@alexgraul once noted how we become temporary experts in compact and prosumer cameras while looking to buy a new one, then lose all knowledge immediately after buying: We research models, learn what specs mean, read reviews, buy, then allow all info to become dated. And repeat, next time we want a new camera.
This practice of temporary expertise extends beyond cameras and into everything we buy and do. We don’t just buy a ‘What Product’ magazine or ask a travel agent or trust a sales person. We do our ‘own’ research, which means reading the opinions of anonymous unqualified others, granted, but still. We put graft into finding multiple opinions written by other people and decide which we believe in most.
The other two, and I’d wager lesser aids to multiple choice are asking the opinion of trusted friends (that mate that takes good photos / that very recently bought the good TV / that went to New Zealand last year) or trusting stars or ‘most popular’ ratings on websites, which has sadly become as risky an activity as gambling.
This time for me it’s not cameras, but balance bikes.
I know next to nothing about them. This is the extent of my knowledge: It looks like they used to be wooden, though now more commonly metal. I think they’re for the 2-4 year old age group. Some look to have hard rubber tiers, others, pneumatic. Price range is from £30 up maybe, but I get the feeling there is a growing market for daftly expensive ones bought, I bet, by weekend worrier / ‘all the gear with no idea’ parents that buy themselves £2,000 road bikes with matching Rapha gear for occasional weekend jaunts.
Aside: Those ‘sorts’ by the way, are actually really good people. I realise that. Their eager high end consumption keeps a number of people I know in the bike industry in employment. My name calling cheap shot is perhaps just the envy of being unable to afford those things. See: My bike.
Back to balance bikes. I need two. And I choose the temporary expertise path to purchase. Ask me in a month.
Documenteering 