"The wisdom of crowds works when the crowd is choosing the price of an ox, when there's a single numeric average. But if it's a design or something that matters, the decision is made by committee, and that's crap. You want people and groups who are able to think thoughts before they share"

This quote by Jaron Lanier suggests that the wisdom of crowds is only effective when the crowd is making choices that include a single numerical average, such as the cost of an ox. Nevertheless, when it comes to choices that include design or something that matters, the decision needs to not be made by a crowd, however rather by a committee. Lanier thinks that this is not an efficient way to make choices, as it does not allow for individuals and groups to think prior to they share their opinions. He believes that it is important for people and groups to be able to think prior to they share their viewpoints, as this permits more thoughtful and educated decisions to be made. Eventually, Lanier believes that the knowledge of crowds is just reliable when the crowd is making decisions that include a single numerical average, and that choices that include style or something that matters ought to be made by a committee that enables individuals and groups to think before they share their opinions.