I Wish ... Was Never Invented

[punkinhead]

I don't understand why people seem to have such a bad time with Facebook. Since joining many years ago, I've had a much easier time communicating with distant relatives and friends, plus I've found kindred spirits who enjoy the same niche hobbies I do.

As for the political and other nonsense that bothers so many others, I a) don't befriend the kinds of people who spout politics

I'm more concerned with its effects on society as a whole. I've seen polls where 80% or more of people get there "news" from Facebook and Twitter. They're being fed outrage and lies. They're a net negative for society even though they have an upside of letting you send lunch pics to grandma.

 

[DrRoy]

K Cups.......Just another needless way to fill up landfills.

DW has reusable ones for her machine.

Love roundabouts.

 

[Amethyst]

I have a relative like that. We have all dropped him because he is dangerous, has been in jail etc. He has been banned from FB a couple of times and keeps resurfacing under new identities - not sure what else FB is supposed to do.

My drug addicted brother threatens to kill me, my wife, daughter, our mother and her sisters plus their friends on Facebook regularly. Great invention...........no help or control from anybody.

Controlling what you see is one thing, controlling what 99% of the people you contact is not possible.

 

[Amethyst]

I agree that many people are idiots, who will misuse anything that was meant for good. Just look at alcohol and motor vehicles.

I'm more concerned with its effects on society as a whole. I've seen polls where 80% or more of people get there "news" from Facebook and Twitter. They're being fed outrage and lies. They're a net negative for society even though they have an upside of letting you send lunch pics to grandma.

 

[Vincenzo Corleone]

1) Social media and any other type of website that allows people to be "influencers".

2) Smart phones.

3) "Reality" television. Between that and the "influencers", we've become a nation of self-absorbed wanna-bes always looking for our 15 minutes of fame.

https://www.boredpanda.com/instagram-influencers-behaviour-called-out/

 

[isisdave]

Music. I would be a lot happier today if it never existed.

I doubt it, because everyone else would be grumpier.

However, I feel the same way about tattoos. 80% are ugly, 90% are distracting, and I'll bet 99% don't age well.

 

[GenXguy]

I doubt it, because everyone else would be grumpier.

However, I feel the same way about tattoos. 80% are ugly, 90% are distracting, and I'll bet 99% don't age well.

I'm 100% certain my life would be MUCH better now if there had never been music because of what it's done to my quality of life, regardless of how grumpy someone else might be about not having something that they never knew existed. Besides, people can always find something to do anyway, if there's no music. Tattoos are ugly, but that doesn't affect my quality of life like music has so negatively. Apples and oranges.

But if I could actually go back in time instead with my current knowledge, I wouldn't want to eliminate music, but I would just change how I dealt with it. But as the question is asked here for the poll, it's the clear answer for me.

 

[Major Tom]

Ha ha, I love roundabouts!

I like them too. If you really want to experience roundabouts in their full glory, try driving in a country such as the UK, where they are about as common as intersections with traffic lights are in the US. I grew up in the UK, but didn't start driving until I reached the US. I don't go back to the UK very often so, every time I do, I re-acquaint myself with a landscape that is full of roundabouts of all sizes - and a few different shapes as well. The first few big roundabouts you drive on can be a bit intimidating, but they are fun after a while, and keep you engaged in a way that intersections with traffic lights don't.

Agreed! Remember decades ago when some teens would get their own telephone line? They were on it all the time! Just like cellphones today.

But yes the beeper/pager was an intrusion for when you were away from you desk. I hated it so much because it was work “emergencies”.

Although the need to be connected all the time probably didn't start with the beeper, it does seem to have been an inflexion point, giving the wearer the "freedom" to go anywhere and still be available. Not fun if you were wearing it for work purposes! I never did get to finish that game of pool in the bar with my friends............

 

[ksr]

Smartphones. They contribute to a rude and distracted society.

 

[anethum]

Religion

 

[jollystomper]

Obligatory for any thread that starts with "I Wish" :

 

[Midpack]

I made the original comment and I don’t understand your response. I don’t have a choice. The carts picking orders for delivery/pick up are store employees fulfilling orders during the day and are constantly in the way.

I’ve seen them, but none of them have ever gotten in my way. They know exactly where things are so they go right to them and they’re courteous with carts. It’s some of the general public who can’t find things, and mindlessly block aisles while they look, that get in my way more often…

I’d never use a store shopper, I was addressing both aspects - choice to use them, and getting in the way.

But you’re welcome to disagree, no worries.

 

[Northforker]

These things. View attachment 46141

If someone ask you to display an object that describes the ability of bureaucrats to improve a product or make your life better.

 

[Northforker]

My neighbor just bought the loudest gas powered leaf blower I have ever heard. It is so loud I have to go to the basement to escape the noise. I don't understand why anyone buying a new leaf blower would buy gas when battery powered like EGO has become such high quality.

Maybe someone who has a 1.5 acre yard with 37 trees that are 80 to 100 ft high and have 18 to 30 inch trunks and produce 20 dump truck loads of leaves every fall?

 

[friar1610]

I learned to love roundabouts when stationed in England back in the 80s. Some in the cities were four lanes wide, maybe more. They were huge. Once you learn to use them they’re easy.

I live in Massachusetts which has always had lots of “rotaries” and I am very comfortable with them. But the first time I entered a roundabout in England and found myself headed in the “wrong” direction and needing to exit left I really freaked out. I think I went around 3 or 4 times before I could make myself exit onto the road I wanted to take. Eventually got over it.

 

[Koolau]

Nuclear weapons. Having said that, without them, it's doubtful I would have ever met DW. FIL had Island hopped during most of the Pacific war. He drove anphibs during landings and invasions. How he survived even with the war shortened by Nukes, I do not know. The likelihood of his return without Nukes would have been virtually nil. STILL, imagine a world without Nukes. YMMV

 

[Gumby]

As a former officer aboard two ballistic missile submarines, I agree. That is a job that gives you plenty of time to consider the awful consequences of carrying out your ultimate mission. I'm exceedingly grateful that we never did what they trained us to do.

 

[aja8888]

As a former officer aboard two ballistic missile submarines, I agree. That is a job that gives you plenty of time to consider the awful consequences of carrying out your ultimate mission. I'm exceedingly grateful that we never did what they trained us to do.

Same here....never thought much about the responsibility as a young man when I was on a nuclear missile launch crew, but as I got older it became evident what potential destruction-capable weapons we had at our fingertips at the time.

 

[Koolau]

Same here....never thought much about the responsibility as a young man when I was on a nuclear missile launch crew, but as I got older it became evident what potential destruction-capable weapons we had at our fingertips at the time.

Most will probably remember the "false alarm" that Hawaii received over text 3 years ago. It indicated that a nuclear missile was headed for the Islands. Oddly, I felt no terror or dread. What I did think about was: What kind of world will my kids have to live through. I've rarely thought a lot about the "dead" from nuclear war. My heart has turned to the survivors.

God, may there never be a nuclear exchange. But if there is, may I be at ground zero. Returning you now...

 

[GhostofTomJoad]

Gas powered leaf blowers, hate the noise

ABSOLUTELY! Not to mention every manner of 2-wheeled noise machine on the road. SOME of them sound like effing leaf-blowers, too!

 

[big-papa]

Just want to point out that you can brew using Keurig with your own ground coffee, not a throw away cup. And the coffee we brew is very good IMO, far from mediocre. Of course we’re using our beans of choice freshly ground.

We've done likewise for years...

Cheers
Big-Papa

 

[jim584672]

European Vacation - Roundabout

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

I learned to love roundabouts when stationed in England back in the 80s. Some in the cities were four lanes wide, maybe more. They were huge. Once you learn to use them they’re easy.

I live near an exurban one that could use a third lane -- it sees a lot of heavy truck traffic.

Prior to the roundabout, the intersection would average one fatal accident every year. In one collision a pickup driver pulled into traffic and hit a bus carrying assisted-living residents head-on. Eight people died. Since the roundabout I don't think there has been a collision resulting in serious injury.

 

[Koolau]

I live near an exurban one that could use a third lane -- it sees a lot of heavy truck traffic.

Prior to the roundabout, the intersection would average one fatal accident every year. In one collision a pickup driver pulled into traffic and hit a bus carrying assisted-living residents head-on. Eight people died. Since the roundabout I don't think there has been a collision resulting in serious injury.

Yeah, I'm guessing the main issues are side-swipes which are kinda expensive to fix, but rarely do they cause significant injury. It would take a real screw up to have a major front end collision in a round-about. I've come pretty close to side-swipes in round-abouts because people still don't know how to use them.

 

[aja8888]

Most will probably remember the "false alarm" that Hawaii received over text 3 years ago. It indicated that a nuclear missile was headed for the Islands. Oddly, I felt no terror or dread. What I did think about was: What kind of world will my kids have to live through. I've rarely thought a lot about the "dead" from nuclear war. My heart has turned to the survivors.

God, may there never be a nuclear exchange. But if there is, may I be at ground zero. Returning you now...

Yes, and if you were at "ground zero" you wouldn't feel a thing as your body will vaporize in a millisecond. Not pretty stuff to discuss and visualize.