# The Museum of Bad Design - your favorite exhibits. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 13, 2019, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728 "2019-10-13T22:50:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [October 14, 2019, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728/41 "2019-10-14T21:59:23Z")
A _good_ phone-option tree will automatically lead 90+% of the callers to the information they were looking for, leaving only a small percentage that need to be handled by your downsized customer-service team. A _bad_ one will still result in only 10% or less of your customers speaking to a human, but it will leave the other 90% out in the cold. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2019, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728/42 "2019-10-14T22:21:40Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I assume the “stupid, stupid…” is your editorial comment; the CD data surface is not “completely exposed” to damage. A modern CD/DVD, etc. is relatively impervious to fingerprints and minor scratches, due to (1) the optical characteristics (the data surface is not the physical outside surface, which is out of focus to the reading head) and (2) the multiple error correction schemes ([Reed-Solomon Cross-Interleaved Coding,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-interleaved_Reed%E2%80%93Solomon_coding) and others). While a protective casing is a good idea, the original CD design took into consideration these factors, and was able to minimize them to a significant degree. > > …in contrast to a vinyl LP, subject to serious degradation from fingerprints, dust and scratches. CDs are an OK medium and have mostly stood the test of time, the real design flaw was the jewel case. You couldn’t have designed that thing more brittle and fragile. EVERY fucking time you drop one of them, something breaks, first of course the laughable hinges on the lid. And the round thingy the CD is pressed onto breaks the first time you try to pick the CD out. A total failure in my book. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2019, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728/43 "2019-10-14T22:43:09Z")
The Museum of Bad Design is hosting a special “Packaging Failures” exhibit from December 10th-February 22nd. Jewel cases are featured prominently in this exhibit as are the entire array of “theft-prevention” devices such as REALLY BIG PACKAGES to the JEWEL CASE OF IMPENETRABILITY to the LOOK UP PAGE 76, PARA 2, WORD 16 software instruction set, with a special display on the evolution of those devices which, to prevent you from stealing a $25 pair of jeans, put two small holes in those very same jeans. I remember one PC baseball game back in the 1990s (_Hardball_, perhaps?), which had a wheel you would spin to find the right word. That one is in this exhibit too. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2019, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728/44 "2019-10-14T22:44:57Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > My LG stove has an unfortunately common feature: the dials turn from off, to high, to low. That is, when you first turn the dial, the burner roars to life at high heat, which you immediately reduce…then when you go to turn it off you instinctively turn the flame lower and lower until…it hits the stop and an almost invisible flame remains. > > My wife and I have left burners on multiple times because of this stupid design. To shut the valve, you must turn it in the hotter direction. > > I imagine the reason is to have a big burst of gas for the auto ignition feature, but it still sucks. Every single gas stove I have ever encountered in my life has worked this way. If you can’t remember “up means off”, you probably should’t be cooking. ---
**Author:** ![journeyman\_southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@journeyman\_southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/journeyman_southpaw)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2019, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728/45 "2019-10-14T23:38:41Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I remember one PC baseball game back in the 1990s (_Hardball_, perhaps?), which had a wheel you would spin to find the right word. That one is in this exhibit too. [Bard’s Tale III](http://www.c64copyprotection.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Bards3.jpg), [Pool of Radiance](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n2-fEvpF3PU/UVUkL6QefYI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/u9sE6iZiPcU/s1600/Pool+of+Radiance+Code+Wheel.jpg) and [Secret of Monkey Island](https://www.oldgames.sk/images/codewheel/monkey-island-1/dialapirate-thumb.jpg) used those code wheels as well. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728/46 "2019-10-15T00:27:34Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Every single gas stove I have ever encountered in my life has worked this way. If you can’t remember “up means off”, you probably should’t be cooking. Well, that’s a bit harsh, don’t you think? Anyway, I still shouldn’t be cooking, for other reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728/47 "2019-10-15T02:30:47Z")
I mentioned this in another thread: Tried to pay a store credit card online. One of the first pieces of information was what day did I want to pay. I put in that day’s date. On we went, four (approx) more screens with amount, bank account, couple of other things. Then I clicked “Pay Now,” only to be told that I could not use today’s date as it was too late in the day. There was no way to change it on that screen; I had to begin again. Ridiculous, I calls it. I think admission tickets to this museum should be sold in this kind of way. After putting all the information in, tell them that they can’t actually buy the ticket and send 'em back to the beginning. It might put a dent in attendance, but it would be a great hands-on exhibit, don’t you think? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728/48 "2019-10-15T02:48:02Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > The Museum of Bad Design is hosting a special “Packaging Failures” exhibit from December 10th-February 22nd. Jewel cases are featured prominently in this exhibit as are the entire array of “theft-prevention” devices such as REALLY BIG PACKAGES to the\*\* JEWEL CASE OF IMPENETRABILITY\*\* to the LOOK UP PAGE 76, PARA 2, WORD 16 software instruction set, with a special display on the evolution of those devices which, to prevent you from stealing a $25 pair of jeans, put two small holes in those very same jeans. There are special tools for opening clamshells/blister packs. Guess what they’re packaged in. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728/49 "2019-10-15T03:24:17Z")
There’s a model of teapot which for some reason is very popular with Spanish bars (cheap and sold by the same companies which sell everything else bars need is my guess). That thing pees every which way except through the spout. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728/50 "2019-10-15T03:29:37Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Every single gas stove I have ever encountered in my life has worked this way. If you can’t remember “up means off”, you probably should’t be cooking. Not only that, but there is a clear “hard” stop once you get all the way up; also, the knobs normally need to be pushed in before you can turn them on, and go back to an “out” position when the stove is, well, out. So yeah, I’m with Alessan on this one: “user doesn’t understand the basics” does not equal “bad design”. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728/51 "2019-10-15T03:34:56Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > In my youth I had an MG Midget. The spark-plugs needed to be changed very often, and one of them was _almost_ impossible to reach. Every time I’d change the plugs, three would be replaced in 5 minutes, then I’d spend an hour on the fourth. > > One time I wasn’t in the mood to scrape up my knuckles, so I took the car to a mechanic to have the spark plugs changed. Fine. But the next time I changed them myself, I discovered the mechanic had not bothered changing the hard to reach plug. I had 3 Autolite and one filthy Champion.:mad: I used to own a '66 Sunbeam Tiger. It was a Sunbeam Alpine with a Ford 260 CI V8 shoe horned in rather than the original 4 banger. To change the left rear plug you need to pull the tunnel carpeting and remove a 2" rubber plug. Then reach in with two fingers to pull the plug wire. Remove and replace the spark plug. Then attempt to reattach the plug wire with two fingers. Then replace the rubber plug and carpet. That was easier than reaching some of the other plugs. The following year the 260CI engine was changed to a 289. Good times. Could outrun some 'vettes at the traffic light. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728/52 "2019-10-15T03:47:12Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Eventually the bulb burned out. It’s then when we discovered it was soldered into place and could not be replaced. Instead of having to replace a 50-cent bulb, you had to replace the entire $100 device. Is that bad design or Bastards Incorporated? ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728/53 "2019-10-15T04:17:36Z")
> [@journeyman\_southpaw](#): > > [Bard’s Tale III](http://www.c64copyprotection.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Bards3.jpg), [Pool of Radiance](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n2-fEvpF3PU/UVUkL6QefYI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/u9sE6iZiPcU/s1600/Pool+of+Radiance+Code+Wheel.jpg) and [Secret of Monkey Island](https://www.oldgames.sk/images/codewheel/monkey-island-1/dialapirate-thumb.jpg) used those code wheels as well. This is the first I’ve ever heard of this concept, and it seems intriguing. But why the hell would a _baseball_ game incorporate one of these? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728/54 "2019-10-15T04:27:25Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > My LG stove has an unfortunately common feature: the dials turn from off, to high, to low. > [@Alessan](#): > > Every single gas stove I have ever encountered in my life has worked this way. If you can’t remember “up means off”, you probably should’t be cooking. And I’ve never seen one that works this way. Whether Gas or Electric, it’s been off to low to high. Maybe it’s a different standard in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Shagunathor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Shagunathor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagunathor)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728/55 "2019-10-15T04:49:24Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > And I’ve never seen one that works this way. Whether Gas or Electric, it’s been off to low to high. Maybe it’s a different standard in the UK. All the automatic piezo ignited stoves I’ve seen work in the “up is off” config. All the pilot light and push button piezo ignited stoves I’ve seen work in the “down is off” config. Pretty much corresponds to newer vs older. ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728/56 "2019-10-15T06:30:58Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I nominate… the ubiquitous [**optical disc**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_disc), and all of its variants (CD, CD-ROM, DVD, Blu-ray, etc.). > > The surface of the disc contains microscopic pits & lands to represent digital data. It is _completely exposed_ and extremely vulnerable to damage via scratches and even fingerprints. _Stupid_, _stupid_, _stupid_! The disc should be contained in an integrated protective casing, similar to how a 3.5" floppy is designed. That’s exactly what the [MiniDisc](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiniDisc) by Sony was. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728/57 "2019-10-15T11:19:43Z")
I want to break a lance for the humble TL. “tube luminescent” Or the fluorescent light bulb as you call it. For almost a century it was the de facto standard of industrial lighting. Cheap, light, modular, extremely reliable, energy efficient. It is a triumph of engineering. Alternative systems were heavy, hot or had other weird requirements. Only with the advent of modern LED there was something more user friendly. If that is bad design… ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728/58 "2019-10-15T12:26:14Z")
> [@JpnDude](#): > > That’s exactly what the [MiniDisc](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiniDisc) by Sony was. Those never took off - at least in the US. Since you’re in Japan though, were they more successful there? ---
**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:** [October 15, 2019, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728/59 "2019-10-15T12:37:13Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > I mentioned this in another thread: > > Tried to pay a store credit card online. > > One of the first pieces of information was what day did I want to pay. I put in that day’s date. > > On we went, four (approx) more screens with amount, bank account, couple of other things. Then I clicked “Pay Now,” only to be told that I could not use today’s date as it was too late in the day. There was no way to change it on that screen; I had to begin again. Ridiculous, I calls it. > > I think admission tickets to this museum should be sold in this kind of way. After putting all the information in, tell them that they can’t actually buy the ticket and send 'em back to the beginning. It might put a dent in attendance, but it would be a great hands-on exhibit, don’t you think? This kind of reminds me of the last few times I had to buy concert tickets online through Ticketmaster. Go through all the steps to select your seats, you go to pay and complete your order, the clock is ticking… THEN it asks you to log in with your account. (No option to pay as a guest.) Well hell, I use this site maybe once a year, I have no idea what my account name or password is, so I have to go find my password notebooks and find my TM credentials so I can log in and complete my order… Oops! Time’s up! Start over! I never understood why they don’t have you log in first thing, before you select your tickets. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728/60 "2019-10-15T13:05:25Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > I want to break a lance for the humble TL. > > “tube luminescent” > > Or the fluorescent light bulb as you call it. > > For almost a century it was the de facto standard of industrial lighting. Cheap, light, modular, extremely reliable, energy efficient. > It is a triumph of engineering. > > Alternative systems were heavy, hot or had other weird requirements. Only with the advent of modern LED there was something more user friendly. > > If that is bad design… I think the complaint isn’t about the general idea of a fluorescent tube. Decent technology for its time and the tube is a perfectly good form factor. But it seems the connection between the tube and the fixture (the socket design) could possibly be improved. Remember, when you break the tube trying to rotate it in our out of the socket, you don’t just end up with shards of razor sharp glass everywhere, you also get mercury-laded hazardous waste everywhere. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-museum-of-bad-design-your-favorite-exhibits/841728.md?page=4)