The insight in your editorial on consumerism (21 January) “that an excess of options leads to a kind of paralysis” is not a new one. In the 14th century, in the form of Buridan’s ass, a donkey is positioned equidistant between two equally tempting bales of hay but dies of starvation, having been unable to decide between them.
Dennis Rogers
Hornsea, East Yorkshire
• Re potatoes (Letters, 21 January): in Northern Ireland we always planted them on Paddy’s Day (17 March) and started digging them on Billy’s Day (12 July).
Linda Weir
Leicester
• Bowie dies ... new planet discovered (Gravity shifts hint at huge ninth planet in solar system, 21 January). No problem choosing a name then.
Richard Barnard
Wivenhoe, Essex
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
