# What's the best way that you can expose your true preference between 2 very close choices? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 31, 2009, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-that-you-can-expose-your-true-preference-between-2-very-close-choices/523121 "2009-12-31T01:01:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-that-you-can-expose-your-true-preference-between-2-very-close-choices/523121/21 "2009-12-31T16:44:18Z")
There was an episode of _Friends_ in which one character would ask the other a series of rapid-fire questions with instructions to answer as quickly as possible without thinking. e.g. Joey can’t decide whether he wants Chinese or Italian for dinner. _Phoebe: Do you prefer cats or dogs? Joey: Dogs. P: Chunky or creamy peanut butter? J: Chunky. P: Blondes or Brunettes? J: Blondes. P: Chinese or Italian? J: Italian… Hey, it worked!_ Okay, I don’t know how effective this method would be in real life… just thought I’d share. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-that-you-can-expose-your-true-preference-between-2-very-close-choices/523121/22 "2009-12-31T18:25:38Z")
> [@WhyWhyWhy](#): > > Take a string about 12 inches long or so and tie the end to a metal washer (or bolt, whatever). For simplicity, we’ll call this thing a pendulum. This was once packaged as a product called Kreskin’s Crystal. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-that-you-can-expose-your-true-preference-between-2-very-close-choices/523121/23 "2009-12-31T18:35:45Z")
As I learned in the Progress and Advice Room, the most effective cure for this sort of dilemma are the Principles of Sinistrality, Antecedence, and Alphabetical Priority. If the objects can be arranged in space, choose the one on the left. If they can be arranged in time, choose the earlier. If they can be given names, choose the one that comes earliest in the alphabet. ---
**Author:** ![iftheresaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecae2f/32.png) [@iftheresaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iftheresaway)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-that-you-can-expose-your-true-preference-between-2-very-close-choices/523121/24 "2009-12-31T18:47:02Z")
Similar to flipping a coin, my husband and I make most minor marital/ life decisions via paper, rock scissors - rather than do the endless “I don’t care, what do you want to do?” thing, we’ll narrow it down to a couple of choices (Chinese or Mexican, estaurant A or restaurant B), assign one to each of us, and then 1-2-3-shoot, we get an answer. Half the time what happens is we get an answer and both of us go, “eh, I’d prefer the other one.” But at least we know. (of course, sometimes we have to do this a million times, as my husband will say he doesn’t care, then I’ll use a random number generator to select the restaurant from a list (yeah, I’m that nerdy), then he’ll say he’s not in the mood. Repeat until we hit upon the restaurant he was secretly hoping for the entire time.) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-that-you-can-expose-your-true-preference-between-2-very-close-choices/523121/25 "2010-01-01T01:26:23Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > There was an episode of _Friends_ in which one character would ask the other a series of rapid-fire questions with instructions to answer as quickly as possible without thinking. > > e.g. Joey can’t decide whether he wants Chinese or Italian for dinner. > > _Phoebe: Do you prefer cats or dogs? > Joey: Dogs. > P: Chunky or creamy peanut butter? > J: Chunky. > P: Blondes or Brunettes? > J: Blondes. > P: Chinese or Italian? > J: Italian… Hey, it worked!_ > > Okay, I don’t know how effective this method would be in real life… just thought I’d share. Then there was the time Phoebe pretended that Rachel wasn’t pregnant, so she could figure out if she wanted the baby or not (she actually was pregnant). Yeah, I’ve watched far too much “Friends.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Random\_Design](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58f4c7/32.png) [@Random\_Design](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random_Design)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-that-you-can-expose-your-true-preference-between-2-very-close-choices/523121/26 "2010-01-06T11:52:04Z")
The closer the options, the less the decision matters. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-that-you-can-expose-your-true-preference-between-2-very-close-choices/523121/27 "2010-01-06T13:01:22Z")
> [@Hockey\_Monkey](#): > > I’ve assisted lots of customers who had this dilemma. > > Them: I don’t know, I can’t decide. > Me: If you did know, which one would it be? > Them: The blue one! > > This worked without hesitation on the part of the customer every single time. > > The coin trick also works, especially when you are alone So, there you are. Go with the blue one! ---
**Author:** ![Not\_a\_Platypus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@Not\_a\_Platypus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_a_Platypus)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-that-you-can-expose-your-true-preference-between-2-very-close-choices/523121/28 "2010-01-06T13:23:08Z")
> [@Hockey\_Monkey](#): > > I’ve assisted lots of customers who had this dilemma. > > Them: I don’t know, I can’t decide. > Me: If you did know, which one would it be? > Them: The blue one! > > This worked without hesitation on the part of the customer every single time. That really works? I guess it explains why my boyfriend tries that with me when I can’t decide: he worked retail for years. I always thought he was just being a smart-ass, because seriously… If I did know, I wouldn’t be sitting here trying to decide. I’ve found that when I’m stuck like that, I won’t be totally satisfied with any of the choices. No matter what it is I’ll still think that the other options sounded really good, too. I sometimes assign each choice a number and ask my guy to pick a number, because I can’t decide. Flipping a coin works if I’m alone. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-that-you-can-expose-your-true-preference-between-2-very-close-choices/523121/29 "2010-01-06T20:31:31Z")
> [@Hockey\_Monkey](#): > > I’ve assisted lots of customers who had this dilemma. > > Them: I don’t know, I can’t decide. > Me: If you did know, which one would it be? > Them: The blue one! > > This worked without hesitation on the part of the customer every single time. Yeah, it works, **Not a Platypus**. I used to do the same thing in a different way. I would arbitrarily choose one of the options for the customer. Them: I don’t know, I can’t decide. Me: Here, take the red one. Them: But I want the blue one! Me: There ya go. And if the red one was the one they really wanted, they’d walk away happy. If they truly didn’t have a preference, then they’d take the red one and walk away happy. See, happy happy happy! One of the most important sales skills is the ability to facilitate a decision. > [@WhyWhyWhy](#): > > I’ve also simply used talking or writing/emailing about an issue to bring about a decision. > > I suspect a couple things factor in here 1) by organizing the material, the very act of that organization helps lead one to a decision and 2) you’re using more parts of the brain. I agree, especially for more complex issues. As an example, some months ago, my mom was considering moving into the city and wanted to know whether I thought it was a good idea or not. I had very mixed feelings. So I started a list of pros and cons (in a point/counterpoint format). I quickly discovered that I was inadvertently arguing FOR the move. So I was able to tell her with full confidence that I thought it was a great idea. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-that-you-can-expose-your-true-preference-between-2-very-close-choices/523121/30 "2010-01-06T20:42:12Z")
I have this problem frequently, being an indecisive sort. I’ll have to give some of these a try! > [@iftheresaway](#): > > (of course, sometimes we have to do this a million times, as my husband will say he doesn’t care, then I’ll use a random number generator to select the restaurant from a list (yeah, I’m that nerdy), then he’ll say he’s not in the mood. Repeat until we hit upon the restaurant he was secretly hoping for the entire time.) I’ve started using a method stolen from some friends. Start with large categories (American, Italian, Indian, Chinese, Mexican, etc.). If he can’t pick one, have him eliminate one. Then you pick/eliminate one. Continue until you’re down to one. Then start on the list of restaurants for that category. It usually works pretty well! ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-that-you-can-expose-your-true-preference-between-2-very-close-choices/523121/31 "2010-01-06T21:39:27Z")
> [@Random\_Design](#): > > The closer the options, the less the decision matters. And the harder it is to make. ---
**Author:** ![luv2draw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@luv2draw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luv2draw)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-that-you-can-expose-your-true-preference-between-2-very-close-choices/523121/32 "2010-01-06T22:36:14Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > This was once packaged as a product called Kreskin’s Crystal. I actually have one.😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-that-you-can-expose-your-true-preference-between-2-very-close-choices/523121.md?page=1)