Worst inventions ever

[Luke B.]

Well, the simplest definition of religion is "a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe." The definition of atheism is "disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings." A person who does not believe in a god, an atheist, can still have those beliefs that define religion without believing in a god.

Heh, that reminds me of a good description of Athiesm:

"An Athiest doesn't believe in God in the exact same way that a person who isn't a stamp collector doesn't collect stamps."

Of course, that was met with "An Athiest doesn't belive in God in the same way that a blind man doesn't see, or a deaf man doesn't hear" and I had no response to that, but still, I felt clever for a moment.

[Muninn]

Let's see, of these 10 I don't use, or have never used 7 of them (weapons, mobile phones, sinclair 5, cars, cigarettes, speed cameras, religion).
Regarding fast food, I consign myself to a binge at KFC once a month. Although my television viewing has dropped to almost zero, it is still "almost". Therefore, however miniscule an amount, I still use it. Part (or all) of the power I use may come from nuclear power stations, even if indirectly. If it does, then it means I make use of them too.

Theres this one dude that's responcible for more planetary destruction than any other.

I can't rembmer his name, but he invented leded petrol, and CFCs...

I bet you got that from watching QI.

2. Mobile Phones
Because talking to people is eeeevil.

I'm pretty sure a large percentage rated this in terms of its annoyingness.

3= Nuclear Power
The cleanest, most environmentally friendly mass-energy source that exists. This is bad, why?

Bad press from Chernobyl I'm guessing.

3= Television
If not for television, there'd be no internet, and these same people would be saying that newspapers and entertainment it bad.

When television was introduced to the isolated nation of Bhutan crime and violence rose dramatically. It has an influence not everyone likes. I'm not saying all of it's bad though.

6= Cars
Yeah, because horses are so much better.

I would be very happy if every car (also trains, planes and so) in the world suddenly disappeared. You may ask what repsonse I'd give to people who want to travel or commute from out of town to work. I would laugh at them.

10. Religion
Heh, religion is inseparable from human existence. Everyone has something they believe in, even if it's their own objectivity.

Inseperable, I agree. But that doesn't mean it's squeeky clean and not corrupt.

[nickspoon]

I bet you got that from watching QI.

In another BBC study, QI was found to be the source of all human knowledge.

[Rooster]

Am I so transparent in my wisdom?

[Tom Flapwell]

Of course, that was met with "An Athiest doesn't belive in God in the same way that a blind man doesn't see, or a deaf man doesn't hear" and I had no response to that,

Perhaps it depends on the individual: I think some could believe in God but don't.

[Zaaphod]

Why isn't AOL on this list?

[Comrade K]

I would be very happy if every car (also trains, planes and so) in the world suddenly disappeared. You may ask what repsonse I'd give to people who want to travel or commute from out of town to work. I would laugh at them.

You'd be laughing right up until the local food market didn't get it's shipment, and you're left hungry. No offense or anything, but for some people, a vehicle is a necessity. Around here, you NEED a vehicle to get to work, because mines and forestry operations aren't right beside towns. Walking a hundred kilometres a day is not an option. Without vehicles, the world economy would collapse, and well over 3/4 of the population would die of starvation or exposure.

I'm probably overeacting, as you said "people who want to travel or commute from out of town to work", meaning those people have the choice of living near their workplace but instead waste precious resources by choosing not too. It just irritates me because, around here, most communities would die without trains, planes and cars.

[Bocaj Claw]

Eventually, after many deaths, the people will learn to plant crops for sustenance, restarting the grand cycle of the world.

Thats if they can find seeds before they allllll die. I suggest the local Home Depot.

[Angstwolf]

Why isn't AOL on this list?

Seriously. It should be number one.

[Muninn]

You'd be laughing right up until the local food market didn't get it's shipment, and you're left hungry. No offense or anything, but for some people, a vehicle is a necessity. Around here, you NEED a vehicle to get to work, because mines and forestry operations aren't right beside towns. Walking a hundred kilometres a day is not an option. Without vehicles, the world economy would collapse, and well over 3/4 of the population would die of starvation or exposure.

I am well aware that such vehicles are nowadays an inseperable part of how the world functions and delivers resources. The phrasing I used in my comment makes clear how absurd a situation it requires to change things.

[Comrade K]

It's not the absurdity of the situation, but the reaction you said you would have should it happen that provoked me to write that.

I understand what you're saying, I just felt compelled to bring up my point.

[The Donmeister]

Of those 10, I think the only bad ones are cigarettes and the Sinclair. I don't understand why people think religion is a bad idea, when it's helped so many people live better lives.

[Angstwolf]

Religion is a bit of a mixed bag. It can push the misguided to higher moral standards, but it is also the basis of arguments and wars.

[BladeRaptor]

The only one of those I see as being inherently bad is cigarretes. The others are only a problem when they're misused. Cell phones can be annoying, but they are quite handy for when you need to need to say or hear something immediately despite being on the move. Religion can be a guide to a fulfilling life, but it's also used to justify atrocities. Even weapons can save lives as well as end them if the situation is dire enough to justify their use.

But cigarettes, they're just addictive and cancer-causing. I sometimes wonder what the first smoker was thinking when he decided to inhale the smoke from burning tobacco leaves on purpose. It doesn't even smell good like some incenses, at least not to my nose.

[likeafox]

1. Weapons
I could see weapons being #1 on a list of the GREATEST inventions of all time, along with written language, and the wheel. It was probably the first invention man ever created. The most primitive of weapons were just rocks and sticks, but were extremely useful for hunting and warding off predators. The invention of weapons is likely what kindled our specie's rapid scientific progress for the past several millenia. Is that why they're bad?

2. Mobile Phones
Why would mobile phones be #2 on ANY list?

3= Nuclear Power
I don't have much to say on this one that hasn't already been said. Nuclear power isn't so much an invention as a scientific discovery. So I guess people that hate it can blame the universe for that one?

6= Cars
OMG CARS ARE EVAL BECAUSE THEY KILL PPL AND RUIN THE PLANET!! IT'S ALL THE CAR'S FAULT, NOT THE PEOPlE DRIVING THEM!

6= Cigarettes
This is one thing I'll agree on as long as the criteria for bad invention doesn't have anything to do with widespread adoption.

Legal, relaxing, etc - hell, liquor causes about the same amount of damage to the body, and far, far more damage in booze related things (violence, etc) than cigarettes ever will.

To this comment and all the other comments regarding cigarettes vs. alcohol: as far as which was a better invention, alcohol reigns infinitely supreme. The history of both inventions is quite different. Tobacco was first smoked by native americans in large quanties for it's mind-altering properties. On the other hand problems with alcohol only comes from misuse. When it was first drank, it was made in arid areas where fresh ground water wasn't available, so fruit was harvested and used for its water content, and sometimes had to be stored for long periods of time.

Also, chewing gum should be up there with worst inventions.