Most citizens attend educational public meetings with open minds because they are seeking information they do not yet have. That’s good. We suggest citizens also attend public meetings with their eyes wide open as well – in regards to how the meeting has been organized and who will be the featured speakers.
Public meetings can be planned and organized in a number of ways.
1) Some are straightforward with information offered, followed by a simple question and answer period, or an opportunity for public comments.
2) Other meetings can be strategically planned to build consensus of the public for a pre-determined goal already settled by the host(s) of the meeting.
The first type of meeting described above is ideal. The second type of meeting described above is not ideal, because it manipulates people to “get to yes” – this is called the Delphi Technique.
We are not implying that any public meeting in Wyoming will use the Delphi Technique. We are suggesting that Wyoming citizens educate themselves on what the Delphi Technique is so that they are informed on how they can be unknowingly manipulated.
The following are a few links to videos and documents that are handy for citizens to peruse and consider before attending a public meeting:
Delphi Technique VIDEO (1 1/2 minutes)
Understand the Delphi Method (Used at meetings to produce public consensus)
Exposing the Delphi Technique in Public Meetings VIDEO (13 1/2 minutes
Groupthink: When Smart People Make Deadly Decisions VIDEO (3 1/2 Minutes)
The Manipulator in the Meeting Room: How Insecure Leaders Weaponize Conversation