6 ms·

That should be outright illegal... Why do they allow equipment that deliberately lies to the user?

• varjag 3y ago
  Because the user otherwise will spot the discrepancy and pronounce "these scales are rubbish" (which in a way they are).
  • lo_zamoyski 3y ago
    So why not fix the scale so it isn't rubbish?
    • misnome 3y ago
      That costs more, and the consumer wouldn’t buy it.
    • mankyd 3y ago
      Cost. They system has found an equilibrium: customers are willing to pay ~$X for a scale. For $X you can afford Y accuracy. If you increase the accuracy, great, but now your scale costs more then $x.
• whamlastxmas 3y ago
  Why are pharmaceutical companies allowed to sell medicine that has no improvement over placebo? See phenlyephrine which is in every single OTC decongestant/cold medication
  • ch4s3 3y ago
    That’s specifically because the DEA and congress cracked down on the useful alternative.
    • 93po 3y ago
      That doesn't explain why they're allowed to sell something that doesn't actually do anything while claiming it does. It just explains why they want to.
• Cthulhu_ 3y ago
  I'm not actually sure now you mention it; it used to be a serious crime to mess with weights and scales, when they were used for weighing coins. Probably still is.
  • acka 3y ago
    Most consumer grade personal scales are not certified medical devices like the blood pressure meters and scales at your GP's office.
• atoav 3y ago
  Because "they" have more influence in politics than the user.
  • misnome 3y ago
    Ah yes, the political conspiracies of “Big Scales”.
    • atoav 3y ago
      So you are claiming corporations affect regulations less than users? Doesn't match what I am observing as someone literate in (at least some) norms and regulations. What I wrote sounded more conspiratorial than I am planned, but I stand by the opinion that coperate interests are overrepresented in regulations.
• ffgjgf1 3y ago
  Because users want to be lied to?