There are certain "conveniences" that I personally find incredibly inconvenient. Foremost among those is the phone answering machine/voice mail. I may be among the last few souls in the country to refuse to get one. I abhor those infernal machines. Seems every doctor, professional, company etc. etc. etc. has one, and they must gain great glee from having me navigate their "press one for" instructions. The message they seem to be sending is "Our time is much more important than yours, peon!" What is your pet peeve along these lines? GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), January 14, 2002

Answers

Response to What invention would youliketo "dis-invent"?

Dis-invent: telemarketers, infomercials, Miss Cleo, religous to your doorstep, regulations from the government, I think the list is endless.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), January 14, 2002.

Response to What invention would youliketo "dis-invent"?

tv. after I watch the Olympics (of course)

-- B. Lackie (cwrench@hotmail.com), January 14, 2002.

Response to What invention would youliketo "dis-invent"?

Call waiting..."Ummm...can you hold on a minute, there might be someone more important than you on the other line!"

-- Cara Dailey (daileyd@agalis.net), January 14, 2002.

Response to What invention would youliketo "dis-invent"?

Video games. Kids would be outside getting exercise or even reading without them.

-- Joanie (ber-gust@prodigy.net), January 14, 2002.

Response to What invention would youliketo "dis-invent"?

When I read just the thread title I was thinking television, but after reading your post Brad I would have to agree with you.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), January 14, 2002.

Response to What invention would youliketo "dis-invent"?

Now, I happen to like my answering machine! I don't move very fast and it is so nice to be able to know who is calling me.

I could easily get rid of the television. I think that it is a terrible waste of time and brain power. I also think that it is sad that little children can recite the names of infro-commercials better than their prayers.

-- Ardie /WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), January 14, 2002.

Response to What invention would youliketo "dis-invent"?

The automatic dialers that telemarketers use and credit cards--both are nothing but trouble!

-- Sharon (spangenberg@hovac.com), January 14, 2002.

Response to What invention would youliketo "dis-invent"?

Television.

-- george (bngcrview@aol.com), January 14, 2002.

Response to What invention would youliketo "dis-invent"?

Direct deposit and automatic drafts! I refuse to use them. I'll put my money in the bank when I want to and I'll send you a check when you need one!

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), January 14, 2002.

Response to What invention would youliketo "dis-invent"?

Hello Brad,

There is a host of things I wish were never invented. Television, automobile, nuclear bomb, answering machine, electric can opener, and sliced peanut butter! But, I'm not bitter...

Sincerely, Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), January 14, 2002.

The nuclear bomb, everything else is just small potatoes compared to that, and unlike dear, sweet Ernest, I AM bitter about that one!!!

What were they thinking when they did that, and more scary, why is it STILL here???

This is really telling of my age, those that grew up in the late 50's are really paranoid about The Bomb, of course having grew up with a fall out shelter in your basement has it's effects.....

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), January 14, 2002.

Nuclear bomb and mobile phones ! The contraption telemarketers use to gain your phone number for their 'preferred customer' calls. Now if I could find the inventer of that thing, I might have a use for the nuclear bomb.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), January 14, 2002.

You all forgot the biggie. Nuclear Power Plants.

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), January 14, 2002.

Fire Ants. Yeah, I know, God invented them, and He had a reason, but I plan on discussing it with Him later.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), January 14, 2002.

WITHHOLDING from your paycheck. The small but steady drips of money don't bother most people.

If they had to write a check for their total tax bill once a year, the sheeple might wake up.

-- gita (gita@directcon.net), January 14, 2002.

This may not be be a 'true' invention: Political parties. If our representives were al independents we would have better government.

-- Larry Burlingame (Larburlingame@hotmail.com), January 14, 2002.

Nuclear power plants and television

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), January 14, 2002.

Cell phones (except in cases of people waiting for organ transplants due to the short time window for organ viability).

I am so tired of commercials for the family plans where they show kids calling home for every little thing (can I go here, I need this food tonight, etc.). Whatever happened to "Come home right after school, period." Plan ahead to go out with someone and don't ask at the last minute (or worse, tell me you're already there), period. Make sure you leave from your date early enough so that you have time to change the flat tire and still make it home in time for curfew, period.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 14, 2002.

Well the grand ones like nuclear power and bombs did produce a few good medical advancments etc; however they could be ditched now thanks. Actually on a day to day basis, I'd uninvent aluminum storm doors. One more obsticle into and outa the house, wind catches it, it's ugly, awkward, just a complete pain.

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), January 14, 2002.

Wave runners and ATV's. It chaps my hide when you take your kids perch jerking and a bunch of idiots on wave runners keep zipping by you. It makes you want to tie on a big treble hook and see if you can snag the idiot. Or you do your homework and know exactly where and when that big buck is going to be coming by your tree stand and all of a sudden some idiot on a ATV starts zipping all around the forest scaring everything in site. Makes you want to sling a few arrows at the idiot.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), January 14, 2002.

COOKING and HOUSEWORK ! ! !

-- AyleeAnn (AyleeAnn@hotmail.com), January 14, 2002.

Liberals and moderates.

-- Red Neck (Secesh@CSA.com), January 14, 2002.

Television and telemarketing. I actually LIKE my answering machine because it allows me to use my phone as a convenience. If you REALLY want to talk to me on the phone, you'll leave a message and I'll get back to you when I'm not cleaning the barn or kneading bread, or taking a shower, or whatever! Not only that, but with an answering machine I can screen out telemarketers!

-- sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), January 14, 2002.

Brad I'd agree with you about the automated phone systems in use. They eliminate jobs while they frustrate you.

Now answering machines or a cell phone with voice mail will give me peace of mind on my homestead. With 2 young adults making there way into the world (in a city far away), and 2 parents who are ailing (also far away), they can let me know if they need me by leaving a message.

-- Rick (Rick_122@hotmail.com), January 14, 2002.

Lets see..... keep the TV, dis-invent the remote control. Pop-up ads on the internet. Home pregnancy test. To many candy bars. 'Stuff', by products, and preservatives in food. Food Stamps and Welfare. Home Equity Loans. Leaded fuel. Government regulated programs. (that's a hoot) and those dad darn ants!

-- Bear (Barelyknow@aol.com), January 15, 2002.

Rick, the main reason I don't like cell phones is that in a way they are eroding personal independence. As in, gee, how did we ever manage without them? People used to deal with things themselves, now they don't. I grew up without a regular phone, and could still live without one now, as seldom as I use it, I could do fine with phone cards. I would be happy with just a computer line.

Also, I wouldn't be surprised if someday in the future the government required you to have a phone implant (look at the microchips they put in animals, which only work if someone takes the time to take them to a vet or shelter) at birth. Not for me, thanks.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 15, 2002.

You all sound like a bunch of old fogies! This is the 21st century for petes sakes. If you don't like the inventions, just don't use them. I just leave the tv off most of the time, that takes care of it. I find answering machines and voice mail a real convenience and it saves having to make calls over and over again. There are some inventions I like and some I don't but it's usually my choice which ones I deal with.

-- Marvelous (schnauzee@mstar2.net), January 15, 2002.

=== Seems every doctor, professional, company etc. etc. etc. has one, and they must gain great glee from having me navigate their "press one for" instructions. ===

Maybe you should do what I do....I don't press buttons. I just wait until they connect me!

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), January 15, 2002.

Inventions I wish had never been invented? Hmmm...

Television - The leading cause of mind rot in the United States

Spectator sports - One of the leading causes of watching television.

Cheap home air conditioning - One of the leading causes of people living in areas they don't really belong.

Telephone trees - This isn't voice mail or phone answering machines but those damnable "press one for ... press two for ... monstrosities."

I can think of several more but they'll get into politics and I'm too tired to get into a rant today.

...........Alan.

-- Alan (athagan@atlantic.net), January 15, 2002.

Let's see...... Video Games...Fast Food Restaurants...Cell Phones...Brittany Spears...

-- Harmony (harmonyfarm57@hotmail.com), January 15, 2002.

Without any hesitation, television and all the Devil's spawn that sprang from it! Hmm. And/or cell phones...

-- sheepish (WA) (the_original_sheepish@hotmail.com), January 15, 2002.

Marvelous, I AM an old fogie!

-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), January 15, 2002.

I wouldn't want to dis invent anything. Instead discover new applications for undesirable inventions. Invention is not only the child of necesity, it is also a nutrient of the creative mind. Give me time and I will discover an alternative use of the double lollipop battery powered spinner other than being a tongue trap (wait a sec, it DID keep the child from yammering while we cut it off his tongue :>)

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 15, 2002.