# Things which should be simple, but which are not **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 23, 2019, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401 "2019-05-23T12:00:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401/81 "2019-05-29T03:19:05Z")
Calling pretty much any business. I often give up halfway through the damned phone tree. Whatever it is, I don’t want to talk about it with them that bad. This includes trying to make doctor appointments. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2019, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401/82 "2019-05-29T03:23:28Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > I know who Columbo was. His or her comment was in no way clever, though. It was sarcasm. You probably heard about it, as it was in all the papers some years ago. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2019, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401/83 "2019-05-29T03:34:37Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > The fact every single website now openly tells you to use it’s APP It should be simple: “it’s” only ever means “it is” :). ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401/84 "2019-05-29T04:23:23Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > The fact every single website now openly tells you to use it’s APP instead of using the web browser and will sometimes even lock features away that normally would be accessible within the APP (Yelp is the worst for this) The delightful thing about the yelp app is when you click (tap) on a website link and it gives you that little yelp logo page that says “see you later”. I mean, how fucking lazy can the programmers be? Still, there are a few apps that provide data more conveniently than a web page would. Tapatalk is _not_ one of those apps, though. It really sucks donkeyballs. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2019, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401/85 "2019-05-29T12:36:54Z")
> [@sjankis630](#): > > Why in the world would you ever turn off your computer? Mine runs better if I turn it off maybe every couple of weeks. However, I can also set mine not to update anything until I tell it to. Mac OS 10.13.4 (not a new feature, but one I certainly hope doesn’t go away.) – I can also set the iPad not to update until I tell it to. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401/86 "2019-05-29T14:43:55Z")
Some people don’t seem to understand the simple idea of putting their device away. No, they have to be on it all the time. A screen has replaced reality. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401/87 "2019-05-29T16:21:53Z")
I observed a discussion involving automobiles and which one was better than the others. In rather short order, the focus centered on nav systems. Performance, comfort, safety, sight lines, aesthetics, all these aspects of the various vehicles faded into near insignificance as the participants took to critiquing the practical qualities of the gps systems provided. I mean, I am pretty good with maps, landmarks and generally figuring out where we are. Hell, I will even exchange mouth noises with a local in order to get advice about where things are. I, personally, have _never_ used a nav system in a car and find this a troubling development in the mental decay of our culture. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2019, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401/88 "2019-05-29T16:31:39Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > I observed a discussion involving automobiles and which one was better than the others. In rather short order, the focus centered on nav systems. Performance, comfort, safety, sight lines, aesthetics, all these aspects of the various vehicles faded into near insignificance as the participants took to critiquing the practical qualities of the gps systems provided. > > I mean, I am pretty good with maps, landmarks and generally figuring out where we are. Hell, I will even exchange mouth noises with a local in order to get advice about where things are. I, personally, have _never_ used a nav system in a car and find this a troubling development in the mental decay of our culture. And cup holders. Don’t forget the importance of cup holders to auto buyers. Seriously, though, most cars in the same price range have similar “performance, comfort, safety, sight lines” etc. I think GPS is a major step forward and as someone who travels quite a bit, I find it life changing. I don’t care so much about the built in systems anymore, as my iPhone has several apps that work fine for mapping and directions. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401/89 "2019-05-29T16:41:36Z")
> [@sjankis630](#): > > I went to a McDonalds for the first time in a great while. How much simpler can it get? Well I found out when the nice young lady behind the counter showed me how I was going to have to ring up my own order on a kiosk screen. Well I think this will be just like ordering off of the large menu behind the cashiers now. No it was not. It seemed I had to select a hamburger and list/unlist everything I wanted on it individually as well as the individual items I wanted along with it. This actually reminded me of a place in Raleigh, NC that had a very old school way of doing this. This was an old hamburger stand dating from circa 1960, the kind of place with no indoor seating whatsoever, just some picnic tables out front. There was no cashier taking orders – you’d order by grabbing a paper ticket, checking off the items you wanted, dropping the ticket through a slot, and waiting for your number to be called. My first time there I learned the hard way that you have to check every single item and condiment you want on your burger. Simply checking “hamburger” and nothing else gets you a plain burger, literally a bun and meat and nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401/90 "2019-05-29T16:53:10Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > This actually reminded me of a place in Raleigh, NC that had a very old school way of doing this. This was an old hamburger stand dating from circa 1960, the kind of place with no indoor seating whatsoever, just some picnic tables out front. There was no cashier taking orders – you’d order by grabbing a paper ticket, checking off the items you wanted, dropping the ticket through a slot, and waiting for your number to be called. My first time there I learned the hard way that you have to check every single item and condiment you want on your burger. Simply checking “hamburger” and nothing else gets you a plain burger, literally a bun and meat and nothing else. Still beats having someone scream at you _“WHATAYAHAVE?”_ Fuck you, Varsity. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401/91 "2019-05-29T16:55:37Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Ordering pizza for a group. > > If you ever want to start an intense 30 minute, friendship-threatening debate amongst any group of people, just walk in and say, “I’m ordering pizzas. What should I get?” > > When I was a foolish 20-something, I witnessed this lunacy almost weekly. > > Now, as a wise 40-something, I skip the question and _just order the pizza_. A cheese and a pepperoni, in as many multiples as are needed to feed everyone. That’s it. You want something else, you’re on your own. You should also get a supreme. I mean that’s common sense. Oh and a vegetarian or they will complain but only 3 slices will be eaten. And a Hawaiian to separate those who believe pineapple on a pizza is an abomination unto God and those that are wrong. And you have to have one with mushroom because you’re such a fun guy. Make it mushroom and olive. Make that two supremes ---
**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:** [May 29, 2019, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401/92 "2019-05-29T16:56:51Z")
Buying comfortable shoes. I have very high arches. For some reason, shoemakers don’t give a shit, so it’s difficult for me to find shoes that either don’t fall off my feet or don’t hurt the top of my feet. Just trying to find a pair of slip-ons for wearing in the house becomes a big chore whenever my last pair wear out. Recently, for example, I went to get another pair of Sperry Billfish slip-ons: comfortable, flexible leather shoes that are built to last. And of course, they don’t make them any longer without laces. So I opted for a pair of Ecco slip-ons that were on sale. Felt comfy in the store, but after I wore them for ten minutes at home, the tops of my arches hurt like a mo-fo because the elastic is too stiff and causes the upper to rub. :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [May 29, 2019, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401/93 "2019-05-29T17:05:26Z")
Playing companies promotional games for prizes. There used to be a time when winning a free bottle of Coke, or a candy bar, or a regular order of fries was simple. Open the wrapper or look under the cap for a “winner”. Now they want to give you a code, want you to go to their website or download their app, create an account, get a barrage of advertising e-mails from them, all so you can enter your code to be told “sorry, try again”. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401/94 "2019-05-29T17:07:41Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > I do not need things to nag me with the beeps! Why does the microwave have to beep? I just put something inside for one minute to warm up and I am probably standing right there. Beep! Beep! Beep! I know it is done, I am standing right here. I managed to silence the beepers on the washer and dryer. But unneeded BEEPS just burn may ass. Someone sleeping in the other room? Not any more because you didn’t get back to the device before the un-silenceable BEEP went off. Fuck beeping devices, they are annoying and add nothing. My microwave Food done: BEEP 30 secs later: Hey your food is ready BEEP 30 secs after: Just a reminder, your food is ready BEEP 30 secs after: Getting tired of reminding you your food is ready BEEP 30 secs after: Just kidding, I love my job BEEP 30 secs after: Food getting cold BEEP Ad infinitum ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401/95 "2019-05-29T17:18:11Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > And cup holders. Don’t forget the importance of cup holders to auto buyers. Got a _really_ good deal on a used Corolla a good while back from a dealer. I kept think that there must be something wrong with it. But no problems at all. As far as I can tell the only noticeable “defect” was that the rear seat cupholder was broken. Boo-freakin’-hoo. I’m not kidding when I tell people that this was probably why it so much cheaper than the NADA price. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2019, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401/96 "2019-05-29T17:19:00Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Simply checking “hamburger” and nothing else gets you a plain burger, literally a bun and meat and nothing else. They way God meant it to be. Much preferred to the kind of places that add all kinds of condiments without even warning you. If mayo and/or ketchup comes on your burger, please mention that on your menu so we can special order. We’re not mind readers. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401/97 "2019-05-29T17:32:09Z")
> [@Macca26](#): > > Hopefully when your OS slowly corrupts from being interrupted mid-update and bluescreens repeatedly years from now, and your documents lose their data because you didn’t heed the prompt about saving before shutting down, and when your programs stop working or start slowing down because you messed up their updates and they have corrupt settings files, and you constantly get popup flags asking you to install an update that won’t install because you corrupted the last update, I won’t hear a peep out of you for messing with your basic computer operations so much because you can’t be assed to read a prompt or two and click a button before shutting down :rolleyes: And I certainly won’t want to hear later about how your computer is so slow and buggy when you’re doing everything humanly possible to create bugs in it and slow it down. Well, none of that is in any danger of happening because the on/off button DOESN"T FUCKING WORK! That was the point of my rant, that the power buttons are fake suggestions and not an actual switch. See subject of the thread. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401/98 "2019-05-29T18:44:23Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Well, none of that is in any danger of happening because the on/off button DOESN"T FUCKING WORK! That was the point of my rant, that the power buttons are fake suggestions and not an actual switch. > > See subject of the thread. Shutting down a computer shouldn’t be simple. A computer is a complicated machine that’s doing stuff all the time. Simply cutting power to it is like shutting off the fuel supply on a moving car. Besides, who wants the inconvenience of shutting down and restarting a computer every time they use it? Putting it to sleep mode is so much faster and safer for the computer and your data. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401/99 "2019-05-29T18:49:15Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Buying comfortable shoes. I have very high arches. For some reason, shoemakers don’t give a shit, so it’s difficult for me to find shoes that either don’t fall off my feet or don’t hurt the top of my feet. Just trying to find a pair of slip-ons for wearing in the house becomes a big chore whenever my last pair wear out. I can sympathize with difficulty finding shoes that fit. In addition to high arches, my feet are so wide at the toes that I could step in Montana with my little toe touching North Dakota and my big toe on Idaho. I finally found a decent pair of sandals that fit, that cost me $110. But, you wear shoes in the house? Why? ---
**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:** [May 29, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401/100 "2019-05-29T22:05:17Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > I can sympathize with difficulty finding shoes that fit. In addition to high arches, my feet are so wide at the toes that I could step in Montana with my little toe touching North Dakota and my big toe on Idaho. I finally found a decent pair of sandals that fit, that cost me $110. > > But, you wear shoes in the house? Why? Because I’m diabetic and my doctor told me to do it as a precautionary measure. Diabetics often lose feeling in their extremities, and a cut to the foot can mean a bad infection before you realize it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-which-should-be-simple-but-which-are-not/834401.md?page=6)