07/19/2020

On the Internet one can find evaluations of almost any product imaginable.  Sometimes there are multiple products ranked as good, better, and best.  I have learned to be skeptical of these evaluations.  Is the “objective” evaluation influenced by money or gifts to the evaluator? Is the certifying agency truly independent or something set up by the company to add” shine” to the product?  Companies like Consumer Reports seem more reliable.  The heart of the problem even when the trust issue has been solved is “what does best mean?”  Best for whom or for what purpose should be the question?  A pressure cooker could be prefect at sea level might be useless at 10,000 feet.  I much prefer evaluations which provide full rationale for the products evaluated.  Even that information may not match my own experience, but at least I feel a bit more fore warned.  At times, what is best in other areas is even harder to determine.  Is it better for children to be back in school full time or with some modified safer scheduling?  Complex situations are much harder to figure out what is better or best.  All we can do is decide together on the best strategy and be willing to adjust when new conditions develop.