slant--therefore the facts in the link can't be trusted, the link isn't dated or is dated in the past--therefore the facts aren't new enough, etc. Sometimes, if people are determined to drink the COOLAID, there's nothing reasonable people can do even if the COOLAID package has a Skull and Crossbones warning on it.