Well, "value" is like a stock concept. It is a belief. It can be as simple as bargain hunting or going IT craze and become addicted to latest technology. The older generation may believe in how their parents brought them up is the right way to bring up kids and hence practise that on their own kids and so impose "value" on their kids the way they were being imposed. "value-added" is marginal. It is still about sticking to what one believes, but this has an additional edge to it, in that it "adds value", rather than impose or enforce it. When "value" is added, it normally serve a purpose like making things better and hence reinforced one's belief.
Can "value" be "too much of a good thing"
It certainly can. Bargain hunting can go the wrong way. IT techie addicts could find themselves ending up getting stuff they won't want it or getting tired too soon or finding problem they hadn't realised. I just had some bad experience while bargain hunting the other day, and ending up, unfortunately, finding myself to be overlying "careful" and missing out on "good bargain deal". We want our "value" to work for us, but in the end, it works against us and not "adding value". There is, of course, things to take away from the failure experience. Looking forward, there is obviously no time to waste, and so must learn the lesson and ensuring the next time not to repeat the same mistakes while bargains hunting.
Will "value" bias the way we see things? if so, how best to reduce the bias?
Values that were imposed/enforced on us made us believe the "values" are important and "workable", without making us further experiment or explore the likelihood that it would work. Our parenting style may be referenced from how we were brought up by our parents, for example. Bargain hunting tendency, like the way I did it, may prevent me from seeing the possibility of pursuing a "better quality" lifestyle that I could in fact, afford to do so. I may, however, argue that I enjoy a simple lifestyle and content with the simplest things, making it all the worthwhile to go for bargain. Still, this does not mean the "value"doesn't bias me.
If the bias (arising from having "value") cannot be minimised, what then is the rationale of having "value"?
I guess there is no one value that will "rule the world" simply because we are not perfect. We only do the best we can after all. What's importance is to develop a sense of awareness and observation, to the extent that only if we are clear about why and how a certain value is beneficial, then we pursue it. Value has to come from within and then strengthened and reinforced after testified by challenges, like the failure of bargain hunting that I had experienced. Hopefully, upon reflection, it will help to make it better the next time round. Then, the more we practised, the more this will "add value" to our life. That is how "value" will contribute to a "value-added" life though both concepts are different, in my opinion, as explained above.
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