# Stupidest product design you’ve experienced **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 25, 2023, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621 "2023-03-25T02:57:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621/221 "2023-04-02T16:00:39Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > …there was a crossbar connecting the left and right side so the blame thing wouldn’t collapse. Take a wild guess why that’s a horrible design. Although everyone enjoys cleaning, it would probably help you improve, like target practice. Who doesn’t want to be a sharpshooter? Or a sharp… why, look at the time… ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621/222 "2023-04-02T20:55:52Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Well, the pictured door does have a sign telling you to “pull” / For some people, even that is not enough. Well, we didn’t _all_ go to the Midvale School For The Gifted. My experience is double doors generally open from the middle with hinges by the wall. I presume this doubles the given odds. My pet peeve is when one of the doors is kept locked for mysterious reasons. I cannot fathom any real benefit to that, yet it is everywhere, and would result in the odds as given. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2023, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621/223 "2023-04-02T21:11:14Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > > [@Chefguy](#): > > > > > [@snfaulkner](#): > > > > > > My mom’s Mac’s wireless mouse has the charging port on the bottom, mousing surface. Which of course means you can’t use the mouse while charging/wired. > > > > Same for our iMac; another stupid design by Apple. Even more annoying is that Apple doesn’t give a shit. > > When “pretty” is more important than “useful” you get products like that. Anyone remember the round mice on the 1st gen candy-colored iMacs? They were ergonomically awful. Literally unusable for any amount of time doing actual production work, as I did as a graphic designer back then. > **[The iMac Cometh: Apple’s new all-in-one revealed](https://www.macworld.com/article/190458/original_imac.html)** > > Apple trades on nostalgia with a groundbreaking new consumer Mac. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621/224 "2023-04-02T21:24:01Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > My experience is double doors generally open from the middle with hinges by the wall. I presume this doubles the given odds. My pet peeve is when one of the doors is kept locked for mysterious reasons. I cannot fathom any real benefit to that, yet it is everywhere, and would result in the odds as given. One door has the actual lock on it, and the other door has little levers, accessible on the surface in between the doors, that slide into the top and bottom of the frame. The person who unlocks the place unlocks the actual lock because they have to, but are too lazy to flip the little levers. This means that if one of a pair of double doors is unlocked, it’ll almost always be the one with the keyhole on it. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621/225 "2023-04-02T21:55:22Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > My experience is double doors generally open from the middle with hinges by the wall. I presume this doubles the given odds. My pet peeve is when one of the doors is kept locked for mysterious reasons. I cannot fathom any real benefit to that, yet it is everywhere, and would result in the odds as given. Double doors are justified because they’re comfortably wide. Therefore you only half undo ’em; and therefore nothing can get through ’em. – Piet Hein ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621/226 "2023-04-02T22:09:23Z")
Revolving doors are better still With heavy loads, they take some skill They trap in all that extra heat And slow down people from the street To keep out all the riff and raff And give the door people a laugh ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621/227 "2023-04-03T00:50:19Z")
Or just A ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621/228 "2023-04-03T03:14:36Z")
Grr. That was \A ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621/229 "2023-04-03T03:17:35Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Your phone makes a great flashlight and the phone’s camera makes a great magnifying glass. Sadly, at least on my phone it won’t do both at once. Don’t ask me how I learned this. You can take a picture and then blow it up, right? ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621/230 "2023-04-03T03:20:27Z")
This is worse than just annoying: I’m convinced that it contributes to people driving at night without headlights, because hey, they can read their instruments. Back in the day, no lights, no instrument panel lights. DOT should step in here: a 15-cent sensor could turn instrument panel off if it’s dark and no headlights. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2023, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621/231 "2023-04-03T12:19:12Z")
That’s why substantially all modern cars are equipped with a fully-auto position on the headlight selector. Put it in “auto” and they’ll be on or off as the sensors decide is necessary. Set that once when you buy the car and you’re done fiddling with headlights. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621/232 "2023-04-03T13:37:22Z")
Until your mechanic changes the setting to test the lights and doesn’t put it back on Auto, then next time you’re driving in the dark wondering why your lights are so dim. Happened to a friend of mine, the police pulled him over as he had no rear lights on. The ‘stupid product design’ in this case, in my view, is the mandate that says daytime running lights are front-only. Why on earth not front and rear, which would go a long way towards solving this problem (and making it significantly less dangerous when it does occur). Several times a year I see people driving at night with dim lights at the front (the daytime running lights) and no lights at the rear. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621/233 "2023-04-03T14:06:57Z")
I don’t use the ‘auto on’ function because I mostly drive in snow in the mountains. Even if it’s light out. If it’s snowing, I turn my lights on. Same for rain. I think that may be the law. If your windshield wipers or on, so should your lights be. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621/234 "2023-04-03T14:11:01Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I think that may be the law. If your windshield wipers or on, so should your lights be It’s the law in New York State, anyway. ---
**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 3, 2023, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621/235 "2023-04-03T14:16:38Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > If your windshield wipers or on, so should your lights be. Another poor design decision. With modern computer controlled cars this seems very easy to setup. If the wipers have been on for more than 30 seconds, turn on the lights. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621/236 "2023-04-03T14:43:27Z")
It’s the law here in Kansas, and neighboring Missouri too IIRC. But sadly it’s not enforced, and in fact I have seen police cars driving in the pouring rain with no headlights on. Too bad I can’t pull _them_ over. (Cue Gomer Pyle: “Citizen’s arrest! Citizen’s arrest!”) ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621/237 "2023-04-03T15:29:37Z")
Not really a bad design, but something I wonder about every time I use my clothes dryer. I can turn the dial to DRY or VERY DRY. I always wonder what the purpose of that is. How much difference can there be between dry and very dry? 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621/238 "2023-04-03T15:31:43Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > How much difference can there be between dry and very dry? 🤔 And is it more or less difference than between “virgin” and “extra virgin”? ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621/239 "2023-04-03T15:43:03Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > It’s the law here in Kansas, and neighboring Missouri too IIRC. But sadly it’s not enforced, and in fact I have seen police cars driving in the pouring rain with no headlights on. Many years ago: Me, 20+, in Rochester NY late dusk close to full dark, hitchhiking (which was sort of illegal at the time and place, but quite common and not usually enforced.) Car approaching, in the dimness, no lights. Me, shouting at the driver: “Lights! Lights!” Me, shutting up abruptly as I realize that the car with no lights on is a police car. Police in the car who’d forgotten to turn their lights on, and me, all of us at least borderline violating the law: giving each other the side-eye as they pass me, all of us going on our way. (I think they turned their lights on after they’d passed me, but no longer remember that for sure.) > [@TRC4941](#): > > Not really a bad design, but something I wonder about every time I use my clothes dryer. I can turn the dial to DRY or VERY DRY. I always wonder what the purpose of that is. How much difference can there be between dry and very dry? Maybe that’s for people who iron things? That’s best done while the clothes are still slightly damp. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2023, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621/240 "2023-04-03T15:48:53Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > I can turn the dial to DRY or VERY DRY. I always wonder what the purpose of that is. How much difference can there be between dry and very dry? 🤔 Lots of people seem to think the best way to handle permanent press garments is to dry them to still slightly damp then hang them up that way. How well that works depends a lot on whether you live in a desert or a swamp or someplace in between. Of course the people who decide how to label the knob settings have a different set of goals vs. the people who designed what those settings actually _do_. Add in the desire for greenery = low cost of operation on the EPA label and you can see how the designers want a dryer that leaves your clothes wet, while the marketers Gasp! would never admit to such a thing. Hence Dry (AKA somewhat damp) and Very Dry (AKA actually fully dry). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupidest-product-design-you-ve-experienced/981621.md?page=13)