History Main / FreedomFromChoice

* In ''Manga/ChainsawMan'', [[spoiler:Denji crosses the DespairEventHorizon after being forced to MercyKill his BestFriend Aki, and when Makima promises him anything he wants, he requests this. This backfires ''[[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor immediately and horribly]]'', as the person he just entrusted to run his life for him [[HorsemenOfTheApocalypse turns out to be the Control Devil/Horseman of Conquest]]. Later on while [[ItMakesSenseInContext on a date with the Horseman of War]] she tells Denji to shut up and let her do the thinking for them, to which he [[TraumaButton angrily retorts]] that [[KnightInSourArmor he's resolved to think for himself]]]].

* In ''Manga/ChainsawMan'', [[spoiler:Denji crosses the DespairEventHorizon after being forced to MercyKill his BestFriend Aki, and when Makima promises him anything he wants, he requests this. This backfires ''[[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor immediately and horribly]]'', as the person he just entrusted to run his life for him [[HorsemenOfTheApocalypse turns out to be the Control Devil/Horseman of Conquest]]. Later on while [[ItMakesSenseInContext on a date with the Horseman of War]] she tells Denji to shut up and let her do the thinking for them, to which he [[CharacterDevelopment angrily retorts]] that [[KnightInSourArmor he's resolved to think for himself]]]].

* In ''Manga/ChainsawMan'', [[spoiler:Denji crosses the DespairEventHorizon after being forced to MercyKill his BestFriend Aki, and when Makima promises him anything he wants, he requests this. This backfires ''[[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor immediately and horribly]]'', as the person he just entrusted to run his life for him [[HorsemenOfTheApocalypse turns out to be the Control Devil/Horseman of Conquest]]]].

* A common way for Authoritarian rulers and Totalitarian dictators to justify their rule.

* In ''Manga/DearS'', [[spoiler:the [=titular=] characters are slaves that are genetically engineered to have an aversion to making decisions for themselves]]. However, [[spoiler:because of Ren's character development and her unrealized connection to all other [=DearS=], this slowly ends by the end of the series]].
* In ''Anime/{{Simoun}}'', choice (specifically represented by the [[GenderBender gender choice]], but encapsulating other things as well) is the source of most of the main characters' internal conflict throughout the story--that not related to the HopelessWar, at least. The ''availability'' of choice is a good thing, but actually ''engaging'' in either/or decision-making erases other possibilities and hence, paradoxically, stunts potential, particularly spiritual potential. Characters sometimes attempt to go the traditional Freedom from Choice route and submit to military, political, or social marching orders, but the only actual freedom lies in a particular kind of simultaneously static and "wavering" mindset.
* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' illustrates this with a pencil-drawing of Shinji floating aimlessly in white space. Then someone "draws" him a floor and shows how, with that restriction, he is actually more free.
* Motoko Kusanagi from ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' is an interesting case. Between the events of ''2nd Gig'' and ''Solid State Society'', she leaves Section 9 to pursue her own goals and find a sense of purpose. She had the entire infinity of the internet to explore and do whatever she desired, but felt restricted by it. By the end of Solid State Society, she decides that it would be best for her to be purposefully confined to the limitations of society because it gives her more freedom to pursue her own goals.

* In ''ComicBook/TheDarkKnightStrikesAgain'' there is a passing reference to a "Freedom from Information Act", presumably intended as a satirical slap on the recent activities of the UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush administration.

* ''ComicBook/NemesisTheWarlock'': After Torquemada has come BackFromTheDead as a result of time travel, he finds that Termight has become a peaceful, freedom-loving society in his absence instead of the tyrannical, dystopian nightmare that it was under his rule. This trope comes into play when Torquemada tries to convince his former followers to reinstate him as Grand Master. His friendlier successor Mazarin tries to rebuff him, but finds that his minions have all sided with Torquemada.

* There's a ''ComicStrip/{{Cathy}}'' strip where Cathy tries to order a quick cup of coffee, only to have the barista rattle off a remarkably LongList of all the coffee drinks they offer and all the optional seasonings and so on. Cathy has a meltdown and the barista tells the manager it was caused by "coffee overload." The manager suggests that Cathy might like a soothing cup of tea instead and begins to list all of the different teas they offer.

* Discussed in the ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' fanfic ''[[Fanfic/{{Eleutherophobia}} Ghost in the Shell]]''. Bonnie tells Tom that she's having a hard time deciding what kind of jam to buy, now that she no longer has a PuppeteerParasite to choose for her.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13698500/3/No-Good-Deed No Good Deed]]'' Snape, being under house arrest, sends Harry grocery shopping. One of the items on the list is Greek yogurt. Faced with three different kinds of several brands and no idea which one Snape would want, he decides to buy one of each.
* In ''Fanfic/NukumeDori'', this is one of the more interesting parts of [[Manga/TokyoBabylon Subaru and Seishirou]]'s budding relationship dynamic. Seishirou is regularly shown as being the one who chooses many of their activities, including where they go on their “dates” down to deciding what Subaru eats and drinks by ordering for him when they go out. Interestingly enough the only time this chafes on Subaru is when he and Seishirou are fighting over whether or not he should [[spoiler:save Matsumoto’s life.]] Subaru seems to draw a firm distinction in his mind between Seishirou taking care of him as part of their relationship, and the Sakurazukamori using this as a tool to be condescending and belittle his choices.
* In ''FanFic/{{Webwork}}'', it's speculated in-universe that this is at least part of why Jumper is such a SycophanticServant -- by being an obedient minion, she's spared the difficulty of having to make decisions for herself.

* In ''Film/MoscowOnTheHudson'' the main character, a Russian emigrant to the United States, freaks out when he looks for coffee in a grocery store and is confronted with innumerable different brands. In the Soviet Union, there was precisely one medium-quality brand of everything.
* The film and book ''Film/NineAndAHalfWeeks'' presents an erotic variation on Freedom From Choice: a career-woman who is successful and forceful in her professional life forfeits her sexual freedom to a man, and their relationship pushes the boundaries between what is "SafeSaneAndConsensual" and what is abusive.
* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:
** Loki talks a lot about this in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}''. He's going to make humanity free from Freedom. He is called a power-hungry crazy man for it every time, including by unarmed civilians, one of whom is a German old enough to remember [[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler someone]] touting the same philosophy.
** This is also the motivation behind HYDRA in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'', which takes place after ''The Avengers'' - namely that people "cannot be trusted with their own freedom". Perhaps appropriately, HYDRA is an offshoot of the old Nazi party.
* In the movie ''Film/MixedNuts'' Steve Martin tries calling a newspaper:
-->Thank you for calling the Los Angeles Times. If you would like to order a subscription, please press 1. If your newspaper did not arrive this morning, press 2. To place a classified ad, press 3. To speak to the editorial desk, city desk, national desk, international desk, sports desk, metro, view, or calendar sections, press the first three letters of the desk you desire, followed by the star key in the case of the first three or the pound key in the case of the latter five.

* Alvin Toffler's nonfiction book ''Future Shock'' predicted that in the future, everything would be customizable, leading to "overchoice".
* Creator/DaveBarry has a column or two on the same subject as Calvin's dad: "For problems concerning Extra-pulpy Vitamin-enhanced orange juice in 32oz size, press one. For problems concerning Extra-pulpy Vitamin-enhanced orange juice in 64oz size, press two. For problems..."
* Creator/CharlieBrooker did a [[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/05/charlie-brooker-cultural-diet rant]] about this in ''[[UsefulNotes/BritishNewspapers The Guardian]]'', and how he wants a 'cultural diet' because he has too many films to watch.

* In the later ''Slave World'' novels, some of the enslaved protagonists are stranded in their old world. Thus they are free. But they want to go back to HappinessInSlavery, and this is one of the main reasons why.

* ''Literature/TheHandmaidsTale'' has this as a DiscussedTrope. Under the rule of TheFundamentalist [[NoWomansLand Republic of Gilead]], women have had all their power completely stripped in every meaningful way. Some women adjust well to their new lives, and seem to truly believe that they're better off. Those who were not convinced that this trope was a good thing had it put to them another way; before they had "freedom to" do a lot of things, but now they have "freedom from" a lot of the problems that came with it, and the woman saying this said, quite sincerely, not to undervalue "freedom from". However, it didn't particularly matter if they accepted this or not, since they had no rights and no power anymore.
* In ''[=SeinLanguage=]'', Jerry Seinfeld writes about going to the drug store for cold medicine, seeing an entire wall of cold medicines, and having absolutely no idea which one to buy.
-->Well, this one is quick-acting, but this is long-lasting . . . which is more important, the present or the future?
* In ''Literature/TheBrothersKaramazov'' the Grand Inquisitor advocates this when speaking with UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}}, saying that he should have stripped people of free will, making them all righteous, thus everyone would get to heaven. See the Religion example below.
* ''Literature/TheCityOfEmber'' has a bit of this, although it was shown that the lot-drawing didn't actually matter (it was touted as a sort of sacred infallible system, but people could swap their drawings).
* One of the neologisms defined in Douglas Coupland's ''Generation X'' is "Option Paralysis: The tendency, when given unlimited choices, to make none."
* The Kindar in the ''Literature/GreenSkyTrilogy'' have their professions decided for them at the age of thirteen.
* "The Dice Man" by Luke Rhinehart (pen name of George Cockroft) tells of a lapsed Buddhist psychiatrist who begins living his entire life based on random choices generated by throwing dice, this circumventing this phenomenon.
* ''Literature/TheLicaniusTrilogy'', in a Fantasy example, features Augurs, powerful wizards who can see the future. Their visions always came to pass and were made public, both to warn others and to free them from choice.

* ''Series/ABitOfFryAndLaurie'' did a sketch where a government minister responsible for a broadcasting deregulation bill arrives at a restaurant and the waiter pretends to be mortified that someone who put so much emphasis on variety has only been given one ordinary set of cutlery, takes it away, and comes back with a huge number of plastic coffee stirrers which he pours on the table, screaming that they might all be rubbish but at least he's got plenty of ''choices''.

* Series/DoctorWho: The Doctor, upon noticing that the human race has been enslaved ''yet again'', muses, "I think you like it. Easy life."
* ''Series/ShamelessUK'' had this in series 4, when Frank was in the pub, trying to decide between his current lover Sheila, and his technically still wife Monica, because they both wanted him to decide which one he wanted to be with. He couldn't decide between them, so he elected to choose ''not to choose'. [[spoiler:In the end, he chose Sheila, but when she found out he was still legally married to Monica, which she didn't know before, she left him anyway, so Frank went to Monica instead, implying he had dumped Sheila and that Monica was the first choice.]]
* ''Series/KeepingUpAppearances'': This is a suggested reason why Richard stays with Hyacinth; he's fundamentally lazy person who ''wants'' someone else to run his life for him.
* ''Series/BoardwalkEmpire'' is set during a time when, among other things, women's right to vote was being discussed. This was an InvokedTrope by many of the men campaigning against it, claiming they were trying to "protect" women from the burden of making a choice. One such man thinks he's proven his point by asking his completely uneducated housemaid and a BrainlessBeauty concubine their opinion of the League of Nations. [[VillainProtagonist Nucky]] [[EvenEvilHasStandards clearly disapproves]] of the jeering KickTheDog humiliation of the former, calls the latter a "bad example" of women's potential, and [[EqualOpportunityEvil seems to support the change]], possibly due to his close relationship with the Women's Temperance League providing him with many examples of strong, politically savvy women. One of several reasons why Margaret attracts Nucky's attention is that she is able to politely yet eloquently shoot down two men who gently (and extremely patronisingly,) try to explain this trope to her, pointing out that some supposedly inferior countries (like her native Ireland) already had votes for women, and showing that she was absolutely capable of making an informed choice.
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': The angels tend to default to subservience and are confused by the concept of free will, since they were designed to be obedient soldiers in God's army. [[HaveYouSeenMyGod God abandoned them]], but Michael picked up the slack for millennia. Then after the archangels are locked up or killed, Heaven falls into chaos. In season 13, Lucifer suggests that the few remaining angels make him Viceroy of Heaven since they need a leader. [[spoiler:They quickly oblige.]]

* ''Series/TheHandmaidsTale'': As with the book, "freedom from" is extolled by Aunt Lydia to the Handmaids over "freedom to" in the "days of anarchy" before Gilead.
* ''Series/TheGoldenGirls'': This is Stan's Russian cousin's problem with America: freedom of thought only leads to confusion, if there's only one road, nobody gets lost. She comes around after reading Vanna White's autobiography. It's a hell of a book.
* In the ''Series/TheMandalorian'' episode "[[Recap/TheMandalorianS2E7Chapter15TheBeliever The Believer]]", an [[TheEmpire Imperial officer]] named Valin Hess voices approval of a belief similar to this. Hess says that while everyone says that they want freedom, what they really want is order, with the clear implication that people will ultimately gladly sacrifice freedom for order, stability, and predictability. Furthermore, he believes that the terrorist campaign [[TheRemnant the Imperial Remnant]] is waging will destabilize the New Republic to an extent that people will welcome the Empire and the order it promises back.

-->"In New York freedom looks like / Too many choices"

* Jean-Paul Sartre's version of existentialism, in which he states that humans are "condemned to be free" - meaning we are forced to make choices without knowing the "rules" of life or having a way to work out how to make the best choice. The real sticking point is that there's one choice we're ''never'' allowed to make - to ''not'' choose.

* In [[UsefulNotes/{{Mormonism}} LDS theology]] this is was a large part of what got Satan kicked out of heaven. The purpose of mortality is to come to Earth in order to make choices for ourselves, with the risk that we might make wrong choices and not return to live with God. Satan and his followers were kicked out because Satan's plan was to remove free will and force everyone to make the right choices. This would mean, in theory, that everyone would be able to return to God. All he wanted in return was to be placed above God. Then they started a war when they didn't get their way.

* During one of the Truth-sessions of ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedBrotherhood'' you can hear how one of the modern descendants of the Knights Templar describes how they will provide mankind freedom from democracy and choice, and all base and material desires for good measure.
* The central principle of the Qun in ''Franchise/DragonAge''. It's remarkably popular with other races, mostly because the various human, dwarven, and elven societies tend to be corrupt, prejudiced, and unequal enough that meaningful choice is an illusion for most citzens anyway, and at least the Qunari will offer you genuine respect regardless of your allotted role:
--> '''Tallis:''' Is a sparrow buffeted by the wind free to choose where she flies?
** As stated by "Ketojan" and canto 4 of the Qun, the Qunari believe that the ''only'' choice that matters is that of one's existence. The Qun believe people are who they were born to be, that if the self is suffering it will only bring suffering to the world. If so, they have the choice to [[HeroicSuicide reject their existence]] if they so wish. Hawke is understandably perplexed how anyone who desires to continue living, could ''not'' question a philosophy that would cause them to kill themselves simply for falling outside of its bounds by accident.
** Several mages enjoy being under Templar rule. Finn, for example, says he hated being outside and is only convinced to leave the tower because of his interest in [[spoiler: the eluvian]]

* According to Tabitha in ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', the Super Mutants long for this situation, given her main selling point for "Utobitha" is to not have to think for yourself. Granted, these are ''VideoGame/Fallout3'' style Super Mutants she's talking about, who [[DumbMuscle aren't too good at that sort of thing]]. The more intelligent ''[[VideoGame/{{Fallout}} Fallout 1]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/Fallout2 2]]'' style Super Mutants live in places with a bit more freedom.
* At the end of ''VideoGame/Persona5'' the characters find that [[spoiler: the collective unconscious of Tokyo is a giant prison that represents the restrictive nature of society. The inmates are those who, in the real world, have [[ApatheticCitizens given up on free will]] and just follow what society tells them to do. The inmates think the alternative of making your own decisions is worse; indeed they entered the prison willingly.]]
** The ''Royal'' UpdatedRerelease has [[spoiler: [[WellIntentionedExtremist Dr. Maruki]] [[DeityOfHumanOrigin gaining the power of the false god Yaldabaoth]], deciding that UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans, and deciding that he'd make everyone happy by removing all struggle and making people's life decisions for them. In the NonstandardGameOver for failing to complete his Palace in time, he comes to the conclusion that Joker never confronted him because the stress of having to make a decision was too much for him, and "fixes" it by [[FateWorseThanDeath essentially removing his will to live and causing him to spend all his time sleeping]].]]

* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode where Lrr is going to eat Leela as a public spectacle. His exchange with the waiter goes as such:
-->'''Waiter:''' That comes with soup or salad.
-->'''Lrr:''' Uh, salad.
-->'''Waiter:''' Ranch or vinaigrette?
-->'''Lrr:''' (growling) Vinaigrette...
-->'''Waiter:''' Balsamic or raspberry?
-->'''Lrr:''' [''pulls out directed-energy weapon and vaporizes waiter'']
* It's one of the things [[MadBomber Mad Stan]] rants about in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''.
* Referenced by Mr. O'Neill in ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'' in the episode "Write Where It Hurts," where he tries to help Daria with a story assignment she's having trouble with by restricting her to a particular topic. It doesn't work any better than all the other tricks she's tried throughout the episode, though.

* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'': Some interpretations of Two-Face play with this: is surrendering to the judgments of the toss of a coin simply a way for Harvey Dent to escape the moral consequences of balancing his two sides?

->''"Do not be a clockwork orange,\\

That's what human freedom means."''

* ''Lightnovel/BeingAbleToEditSkillsInAnotherWorldIGainedOpWaifus'' has a slave harem that's perfectly happy to have their "husband" make all the decisions. When they were free agents, their lives were crap. With him in charge, they're happy and basically live in luxury.

-->A man walked into a drugstore and asked for a package of cigarettes. The following conversation took place.\\

"Forget it, I just kicked the habit."

* In Creator/FrankMiller's ''ComicBook/TheDarkKnightStrikesAgain'' there is a passing reference to a "Freedom from Information Act", presumably intended as a satirical slap on the recent activities of the UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush administration.
* In ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'' this is one of the reasons the Anti-Life Equation is so effective. When several characters such as ComicBook/GreenArrow and Red Robin are freed of it, they admit that Anti-Life was "easy" and that some of it did ring true for them.
* Some interpretations of ComicBook/TwoFace play with this: is surrendering to the judgments of the toss of a coin simply a way for Harvey Dent to escape the moral consequences of balancing his two sides?

* A two-part storyline from Issues 42 and 43 of the ''ComicBook/InvaderZimOni'' comics features the Plim, a species that have spent so long having everything in their society handled by automated systems that they lack any sort of initiative. As such, they hate the thought of deciding anything on their own to the point of it making them scared and uncomfortable, so they just do whatever they're told.
* Once cited by [[Characters/XMenRoguesGallerySToZ Spiral]] as an excuse for her own HappinessInSlavery to the sadistic and abusive [[Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryJToR Mojo]].

* In ''Manga/DearS'', [[spoiler:the [=titular=] characters are slaves that are genetically engineered to have an aversion to making decisions for themselves]] However, [[spoiler:because of Ren's character development and her unrealized connection to all other [=DearS=], this slowly ends by the end of the series]].

* A common way for Authoritarian and Totalitarian leadership to justify their rule.

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* In ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}'', [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=1971 the emo puppet realized it was a puppet and therefore not responsible for anything.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''Website/TheOnion'': "[[http://www.theonion.com/article/man-psyches-self-out-during-selection-of-ice-cream-5428 Man Psyches Self Out During Selection Of Ice-Cream Flavor]]"
[[/folder]]

** This is also the motivation behind HYDRA in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'', which takes place after ''The Avengers.'' Perhaps appropriately, HYDRA is an offshoot of the old Nazi party.

* A common way for dictators to justify their rule.

While freedom from choice is morally neutral, a character who takes the desire for freedom from choice too far might [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope become destructive]] as he goes off the deep end pondering ([[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans and justifying]]) TheEvilsOfFreeWill.

* Jean-Paul Sartre's version of existentialism, in which he states that humans are "condemned to be free" - meaning we are forced to make choices without knowing the "rules" of life or having a way to work out how to make the best choice.

"Cash or credit?"\\

** The ''Royal'' UpdatedRerelease has [[spoiler: [[WellIntentionedExtremist Dr. Maruki]] [[AGodAmI gaining the power of the false god Yaldabaoth]], deciding that UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans, and deciding that he'd make everyone happy by removing all struggle and making people's life decisions for them. In the NonstandardGameOver for failing to complete his Palace in time, he comes to the conclusion that Joker never confronted him because the stress of having to make a decision was too much for him, and "fixes" it by [[FateWorseThanDeath essentially removing his will to live and causing him to spend all his time sleeping]].]]

* The central principle of the Qun in Franchise/DragonAge. It's remarkably popular with other races, mostly because the various human, dwarven, and elven societies tend to be corrupt, prejudiced, and unequal enough that meaningful choice is an illusion for most citzens anyway, and at least the Qunari will offer you genuine respect regardless of your allotted role:

* According to Tabitha in VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas, the Super Mutants long for this situation, given her main selling point for "Utobitha" is to not have to think for yourself. Granted, these are ''VideoGame/Fallout3'' style Super Mutants she's talking about, who [[DumbMuscle aren't too good at that sort of thing]]. The more intelligent ''[[VideoGame/{{Fallout}} Fallout 1]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/Fallout2 2]]'' style Super Mutants live in places with a bit more freedom.

* Once cited by [[Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryMToZ Spiral]] as an excuse for her own HappinessInSlavery to the sadistic and abusive [[Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryMToZ Mojo]].

* U2's "New York" (from the album All That You Can't Leave Behind) includes this lyric:

* Loki talks a lot about this in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}''. He's going to make humanity free from Freedom. He is called a power-hungry crazy man for it every time, including by unarmed civilians, one of whom is a German old enough to remember [[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler someone]] touting the same philosophy.
* This is also the motivation behind HYDRA in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'', which takes place after ''The Avengers.'' Perhaps appropriately, HYDRA is an offshoot of the old Nazi party.

** As stated by "Ketojan" and canto 4 of the Qun, the Qunari believe that the ''only'' choice that matters is that of one's existence. The Qun believe people are who they were born to be, that if the self is suffering it will only bring suffering to the world. If so, they have the choice to [[HeroicSuicide reject their existence]] if they so wish. Hawke is understandably perplexed how anyone who desires to continue living, could ''not'' question a philosophy that would cause them to kill themselves simply for falling outside of it's bounds by accident.

* Ar the end of ''VideoGame/{{Persona 5}}'' the characters find that [[spoiler: the collective unconscious of Tokyo is a giant prison that represents the restrictive nature of society. The inmates are those who, in the real world, have given up on free will and just follow what society tells them to do. The inmates think the alternative of making your own decisions is worse; indeed they entered the prison willingly.]]

* According to Wikipedia's article on "Freedom of Choice", a social experiment determined that there's kind of a "sweet spot" when it comes to freedom and the ability to make choices. While in general, the ability to make choices (and to make choices that lead to more choices) is considered a good thing, having an abundance of choice requires both a thorough understanding of the choices and potential consequences and the ability to cope with consequences. As the number of pairwise comparisons the brain has to make increases exponentially with each additional option available (with only three options the brain has to make three comparisons, a fourth ups it to six, a fifth requires ten, and so on), people who lack either of those may find themselves happier within ''this'' trope, where decisions are made ''for'' them as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overchoice overchoice]] seeps in. There is an experiment involved a supermarket issuing coupons for jam. The same supermarket, the same price, the same days of the week; the only difference was the number of different flavors of jam for sale on the shelf - one week had 3 flavors, another week had 24. Total sales of jam were significantly lower the week there were 24 flavors on the shelf because trying to determine the best choice out of 24 options was much more mentally tiresome for shoppers than picking the best out of 3 options, and those shoppers just ended up not buying any jam at all.

-->-- ''Literature/ClockworkOrange''

* A two-part storyline from Issues 42 and 43 of the ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' continuation comics features the Plim, a species that have spent so long having everything in their society handled by automated systems that they lack any sort of initiative. As such, they hate the thought of deciding anything on their own to the point of it making them scared and uncomfortable, so they just do whatever they're told.