Choices

I just read a Wikipedia article, "Choice" Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. December 1st 2008, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choices )

I found this article while researching about mainstream, and how it effects people's choices (likes, dislikes and so on.) First of all, I think it's interesting that there would even be a full article on the subject of choice in the first place. But, I think it's a good idea, because the idea of choice is an important one. The reasons for making choices are important, because those choices will affect the rest of a persons life. 

One sentence from this article that stands out for me is: "Choice consists of the mental process of thinking involved with the process of judging the merits of multiple options and selecting one of them for action" This quote acts as a definition for choice. I think it does a pretty good job of defining this process. People do make choices depending on the good that it will do them (the merits.) They make choices depending on what they think will happen as a result of this. However, I think this quote/definition leaves out an important aspect of the process of choice. People make choices not only depending on what good they think it will do to them, or what will happen as a result of it, but also, they choose things depending on their perception of right and wrong. I think that if this was added to the article, the quote would be more informative.

Another quote that I thought stood out was: "Most people regard having choices as a good thing, though a severely limited or artificially restricted choice can lead to discomfort with choosing and possibly, an unsatisfactory outcome. In contrast, unlimited choice may lead to confusion, regret of the alternatives not taken, and indifference in an unstructured existence; and the illusion that choosing an object or a course leads necessarily to control of that object or course can cause psychological problems." I agree with a couple of things in this quote, however some other parts of it I disagree with. Being able to choose something for yourself makes people feel more at ease, but I do not think that the part about 'can cause psychological problems' really fits in with the rest of the article.

Another person, commenting on an article on gay rights in a California newspaper used a quote from wikipedia on civil rights. Another person responded to this comment by using the same quote used by me above. I think they were trying to say that gay rights are not only a matter of civil rights, but of choice as well. I thought it was interesting that this exact same quote to argue about gay marriage.

I think that this article could use a bit more difference of opinion, for what different people think choices are, and not just from one source. Otherwise, I think this article did a pretty good job with defining and discussing this topic.