The reason a car could never be invented today, and why autonomous cars have an increasingly uphill battle.

"Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street." (demon-xanth) 09/13/2016 at 13:29 • Filed to: None

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As explained by the light socket:

1900: “Touch this, you’ll feel a tingle!” “Haha, you did it!”

1930: “Don’t touch that, you’ll get shocked!”

1960: “Light sockets should have a warning label.”

1990: “Light sockets should have a protective cover so people can’t get accidentally shocked when a bulb isn’t there.”

Today: “It’s a design defect since it’s possible to shock yourself at all.”

For Sweden > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 09/13/2016 at 13:33

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All of these are true though

CalzoneGolem > For Sweden 09/13/2016 at 13:35

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At the same time?

For Sweden > CalzoneGolem 09/13/2016 at 13:37

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In a way, yes. The exposed contacts in a light socket were a design flaw in 1900. It was an acceptable design flaw, but still a flaw.

NostalgicCarLife > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 09/13/2016 at 13:38

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Yes but a light bulb and socket are still less dangerous than a gas lamp or kerosene lantern. And I guess, in some ways, a car is less dangerous than a horse and carriage or a steam bus.

CalzoneGolem > For Sweden 09/13/2016 at 13:42

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In 2016 design flaws are features.

Urambo Tauro > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 09/13/2016 at 13:42

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Goodbye responsibility, hello “safety”.

For Sweden > CalzoneGolem 09/13/2016 at 13:43

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Yes, if you’re a liar and a bad person

TheRealBicycleBuck > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 09/13/2016 at 13:44

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The beauty of the design is that it hasn’t changed. Last night I replaced the socket in a brass lamp I inherited from my great-grandparents. All it took was a flat-head screwdriver. The new socket cover had the same “Press Here” markings to show where to separate the two halves. The screwdriver was only needed to attach the wires to the terminals. Beautiful, Simple, Functional. Good design.

Wheelerguy > For Sweden 09/13/2016 at 13:48

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Or if planned obsolescence is your kind of fun.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > For Sweden 09/13/2016 at 13:50

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Or if you’re a Note 7 cell phone/emergency fire starter designer.

For Sweden > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 09/13/2016 at 14:31

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The Note 7 is a great survival tool. Call for help and start a fire, all with one device.