# ‘Simple’ things that are surprisingly difficult **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 1, 2023, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404 "2023-07-01T15:16:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2023, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404/21 "2023-07-01T18:34:39Z")
> [@solost](#): > > A _delicious_ engineering project. Adjusted for your favorite meats, cheeses, & condiments give it a try. Simple, effective, and no royalties charged. 🙂 Commercial sandwiches are 90% bread and often shite bread to boot. Mine are different. Yours can be too. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2023, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404/22 "2023-07-01T18:41:13Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > I am this close 🤏 to knocking over a liquor store and heading to Lowes to purchase a retro-fit kit, based on your recommendation alone (not the liquor store part). > > You must save a ton of dough on TP I highly recommend [this](https://www.amazon.com/SAMODRA-Ultra-Slim-Attachment-Non-Electric-Bidet%EF%BC%8CMinimalist/dp/B08QHT9CTG?pd_rd_w=gZaSk&content-id=amzn1.sym.0ef772df-4d2e-4e69-babd-790844639d27&pf_rd_p=0ef772df-4d2e-4e69-babd-790844639d27&pf_rd_r=EQ0GJ1XDFHT73WADBCY3&pd_rd_wg=ofEfX&pd_rd_r=04868291-0e16-465f-bf03-f2d88bb04162&pd_rd_i=B08QHT9CTG&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_m_grid_dv_rp_0_1_ec_t) simple, inexpensive unit. It goes under your toilet seat. Took me about 10 minutes to install once I got my toilet seat plastic bolts unscrewed. [https://www.amazon.com/SAMODRA-Ultra-Slim-Attachment-Non-Electric-Bidet，Minimalist/dp/B08QHT9CTG](https://www.amazon.com/SAMODRA-Ultra-Slim-Attachment-Non-Electric-Bidet%EF%BC%8CMinimalist/dp/B08QHT9CTG) ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2023, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404/23 "2023-07-01T18:41:20Z")
No selfies though. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2023, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404/24 "2023-07-01T18:51:10Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I highly recommend [this](https://www.amazon.com/SAMODRA-Ultra-Slim-Attachment-Non-Electric-Bidet%EF%BC%8CMinimalist/dp/B08QHT9CTG?pd_rd_w=gZaSk&content-id=amzn1.sym.0ef772df-4d2e-4e69-babd-790844639d27&pf_rd_p=0ef772df-4d2e-4e69-babd-790844639d27&pf_rd_r=EQ0GJ1XDFHT73WADBCY3&pd_rd_wg=ofEfX&pd_rd_r=04868291-0e16-465f-bf03-f2d88bb04162&pd_rd_i=B08QHT9CTG&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_m_grid_dv_rp_0_1_ec_t) simple, inexpensive unit. It goes under your toilet seat. Took me about 10 minutes to install once I got my toilet seat plastic bolts unscrewed. [This is the one we have](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017Y451GM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1). ---
**Author:** ![SailorHG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SailorHG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SailorHG)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2023, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404/25 "2023-07-01T18:56:05Z")
Rather than an official bidet, I usually waddle over to the tub and hang my ass over the side. Then using the shower head (mounted on one of those flexible hoses) I can spray _warm_ water on my backside to clean everything off, and rinse everything down the drain. This is after using paper to make sure there are no major chunks, of course; don’t want to have to pick anything up out of the tub! ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2023, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404/26 "2023-07-01T18:56:12Z")
2a, check and remove shoe if necessary? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2023, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404/27 "2023-07-01T19:25:46Z")
Anything related to health is generally simple but difficult. Obese? Then exercise more and eat healthy. Simple but very very hard. Smoking? Then stop smoking. Simple but very very hard. Alcoholic? Then quit drinking. Simple, but not only hard but in fact potentially dangerous (delirium tremens and whatnot.) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2023, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404/28 "2023-07-01T19:58:26Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > No selfies though. Oh, you’re no fun. 😄 **@needscoffee** and **@Chefguy** , thanks for your input, definitely worth a look. And apologies to the other posters who tuned in for a ham-and-cheese sandwich seminar only to have the other half of the thread turn… dark (as it were). ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2023, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404/29 "2023-07-01T20:14:30Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > **@needscoffee** and **@Chefguy** , thanks for your input, definitely worth a look. Hope our input helps with your output! ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2023, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404/30 "2023-07-01T20:49:03Z")
Sex, took me years to get it right. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2023, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404/31 "2023-07-01T21:27:16Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Sex, took me years to get it right I’m guessing you didn’t mind the years of practice, though 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2023, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404/32 "2023-07-02T00:39:31Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > > [@SuntanLotion](#): > > > > No selfies though. > > Oh, you’re no fun. 😄 > > **@needscoffee** and **@Chefguy** , thanks for your input, definitely worth a look. > > And apologies to the other posters who tuned in for a ham-and-cheese sandwich seminar only to have the other half of the thread turn… dark (as it were). I suppose that after you get your spiffy new toilet accessory we’ll see you change your username to **burpo\_the\_wonder\__b_utt**. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2023, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404/33 "2023-07-02T00:44:40Z")
My son and I work on old cars on the weekends. Jobs that take “4 hours” take at least 4 days. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2023, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404/34 "2023-07-02T01:44:56Z")
There’s sort of a Pareto Principle squared when it comes to working on old machinery, old buildings, or old infrastructure. In this formulation, 10% of the work takes 90% of the time. You can’t know which 10% will contain the ginormous snag; just that it _will_ exist, it _will_ bite you, and it _will_ blow your cost, effort, and schedule estimates into the next order of magnitude. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2023, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404/35 "2023-07-02T03:02:55Z")
You’ve still left out the most difficult task. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > Put plate into dishwasher. That should read: 1. Open Dishwasher. 2. Note that the bottom shelf of dishwasher has been stacked haphazardly, and although there are only 3 bowls and 2 plates in there, they are so firmly jammed in it is impossible to fit anything else. 3. Nevertheless, attempt to shove plate in, eventually giving up just before breaking it. 4. Remove plate and one of the jammed in bowls (difficult). 5. Repeat step 3. 6. Fail. 7. In frustration, remove everything from bottom shelf - including cutlery basket. 8. Restack dishwasher PROPERLY!!!, marvelling at how simple and yet elegant a task it can be. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2023, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404/36 "2023-07-02T03:11:10Z")
Pulling those little safety tabs off of food or condiment bottles. One of two things is going to happen. I’m either going to rip the tab off leaving the cover or the tab is too slippery for me to get a hold of. In each instance, I have to grab a knife from the drawer and pry the tab off of there. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2023, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404/37 "2023-07-02T03:51:30Z")
Doing ANYTHING with a 4-yr-old. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2023, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404/38 "2023-07-02T10:07:44Z")
What this thread illustrates is that almost any task looks complicated if you write down all the individual steps. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2023, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404/39 "2023-07-02T11:41:33Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Pulling those little safety tabs off of food or condiment bottles. Not to mention those little stickers on produce. They always seem to be maddeningly difficult to remove, either leaving the adhesive residue behind or taking the skin of the produce off with it. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2023, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404/40 "2023-07-02T11:57:37Z")
My wife already has a similar epithet she bandies about; I’m sure you’ll have no trouble figuring it out. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-things-that-are-surprisingly-difficult/986404.md?page=3)