Make Your Choice

You don't know what you want.
Luigi know what you want.
Is there such a thing as too much choice? Some critics of the consumer-centric society think so, and have made their case strongly in TED talks, newspaper editorials, research papers. Author Matt Ridley thinks our own personal experience should dispel this notion:
Now, I don’t know about you, but last time I was offered blue-cheese, Ranch, French or thousand-island dressing for my salad, I don’t remember having a panic attack, or even needing therapy at all. I don’t generally find my heartbeat racing or my palms sweating as I contemplate the rows of different brands of toothpaste on the shelves. And I am rather relieved at having been allowed the choice of whom to marry. There are poor teenagers in Indian villages who have none of these choices: I do not envy them.
I'm glad Ridley is never overwhelmed with fast food options. But if the game is to consult our own experience, I have to make my confession: I have felt a bit paralyzed at the thought of selecting the wrong kind of hamburger before. Although I sympathize with the idea that having too many options is almost always better than too few, A part of me has to side with comedian David Mitchell on this one:
Are there instances where you would prefer to have your choices narrowed for you? Or would you always prefer more control?

1 comments:

7/08/2013 9:26 PM Jessie said...

More choice is (as far as I know) always better. But I can say that because I find it rather easy to cross off whole chunks of options at once because I both vaguely know what I want AND what I don't care about. Knowing what you don't care about is very important.

 

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