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> (We also have it because most people do not know what they want, and do not care to formulate a proper question, and instead want somebody else to tell them w

> (We also have it because most people do not know what they want, and do not care to formulate a proper question, and instead want somebody else to tell them what they should desire.) This +1. Essentially, what we would need is mind reading abilities to be able to put the information in front of people exactly when they needed it. Said system would also need to perfectly analyse the economics so they can be sure that they can afford the information. The spread of marketing and sales through the digital world isn't going anywhere while new products and services are being created. It can't be automated perfectly, and while it can't be automated then there will always be ways to rig and game the systems that we engineer.

leobg 4y ago
You can rig the game on vague claims. You cannot rig it on facts. A 600 Watt solar panel is 600 Watts. Only most buying criteria do not have measurables attached to them. And even if they have, tech is terrible at filtering for them. Search Amazon for linen pants and most results you get will be made of cotton.
- whiskey14 4y ago
  Searched Amazon for linen pants, 2/20 were cotton, most others were made of "cotton linen". Then googled cotton linen. Turns out its a blended fabric that avoids the disadvantages of both: https://www.yorkshirefabricshop.com/post/what-are-the-advantages-of-cotton-linen-blended-fibre https://www.yorkshirefabricshop.com/post/what-are-the-advant... Most "linen" material is blended. So actually turns out Amazon is inferring what you really want. The "facts" that people need in their products are actually really difficult to determine. People don't want linen pants, they really want cotton linen. And for the 600w solar panel, what other criteria does it boil down to? I think is the reason there is no decent standard for product categorisation, there is literally too much to quantify and the consumer won't/can't be bothered to navigate such categorisation.

leobg 4y ago

You can rig the game on vague claims. You cannot rig it on facts. A 600 Watt solar panel is 600 Watts. Only most buying criteria do not have measurables attached to them. And even if they have, tech is terrible at filtering for them. Search Amazon for linen pants and most results you get will be made of cotton.

whiskey14 4y ago
Searched Amazon for linen pants, 2/20 were cotton, most others were made of "cotton linen". Then googled cotton linen. Turns out its a blended fabric that avoids the disadvantages of both: https://www.yorkshirefabricshop.com/post/what-are-the-advantages-of-cotton-linen-blended-fibre https://www.yorkshirefabricshop.com/post/what-are-the-advant... Most "linen" material is blended. So actually turns out Amazon is inferring what you really want. The "facts" that people need in their products are actually really difficult to determine. People don't want linen pants, they really want cotton linen. And for the 600w solar panel, what other criteria does it boil down to? I think is the reason there is no decent standard for product categorisation, there is literally too much to quantify and the consumer won't/can't be bothered to navigate such categorisation.