# Underappreciated inventions of the 20th century **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 11, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-inventions-of-the-20th-century/574240 "2011-03-11T00:54:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-inventions-of-the-20th-century/574240/41 "2011-03-11T16:54:11Z")
Internet porn. And maybe those computer thingies that it made it possible. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-inventions-of-the-20th-century/574240/42 "2011-03-11T17:05:40Z")
The electric toothbrush. The laundry dryer. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-inventions-of-the-20th-century/574240/43 "2011-03-11T17:09:44Z")
Nuclear weapons. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-inventions-of-the-20th-century/574240/44 "2011-03-11T17:15:02Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Internet porn. You’ll note that the first word of the thread title is “underappreciated.” Soda and beer cans. Seriously. And plastic soda bottles. Some serious engineering went into them, so that we no longer have to go to a soda jerk to drink a Coke. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-inventions-of-the-20th-century/574240/45 "2011-03-11T18:34:58Z")
GFCI outlets/wiring. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-inventions-of-the-20th-century/574240/46 "2011-03-11T18:41:02Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > …so that we no longer have to go to a soda jerk to drink a Coke. This sounds incredibly perverted. Have to run. Please fill in the punch line. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-inventions-of-the-20th-century/574240/47 "2011-03-11T18:44:53Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > Hot running water. Seriously, hot running water. Sure we’ve had it for centuries, but it’s never been so easy and cheap to have it _inside your house_ any time you want it! This, but I’ll add the word _Clean_. Clean hot running water in the house is the underappreciated pinnacle of civilization. And machines that do laundry. ---
**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:** [March 11, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-inventions-of-the-20th-century/574240/48 "2011-03-11T18:45:53Z")
I don’t know if they have a name, but my vote would be for those little plastic snap-in fasteners that are used for connecting two ends of a strap. Snap in to connect, squeeze the sides to release. They’re on backpacks, gym shorts, high chairs, kids’ car seats… pretty much everywhere. Whoever invented those was a genius. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-inventions-of-the-20th-century/574240/49 "2011-03-12T00:08:02Z")
Rice Krispies treats. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-inventions-of-the-20th-century/574240/50 "2011-03-12T03:26:54Z")
The ball point pen. The Brannock Device. Everyone has used one, but nearly no one knows its name. [Here is a pic](http://retrothing.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/09/08/mens_large2.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-inventions-of-the-20th-century/574240/51 "2011-03-12T06:05:37Z")
> [@TravisFromOR](#): > > 19th Century… Yeah, well they probably just copied us. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-inventions-of-the-20th-century/574240.md?page=2)