@dana-edwards This is a great post, except for the part about what is a stigmergic operation. That's not a great explanation and perhaps maybe an ELI5 answer would allow folks to follow it easier.

For all of the laymen out there, a stigmergic action is one which has a high upfront cost in terms of some resource, typically energy or inertia, but which makes it easier for others to follow once the first mover has made it through.

This works because there is generally a trace left in the environment which stimulates and eases the state transition for other independent agents.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stigmergy

Ants following a trail are doing so because they are following a trail of pheromones left behind by ants that have come before. Try swiping your finger through a line of marching ants and watching the confusion set in as the ants begin to search for where the scent ended up. They will follow to where your finger swipe ended and that becomes the new trail.

Laughtracks on TV shows exist for this exact reason. :)