# Things that seem to exist solely as bad examples **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 2, 2021, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014 "2021-09-02T20:51:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2021, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014/1 "2021-09-02T20:51:28Z")
Got into a discussion about the word irregardless, and I realized that I haven’t heard or read it in forever except as a go-to example for nonstandard speech. Ain’t is more commonly used for that example, but ain’t wouldn’t count because it’s still widely used in everyday speech. I’m sure that some people use irregardless, but it’s been years and years since I’ve encountered them. I tried to think of other examples, but I’m coming up blank. Y’all got any? Doesn’t have to be words, anything will do. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2021, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014/2 "2021-09-02T20:53:53Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > I’m sure that some people use irregardless, but it’s been years and years since I’ve encountered them. I saw someone use it only a few days ago: > [@Author's who can't keep it up ('it' being 'book series')](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-who-cant-keep-it-up-it-being-book-series/949780/10): > > I just checked and I read 14 Anita Blake books. I think that is enough of one series irregardless of quality! But I’m happy that people with different reading habits haven’t had another dozen-plus books at the worst level of the ones I read. ---
**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:** [September 2, 2021, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014/3 "2021-09-02T21:08:29Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > I saw someone use it only a few days ago: Yes, I remember seeing that too, because I remember thinking at the time that “regardless” and “irregardless” would make a good example of [Seeming Opposites That Mean The Exact Same Thing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeming-opposites-that-mean-the-exact-same-thing/947923). ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2021, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014/4 "2021-09-02T21:12:37Z")
Inflammable, which ISNT the opposite of Flammable ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2021, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014/5 "2021-09-02T21:14:22Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > I saw someone use it only a few days ago: Now that I’ve started this thread, I half-expect to start seeing it everydamnwhere. I think that a lot of urban legends would fit, like the razorblades in Halloween candy idea. So far as I can tell, that’s never happened. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2021, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014/6 "2021-09-02T21:15:09Z")
There’s usually plenty of these in any list of ‘famous facts that aren’t true’. Like Napoleon being short, or King Alfred burning the cakes. It’s far more common these days to hear of them in such lists than as actual facts. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2021, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014/7 "2021-09-02T21:20:13Z")
The Titanic? The Maginot Line? ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2021, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014/8 "2021-09-02T21:22:44Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > The Titanic? > The Maginot Line?  True enough! ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2021, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014/9 "2021-09-02T21:24:09Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > The Titanic? > The Maginot Line? Spray cheese? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2021, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014/10 "2021-09-02T21:26:27Z")
Finally! A thread about ME! ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2021, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014/11 "2021-09-02T21:27:03Z")
How very Gatopescado of you… ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2021, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014/12 "2021-09-02T21:27:21Z")
League of Nations Adolf Hitler ---
**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:** [September 3, 2021, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014/13 "2021-09-03T00:20:50Z")
[Radium-painted watches.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radium_dial) ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2021, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014/14 "2021-09-03T00:23:27Z")
Ohhh, I remember those. I think there used to be radioactive dentures, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2021, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014/15 "2021-09-03T00:44:49Z")
Republicans? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2021, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014/16 "2021-09-03T16:46:37Z")
Yugo cars. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2021, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014/17 "2021-09-03T18:15:27Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Inflammable, which ISNT the opposite of Flammable Some people were adamant about the use of inflammable, regarding “flammable’” as an idiotic patronizing form for those who were unfamiliar with the proper use of language. William Strunk was one of these, since it’s in Strunk and White’s **The Elements of Style** , and presumably White, since he kept it in the book. Me, I much prefer inartful clarity over impeccably correct ambiguity. I don’t want to catch fire because someone confused the terms. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2021, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014/18 "2021-09-03T20:06:04Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Yugo cars. Good one! It’s been a long time since I last heard or thought of them, but if I did, I imagine it would be in the context of “bad car.” ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2021, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014/19 "2021-09-03T20:11:31Z")
My girlfriend’s first car was a Yugo. The interior door handles broke off, so she had to roll the window down and open the door from the outside. Which was a trick because spinny things on the interior window cranks also broke off, so she had to use the open-palm method of rolling the window down. She repurposed a flyswatter to hold her muffler on after it fell off, and she had no local radio after the antenna flew off during a drive. Man, she loved that car. Partly because it was her first car, her first real freedom. But mostly because cops never looked twice at her, apparently under the impression that a Yugo could never go that fast. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2021, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014/20 "2021-09-03T20:26:17Z")
The Edsel. Fifty years later and it is still shorthand for Business Failure. Even the Yugo hasn’t displaced it. (Yes, I know that there are people who collect them.) More specialized, but the Apple Lisa? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-seem-to-exist-solely-as-bad-examples/950014.md?page=2)