We’re in the middle of a choice explosion. Ponder this: Americans now have more choices over more things than any other culture in human history.
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Every day we choose from a broad array of foods, media sources, and lifestyles. Today we even have those choosing gender …as if they’re in control of such things. I try to remain optimistic in saying this, and truly, much that is wonderful separating today from yesterday is spawned by more choice.
But making decisions is increasingly difficult, even for the most experienced, hardened decision-makers.
Some use the 10-10-10 rule. When you’re about to make a decision, ask yourself how you will feel about it 10 minutes from now, 10 months from now, and 10 years from now.
Of course, this assumes you can settle on “10” when you could choose some other digit.
Some use pain. If an immediate consequence of some decision is in any way connected to pain, emotional or physical, then the choice becomes short-term pain vs. long-term perspective. That leads to questions …in search of more alternatives. In other words, more choices.
Some use surveys. I read yet another survey report in the news recently, this time focusing on new brides. Scientific data found that 20% of new brides are not initially attracted to the man they end up marrying. So, sometimes I guess sharing a “mistake” date eventually leads to identifying the perfect mate.
It’s been 41 years ago this month when I made one of life’s most important decisions. Before we exchanged wedding bands, there was a brief “macho man” period when I thought I could choose any girl in the world, before I realized how very, very few would consent to have a goof like me. Even now, all these years later, I feel especially fortunate that my better half really didn’t know what she wanted in a man and settled for me.
Sometimes it’s how you choose to look at things.
Unlike marriage, not every choice in life can be narrow-framed to a binary “I do” or “I don’t.” The “either, or” can be scary even when applied to frivolous things. Often asking “whether or not,” it signals a time to step back and seek more options.
But we have choice gone too far. These days choice simply means confusion.
Things have changed. Take this publishing company, for instance. I’ve been researching the Gallatin North Missourian editions through the digital newspaper project presented online by the State Historical Society of Missouri. During the decade of old newspapers available (1864-1874), I’m struck by what few choices in news readers had in that day of less choice.
By today’s standards, using nearly a full page to reprint a Presidential proclamation in an 8-page community newspaper delivered mostly in Gallatin, Mo., seems odd. There’s always been that choice confronting each editor: What constitutes news that matters locally?
At least news delivery was simple. Newspapers, you know, were the first “mobile” app.
By contrast, the newsprint edition you hold in your hands now is but one product and one method of many deliveries we make today.
Besides publishing on newsprint, we provide online marketing for over 100 real estate offices and more than 40 auctioneers throughout the region. I wish our work were delivered only one way.
Instead, besides our own 7 websites and all those we host, we’re trying to help them “share” their listings on all sorts of social media — not just Facebook, but…
Twitter, Pinterest, Gmail, LinkedIn, Google+, Reddit, 100zakladok, Adity, Adltnl, ADV QR, Amazon, Amen Me!, AOL Lifestream, AOL Mail, APSense, Arto, Baldu, Balatarin, Beat100, Blt.ly, BlzSugar, Blandtakkinn, Blogger, Blogkeen, Blogmarks, Bobrdobr, BonzoBox, Bookmarky.oz, Bookmerken, Box, Buffer,
Camyoo, Care2, Cherry Share, CiteULike, CleanPrint, CleanSave, Cndig, Collvia.de, Communicate, Copy Link, COSMIQ, CAA Based, Delicious, Diary.ru, Digg, Diggita, Digo, Dilgo, Douban, Drauglem.IV, EdCast, EFactor, Evernote, Exchangle…
Plus 12 more social media services with names starting with “F”…5 with G …6 with H …3 with I …1 with J …6 with K …4 with L …13 with M …8 with N …5 with O …8 with P …3 with Q …4 with R …18 with S …9 with T …1 with U …8 with V …11 with W …1 with X …8 with Y …and (whew!) 3 with Z.
Enough already! Most of these I know nothing about. Talk about confusion …and noise …and overkill. In today’s world, choice is all about the selfish “me.”
Mercy!
The explosion of choice means we all need more help understanding the anatomy of decision-making. So, if you’re on the school board, don’t you think we need some kind of explicit decision-making curriculum? And this begs the question of how and at what grade levels and with what measurements, of course. Tough choices.
As I ponder all this, I conclude that having lots of choice does not automatically mean things are better. I am also left humbled, realizing how frequently my decision-making tools are so flawed.
Perhaps the better question is, can we dodge the consequences and actually laugh at some of the dumb choices we make?
Yep, I’m a goof. At least I know it, even if I don’t choose to be. I get plenty of opportunities to laugh at myself. How ‘bout you?