I’ll take the “best” thing on the menu says Quinn

I was having breakfast recently in a small cafe when three people were seated at the next table. The server handed out menus and a woman asked her, “Between the pancakes, waffles and French toast, which is the best?”

I felt like saying, what a dumb question, but the quiet, reserved me said nothing. They are three different things and the “best” is highly dependent on personal taste. 

I was waiting for the customer to say, I don’t really like French toast, but if you think it’s the best, I’ll have that. “Should I have it with bacon, sausage or Taylor ham (a NJ thing).”

Coming in second in my book of silly questions is asking a server which item on the menu they like. I intensely dislike coconut so that cream pie is out of the question, but perhaps it’s your favorite. Now you are having chocolate cake instead. 

All this is like asking which hot tip on a stock should I pick. Or maybe asking me what percentage of pre-retirement pay you need to replace in retirement 🤣.

Do I need a million dollars to retire? You tell me. How much income do you want/need and for how long - among other considerations. 

If there is any place you can read about diversity of thought and action, it is on HD. Readers seem to set a goal, do some research, take some advice and take responsibility for their decisions. That is not typical in the real world. More common is asking advice without a plan to reach a stated goal, i.e. pancake or waffle based on no criteria and an irrelevant opinion.

Yes, I’m cynical, but I think most people want to take the easy route and then complain about where it took them. The future state of retirement for many Americans is questionable at best. Maybe asking dumb (or no) questions and no effort at a plan is part of the problem. 

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