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34 Comments
- Dundasbro, on 08/14/2008, -2/+10Not saying that abundance of choice is necessarily bad, but that it comes at a cost and that is the expectation of extremely high quality in what we consume. He backs up what he says logically and with evidence, whereas you just attack him because you don't fundamentally agree with what you think he is arguing. Don't be such a partisan hack, open your mind and be willing to listen to opinions that you disagree with and look at them on their value, rather than just attacking what you think the underlying ideology is and telling people to go to another country.
- stealthc, on 08/14/2008, -0/+7Points where he's WRONG
1) It actually *is* possible to own a cell phone that doesn't "do too much." The prepaid phones you can get at Wal-Mart fit that description precisely.
2) Paralyzing "patient autonomy" is most likely an outgrowth of draconian malpractice laws.
3) Pharmaceutical commercials aren't advertising to you. They're buying the TV station.
4) Improved products, and a rise in expectations is *bad*? Does he resent having a higher standard of living than he did 30 years ago? His disappointment is his own personal problem.
The problem of choice has absolutely nothing to do with quantity. The problem is that some people have a certain threshold where they feel intimidated, and they choose inaction. He can't handle choice and assumes that the rest of humanity is as stunted and miserable as he is.
But it *is* all about your expectations. When you realize that the world owes you nothing, it's very liberating, and the problems this guy describes go right out the window. - redundant, on 08/14/2008, -0/+6Some of that's definitely true, but I do agree with his ideas relating to 'the grass being greener' etc. I constantly second guess my decisions if they aren't perfect, and assume that my other choice would have been better, regardless of whether or not it actually would have been.
- ramiro, on 08/13/2008, -1/+7Another one of his books is subtitled "How market freedom erodes the best things in life".
- pieface, on 08/14/2008, -0/+5could you explain to me in your own words why you think A) Communism is so bad & B) why someone who is a communist / has Marxist ideals should not be listened to regardless of the subject?
- quaunaut, on 08/14/2008, -5/+9His argument from the beginning is flawed: He assumes that everyone has similar mindsets to him- but really, it is a problem much of the older generation tends to have(not all of them, of course). Much like how many older people can't stand the abundance of advertising these days yet the younger generation can ignore it, the fact that we have grown surrounded by a massive amount of choice, we find that we get all the benefits of choice, without the mental persecution he says we all have.
- GRTWHT, on 08/14/2008, -0/+3For anyone else that had never heard of TED and wonders why we should digg something simply for TED:
"TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader.
The annual conference now brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes). " - afruff23, on 08/14/2008, -0/+2"The problem of choice has absolutely nothing to do with quantity. The problem is that some people have a certain threshold where they feel intimidated, and they choose inaction. He can't handle choice and assumes that the rest of humanity is as stunted and miserable as he is."
Bingo. Personally, I thoroughly investigate every choice I make but even if it was a bad choice, I don't feel bad about it. It's not like I'm a freaking psychic.
"But it *is* all about your expectations. When you realize that the world owes you nothing, it's very liberating, and the problems this guy describes go right out the window."
I've been living my life that way for the past few months and it really is liberating. I can't believe this guy made it to TED. - TheCatsPants, on 08/14/2008, -0/+2Surely it depends on the mechanism that re-distributes the wealth? For instance, giving to charity, or employing people and giving them a reasonable wage to live on, or taxing people to provide better communal facilities and resources?
- flxfxp, on 08/14/2008, -0/+2I'm fully with you on this one. I always have second thoughts as soon as I bought something. "Maybe I should have gone with the PDP-LX608D instead of the PDP-LX6090. For some reason, I never feel as fully satisfied as I were before, when there were limited choices.
- veritasmutandis, on 08/14/2008, -0/+2His argument isn't that choice is purely a bad thing, or that freedom to choose in inherently destructive. Rather that an abundance of choice has very real psychological consequences, from the fact that each choice not taken comes with an important opportunity cost. So yes - freedom in general does give societies the opportunity to advance. But as with everything else in life, individuals suffer from anything in excess.
- EelfinnTy, on 08/14/2008, -1/+3"Income redistribution will make everyone better off not just poor people"
It worked in Russia! - hiPpymIck, on 08/14/2008, -2/+3ppl who are confused by a choice..
could avoid their dilemma by looking at whats popular - and go with that
everyone follows the crowd sometimes
still need plenty of choice tho - Paulginz, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1Surely, there's plenty of different approaches and mindsets around.
In particular a big generational gap in how we deal with overwhelming possibilities.
However, most of his points hold for a vast majority of the population. I'm young and cynical, and yet still feel much of what he describes. Habit dampens the negative effect of choice, but doesn't eliminate them entirely.
Choice does lead to higher expectations, in particular it changes standards by changing what we compare things to when e evaluate success.
Choice does transfer the burden of guilt to the consumer/decider.
I think that the younger generation will, first of all, have trouble noticing these problems even if they're there (albeit dampened); simply because they're normal everyday feelings and we don't really have any experience of a low-choice society to compare to.
Note that he quickly points out that he'll skip all the good things about choice, and he doesn't advocate a choice-free society.
Even if you don't freeze in front of decision-making, it certainly takes time out of your life. - Stevethegreat, on 08/14/2008, -2/+3Choice makes you wiser and wisdom always gives you a better life. Of course you may fail to make the correct choises and/or become wiser which may drive you to a worse life, but at least -in a free society- you have that choice (to grow) in a non-free society you're stagnant and although there may be safety nets, there's also a ceiling of how good a life you can get and of course I'm not even talking about material wealth. It is no accident that all the greatest philosophers and scientists (thinkers) came out in the freest period of their societies (Classical Greece, Ancient India and China, Middle-Ages' Middle-east, post Renaissance Europe, America).
Thus -yep- while freedom gives you the opportunity to drive a worse life than in a society with no choices, it also gives you the opportunity to rise over the limitations of your society and in fact those are the people (those that rose over the limitations) that gave the lights to human societies. Without freedom there's no societal progress, there may be more happiness on average but I doubt even that in the long run, if people learn how to handle freedom then they will be even happier than by just having to comply to the limitations of their traditional community. - steveoco, on 08/14/2008, -2/+3Great watch, I saw it the other day, another one you might like is this:
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/malcolm_gladwel ...
It is so funny and interesting. - chmstar, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1Well he did say that redistribution of wealth was a good thing.
- roddack, on 08/14/2008, -1/+2this article makes me go /facepalm
- ZiggyILM, on 08/14/2008, -1/+2TED is a venue for intelligent people to express their opinions and findings. You don't have to agree with them, (and though Schwartz uses some dramatic examples and generalizes some points, you can see some truth in the most basic aspects of his talk) but it sparks conversation... like this one.
I admit though...this wasn't really that interesting. - afruff23, on 08/15/2008, -0/+1Then i guess we ought to spend like there's no tomorrow. Get real. Income redistribution hurts investment. Consumption is not the only thing you need to take account of.
- JohnFlux, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1> Does he resent having a higher standard of living than he did 30 years ago?
Well it's certainly interesting. Considering luxury items only for a moment. If expectations increase at the same pace as improvements, then what's the point in improving in the first place?
If a child today gains the same enjoyment out of a complex multi-million dollar game as a child 30 years ago gained from playing with a hoop, then overall was there any 'point' in that improvement? If the actual enjoyment doesn't change with time, what's the point in improvement? - stealthc, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1In the long run, we're all worm food anyway. What's the point of anything?
- Konnnan, on 08/16/2008, -0/+0I don't think it's only a problem for older generations. I tend to get overwhelmed by choice, and always question my decisions.
- andrewcsfan, on 08/14/2008, -1/+1Anyone know why I doesn't receive TED update in Miro last and this week (other channel work well). Should I subscribe in iTune
- trsohbet, on 10/19/2008, -0/+0http://www.trsohbet.name
- Paulginz, on 08/14/2008, -1/+1Income redistribution is not communism.
Though in a sense the communist IDEAL is an extreme form of income redistribution: total equality.
Income redistribution worked in europe, and in essentially every western country where there's some form of social security.
On top of the psychological "expectations" problem that the TED talk points too, simple consumer-side economics will show that income redistribution boosts consumption to a point that essentially recoups tax loss for corporations, rich shareholders & co. - christophe971, on 08/14/2008, -4/+3*****. There is never too much choice.
- ramiro, on 08/14/2008, -3/+1I have listened to his opinions and found them lacking.
I am not impressed with the silly anecdotes and cartoons he uses to justify his idea (there is no logic or evidence whatsoever in them).
His position is merely a repeat of the anti-capitalists/anti-West hypocrites.
Why don't he walks his talk and move? Why don't he goes somewhere he can be "free" from the abundance of choice and can enjoy the income redistribution he preaches? - ShittyPunGuy, on 08/14/2008, -5/+1Man, I'm ted confused with this submission!
- haentz, on 08/14/2008, -7/+2Who on what?
- oddturtle, on 08/14/2008, -9/+4I love TED. I hate Barry Schwartz
- rmpaternoster, on 08/14/2008, -8/+2I agree with ramiro, this guy is a comunist
- ShoesChrist, on 08/14/2008, -8/+2WTF is this anyway? I'm not really sure what anyone is really digging...
- ramiro, on 08/13/2008, -19/+6BURIED: this Barry Schwartz proposes that the abundance of choice in modern society is bad and that income redistribution is good. Why don't he moves to Cuba or any other communist country then?
That is a new low for TED Talks.
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