"Pluralistic ignorance posits that in certain circumstances most people will falsely believe that others conform to certain ideas or standards, and will uphold them, too, while privately disagreeing with them. Since there is a fear of disagreeing with what is believed to be the norm, situations or behaviors continue that few people actually endorse. This is a social psychology concept that was first brought to attention in the 1930s by Floyd Allport and Daniel Katz. It can also be called a mistaken belief in a person’s uniqueness, which stands in the way of action or change.
One example of pluralistic ignorance occurs in a type of social phenomenon called the bystander effect, which has been well observed in group settings. When a person is a victim to a crime, a greater number of people observing it translates to less likelihood of anyone intervening. All share the mistaken belief that someone else will step in and help."
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http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-pluralistic-ignorance.htmPluralistic ignorance might be way too kind for the Bitcoin Foundation elite members.
There is believable (but unproven) speculation that top members were able to withdraw quickly from Gox, while the general public waited... ...and waited.
I think it's done a pretty nifty job of discrediting itself.
