Reading this article really hit home for me. My mom has always made fun of me for taking my time in purchasing a product as I spend a good deal of time looking at ALL of my options. Sometimes I become frustrated and annoyed with the 'task' of finding the perfect dress or the cutest sheets, or in the case of this last summer--the best car. I spent months looking for the right car, it was a big purchase and I was going to find the perfect automobile and was willing to wait until it came about. I looked and waited, waited and looked and nothing came about. I got so overwhelmed with all of the information, that I gave up. Then my family went on a camping trip (technology-less) and a family friend heard that I was interested in finding a car. He said he knew someone that had a reliable car for a great price. (Being a car dealer, I trusted him entirely.) Once we got back, I had his dealership look over the car, and then when I got the 'all clear' I bought it. No internet involved. This process made me feel less anxiety and was easier than using the internet alternative. I think it is extremely easy to become overwhelmed with the options on the internet and taking a step away from it, for big decisions, can be in the person's best interest.
I think the idea that some of our best decisions are made through a form of unconscious decision making is really interesting. As a person, I like to feel informed and in control, so to hear that being so may not be in my best interest, surprised me. The thought that an info-glut can just lead to poor decisions down the road seems contrary. I would think that the more information one knows about something, the more informed of a decision they will be able to make about it. To hear the opposite, really makes me step back and look at the way in which I make choices.
Kelsey,
ReplyDeleteI also thought that the more information we got, the better our decisions would be. However, after reading the article and your story, it really makes me wonder how much information is too much information? I think there is a natural curiousity that humans have for finding out about things, that we become addicted to wanting to know more; however we never take the step back to think that maybe knowing more can actually cause us to make bad decisions. It is still a little mind blogging, to me at least, to stop myself from wanting to know more. Maybe we all just need a technology-free trip like you had, to understand. :)
Kelsey~
ReplyDeleteI am definitely over analytical when picking out the little things to so I completely get where you're coming from. I always wonder if I'm going to find something "better". I like how you defined making a decision as a 'task'. I thought that was really neat because sometimes it can feel like a choir. It's really cool that you had such a first hand experience with dealing with subconscious decisions when dealing with getting your new car. Without excess information or influence you were able to find a good car and that's really exciting. Good for you! I think we all need to take a step back from our selves once in a while (maybe tech free like you!) and just remember that we have a decision to be made, not a research paper to write.
Kelsey,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. I went through a similar experience when I was looking for a new car. I figured out a spending limit, researched all my options, searched on every site I could find, traveled to many dealerships, and learned as much as I could about the "best car" for me. I still feel like I could have done better. That information overload probably prohibited me from making the best decision. I also thought that the more you know, the better your decision will be. After reading this article it is clear why that is not true.
Kelsey,
ReplyDeleteI really like your example about the car, internet is a great way to search the web but sometimes we get information we don't need. By going on the camping trip you had a clear mind and once the perfect option was presented you took it because you had no other factors in the way.