Why popularity changes choices
Visible support can act as social evidence, leading people to infer that a popular option is safer, smarter, or less risky to endorse.
That can be useful when the crowd has real information, but harmful when people copy each other without independent judgment.
Why simple polls can amplify it
If participants see early support totals, comments, or influential endorsements, later votes may reflect momentum as much as preference.
A raw count also hides whether support is broad and weak or narrower and intense.
How Nicolas relates
Nicolas is best used with clear alternatives and process norms that reduce premature momentum.
The final record then shows signed intensity and costs, helping the group inspect what kind of support the popular option actually received.