# Modern 'convienences' that are make life worse. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 16, 2014, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802 "2014-11-16T21:28:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802/41 "2014-11-17T21:36:44Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > also gas stations that used to let people pump gas before paying? That was a crazy concept. There are still plenty of those around. ---
**Author:** ![HipGnosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/76d3ee/32.png) [@HipGnosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HipGnosis)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802/42 "2014-11-17T21:50:01Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > I worked on cars from the 70s thru today and they have increased in quality and reliability several orders of magnitude. I’ve never had any of the above systems fail on a car made in the last 20 years… I started working on cars in the '70’s too - on cars of the '60’s. Cars have definitely gotten better and more reliable. I’ve fixed 2 manual windows and had problems with 2 electric. The first car I had w/ elec. windows would stop once in a while - the connector in the drivers door would come lose. I figured out where and how to pound on the door to get it to work again for a while. The 2nd one wasn’t exactly an elec. window issue - I drove to Minnesota and the temps dropped to well below 0. I lowered the window for a toll and something popped. The window wouldn’t go up. I lifted the window with my hands and had the wife stuff something between the window and the gasket to hold it up. The ‘gears’ were nylon/plastic. They broke again 2 winters later. I’ve had a few '60’s cars - stock and hot rods. And I’ve been stranded on the side of the road by them a few times; fuel pump, ball-joint and alternator. I’ve also had to dry off the wires and points to get them to run right. I had a timing light and a dwell meter - and I knew how to use them. I haven’t been stranded by anything newer - and I put a lot of miles on my cars. Now the cars tell you when somethings wrong - via the check engine light, and a code reader tells you what is wrong - but they keep running. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802/43 "2014-11-17T22:04:20Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > If your dishwasher isn’t getting dishes clean, you either have a crappy dishwasher or you’re not using good detergent. I jam my dishwasher full of non-rinsed plates and baked on food pans every day (it has a built in garbage disposal, so these don’t clog it) and they come out sparkly and dry. Every once in a while due to my horrendous loading I’ll have to put a spoon or something back for another run-through. Some of the new super-quiet ones don’t have a disposal on board. That’s why they’re so quiet. You have to rinse the dishes to the point of nearly being clean, unless you like your dishwasher to stink. Dammit, Whirlpool, I’m okay with a bit of noise, just put the disposal back in. I’ve got kids. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802/44 "2014-11-17T22:38:21Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > I camped before the age of cell phones and I camped after. The difference was that when you were out in the wilderness, or even just on the beach, you were out; you could not be reached. People accepted this. Now, the expectation is you are always reachable. You just need to go further - plenty of places I camp don’t have any cell phone reception. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802/45 "2014-11-17T23:28:03Z")
Online airline check-in. I spent 40 minutes today, 40 friggin minutes, checking me and my wife into a flight this afternoon. I think it might be better to wait in line at the airport. Although I did get better seats than the original booking. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802/46 "2014-11-17T23:35:44Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Some of the new super-quiet ones don’t have a disposal on board. That’s why they’re so quiet. You have to rinse the dishes to the point of nearly being clean, unless you like your dishwasher to stink. > > Dammit, Whirlpool, I’m okay with a bit of noise, just put the disposal back in. I’ve got kids. Our midrange Kitchenaid has a disposal, and is still super-quiet. Not that I especially need my dishwasher to be completely silent. I’ve never quite understood the obsession with that. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802/47 "2014-11-18T00:46:13Z")
I am so tempted to say every last damn one of them. I have ready-made frozen meals, microwave oven, “instant on” devices, this machine here and more. And yet I seem to have almost no time to do the things I really want. My Dad had none of this and he always had time to just “not do much” every day. But I’m just especially crotchety today. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802/48 "2014-11-18T01:00:49Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > Our midrange Kitchenaid has a disposal, and is still super-quiet. Not that I especially need my dishwasher to be completely silent. I’ve never quite understood the obsession with that. Kitchenaid, eh? I’ll keep that in mind when my wife takes the maul to the whirlpool that came with the house. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802/49 "2014-11-18T01:40:38Z")
**Relish in a squeeze bottle.** It’s a great way to spray pickle juice on a hamburger without getting any actual pickle particles out of the bottle. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802/50 "2014-11-18T03:26:56Z")
Leaf blowers. I fucking hate leaf blowers. Just use a fucking broom to move that single leaf you’re chasing around! And stop trying to use it on WET LEAVES! ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802/51 "2014-11-18T04:27:15Z")
Agree with most of the new car stuff. I can’t stand the compulsion to automate everything. I prefer driving manual transmission cars with power nothing. Give me roll-up windows and push locks. Recently I got a 2001 Honda, and frankly I hate it. Even that vintage of car tries to do too much to “help”. I don’t want a vehicle under my control taking any uncommanded actions besides maybe the ABS. Don’t turn on the lights without my asking, don’t lock the doors, just wait for my input. Once we have FULLY automated cars, I’ll gladly hand over the reins. Until then, I’m the f\*\*ing driver. Stop trying to help! ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802/52 "2014-11-18T04:52:58Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Yeah, I’m not seeing the hate for texting, and I’m such a Luddite I don’t have a cell phone! > > But texting allows me to not bother you with a phone call, especially while you’re working, over something that’s not time sensitive. So I don’t need to interrupt your workday with a call to say, “please bring home milk!” Or, “when you’re done, wanna see a movie?”, or a thousand other things. > > I don’t think you get to complain about excess cell use AND bitch about texting. If I can’t leave a text, I’m gonna need to call, right? You’ve missed my point. It’s not the connectivity or the message that it wrong, it’s the physical act of having to type out messages or read them. Voice mail serves the same function and is faster and hands-free. Short messages are great but I don’t want to have a whole back and forth conversation over text. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802/53 "2014-11-18T04:56:52Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > **Relish in a squeeze bottle.** It’s a great way to spray pickle juice on a hamburger without getting any actual pickle particles out of the bottle. Mayo in a squeeze bottle sucks too. Once you squeeze out all the stuff that’s close to the top the rest sticks to the side and bottom like paste and ain’t coming out. You can’t even add water to loosen it up like ketchup or mustard. Maybe it should come in a tube like toothpaste! My new car has 2 presets for the driver’s seat position but it doesn’t work if you’re driving. My wife is always screwing with it so I have to pull over to reset it again. ---
**Author:** ![highrollinwooded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/71c47a/32.png) [@highrollinwooded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/highrollinwooded)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802/54 "2014-11-19T01:41:18Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Buying gas with a credit card. > > “Pay inside or outside” > “Debit or credit” > “Pin number/ zip code” > “Would you like a car wash?” > > No. I just want some \*\*\*\*ing gas > > “Would you like a receipt?” > > AUGHHHHH > > On the flip side, I like being able to get gas at even a closed station…also gas stations that used to let people pump gas before paying? That was a crazy concept. The pump before you pay gas stations are all you find in my neck of the woods…I find paying beforehand maddening! ---
**Author:** ![Swamp\_Adder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Swamp\_Adder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swamp_Adder)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802/55 "2014-11-19T15:45:01Z")
Motion-sensing sinks and soap dispensers. Because two minutes of frantic hand-flapping under the faucet is so much more convenient than turning a knob. ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802/56 "2014-11-19T16:35:09Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > You’ve missed my point. It’s not the connectivity or the message that it wrong, it’s the physical act of having to type out messages or read them. > Voice mail serves the same function and is faster and hands-free. Short messages are great but I don’t want to have a whole back and forth conversation over text. Ughhh… voicemail? Voicemail is TERRIBLE. Why would I want to call myself and enter a password to enter a phone tree to hear a message that says “This is X. Call me back.”? That’s better than caller ID how? Or worse still, the troglodytes who want to leave a long message. So I press… 4 to repeat? Star? No, I’m not trying to delete the message, I need to stall while I find a stone tablet and chisel to take down an address so I can type it back into Google maps on my phone. Good thing that’s not automatically converted to a clickable link on my screen, I might have to do some READING. Of course this is the 21st century now, so my voicemail will transcribe itself. It’s really good! > [@](#): > > You’ve got a new voicemail from (720)555-1212.Transcript: Hey line, Mitchell pay their a brought brother. Gimme a call with weird. When you get a senseof where the place, okay. Thank you. Great! I was going to call with weird. When I get a senseof where the place anyway! My name isn’t line, your name isn’t Mitchell, and… pay their a brought brother? But yeah. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802/57 "2014-11-19T16:36:50Z")
> [@Swamp\_Adder](#): > > Motion-sensing sinks and soap dispensers. Because two minutes of frantic hand-flapping under the faucet is so much more convenient than turning a knob. This times a billion. There are some technologies that will never, ever work, and these are a prime example. Why do they keep putting them in? ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802/58 "2014-11-19T17:21:11Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > This times a billion. There are some technologies that will never, ever work, and these are a prime example. Why do they keep putting them in? I’m with you. The theory is that they save water, money and cut down on transmitting bacteria/viruses by eliminating touch points. The reality is that they are expensive, unreliable, and people put their hands all over them anyway. The initial installation cost and their maintenance/replacement far exceeds any resulting cost savings. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802/59 "2014-11-20T00:19:09Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I’ve had one window motor die of the [counts] 24 car window motors I’ve owned. I’m not sure how that compares to regular ones. I’ve had more regular handles break off/strip/fail than electric windows. Especially vexing is when you have a broken handle and the local AutoZone or what-have-you doesn’t have the right kind. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802/60 "2014-11-20T00:25:27Z")
> [@BlackKnight](#): > > I don’t know if this counts, but the “convenience” of a “loyalty card” at various stores. Yes, I’m sure some of them might really save you 2 cents now and again, but the practical upshot is that it’s impossible to buy anything at a retail store without having to go through the ritual: “Do you have an S-Mart Loyalty Card?” “No.” “You can sign up and save up to 3 shekels on produce every other full moon.” “No, thank you.” I know they have to ask. They know I don’t care. We are both momentarily annoyed for no good reason. While I agree that calling this a “convenience” is questionable, indeed deceptive, I do think I should note that it’s not a “two cents every now and then” difference. It makes about a $20 difference on every $100 I spend! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-convienences-that-are-make-life-worse/704802.md?page=4)