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Re:The Modern-Day Mind-Killer by krallja on Saturday July 11, 2020 @12:01PM (#23803144)
With a buffet (and when browsing the Internet), you can absolutely go backwards. Just get back in line. Yet we act as if there is a shortage of $resource.
Re:The Modern-Day Mind-Killer by mlyle on Saturday July 11, 2020 @02:19PM (#23804340)
That takes effort, which is its own cost.

I -could- go back and forth 30 times and end up with a satisfaction-maximizing plate.

But I'm not gonna do that. I'm going to stack some lettuce because I know it's a good base for whatever I get next (though cheap for the restaurant). I'm going to pick a quantity that leaves room for unexpected yummies ahead out of sight, but also is sufficient that if I find few things I like ahead I'll still be happy with my salad.

I don't even manage to maximize the outcome at buffets that I've been at before with mostly static contents.

Re:The Modern-Day Mind-Killer by theamk on Saturday July 11, 2020 @12:13PM (#23803213)
Going back has an extra cost -- time to stand in a line again. So unless one enjoys standing in lines, there is absolutely an extra cost.
Re:The Modern-Day Mind-Killer by luckylion on Saturday July 11, 2020 @12:13PM (#23803209)
> Just get back in line.

Which might take a long time, and by the time you're back at $item, it may be out.

Re:The Modern-Day Mind-Killer by Wowfunhappy on Saturday July 11, 2020 @12:24PM (#23803288)
I wonder how long the lines were in the study, or if this was controlled for at all.