# Poor designs in everyday life **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 10, 2019, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358 "2019-04-10T21:36:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2019, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358/101 "2019-04-13T15:03:07Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > I > Everybody always says this, but none of the gas cars I’ve owned have ever had the little arrow. The last car I rented actually had the arrow, and it was convenient. The previous rental cars have not. I wouldn’t be surprised if somebody said 80% of cars have the arrow, and I’ve just been unlucky. Interesting. I rent a lot of cars and _always_ have seen this feature (since I learned of its existence here years ago). I wonder if a particular manufacture has opted out of this convention. ---
**Author:** ![wanderer2575](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2acd7d/32.png) [@wanderer2575](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wanderer2575)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2019, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358/102 "2019-04-13T15:36:22Z")
> [@robby](#): > > I’ve heard of a “zipper merge” but that’s simply when two lanes merge into one (and the so-called [zipper merge](https://auto.howstuffworks.com/traffic-lane-zipper-merge.htm) is when vehicles wait until the last minute for the merge, which is actually more efficient). > > I’ve never heard of a zipper lane. The correct term is “weave/merge lane.” ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2019, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358/103 "2019-04-13T16:01:45Z")
> [@Satchmo](#): > > **Echoreply** Sometimes it’s a little picture of a gas pump and the hose will be on the same side as your filler. Both my current and last car have a picture of a pump with the hose on the right, both fill on the left. No arrow or any other symbol, just the pump picture… ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2019, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358/104 "2019-04-13T16:47:15Z")
I just spent 15 minutes trying to cram and jam a 9V battery into a smoke detector. Somehow, miraculously, I finally succeeded. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2019, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358/105 "2019-04-13T18:15:02Z")
Toilets where you have to flush by pressing a button in the dead center of the top of the tank. It’s like somebody listened to the person here’s complaint about the lever not being left hand friendly, so they decided to compromise and make it as unwieldy and inaccessibly as possible for EVERYONE. ---
**Author:** ![MarvinKitFox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MarvinKitFox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarvinKitFox)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2019, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358/106 "2019-04-13T18:26:45Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Being left-handed, I’m constantly assaulted by stuff made for a right-handed world. That’s why I’ve never understood the design for[a typical flush toilet](https://www.build.com/american-standard-714aa-154/s1294493?uid=3072228&source=gg-gba-pla_3072228!c1709211112!a69367404440!dc!ns&gclid=CjwKCAjwqLblBRBYEiwAV3pCJk4320j3X8V_jB0YsufhgAohKGVN5ikIDQq2S0-ER29XA6KJPdm18xoC2oMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds), NOT for right-handed, that image of toilet you are linking is the one SPECIFICALLY ALTERED FOR LEFTIES! The vast majority toilets have the flush either as a depress button in the middle top, or AS A LEVER ON THE RIGHT side. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2019, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358/107 "2019-04-13T18:34:21Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Interesting. I rent a lot of cars and _always_ have seen this feature (since I learned of its existence here years ago). I wonder if a particular manufacture has opted out of this convention. It probably has more to do with vehicle age. The gas cars I come into contact with the most are from the early 2000s, and none of them have the arrow. The current versions of the same models, based on a google image search, do have the arrow. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2019, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358/108 "2019-04-13T19:54:47Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Filling-up today at the gas station, I pondered why my car has the fill on the passenger side, and why other cars have them on the driver’s side. Once in a while if I am driving someone else’s car I may pull-up on the wrong side to fill. I recall many years ago when you would occasionally see one that was filled in the middle, just above the rear bumper, maybe behind the licence plate. Seems like a good design but now no cars that I know of (that are not exotics) have the gas fill in the middle. Perhaps it was a dangerous design somehow. Oh, I had such a car a long time ago, it was a mercedes from the 70’s. Nice thing, 280 S IIRC. Nowadays I have read that cars have the gas level indicator on the side of the dashboard where the fill itself is, but despite never having found a counter-example, never could get it confirmed either. But what sure works is the little arrow on the gas level indicator: it points to the side of the car where the fill is. So yes, it is not brightly designed, but they have a way of telling you what you should expect. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2019, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358/109 "2019-04-13T22:20:14Z")
> [@MarvinKitFox](#): > > NOT for right-handed, that image of toilet you are linking is the one SPECIFICALLY ALTERED FOR LEFTIES! > > The vast majority toilets have the flush either as a depress button in the middle top, or AS A LEVER ON THE RIGHT side. The specifications for that model say “Left mounted tank lever” not “Special left-mounted.” I’m not saying toilets with right-hand flush aren’t available, but they aren’t as common. This isn’t worth an argument in this thread. Tell you what, Google Image for “[flush toilet](https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1600&bih=757&ei=m16yXLH8L8WosgXSxqCIDg&q=flush+toilet&oq=flush+toilet&gs_l=img.3..35i39j0l9.2406.5197..5769...0.0..1.93.937.12......2....1..gws-wiz-img.....0.OQWZKhl3cK4).” Count the number of images with a handle on the left versus the right. Do the same with “[flushometer](https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1600&bih=757&ei=aV-yXO_NBI27tgX_5YCYAw&q=flushometer&oq=flushometer&gs_l=img.3..0l10.1921.4567..5090...0.0..0.91.853.11......1....1..gws-wiz-img.....0..35i39j0i10.c-isFdPUHMU).” ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2019, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358/110 "2019-04-14T01:25:02Z")
> [@robby](#): > > I’ve heard of a “zipper merge” but that’s simply when two lanes merge into one (and the so-called [zipper merge](https://auto.howstuffworks.com/traffic-lane-zipper-merge.htm) is when vehicles wait until the last minute for the merge, which is actually more efficient). > > I’ve never heard of a zipper lane. Here’s a video of the Zipper Lane in Hawaii [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3KwG-hJktQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3KwG-hJktQ) on the H-1 Freeway. The Zipmobile (yes, that’s its name!) is taking the linked concrete barriers (the "zipper) from the right lane (middle of second lane) putting it back next to the concrete barriers on the left. Once you get into the zipper lane (1 or more passengers are required), you can’t get out until 11.5 miles later when it ends and you merge back into the Eastbound highway. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2019, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358/111 "2019-04-14T01:57:52Z")
Who are you people whose non-dominant hand is so flaccid that you can’t flush a freaking toilet with it? It would not even cross my mind that placement of the flush lever - whether left or right side - is any sort of inconvenience. mmm ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2019, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358/112 "2019-04-14T03:25:11Z")
Yeah, I just checked and we have one left-flush and one right-flush. I never noticed before. I guess my non-dominant hand works ok… …come to think of it, when playing guitar, my left hand does all the detail work while the right just strums along. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2019, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358/113 "2019-04-14T03:26:25Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > Combination on/off ramps on freeways. I understand that it saves space in cramped cities, but people trying to slow down while exiting being mixed with people accelerating to get on the freeway is just a bone stupid thing to do. > [@Hopeful\_Crow](#): > > Our area is getting one of these. The local news has been getting the word out about it and how to use it. > They it a “zipper” lane. > > I pity the poor souls who will have to use it. > [@robby](#): > > I’ve heard of a “zipper merge” but that’s simply when two lanes merge into one (and the so-called [zipper merge](https://auto.howstuffworks.com/traffic-lane-zipper-merge.htm) is when vehicles wait until the last minute for the merge, which is actually more efficient). > > I’ve never heard of a zipper lane. > [@lingyi](#): > > Here’s a video of the Zipper Lane in Hawaii [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3KwG-hJktQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3KwG-hJktQ) on the H-1 Freeway. The Zipmobile (yes, that’s its name!) is taking the linked concrete barriers (the "zipper) from the right lane (middle of second lane) putting it back next to the concrete barriers on the left. > > Once you get into the zipper lane (1 or more passengers are required), you can’t get out until 11.5 miles later when it ends and you merge back into the Eastbound highway. OK, thanks for clearing up what a “zipper lane” is, but this is apparently something completely different from what we were initially talking about in the first place (see [first quote above](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21584428&postcount=4)), which were combination on/off ramps on freeways. Or maybe **Hopeful Crow** quoted the wrong post? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2019, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358/114 "2019-04-14T07:31:17Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Who are you people whose non-dominant hand is so flaccid that you can’t flush a freaking toilet with it? > > It would not even cross my mind that placement of the flush lever - whether left or right side - is any sort of inconvenience. > mmm For starters, people who only have one or who have a broken hand… ableism and sideism don’t only affect people who have some permanent condition, but also those with temporary ones. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2019, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358/115 "2019-04-14T11:44:37Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > For starters, people who only have one or who have a broken hand… ableism and sideism don’t only affect people who have some permanent condition, but also those with temporary ones. That is not what is being talked about and you know it. I’m pretty sure broken hands and other hand disabilities do not favor right over left. Nice try, though. mmm ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2019, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358/116 "2019-04-14T12:14:26Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Who are you people whose non-dominant hand is so flaccid that you can’t flush a freaking toilet with it? > > It would not even cross my mind that placement of the flush lever - whether left or right side - is any sort of inconvenience. > mmm Yeah. It never crossed my mind. I don’t like the top button though. To easy to get gross. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2019, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358/117 "2019-04-14T12:54:10Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Who are you people whose non-dominant hand is so flaccid that you can’t flush a freaking toilet with it? > > It would not even cross my mind that placement of the flush lever - whether left or right side - is any sort of inconvenience. Yep. There’s all kinds of stuff in everday life that that is not hand dominant that instead you just adapt to whatever makes the task more functional. Car door handles are not made lefty/righty. You just use the hand that the door will swing away from. Same thing with refridgerator doors. You can make them with the handle on the left or right but you don’t buy them depending on which hand dominant you are. You buy the one that is more functional for your kitchen layout. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2019, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358/118 "2019-04-14T14:02:54Z")
> [@MarvinKitFox](#): > > NOT for right-handed, that image of toilet you are linking is the one SPECIFICALLY ALTERED FOR LEFTIES! > > The vast majority toilets have the flush either as a depress button in the middle top, or AS A LEVER ON THE RIGHT side. Nope. That’s the standard design we had in my home growing up and what I have now, and is what I am used to seeing in most places. No one in my family is left-handed. Never even gave it a second thought. What is supposed to be so difficult to use? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358/119 "2019-04-14T14:43:11Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > That is not what is being talked about and you know it. > > I’m pretty sure broken hands and other hand disabilities do not favor right over left. > > Nice try, though. > mmm Favor is certainly too mild a word, true. Or are you trying to say that someone who’s missing a hand or has a broken hand is equally capable to use both hands? ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2019, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358/120 "2019-04-14T15:09:13Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Favor is certainly too mild a word, true. Or are you trying to say that someone who’s missing a hand or has a broken hand is equally capable to use both hands? I think what he’s trying to say is that he’s pretty sure that people aren’t more likely to break ( or be missing) their left hand than their right one- since the exchange basically started with a question about whether there are people whose non-dominant hand is so useless that they can’t even use it to flush a toilet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-designs-in-everyday-life/832358.md?page=7)