Technology ConnectionsApr 25, 2023
One thing I'm noticing here on Mastodon (mostly through observing experience of others, to be fair) is that there seems to be a point at which catering to people with, let's call it, overly-particular needs seems to embolden those people to foist those needs onto others and it devolves into a mess of opinions real fast.
Show threadTechnology ConnectionsApr 25, 2023

One of the reasons Trader Joe's is successful is that they limit choices.

Do you really need to have two dozen varieties of peanut butter? Probably not. So they just stock a few. Gets people in-and-out very quickly, makes the stores smaller, and it's a very enjoyable experience for many despite being objectively quite limited.

Choice-overload is a real thing, and I think those steering this ship need to sit with that for a while.

Show threadEddiKat
@TechConnectify There is actually a term for choice overload. Look into the "paradox of choice." Its fascinating stuff.
Apr 25, 2023 at 12:22amWeb
Show threadTechnology ConnectionsApr 25, 2023

@EddiKat I'm using Trader Joe's as an example of this as it's a well-known case study of this very phenomenon! It is legitimately a huge part of their success.

I could also compare Linux/Windows/MacOS in a similar vein but I won't because dear god

Show threadEddiKatApr 25, 2023
@TechConnectify Probably for the best. Down that road exists only pain.
Show threadR. L. Dane  Apr 25, 2023

@EddiKat @TechConnectify

...and FREEEEDOOOOOOOMMMM!!!

(Largely self-caricaturing, but hey ;)

Show threadNoHomersApr 25, 2023
@TechConnectify @EddiKat Trader Joe's only works because you trust their brand will be high quality. If there was no choice and it was low quality it would have failed by now. So I'd say it's both limited choices but the ones there are are quality.
Show threadTechnology ConnectionsApr 25, 2023

@NoHomers @EddiKat that's very true! And the same would happen for a store that offered many many choices, but none were of good quality.

As with many things in life, it's about striking the right balance.

Right now, I'm not sure Mastodon/fedi more broadly has got it.

Show threadLaux Myth (aka Martin)Apr 25, 2023
@EddiKat @TechConnectify Also seen with Costco. Another element of this is called internal competition. If you have 12 brands of cereal and a customer buys one, they did not buy all the others taking up space.
Show threadChrisApr 25, 2023
@EddiKat @TechConnectify it’s even alternatively called “supermarket syndrome.”
Show threadminecraftchest1Apr 26, 2023
@EddiKat
Analysis peralazysis.
@TechConnectify