How come so may have cant make up their mind?

[kassad]

I cant decide whether I should respond to this thread or not. Can someone help me decide?

You beat me to it.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

I am much more annoyed by people who couldn't care less about their english or can't bother to proof themselves. Is that something in the water? No idea but it is certainly no less lazy.

As for doing one's own research, one would need to know where to start in the first place. And let's not forget that the internet is a hell of a mess when looking for info because anyone can put their ideas out there, whether right or wrong, and that means it takes knowledge to gather more knowledge.

When I need gear info, I call on gearhead friends. Why should I re-invent the wheel?

Last but not least, no one is forced to answer threads they don't want to answer...

 

[Josh66]

To some regard, I feel like most people have already made up their minds before asking such questions, and are truly seeking affirmation.

Sometimes they have even already made the purchase, and are hoping they made the right one, lol.

I haven't noticed many lately, but we used to get a lot of "I just bought x..." threads.

 

[pgriz]

@ chito beach: Not a lost art, but when it takes so little effort to elicit feedback, what’s the downside for the question poster? Too much information of doubtful truthfullness? They already get that from the marketing documentation. At worse, they get more regurgitation of what they already have read. At best, someone will come back with “yeah, did this, tried that, ended up with X for the following reasons, and after Y months, am pretty happy”. It doesn’t mean that the responder’s views are 100% relevant to the OP, but it gives a external point of reference, as noted in re reply by “themedicine”.

Overread also has a point – for most beginners, where DO you turn for real advice? Product brochures? Aside from the clearly biased slant of these, you still need to have a certain amount of basic knowledge in the field to parse many of the specs and claims into useful information, something that beginners usually don’t have. Few belong to a camera club before buying their camera, and the sales staff at the local photo emporium is usually driven by commission incentives, so their “advice” is instantly suspect. The quality of information from the internet forums is uneven, but not obviously biased to one product or another, or to making a sale.

Derrel’s point is very valid. This dilemma was described in a Scientific American article a few years back. Another aspect of this issue is that there are two modes of decision-makers: the “good-enough” and the “maximizers”. The “good-enough” make a choice that is good enough, then move on. The “maximizers” hold off making a decision because they are afraid of making a choice they would regret. The maximizers try to look at all the choices and having made the decision, come back and revisit their decision, second-guessing, if you will. Few people are exclusively one or the other type, but if someone is mostly a maximize, they tend to spend a lot more time agonizing over the decision. Guess which type needs to get the maximum amount of information…

 

[KmH]

@ chito beach: Not a lost art, but when it takes so little effort to elicit feedback, what’s the downside for the question poster?

Incorrect information, and heavily biased info that is really selfspeak that says, "Yes, I made the right decision when I bought my (camera/lens/car/shirt/phone/flash/software/etc.)".

 

[Derrel]

The web can be a great source of comfort to those who are suffering from post-purchase dissonance...I've seen hundreds of people pop in to various forum boards in order to get the fanboys to tell them that they made the "right" decision...as well as those looking to have their post-purchase dissonance confirmed by fanboys who will tell them to "return it to BestBuy immediately and get the SUper DUper 45A instead!"

RE: the "good enough" and the "maximizer" style of purchasers. My familiarity with both those types of people always made me suspicious of the economic principle of marginal utility analysis...I always thought MUA was a load of crap. Still do.

I used to sell cameras, years ago. I found out that the easiest way to sell was always A versus B, not A vs B vs C, which is quite difficult for many people to act upon. Many customers needed help to narrow down the choices within the class of cameras they wanted to buy. When the predominant cameras were $279 35mm 35-105mm zoom cameras like the Pentax IQ ZOom series for example, making a sale was not "that" big of a deal. Today, at $899 to $1599, people are, I think, probably a bit more cautious, and both the good-enough and the maximizer types of buyers have a higher threshold than they used to have.

 

[Infidel]

First, as already mentioned, soliciting opinions from a broad spectrum of users is a form of product research; those users can also steer the purchaser toward a more suitable product (sometimes, not always). Depending on the purchaser, just taking note of the nature of the chatter regarding a product or class of products can be informative in itself. The savy consumer can often tell when users are just hyping something or when there is real content to their comments (a good BS filter is necessary for this type of research).

Regarding 'maximizer' types vs. 'good enough' types, I tend to start out as the first, then I factor in opportunity cost and become the second.

 

[KenC]

People who are very inexperienced do not realize that there really is very little difference between competing choices in almost every situation. A very high percentage of the shots one takes could be done just as well with a lens of a slightly different focal length or quality, or with a body a model higher or lower (or more). It is only in a few critical situations where anyone is likely to notice the difference and the beginner can't even appreciate what those situations might be, or might not be able to take advantage of any potential quality difference. Since there are so many models and lenses, at least in the Canon and Nikon lines, and the differences between neighboring ones necessarily will be very small, there is no point in agonizing over a decision. The best thing for a beginner to do is go with the less expensive choice and learn its limits, and when those are appreciated and an upgrade is warranted, one will still have money to do it.

 

[Overread]

Also just a point to add regarding personal research - remember there are some people for whom choosing the camera is far harder because they don't speak the camera lingo. Many reviews might be quite basic in their wording, but still often there will be many key terms that new people simply do not understand - not through stupidity, but through simple lack of experience. This means that when trying their own research they can get an information overload.

Thus leaving them in a state where they simply can't make a choice - a state further confused when highranking Google results give conflicting answers (eg just think of the confusing if Ken Rockwell's site appears ). Thus I can well understand people going to a forum with even a basic series of questions and even being in a state where they are so new that they are not even in a position to word or construct the right question to get the answers either (something that makes even googling very hard - no ability to form the correct key search questions and no ability to filter the results).

 

[Garbz]

Back when I did business subjects at uni one of our human behavoural subjects was centred around cognitive dissonance (buyers remorse). One of the theories was that when people ask for others to decide for them they have already made their decision and are seeking approval that their decision was good.

As such you may get someone asking about a D300 vs D7000, and 20 people in the thread may say get the D300, whereas they will be totally ignored because what one person said and what the original poster wanted was the D7000. In which case he now has his silly approval and thus may limit his remorse.

People are crazy but it does make sense. Next time you don't know what you want, assign option 1 heads, and option 2 tails, then flip a coin. Catch the coin in mid air, and go buy whatever item corresponded to the side you wanted the coin to land on just before it landed.

This cuts through the bull**** by giving you a timelimit to your thoughts. It works, but if you were that stuck to begin with you'll still end up with buyers remorse

 

[jack58]

So many different responses here. Some good points on both sides.
This is what the internet and forums is for... to research and to ask questions, especially if your a newbie, like say making a jump from point & shoot to a dslr.

Myself? Since I've been in photography for years, I use the internet for research and forums to see if there are (already posted) complaints or problems of whatever I am looking to buy at the time.

 

[eric-holmes]

To some regard, I feel like most people have already made up their minds before asking such questions, and are truly seeking affirmation... ..."A smart man learns from his own mistakes, a wise man learns from others"

I agree a lot with this statement. I usually know what I WANT to buy, but I feel like I need affirmation before I put down my hard earned cash. Just like my 85 1.8 vs. 50 1.4 debate I am currently struggling with. LOL

A recent study I was reading stated that too many choices will cause a preponderance of customers to make NO PURCHASE! When confronted with six choices in a category, almost nobody would buy anything!

I ran into this exact problem with one of my first clients. I overwhelmed them with pictures and they couldn't decided on which ones they liked best. They ended up just ordering a 4x6 in every picture and nothing more. Quite a loss.

I cant decide whether I should respond to this thread or not. Can someone help me decide?

:lmao:

 

[daarksun]

I personally beat a decision to death with looking, researching, touching and so on. Drives my wife up the wall though. Peoples opinions can be useful in making a decision if your on the fence one way or another. That being said I also believe it partailly our current state of Americans wanting to be given everything and told what to do. Buy this, get rid of that and so it goes.

For electronics goodies, it's a tough to make a decision on brand type. Most are so close in quality and results we tend to desire others thoughts and views on which way to go. Canon, Nikon, Sony or Pentax can generate most results people are looking for. When they are "investing" in a system like for photography where the costs can be extreme you want to get locked into something you will be happy with for a long time.

I value the thoughts of people here and on other forum websites. They won't change my opinions or views, but can help you see things in a different way or take on a whole new view. it's what the internet is about.. sharing knowledge as well as opinions. It's all good.

 

[skyy38]

Im thinking it has to be something in the water. I have noticed a major increase in threads that asking strangers to make decisions for them.

"Help me decide" or "I cant make up my mind"

What ever happened to making up your own mind by doing research and making a decision?

Is it a lost art?

No, once you have a little knowledge under your belt.

But consultants exist for people who have NO idea where to start...

 

[AHadden]

I am a newbie to the forum and I have just asked a similar question to what you posted...

Let me say this.....I think before anyone invests a +$2,000 into something, they want to get the best bang for their buck and the forum, I think helps to determine what that is.

This forum is another form of research...getting opinions on Canon vs. Nikon...lens,
pros and cons to both...

I am neither a Canon or Nikon user ...YET...

If one does not have a pro to ask questions...this is a great option.

I haven't made a decision on Canon or Nikon yet but I do have it narrowed down to 2 cameras..

This forum helps gives people a better understanding of equipment, issues with a certain brand ...ect..

After all, isn't that what the forum is here for? To learn more? Share your thoughts on photography and equipment?