# Why are lifehacker topics so lame? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 26, 2012, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667 "2012-08-26T02:00:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diamonds02](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Diamonds02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diamonds02)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667/1 "2012-08-26T02:00:17Z")
I hear so many raves about this site only to be disappointed when I browsed through it. I thought it was going to give rare tips on how to do REAL things. Like…maybe? -How to hack a slot machine -How to create a great email con and how to get away with it -How to maximize marijuana profits -How to knock someone out with a headbutt -How to make piss balloons and create an ambush -How to use a store as a “front” -How to seduce a woman by using spells -How to convince people that you are truly NOT insane Who cares about opening a beer bottle with a stapler? ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667/2 "2012-08-26T02:01:27Z")
Huh? ---
**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:** [August 26, 2012, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667/3 "2012-08-26T02:05:29Z")
> [@Diamonds02](#): > > -How to convince people that you are truly NOT insane Too bad that’s not a real topic. ---
**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:** [August 26, 2012, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667/4 "2012-08-26T02:54:29Z")
Given that four of your proposed topics are clearly illegal, three of them would at least be solid grounds for a lawsuit and one is probably a lost cause, you might want to scale back your expectations from a website. On tho other hand, knowing how to open a beer bottle with a stapler sounds like a useful skill. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667/5 "2012-08-26T03:18:32Z")
And I remain in a debate about the pros/cons of tattoos? ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667/6 "2012-08-26T03:24:44Z")
Business opportunity for you! Create your own rival site that does have all the useful information you want. You could call it HackLifers. I’m sure you’re not the only one looking for such sage advice. ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667/7 "2012-08-26T04:17:51Z")
> [@Diamonds02](#): > > -How to seduce a woman by using spells Yeah, I’d be up for tips on this. ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667/8 "2012-08-26T04:23:00Z")
I regularly visit that site, and it has been a nose dive this summer. It has gotten worse as the summer has gone on. That opening a beer with a stapler was quite ridiculous. So my best answer for you is: it used to be good. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667/9 "2012-08-26T04:27:24Z")
More seriously, like the other Gawker Media sites, it’s a site with paid employees who are expected to generate a certain amount of content every day. It’s not really surprising that a lot of the “tips” are real stinkers. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667/10 "2012-08-26T04:34:12Z")
A link and/or idea as to wtf lifehacker is might help… ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667/11 "2012-08-26T04:39:32Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > More seriously, like the other Gawker Media sites, it’s a site with paid employees who are expected to generate a certain amount of content every day. It’s not really surprising that a lot of the “tips” are real stinkers. Yeah, when the new iPhone comes out, gizmodo and them should have 2 months of content 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667/12 "2012-08-26T04:40:34Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > A link and/or idea as to wtf lifehacker is might help… [This](http://lmgtfy.com/?q=lifehacker) should help. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667/13 "2012-08-26T04:40:59Z")
Sounds like a vast improvement from when a friend recommended them to me, back in law school. Back then, two out of every three posts had to do with something called GTD (“Getting Things Done”)–some sort of productivity scheme in some sort of management book or whatever. I’d have loved to learn how to hack slot machines instead of reading to people droning on about writing notes to myself. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667/14 "2012-08-26T06:13:11Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > [This](http://lmgtfy.com/?q=lifehacker) should help. Funny. 😃 Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667/15 "2012-08-26T08:12:31Z")
The original editor, Gina Trapani I think put out good solid content. She moved on. It’s pretty crap now. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667/16 "2012-08-27T13:19:57Z")
Some articles are fairly useful, like “How to Root ANY Android Phone,” but I agree that most of the articles sound like the Cliff’s Notes versions of those scam books managers love to buy. You know, the ones like “Good to Great” or “Six Sigma”. ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667/17 "2012-08-27T14:50:15Z")
Classic crappy Lifehacker article: > **[Get a Single Tic Tac Out of the Box, Every Time](https://lifehacker.com/get-a-single-tic-tac-out-of-the-box-every-time-5938084?utm_campaign=socialflow_lifehacker_twitter&utm_source=lifehacker_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow)** > > Ever gone to grab a Tic Tac from the box and had the contents dump all in your hand? It's not the worst thing in the world, but it is annoying. As food blog Food Beast points out, the Tic Tac box itself is actually built to distribute a single breath... How to get a Single Tic Tac Out of the Box, Every Time ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667/18 "2012-08-27T14:59:05Z")
> [@Silophant](#): > > Yeah, I’d be up for tips on this. Sorry but all I know is voodoo for a woman to seduce a guy, you need to drip your sweaty pussy juice over the food he is gonna eat. > **[Esther Lee's Love Chronicles: Sweat Rice, Voodoo Spells & Love Potions](http://thelovechronicles.blogspot.com/2007/02/sweat-rice-voodoo-spells-love-potions.html)** > [@](#): > > The stories about ‘magic love’ did not stop there. My source went on to tell me about one very popular and often practiced ritual. This one is known as ‘sweat rice’. What happens is that a woman who wants to keep a man, boils a pot of rice. When the rice is cooked, she takes the hot steaming pot of rice and places it on the floor. The woman, now naked, stoops over the steaming pot and allows certain ‘juices’ to flow into the pot. I’m sure you can use your imagination from here. So anyway, when her man comes home, the woman gives him this ‘sweat rice’ to eat and then he is hooked for life! ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667/19 "2012-08-27T15:33:18Z")
> [@tomcar](#): > > Classic crappy Lifehacker article: > [Get a Single Tic Tac Out of the Box, Every Time | Lifehacker](http://lifehacker.com/5938084/how-to-get-a-single-tic-tac-out-of-the-box-every-time?utm_campaign=socialflow_lifehacker_twitter&utm_source=lifehacker_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow) > > How to get a Single Tic Tac Out of the Box, Every Time That’s not even really an article, it’s just a link to another article on Foodbeast. ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667/20 "2012-08-27T15:45:04Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > That’s not even really an article, it’s just a link to another article on Foodbeast. On possibly the most inane thing ever on the Internet 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lifehacker-topics-so-lame/632667.md?page=2)