What's a think Tank?

Subject: BS: What's a think Tank?
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 13 Apr 03 - 08:27 PM

I'm serious about this question. What is a think tank? What do they do? How do they support themselves?

You 'catter critters can be as creative as you wish with this answer, but I'd like an answer to my question somewhere in all the BS.

Subject: BS: What's a think Tank?
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 13 Apr 03 - 08:28 PM

Sorry, I meant to press BS Non music for the tag.

W.E.

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: Amos
Date: 13 Apr 03 - 08:53 PM

WE:

It's an organization that accrues a lot of credentials through academic, social or political connections and then sells its ability to write analytical white papers on hard questions. This lends credibility to the analysis. Their customers include political groups and large corporations, governments, departments of defense, etc. depending ontheir spheres of expertise. In other words they are brains for hire.

A

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: mack/misophist
Date: 13 Apr 03 - 09:45 PM

And a few of them have endowments. Otherwise that's and excellent definition.

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: GUEST,Rapaire
Date: 13 Apr 03 - 09:56 PM

In other words, a high-end bullshit session someone writes up.

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: mack/misophist
Date: 13 Apr 03 - 11:22 PM

But very high end.

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: Cluin
Date: 14 Apr 03 - 01:31 AM

How does it differ from a brain trust?

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 14 Apr 03 - 02:28 AM

A brain trust can be impartial---a think tank NEVER is!

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: Cluin
Date: 14 Apr 03 - 02:53 AM

And what's a "tinkle tank"?

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: mooman
Date: 14 Apr 03 - 05:54 AM

Rarely in my experience a place where any real thinking is done. But always at a high level and with one or two "brains for hire" to lend it bogus credibility.

moo

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: Mr Red
Date: 14 Apr 03 - 06:25 AM

a high-end bullshit session
Sounds like conspitation to me (and I am being serious in a metaphorical modus vocalis).

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: diesel
Date: 14 Apr 03 - 07:52 AM

Amos is almost spot on - but I would substitute 'organisation' for 'group of people'.
Sometimes a think-tank is brought together for a specific task and could include amongst the experts above, others such as affected persons (if a crime-rate group for example) or lateral thinkers or public personlities etc.

It is true that some organisations specialise (and charge loads) in these advisory areas, but not all think-tanks are organisations.

rgds

James

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 14 Apr 03 - 05:13 PM

Do they do things that have to be tested, such as theorums (sp?). How are their assumptions and results questioned?

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: Amos
Date: 14 Apr 03 - 06:31 PM

Depends on the field the're working in , WE -- often they are just paid for intellectualizing about things that cannot be tested, such as long-term trends in technology, or an analysis of risks from foreign terrorist organizations, or the potential hazards of genetic engineering, for example.

A

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 14 Apr 03 - 08:29 PM

So companies/governments pay out money for a highly qualified but untested opinions?

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 14 Apr 03 - 11:46 PM

Probably the best-known think tank is the RAND Corporation (RAND is a contraction of "research and development"). They've been around since 1946. In fact, the term "think tank" was probably coined to describe RAND Corp. Here's a link to their info page:click here.

Bruce

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: Don Firth
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 08:28 PM

Amos's definition sounds about right to me. The impression I get of most (if not all) think-tanks is that when some politician or political group comes up with a highly controversial or generally half-assed idea, they go to a think-tank and say, "We want to do X, Y, and Z. Rationalize it for us so we can sell it to the public." A bit like an advertising agency, but with lots and lots of advanced degrees. Often they have "Foundation" somewhere in their name, which seems to give them credibility and an aura of non-partisanship.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 11:20 PM

Can think tanks launch smart bombs?

~S~

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: Amos
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 11:41 PM

Certainly. And some tanks can bomb smart people, too! Definitely a multi-variable proposition!

A

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: NicoleC
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 01:10 AM

Political think tanks invariably only publish thoughts which rabidly support their political agenda, even the ones that claim to be apolitical. To do otherwise would hurt their funding.

There are also a few think tanks companies for hire, which tend to be usually scientific or engineering oriented, composed of extremely well-educated dreamers who don't let current technological abilities get in the way to their hypothetical solution. Sounds like nice work if you can get it.

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: stevetheORC
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 03:07 AM

If Tank's could fink they would not go to war!!!!

De Orc

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 07:43 PM

Get paid for dreaming? I'd be a trillionaire! My uji says that I am an expert at dreaming.

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 07:58 PM

There are a handful of good think tanks, but most are just two or more guys who have a definite political opinion and are used by newspapers to add "credence" to their editorials.

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 08:23 PM

I suppose if, by some mischance, the think tank didn't come up with the result they'd been hired to approve, it would have two consequences. They wouldn't get hired next time; and a new think tank would be called in, to do the job the first one had fallen down on.

Lots of them to choose from. World Press Review Index of International Think-Tanks and Research Organizations

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 09:27 PM

Just a short list, Malcolm. One used at least once a week by the Canadian newspapers owned by Asper is the right wing Fraser Institute of Vancouver, B. C. There are many not on the list you gave.

Subject: RE: What's a think Tank?
From: GUEST,Mr Red
Date: 17 Apr 03 - 08:18 AM

Walking Eagle - so it's:

Tanks for the memory (I think)