> 1000 conductors means there is no conductor. 1000 conductors means that there is 1000 conductors and 1000 orchestras. They've all done their research, and t

> 1000 conductors means there is no conductor. 1000 conductors means that there is 1000 conductors and 1000 orchestras. They've all done their research, and they've all independently decided to have their orchestras play mostly the same songs as all the other orchestras. They've arrived at this decision by copying what the most successful orchestras are doing, reading in orchestra magazines about best practice for orchestras, going to orchestra conferences, talking to other conductors over expensive meals and games of golf, etc I agree it's not a conspiracy. There's no big room where all the conductors get together and all agree which songs to play. But it's not accidental either. Each conductor is seeking the best song list, and by using the resources available to them they are all coming to similar conclusions. I think I've tortured this metaphor enough. I just do not want the human element to be abstracted from the equation here. Yes, I agree there's no conspiracy. Ultimately this crap is "emergent" from the systems in place. Those systems were built by humans, and then the "emergent" behavior is just humans concluding "based on this system in place this is the best set of actions I can take". Those humans then are successful so other humans try to copy them.