"Help me choose between X and Y"

ThinkOfTheChildren

ThinkOfTheChildren

Joined
Jul 7, 2000
Messages
1,556
On any given day, there will be a ton of "help me decide between X and Y" posts. These are all fun threads and they offer people to discuss the merits of certain designs over others. What I never got, however, was how someone invariably pops in and says, "you should buy Z."

Huh? A person clearly states that they want one of two knives and your advice is to tell them to get a completely different knife?

Now I can understand how this happens when the two knives that the person is looking at are unsuited for the intended purpose. For example, if I posted that I was looking for a knife for heavy chopping and I was trying to decide between a Calypso Jr or a Swiss Army Knife, I would hope that someone would give me a better suggestion. But quite often, the poster does not elude to what they will use the knife for. So how do people decide that another knife is the answer?

If you're going to suggest a completely different knife, at least say what's wrong with X and Y. But most people don't even do that!

I just don't understand how a simple questions like, "which should I buy, the AFCK or the TSEK?" can invite someone to answer, "buy a Camillus EDC!"

One sentence question... one sentence answer... neither of which seem to be related in any way.

What?!?! What did I miss here?!?


Rant mode off...


for now...
 
One sentence question... one sentence answer... neither of which seem to be related in any way.
Click to expand...

This is a multi-hobby problem. I see it in nearly every product-based message board I go to:)...completely agree though...
 
I guess it's all up to judgement.

sometimes "You should buy Z" is suggested because 1.) The person posting may not have fully investigated every manfuacturer or 2.) The person basically says "X has some stuff I like, Y has some stuff i'm like" but he never really claims to be happy with either of them, in which case proposing an alternative which might fit the bill makes sense.
In the case of something like AXIS AFCK vs AXIS TSEK, because the knives are so similar, it's pretty obvious the person doesn't want a Camillus EDC, they just want to know which one will make them more happy.
Just like when a person lists X and Y as tactical folders, it's danged stupid to suggest a slipjoint.
It's all on a case by case basis and folks should use their good judgement.
 
Or even more pointless is that no matter what the person who's looking for a knife actually wants, there's always at least three people that say "Sebenza". Most people put a rough pricing range, or specifically state they want something with certain features, yet no matter what, there's always some fool plugging the ridiculously expensive (and ugly) sebbie.
 
I don't see anything wrong with recommending a similar knife, even if they have not asked about it. The worst that could happen is they ignore you, and they might find a knife they like better because of your response.

I also don't get when somebody asks for "a good folder under X amount of dollars" and somebody starts tossing out "Sebenza" despite the fact that it's nothing like what they were asking for. Sure, just stop eating for three weeks, and then spend all the money you save on a knife you don't want.
 
Obviously the question is not a choice between X and Y, since clearly the answer is Z. Everyone knows that Z is far superior to X's or Y's. Unless of course you take M into account, in which case you should do a search, because there have been many posts relating to the effect of G on M.

Sorry, I just can't help myself.:D
 
Forget those other two, and buy yourself a Spyderco FRN Native. You won't be sorry.:D.:D.
 
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