To think that parts of modern life are preposterous (lighthearted)

[madnessitellyou]

Not long after I bought my first car in the late 90s I realised I needed an ice scraper. I went to the local hardware-cum-poundshop-cum-Home Bargains-type place and purchased the one ice scraper they sold. It was a couple of quid and served my ice removal needs very well until twenty-odd years and several car changes later I lost it.

Given pandemic and laziness I turned to Amazon. There were pages upon pages of ice scrapers of different designs. I suddenly found myself overwhelmed and spent a good 30 minutes reading reviews of ice scrapers, agonising over which one to buy.

How is this real life? It wasn't the first time I've wasted time forensically reading reviews of fairly insignificant items.

Am I getting old, or missing the point of what the modern world brings us?

@madnessitellyou

Alas *@AcornAutumn* I am embarrassed to admit I wanted a particular colour.

The previous toaster I sent to the big kitchen in the sky simply because it wasn't pretty enough. It was old and wasn't toasting brilliantly but still: I gave up on it.

You are the toaster equivalent of King Lear. Shame on you 😂😂

@madnessitellyou

I once spent and entire weekend reading toaster reviews. And you know what, despite all the reviews, the toaster I bought is crap. It has one function - to toast bread - and it isn't up to the job.

Is any toaster?

Yanbu Op.

I truly believe that this is the reason Aldi and Lidl do so well. The lack of choice makes everything easier. I also have a navy blue based 'uniform' for work.

My DS has ASD so minimising choice to prevent meltdowns is something we have done for 10 years. I have benefitted from it too.

@AcornAutumn

Oh, can I mention loos?

I know that sounds mad. But years ago, when I bought my flat, I realised after a few viewings that some people have posh loos where the cistern isn't accessible without drilling and removing fancy panels. So I put on my list of essentials "accessible cistern".

Yes. This is horrendous.

So.Many.Stupid.Things.

I’m so glad I have found you all, you people who understand.

Types in “double duvets”on M&S website

197 to choose from

Loads weren’t even duvets. They need to sort out their search engine.

That's funny Acorn - I was just thinking about looking for Rhod Gilbert when he had to buy a duvet

Agree HaggisFish - I get overwhelmed if I ever end up in Sainsburys or somewhere these days. When I made the move to Aldi some 10 years or so ago, I not only cut my bill by about 30%, I cut the time spent doing my weekly shop by more than 1/3 too.

Yes. Bread.

Since being an olio volunteer I honestly never knew thete were so many types of bread. At one point after a massive pick up there were 20 different types in my lounge

@LakieLady

It's baffling, for sure.

But what baffles me even more is the way that I often know exactly what I want, but despite the massive choice available to me I frequently can't find the sort of thing that is exactly what I want.

Oh my goodness, this is how I feel all the time. I have been searching for curtain ties for weeks. I know what I want, but when I get to page 74 on amazon or ebay I know it’s time to put the phone away.

I wish I was skilled in making things (or could afford a personal crafting/building team, available around the clock) - the designs are all ready in my head.

So my ice scraper arrived earlier. I can already tell it won't be as good as my old one because they don't make things the way they used to and my review may not be very good.

I feel bad judging it before allowing it to show me its full potential but I can tell.

Good to have people who understand the loo situation, I think sime estate agents were a bit baffled.

I looked up Rhod and the duvet...he is so right about the .5!

I also ended up in a flat where fitting blinds and/or curtains was impossible. I think that's more of a rant about practicality though.

My toaster works fine though...

The absolute worst thing for this is light bulbs. When I was a girl ( hundreds of years ago) we had bayonet and screw fittings, opaque or see through glass and a choice of 40watt, 60watt and 100watt. I understand that it is better now with more energy saving etc but every time I buy something that needs a light bulb I want to cry, I just can't work them out,it is a sea of different types of light bulbs, none of which ever seem to fit the socket I have

Just pick the cheapest. Fewer bells and whistles, less to go wrong, lasts longer.

I used to work for a certain 4x4 manufacturer. Cheapest model only used to break down halfway up a mountain. Most expensive would crap out if you sneezed on High Street Ken. That's why the majority of the world is full of landcruisers and defenders. Cheap and never go wrong.

@MrsTerryPratchett

Just pick the cheapest. Fewer bells and whistles, less to go wrong, lasts longer.

I used to work for a certain 4x4 manufacturer. Cheapest model only used to break down halfway up a mountain. Most expensive would crap out if you sneezed on High Street Ken. That's why the majority of the world is full of landcruisers and defenders. Cheap and never go wrong.

I know nothing about cars but that is interesting!

I'm reading this and laughing in sheer recognition- you are all SO right. I do think that it leads to stress, absolutely, and have resolved over the past year or so to stop procrastinating and just pick up the coffee/ choose a coat when I see one I like! I did, indeed, do this very thing this year: DH asked what kind of coat I'd like, I looked online at 3 shops i like and he ordered the one i fancied. It arrived for Christmas, it's great and I'm very happy. I'm going to do this ALL.the time.

Too much choice is indeed a problem. Here an 'author' has listed 40,001 names for babies. Surely if I were looking for a baby name, I'd want it narrowed down a little.
www.amazon.co.uk/40-001-Best-Baby-Names-ebook/dp/B00BUB5EJU?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
I'm not sure that all of these are names in any case. Dweezle, Bender, Leelee and Spunk for example.

@DdraigGoch

Too much choice is indeed a problem. Here an 'author' has listed 40,001 names for babies. Surely if I were looking for a baby name, I'd want it narrowed down a little. ]] I'm not sure that all of these are names in any case. Dweezle, Bender, Leelee and Spunk for example.

Spunk?!

@DdraigGoch

Too much choice is indeed a problem. Here an 'author' has listed 40,001 names for babies. Surely if I were looking for a baby name, I'd want it narrowed down a little. ]] I'm not sure that all of these are names in any case. Dweezle, Bender, Leelee and Spunk for example.

I don’t think I’ll be having children, but am now considering calling a future dog Bender, just so as to give it a recall to the pub (tiers permitting!)

@AcornAutumn I wasn't daft enough to buy it myself but the reviews are quite entertaining. So too are the reviews for 60,000 baby names by the same author.

Grey interior decoration. So bored of seeing grey walls, grey furniture, grey carpets. It's so boring! In 20 years time it will be our equivalent of the avocado bathroom

@Grellbunt

Types in “double duvets”on M&S website

197 to choose from

Loads weren’t even duvets. They need to sort out their search engine.

Oh I hate sites with crap search. Like Wilko. I was looking for a floor lamp on there. Type it in search and get about 400 results. All sorts of lamps, bulbs, flooring, dog toys... I gave up at that point.

You are all so right - too much time of mine wasted on silly thoughts about stuff that doesn't matter .

I can remember having to choose the taps for my new bath a few years back - I stood in the showroom and the assistant literally handed me about 8 thick catalogues of taps to choose from- I just stood there and said "seriously they are taps for my bath - I'm not fussed - just chrome that fit will be fine "

@bumblingbovine49

The absolute worst thing for this is light bulbs. When I was a girl ( hundreds of years ago) we had bayonet and screw fittings, opaque or see through glass and a choice of 40watt, 60watt and 100watt. I understand that it is better now with more energy saving etc but every time I buy something that needs a light bulb I want to cry, I just can't work them out,it is a sea of different types of light bulbs, none of which ever seem to fit the socket I have

I'm a bit older

No screw fittings and clear glass was only for specialists

I didn't even have to know they were called bayonet - just how bright

40 50 or 100 watt certainly no choice between warm or bright or daylight

@LakieLady

It's baffling, for sure.

But what baffles me even more is the way that I often know exactly what I want, but despite the massive choice available to me I frequently can't find the sort of thing that is exactly what I want.

Because you will only accept perfection? The chances of finding exactly what you want are so slim when there are so many variables.

I think this is what so much choice has done to everyone, that and social media. We all think perfection is not only attainable, but also our right to expect.

@FraughtwithGin

I know this feeling. When I bought our house there were conveniently placed holes for loo roll holders beside both loos, so I duly went off to the local building supplies shop. Imagine my horror when I was confronted by an entire wall, something like 6+m wide and a good 3+m tall covered in loo roll holders. They were in every material and colour. I just stood there, like a rabbit in the headlights, then backed away quickly. My husband came back fro a business trip and wondered why I hadn't made any progress, so suggested we went together. His reaction was exactly the same, overwhelmed. To this day, 18 years later I still don't have loo roll holders.

this made me laugh out loud and feeling less bad about 10 years in this house with the wires for the surround sound still sticking out the walls waiting for speakers

The checkout! Drives me BONKERS. So many questions, so much data entry, then more questions on the machine, and finally you pay. I HATE IT!
It also drives me bonkers that all the machines are not the same, and if you make a mistake (because you are fuming!) you have to go bacjk and start the whole rigmarole again!
THANK YOU OP - I feel great now with out in the open. .