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Write 6 Sentences. No more. No less.
Use the current week’s prompt word.
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Spread the word and put in a good one to your fellow writers
PROMPT WORD: GEAR
At certain points in our history, engineers believed they could outsmart users of modern machines but underestimated human ingenuity when it comes to convenience and freedom of use.
The dreaded handle on lawnmowers that stops the engine when released so the handler can remove obstacles without putting his hands in the blades was overcome with a bungee cord rather than creating a danger-free experience, which was already danger-free for non-idiots.
Of course, all creative ‘safety’ measures come from an initial place of underestimating average human intelligence and often have a reverse effect in the ‘for your own good’ department by complicating the use of machines.
There are those seatbelt alarms arguably more distracting and less effective than their clever creators intended especially when the driver is antagonized into buckling up while in motion or pressed to trick their vehicle into being quiet.
The best one was a car model that required the seatbelt to be buckled before the engine and gear system could be engaged, a child safety measure so foolproof parents could leave their keys in the ignition, and that one was outsmarted by my 4-year-old cousin who had watched his parents perform the necessary steps, and easily started the car using those observations, almost running over his Mom.
The moral of this story is: there will always be stupid people doing reckless things so making everyday machines more difficult to use and more expensive to produce, in the name of safety, may neither be the best possible nor most efficient use of innovative engineering.
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Sillyfrog's Blog 
I like your description of those older models: “already danger-free for non-idiots”
😁 We old folk understand that completely. Thanks.
Great blog
Spot on, Susan. Why not let all the health and safety experts get out of the road and let Darwin’s principles apply to the gene pool for the benfit of all? 🙂 For example https://darwinawards.com/stupid/stupid2019-01.html
🤣 👏 Thanks!
Hear! Hear! Whilst trying to think of every scenario to safeguard against, the “experts” apparently do not trust most humans to employ simple common sense.
You’re my kinda girlie! 👏
always a topic guaranteed to provoke a lively discussion… one all the more telling when we look at out own arguments (for or against) in the context of an emotional state that would, imo, tell an even more revealing and provocative tale on the the individual taking whatever side….
fun Six!
Stupid is as stupid does. The photo is hilarious!
Thanks! Yes…that photo worked beautifully! 😀
Most welcome!😉
Oh dear! Stupid is as stupid does, and I love the photo as well!
HA! Thanks.
This made me chuckle, Susan, the responses too. Shall I admit I was one of those dreadful ‘elf and safety people? 20+ years in risk management no less! Oh, it seems I’ve already let the cat out of the bag 😉
🤣 Well, there are exceptions. A longer piece may have included them. Thanks!
😀
Nothing is foolproof as fools are ingenious and so nothing is impossible to a sufficiently motivated fool.
I wonder if the R&D team have a H&S department. Could stymie their whole raison d’etre? 🤣
Ha ha! Quite right. Reminds me of the reliance we’ve had on the pandemic by just a few scientists when more heads with broader ‘vision’ may have done better? 🙂
Fun Six, and true, and the pic is brilliant 😁
LOL… yes, that picture nailed it! Thanks.
You mentioned my pet hate – that wretched seat belt alarm! I’m not normally one for naughty language, but I can’t help myself when that …thing .. starts up!
Many of these irritants are universal, I’m afraid. lol Thanks!
I believe it was Einstein who said ‘The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.’
You said pretty much the same thing, but far more entertainingly!
Excellent quote! LOL