TL;DR
I started using a simple rule: rate 1–10 without 7.
Because 7 (for me) usually means one of these:
- meh
- I'm being polite
- I don't want to think too hard about it
- I don't want to make a decision right now
- I'm thinking of staying home instead of seeing a doc. Will check in with myself tomorrow...
- ...
So, now I force myself to choose:
- 6 => not so great actually (wouldn't recommend / wouldn't go to the doc)
- 8+ => I genuinely liked it (would recommend / would go see a doc today)
This actually helps me make a decision instead of shrugging it off with a 7 🤷♂️
Anyone else using a rating/feedback "trick" like this?
!TL;DR
If someone asks you to rate something on a scale from 1 to 10, you pretty much know right off the bat if it's something like a 1 or a 2, and if it's 9 or even a 10.
But, what do you usually do when you're like:
Well, not bad.
Not great.
Not sure.
Not ready to hurt their feelings...
Let's just go with ... 7
Newer generations might just say:
you know, 67 🤷♂️
But, I digress.
The fact is, this shows up everywhere:
- "How was the restaurant?" — 7
- "How was the talk?" — 7
- "How's the new feature?" — 7
- "How would you rate this candidate we just interviewed?" - 7
- "How do you feel about your own work this week?" ...also, 7
If you've ever answered with a 7, you're not alone. Whenever I don't want to make a decision, I'd say 7. But here's the thing - most of the time, 7 doesn't mean "good".
It means: "I don't want to think too hard about this right now."
So here's a simple trick that makes your ratings way more useful: rate on a 1–10 scale… but pretend there's no 7.
That's it. Remove 7 as an option. Uninstall it from your OS (I know, references are cringe 😬).
Because 7 is the default. It's what we say when we're uncertain, polite, rushed, or trying not to offend.
If there's no 7, you're forced to choose:
- 6 → "Not so great actually"
- 8+ → "Oh yeah, I genuinely liked this"
And that single "restriction" helps you in actually making a decision faster.
Why this works (and why 7 is sneaky)
A 1–10 scale looks precise, but we don't treat it that way.
In practice, most people use it like this:
- 1–4: bad
- 5–6: meh
- 7: safe meh, but with a smile 🙂
- 8–10: good / great
So 7 becomes a dumping ground for anything we can't be bothered to classify.
Removing it forces you to answer one key question:
Would I recommend this... or would I warn someone?
If you lean "recommend", you're probably at 8+.
If you hesitate, it's probably a 6.
Conclusion / Recap
- 7 is usually a placeholder for uncertainty
- Pretend there's no 7 on a 1–10 scale
- Choose 6 if it's not actually great
- Choose 8+ if you truly liked it
And voilà: your ratings stop being polite noise... and start being honest (and sometimes brutal) signal.
Next time someone asks "How was it?" and your brain reaches for 7, just smile and say:
"Well, from 1-10 and if 7 isn't allowed, then..."
Hope this tip serves you well ✌️
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