Bert peruses the menu and wonders aloud
‘Mmm what will I get?’
Holly replies without looking up from her menu
‘We all know you’re going to get the pizza Bert’
Bert: ‘I think I might get something else this time’
Holly rolls her eyes.
Bert scans the menu and thinks to himself.
‘Mmm I don’t think I’ve ever had anything other then the pizza before. I could get the burger… but what if it’s not as good as the pizza?’
The waiter arrives at the table and asks:
‘Are you ready to order?’
Bert: ‘Yes I’ll have the pizza please’
Even when ordering food at a restaurant there is a comfort zone. You can opt for the safe familiar meal that you get every time or the untested alternative that may or may not be as good as the usual. For some people the desire to try something new is outweighed by this ‘risk’ of a substitute dish being sub par in comparison to the tried and tested and so they simply choose the usual every time.
Thomas Duggan 