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Is it beyond the wit of humanity (note, not "man") to...(lighthearted thread)

(95 Posts)
phoenix Tue 11-Jun-19 18:52:48

To make ovens where the temperature numbers next to the the dials dont wear off after about 6 months

To make all tablets that have to be given to cats, palatable to all cats, even the fussy ones.

To make cars that have automatic/compulsory indicators when turning in car parks (yes we would like to know if you are planning to turn, and in which direction, not all of us are psychic)

confused

Doodle Tue 11-Jun-19 19:28:46

To make bottles that you can get the tops off. Yes I know they have to be childproof but have you tried opening a bottle of Harpic? ?

phoenix Tue 11-Jun-19 20:02:53

Or a box of Lidl own brand washing liqui tabs (or whatever you call them!)

Day6 Tue 11-Jun-19 20:03:44

And biscuits....Doodle I really like the first six in a packet to be crushed to smithereens as I tear at the top wondering which piece of wrapping will rip first.

My late (lovely) FIL used to call anything hard to open a "Geriatric Pack". I still use the term as I swear under my breath whilst breaking biscuits and anything else crush-able which is impossible to open.

watermeadow Tue 11-Jun-19 20:19:12

Open biscuits with a sharp knife, like slicing bread.
All new products should be tested by old people before being marketed. We will soon be the majority yet so many things are difficult for us to use. Like my cordless Bosch vacuum.

Slowcookervegan Tue 11-Jun-19 20:57:57

The important information on food like expiry dates should be bigger.

callgirl1 Tue 11-Jun-19 21:13:13

Ring pulls on food tins should be able to actually be pulled by someone other than Samson!

phoenix Tue 11-Jun-19 21:23:25

All good and valid points, but not every gripe needs to be age related! wink

cornergran Tue 11-Jun-19 22:54:00

To make a really silent washing machine that doesn’t dance round the kitchen when spinning towels.

annodomini Tue 11-Jun-19 23:14:37

To find a really effective weedkiller for horsetail?

Glammy57 Tue 11-Jun-19 23:50:47

To find tights that fit?

Rufus2 Wed 12-Jun-19 00:42:43

know they have to be childproof
Doodle; No problem! Give me a child, they generally have arthritis-free wrists, and I will give you a fool-proof child-proof-bottle-top opener. grin

Happiyogi Wed 12-Jun-19 01:02:44

annodomini and bindweed!

Lyndiloo Wed 12-Jun-19 01:18:14

Oh, I so agree about cat tablets. My cat will eat everything in his dish and leave the tablet, plonk, in the middle of the bowl, untouched! (Use drops now.) But is it so difficult to make a tablet taste of fish ...?

And cookers - fridges - freezers ... I always swear that they must be designed by a man. (Bit sexist ... ? smile) So many corners and bits that you just cannot get in to clean properly, Drives me nuts!

And film lids on ready-meals! "Lift the film lid, stir, and replace in microwave." Well, mine's in shreds by the time I've battled to 'lift it'. Grrr! (Luckily, I don't have many 'Ready Meals'.)

DillytheGardener Wed 12-Jun-19 01:25:38

I agree with all of these, I’ll add Avon shower gels, they are so hard to open, and my son and DH always close theme so I almost fall over in the shower trying to get them open again angry

Marmight Wed 12-Jun-19 06:48:56

To be able to remove the plastic cover thingy under the screw cap of a milk bottle (plastic blush) without the tab detaching & having to resort to a knife.

KatyK Wed 12-Jun-19 09:14:28

Oh yes that milk bottle thing is a pain.

shysal Wed 12-Jun-19 09:56:10

To standardize the positioning and clarity of 'best before' dates on store cupboard foods. On the rare occasion that I have a sort out it takes forever to find and read the dates, especially on jars.

Mollygo Wed 12-Jun-19 10:20:11

I agree with most of these especially the cover under the plastic milk bottle cap AND some other containers too.
I’d also like online recipes to give instant comparisons of electric/gas temperatures and what a ‘cup’ is in grams or ounces without having to google it.

DoraMarr Wed 12-Jun-19 10:25:30

To make shampoo and conditioner bottles different- not just for old people, but for anyone who wears reading glasses.

lovebeigecardigans1955 Wed 12-Jun-19 10:25:45

Bra straps that don't have to be pulled up uncomfortably tight to prevent slippage. Can't the adjustable bits be at the front?
I echo milk and bleach bottles.
Wheely bins which don't let in water. After all this rain there'll probably be a few inches of water inside. Yuck.

jaylucy Wed 12-Jun-19 10:29:39

I'd go with the cat's tablets - the worst are the ones that could easily be given to an elephant, by their size and are impossible to break in half. My cat is very clever at projectile removal from her mouth to the extent that I blissfully thought she had taken it easily (saw her swallow etc) then found it the next day, across the other side of the room, behind a chair (space too small for her to get behind!).
I also hate those biscuit packs that you can't open without using a knife and the milk bottles that you can't pull the seal from but as someone that lived through the era of Tetra cartons for milk, I should be able to handle anything!!

WadesNan Wed 12-Jun-19 10:41:14

Have to agree with all these especially the "use by" dates on packaging. I spend a lot of time changing glasses in the supermarket checking the dates.

sarahellenwhitney Wed 12-Jun-19 10:43:19

annodomini
Sounds ideal but how do you get round using it when you find them growing bang smack in the middle of your vibernums ???

nipsmum Wed 12-Jun-19 10:45:29

I don't often buy ready meals but the cooking instructions are so hard to read. Print too small, background colour not enough contrast to printing. A childproof bottle from chemist that I had to take back to get it opened.. ( 3 of my friends had tried it without success) ,same pills usually come in cardboard box and bubble pack. How childproof is that ??? All plastic packaging that requires scissors to get it opened. I out go on any more.