Boxers or briefs or...

The Mall of America finally has the store that the world has been clamoring for: one dedicated solely to men's underwear.

When did choosing what underwear become so complicated for guys? What was once a simple choice of boxers or briefs has exploded into a dozen aisles at Kohls, displaying what must be a hundred different brands, models, styles, colors, and fabrics. A selection that once took two minutes at JC Penny, now requires half hour of studying, searching, and selecting only to result in shadows of doubt and incompetence once the chosen drawers are being rung up.*

The over abundance of choice makes itself manifest in other areas as well. How many streaming video service are now available? Medicare supplemental plans are listed in a 100 page booklet for comparison shopping. Look for practically any item on Amazon and get page after page of suggestions. As a technology director in schools, the challenge became not getting teachers to communicate with technology, but to help them find the best programs to do so - and get consistency throughout the district - when so many options were available.

Google, Amazon, and large firms have used the plethora of products to their advantage. By knowing one's search history, past purchasing choices, and other interests, they push to the forefront of your computer screen those items you are most tempted to buy. Their algorithms are far from objective, I'm sure, with companies paying for their products to be the first and most often seen. And a click of the button sends us a box at our doorstep of an unnecessary toy or item of clothing when those funds may have been better sent paying off a college debt or placed in a retirement account.

Wouldn't it be lovely to have an objective tool to help one make choices when the market seems overwhelming. Could a series of simple questions help me in my quest for the perfect pair of underwear?

• Boxers or briefs?
• No legs, short legs, long legs?
• Cotton or wicking fabric?
• Tight or loose?
• Color?
• Price?

This is, I will admit, a rather trivial example, of a problem I expect will only grow. The fundamental question is whether technology will make us better consumers by helping us make more informed choices - or will it take choice out our hands altogether and place it in the hands of the companies that profit from our choices.

* This may indeed be the definition of a first world problem.

Comments

[Kenn Gorman]

Briefs

[Steve Connell]

Boxer briefs here. Is that cheating? HA

[Doug Johnson]

Or just go commando. Sounds like compromise, not cheating to me.

Doug