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comment by johnnyFive
johnnyFive  ·  2884 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: The Dumbest User Interface of 2016

Well, for point 1, I get what you're saying, but that becomes one of those maximization problems. In other words, consumers pick the lesser of two evils, which can then be taken as the same thing as full-on approval.

For 2, I don't think your conclusions (especially as regards to point 1) are inconsistent with the hostility I discussed.

For 3, well, I won't say it's something I'm especially passionate about, so up to you :)





wasoxygen  ·  2884 days ago  ·  link  ·  

It would be a mistake to conclude that a customer fully approves of a business simply because they patronized that business. I haven't made that mistake. Customers can always be better satisfied, by paying less if nothing else. Additional legroom is nice too.

Even if I make that mistake, the business is still making customer-centered decisions to be more attractive than the competition. It's the customer's interest that drives business behavior.

johnnyFive  ·  2884 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I think your conclusion is based on the incorrect assumption underlying most economics, namely that people (a) have sufficient information to make a rational decision, and (b) then make a rational decision.

wasoxygen  ·  2882 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I am pretty sure that these important and interesting considerations have received a fair amount of attention. Thinking, Fast and Slow includes many examples, such as the Allais paradox.

In any case, I don't see any connection to the idea that business is hostile to consumers. Both sides have limited information, and both sides occasionally make decisions that are not in their best interests.

johnnyFive  ·  2882 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I'm not saying it's connected, but I'm saying I disagree with your statement that

    It's the customer's interest that drives business behavior.
wasoxygen  ·  2880 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Okay, I agree that you disagree, though I'm not clear on why.

I've tried to add a little nuance, so my one-sentence position would be more like "Profit-seeking drives business behavior, and serving customer interests brings profit."

johnnyFive  ·  2880 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    and serving customer interests brings profit.

Except where it doesn't....