Under the influence

Can you recognize when you’re being manipulated?

Star ratings.

The Tomatometer.

Bad reviews.

The reason you didn’t…

• Buy tickets to see that movie in theaters
• Purchase that game you’ve been waiting months to play
• Add that reasonably priced item to your cart

…is because someone else’s opinion or experience affected your actions.

As soon as someone realizes their free will has been compromised, the party should be over, right?

Sadly, no. Not as long as humans ‘satisfice’.

The next time you make a decision about something non-life-threatening, be smart enough to recognize you were influenced, but lazy enough to recognize that your decision-making capacity is likely better spent on a myriad of other — more important — issues.