Your View: What is the worst human invention?

1. Angry onliner - November 25th, 2008 at 8:14 pm

the gun… It KIlLz!!1!1!1

2. Imperialdramon Paladin Mode - November 25th, 2008 at 8:20 pm

The outdoor treadmill. (look it up)

3. cwizz - November 25th, 2008 at 8:25 pm

condoms

4. Dan - November 25th, 2008 at 8:34 pm

“New” Coke

5. Tommy - November 25th, 2008 at 8:36 pm

the bananna protective case

6. jb - November 25th, 2008 at 8:41 pm

ho ho … television contributed a lot to society! it’s incredible. I agree that in most developed countries it also contributed to decrease people’s mental skills, but just lately.

Television helped making people closer and lazier. Which is what humans are doing for ages, so it contributed in that way. If you miss the old golden age of true values, wait a bit more to come back in the past

7. jake ryder - November 25th, 2008 at 8:46 pm

The automobile. reponsible for numerous deaths and will someday destroy the planet.

8. Precision - November 25th, 2008 at 8:56 pm

I do not think there is a single worst invention in human history. My reasoning is that for everything invented (that I can think of) there are other inventions that would not have been discovered where it not for that original invention. I’m struggling to think of a single invention that has not had at least one positive externality associated with its discovery.

Of course if this is true it raises questions about how much negativity is acceptable in order to cause a positive result.

Also, it would mean that the very first human invention (communication???) would be both the greatest AND worst invention ever. In this case, it would single-handedly have resulted in every subsequent positive and every subsequent negative invention ever discovered.

9. Carole - November 25th, 2008 at 8:58 pm

The automobile .It has made us fat and lazy. It made the suburbs possible. It pollutes.

10. 6twenty - November 25th, 2008 at 9:14 pm

It should be the gun powder. Yeah, fireworks are nice, but the things invented or associated with that…like guns, cannons, nukes. It will eventually lead to our utmost destruction.

11. SoCalJeff - November 25th, 2008 at 9:16 pm

The one and only ShamWow!

12. YogiBarrister - November 25th, 2008 at 9:21 pm

the leaf blower

13. Mizu - November 25th, 2008 at 9:23 pm

electric bicycles.

I mean like wtf?

Turning a lovely form of exercise into… goodness knows what ;__;

14. joeyjoejoeshabadoo - November 25th, 2008 at 9:29 pm

nukes truly brought us into a hobbesian society

15. shadow - November 25th, 2008 at 9:30 pm

JFrater
Is this your list. I read the comments on why you believe television fits the worst human invention, however, from reading previous comments, I believe your life has been both positively and negatively influenced by watching television. This is not a bad thing. Television had a large influence on individuals growing up between 1954 and now(maybe even a few years earlier).
From reading many of your lists(and others on this site and beyond), television has had a major effect on almost all people we deal with.
I probably watched too much television as a child, but it was my only(and best - this is debatable since I also loved reading) escape at the time. It is still an escape now for everyone who watches. We all need some kind of escape, and this medium has proven to be accessible. Would reading be better? Probably. I still read 1-2 books a month, but the accessity of DVR(I skip through all commercials) has made this a major for5m of escape.

16. shadow - November 25th, 2008 at 9:32 pm

Where did that 5 come from in the last line?

17. jfrater - November 25th, 2008 at 9:39 pm

shadow: In a way I think the “escape” element of TV is one of its bad elements - people rely on it to escape a life that doesn’t please them. Surely it is better to fix the problems in life than hide from them in front of a glowing screen?

18. Kathryn - November 25th, 2008 at 9:41 pm

Probably the gun/bombs. Weapons in general. But, they might possibly have saved a few lives as well, but mostly they just are responsible for killing (I am aware people kill people, not guns, etc but still, guns are bad)

19. Kathryn - November 25th, 2008 at 9:42 pm

Oh, one more thing I thought of while hitting submit… the bible. Probably tops out guns… yeah, I have my reasons. I really feel it’s not a bad thing entirely in its self, but it’s caused an extreme amount of bad thing to happen by the people who take it too darn seriously. a few hundred (thousand?) years later and it still brings misery to people.

20. Nicole - November 25th, 2008 at 9:43 pm

MONEY!!!!!

21. Anon - November 25th, 2008 at 9:44 pm

Wrong. Without TV there would have been no ‘Monty Python’ or ‘Fawlty Towers’. No ‘Only Fools And Horses’. No ‘Last Of The Summer Wine’. No ‘Simpsons’. No ‘Futurama’. No ‘Dad’s Army’. No ‘Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrins’. No ‘Rising Damp’. No ‘One Foot In The Grave’. Most of us would never have experienced the wonders of natural history as presented by the likes of David Attenborough. The chances of seeing a wide range of wonderful films, above all once past general release, would have been reduced beyond count (unless you’re going to cheat and say videos as DVD have nothing to do with TV). Great sporting events and occasions live would be very rare and expensive outings, if even within geographical reach for most. Gor Strewth. Worran addict I am. And how it’s enriched my life … As they say, there’s a little button called the ‘Off’ switch. Surely one of Man’s best inventions?

The real answer has to be the collapsible deckchair.

Precision,

“I’m struggling to think of a single invention that has not had at least one positive externality associated with its discovery.”

If you’d lived in an earlier age, try one of those devices that was designed to kill with maximum suffering by slow torture whilst keeping the victim alive for as long as possible. You might, I suppose, make out a long-shot case for their having led to more humane execution and ultimately to the abandonment of the death sentence in many countries. Hmmmmmmm.

22. jazjsmom - November 25th, 2008 at 9:52 pm

Though I agree totally that television is not always a positive thing, I think it also has many positives as well. How else would people have been able to have seen lunar landings, actually view our political candidates as real people instead of just a voice in the air? Sure, there is a lot of trash out there, but there is also a lot of good things that have influenced generations. But just like the above, I read constantly and love a good book probably most of all, but sometimes we just need an escape from the reality of the world and television can be that. I have to agree that guns would be at the top of my list. What is the usefulness in an instrument meant only for harming or killing? It is bad enough that some people have violent behavior and then add a gun to the situation and that makes a volatile situation even more volatile.

23. Oz - November 25th, 2008 at 9:59 pm

The worst human invention of all time:

Religion… more precisely, organized religion. (think all of the Abrahamic religions, etc.)

24. shadow - November 25th, 2008 at 10:00 pm

17. jfrater

“Surely it is better to fix the problems in life than hide from them in front of a glowing screen.”

I agree. Most of everyone’s time is devoted to making enough to live and supporting one’s obligations. Hopefully, as little time as necessary is spent on this requirement. The rest of the time available can be used to do the things that are enjoyed. Do I think that sitting in front of a glowing screen is the most productive thing I could be doing? No. Is it convenient? Yes. Do Irelax and enjoy most of what I watch? Yes. Would I do something else that may be more productive to me and all other humanity, were I not watching the “boob tube”. I would like to think so, but probably not.
Gotta catch the latest CSI now.

25. nyys - November 25th, 2008 at 10:02 pm

Is it just that I haven’t read the comments careful enough, or has nobody mentioned about nuclear bombs?

I agree that guns are bad, but they can help you in a situation where you can be killed. But nuclear bombs can destroy the world several times. Look at what North Korea is doing…

26. Precision - November 25th, 2008 at 10:06 pm

Anon - I think you’re on to something there re: torture devices. I confess that I did not think overly long or hard on the subject and was quite prepared to be proven wrong when I posted my comment. I suppose I had anticipated most of the responses to this question to be along the lines of weapons or religions, and was thinking of these while writing.

Regarding torture though - could it be said that these may have advanced our understanding of human biology by pushing boundaries that would otherwise be unethical? Unit 731 from WWII springs to mind.

27. c - November 25th, 2008 at 10:10 pm

Cigarettes.
Guns/bombs.
Money/Capitalism.
Cars.
Pride.
Lies/Propaganda.
Emperialism.
The “numa numa” song.

… to name a few.

28. Cyn - November 25th, 2008 at 10:25 pm

fire.
well, the use of it for light, heat and cooking (later forging metals…etc etc etc) that allowed us to truly venture out of the cave and into the world.
and look at what havoc we’ve created since.
*sigh*
there are days i do believe it’d been better if we’d never evolved past that cave…..

29. Anon - November 25th, 2008 at 10:26 pm

Precision,

As I was implying by my Hmmmmmm, it’s perfectly possible to find an obverse side to absolutely every coin. *Good* and *bad* if you want to be simplistic: probably positive or negative is better, and even then depending on the viewpoinht. A profound cynic might say nuclear weapons offer the beleaguered planet a chance to be rid of a very great number of us very speedily. Or looking at the same example from the opposite angle, the actual very limited use of atomic weapons could be said to have warned how terrible they indeed are, and have been responsible for their not having been used again since (or hopefully ever more). Getting more reasonable still, nuclear theory has led to what might be the most viable alternative to carbon dioxide pollution producing energy sources.

30. Woolhouse - November 25th, 2008 at 10:28 pm

The step. That piece of exercise equipment that is a single step. IE a block. It costs a pretty penny, is something most everyone either has in their house (that being a step) or- if they just NEED to have it in front of their TV- something they can recreate with some paint cans and a 2×4.

31. xXTurkinatorXx - November 25th, 2008 at 10:33 pm

Rap Music!

32. BooRadley - November 25th, 2008 at 10:34 pm

Nuclear Weapons

33. Anon - November 25th, 2008 at 10:36 pm

Are we allowed more than one?

The mobile phone. People wake me up on buses and trains with the bloody things. They go off during concerts, church services and the like. People get invited to our home for socialising and to enjoy a meal Anita spends hours preparing and disappear to the end of the room or out into the hall glued onto the wretched thing for half the night. Sometimes I go back to UK and find it difficult to contact my own daughters for all the texting and chatting that’s going on. Anita’s mum’s previously friendly little community has just been torn apart by one of those aerials mushrooming up in the middle of it overnight (a great subject for a film!).
TV? Huh, It can’t hold a candle to that evil device!

34. Anon - November 25th, 2008 at 10:41 pm

xXTurkinatorXx, (31.)

“Rap Music!”

Thanks for the reminder. That’ll do for my *bonus*! Mercifully, right now we don’t have any neighbours bashing it out at high vol. so it penetrates through the walls of our house. But for how long?

35. Taylor - November 25th, 2008 at 10:48 pm

Abortion

36. puddingpuppet - November 25th, 2008 at 10:52 pm

That’s simple. War.

37. Steph - November 25th, 2008 at 11:20 pm

fast food and all weapons since guns were invented.
both of those are responsible for a lot of lives lost.

38. DK - November 25th, 2008 at 11:22 pm

The electric Pizza cutter…
Seriously, it exists…It’s one of those round pizza cutters, but with a little battery operated motor…cuz apparently, Pizza is so hard to cut through that you need extra propulsion….

39. rapanui - November 25th, 2008 at 11:28 pm

cell phones. period.

40. Beast - November 25th, 2008 at 11:33 pm

Religion and Country music

41. >. - November 25th, 2008 at 11:33 pm

managers.

42. scarlet_tears - November 25th, 2008 at 11:43 pm

necessity is the mother of invention..

taking this quote into consideration, then their are no inventions that has no use..

but then again, some are just plain stupid.

cigarettes - what’s the use? you’ll die ten years early if you’re a chain smoker..

nuclear weapons - we all know we don’t want it to be use..

43. Spik5005 - November 26th, 2008 at 12:00 am

http://www.concurringopinions......ention.jpg

cmon what is that?

Banana rack is kind of stupid too

44. jhm27 - November 26th, 2008 at 12:03 am

probably cigarettes. Or any other man-made killers, but tobacco smoking is probably the worst.

45. infallibleangel - November 26th, 2008 at 12:03 am

The Automobile. Automobile. Automobile.

If it had never been created then there wouldn’t be 10 million (I threw that number out off the top of my head) of the smog-inducing, driver-angering, people-fattening eyesores out there on the roads.

They have polluted the the planet more than anything else in history… in many different ways. Not only by the endless streams of carbon dioxide/monoxide soot that streams out of the tails of each one… but also by indirectly contributing to oil spills and litter.

There’s the death factor… both with drivers and pedestrians… there’s the fact that many towns and cities worldwide were built to accommodate for it, thus making it harder for people to walk to get anywhere (and therefore leading to unhealthy people)

… and my personal favorite… that with the automobile comes the subsequent demand and greed for oil and gas has developed an industry so powerful that wars are fought over it, and is so rich that it is practically above and beyond any government existing in the world today.

Essentially, Automobiles and its friend oil rule the world.

46. jasontimmer - November 26th, 2008 at 12:09 am

I disagree with those that say the gun is the worst. There have been many times that guns have saved lives, not only in providing food but defending against invaders.

I would have to say the television is the worst. What slight benefit it has given in terms of education (usually biased) or any other life-saving news that was passed on, is vastly outweighed by the harm it has done.

People might be quick to point out all the people that have been killed with guns but I don’t think they realize how beneficial a tool it has been.

47. l3lazec - November 26th, 2008 at 12:12 am

The Segway

Not necessarily the worst invention, but probably the most pointless. I mean seriously, what the hell?

48. Gauntlet3D - November 26th, 2008 at 12:37 am

If I am able to expand this to discoveries. I would say oil. It is killing the earth. Cars are fine without the oil and gas. Guns kill people, no big deal. If they didn’t there would be more diseases due to a high population. The oil thing may end us as a species. The only other thing that could end us totally is the nuke.

49. PirateXxEsque - November 26th, 2008 at 12:37 am

There are far too many ways to look at this Mr frater. :/

Your statement that TV is the worst human invention is based on the idea of how it has affected human health (that is to say, it inspires people to not go outside and exercise).
In that same thought I could easily say that the myriad of technology availible to us through hospitals are the worst, because they are contributing to the overpopulation and continuation of the worst in the human gene pool.
The TV has previously contributed alot to the conveyance of infomation (specifically, news, world events)to the large masses. I think it may have contributed to the internet in how it is presented to us.

Those that say that the gun is the worst invention say so becuase of the human collateral damage.
What about the animals that needlessly get killed? What of the people who have been saved because the police have access to these weapons?

50. Phillies - November 26th, 2008 at 12:49 am

Wow, we got up to 19 comments before someone mentioned religion! I didn’t think it would take that long; I’m proud of you guys!

The worst invention is definitely the telephone. Especially around dinner. Or any other time of the day. JUST LEAVE ME ALONE, SHEESH

51. Penis - November 26th, 2008 at 12:54 am

Pink flamingos in the garden

52. OceanMan. - November 26th, 2008 at 12:56 am

i will say….power..

everything bad is about it, nazis, white supremacy, 9/11, my religion vs your religion, …power..the need to feel realized only because you need to make a point , ah abba..power.

53. Mortivore - November 26th, 2008 at 12:59 am

POWERTHIRST! Check it out on youtube. Hilarious. XD

54. OceanMan. - November 26th, 2008 at 1:06 am

LMAO!! hahaha, Kenya, ……Kenya!! jajajaj

55. BTG - November 26th, 2008 at 1:22 am

God
Democracy
Texas
Capitalism
Texas

56. sdggrant - November 26th, 2008 at 1:25 am

Religion.

Religion is like communism in that, in theory they both sound like good ideas, but human nature turns them into abominations.

57. Yun - November 26th, 2008 at 1:28 am

Television is no different from any other entertainment medium. Whether it’s a book, cinema, live theater, radio, live music… whatever… entertainment is only as good or bad as its content. Nearly every one of your complaints about television could easily be applied to books: Bias in non-fiction, escapism, a tool to keep kids occupied so parents don’t have to worry about them, sedentary entertainment. Pretty much the only exception is the complaint about imagination.

———-

If I had to choose one thing I’d probably say Government. I’m not an anarchist, mind you, but that’s more of a practical issue (it won’t work) than moral one.

There has never, in history, been a government that has not dedicated itself to accumulating more control over its subjects’ lives, nor has there ever been one which has relinquished power without at least the threat of violent revolution. Heck, it wasn’t until 1801 when there had even been a peaceful transfer of power between rival factions of the [i]same[/i] government (John Adams to Thomas Jefferson.)

Government corrupts everything it touches. It is government which turned “Love your neighbor as yourself” into “Kill the infidel.” It is government which turned “Let’s help the poor” into “Give us 2/3’s of your money.”

But, perhaps the worst aspect of government is the paradox that the most harmful creation in human history somehow manages to be among the most indispensable.

58. Abby - November 26th, 2008 at 1:51 am

God.

59. OceanMan. - November 26th, 2008 at 1:53 am

Man

60. Camico - November 26th, 2008 at 1:58 am

I’m gonna have to say Nuclear Bombs, the one invention that could wipe out all life on earth in a matter of hours. Cigarettes are pretty terrible too, you get nothing good out of them AT ALL.

61. Fernut - November 26th, 2008 at 2:05 am

Sex is the worst ever . . it hurts

62. The Dude - November 26th, 2008 at 2:24 am

religion, hands down.

63. Pyderz - November 26th, 2008 at 2:32 am

Religon.

64. 63jax - November 26th, 2008 at 2:44 am

Gay marriage, hate them, and now all of you gay defenders curse me.

65. jahblum - November 26th, 2008 at 3:30 am

Nuclear Weapons

66. jahblum - November 26th, 2008 at 3:33 am

Osama Bin Laden, didn’t the CIA create him

67. Donna - November 26th, 2008 at 3:34 am

Alcohol. (For the drinking, not medicating use). Not cool and not funny either. Yuck.

68. Bensonians - November 26th, 2008 at 3:35 am

BOMBS!

69. cb - November 26th, 2008 at 4:03 am

#56 Sdggrant. That’s one of the best sayings ever! I still can’t believe tv and automobiles are on here how many people who say they despise them on the list actually own them? And they’re bad because they stop social interaction cmon apart from the fact that phones are used to communicate and therefore be social aswell as organise to meet people etc there are far worse problems than this. I do have to agree religion is one of the worst inventions due to the mindless drones who follow it and fight for their god its insane and stupid. However I think I’ll go with torture devices seeing as though they inflict massive pain and prolong it what could be worse than that? Anti-social people? Instant death? Pollution?

70. cb - November 26th, 2008 at 4:03 am

#56 Sdggrant. That’s one of the best sayings ever! I still can’t believe tv and automobiles are on here how many people who say they despise them on the list actually own them? And they’re bad because they stop social interaction cmon apart from the fact that phones are used to communicate and therefore be social aswell as organise to meet people etc there are far worse problems than this. I do have to agree religion is one of the worst inventions due to the mindless drones who follow it and fight for their god its insane and stupid. However I think I’ll go with torture devices seeing as though they inflict massive pain and prolong it what could be worse than that? Anti-social people? Instant death? Pollution?

71. splash65 - November 26th, 2008 at 4:03 am

“Clap On!
Clap Off!
Clap On, Clap Off. The Clapper!!

72. knight_forked - November 26th, 2008 at 4:42 am

I think almost everything that’s been invented could be justified for its invention. I believed that God and religion were the worst but then there are arguments against those as well. People need something to hold on to and hence the concept of God; and religions were right around the time they were invented, it could be argued if they really fit into today’s scientific world.

I would say if porn is somebody’s invention then it lies right there at the edge of the worst inventions. The reason is that firstly it kills your imagination and secondly it subdues your zest to go out and be outspoken. I fail to remember if there’s any positive impact of it though. Well, all said, I still pray at the temple of Godess porn almost every day (TMI)…

By the way worst invention would be something like “List of top 10 worst lists,” I hope I don’t ever see that here at LV…just kidding Jamie

73. rolinrolin - November 26th, 2008 at 5:03 am

high heels…..
not comfy, health damaging,makes most women walk slower, hazardous to other people (hear from someone who has been stepped on stupid heels has to say)……..
who cares it look nice, it’s stupid, does it even look thaaat nice, stupid heels! i’m a gal btw

74. Flash - November 26th, 2008 at 5:23 am

Religion. The cause of more problems, persecution, and murder than any other idea, concept or device.

75. YOHEI - November 26th, 2008 at 5:29 am

I`d say The automobile It kills people & make them lazy

76. Ash - November 26th, 2008 at 5:41 am

Twilight
Worst thing in the history of mankind.

77. im a muslim - November 26th, 2008 at 5:49 am

alcohol. it causes cirrhosis of liver, cancer of Bowel, oesophagus,head n neck,liver(hepatoma),oesophagitis, gastritis,pancreatitis,hepatitis,cardiomyophaty,hypertension,coronary Artherosclerosis, angina,heart attack, strokes,apoplexy, Fits,paralyses, peripheral etc. they are juz 1/3 of them. if u want 2 know more,go to www.ilovezakirnaik. com./ all rite guys bye.

78. carl - November 26th, 2008 at 5:54 am

tv’s slowly becoming useless nowadays.i mean almost all of the tv shows aired can be downloaded from the internet, thanks a lot to eztv!

@ topic: i think the worst human invention is the cellphone. money was once the root of all evil. now, it’s cellphone.

here’s the proof:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-7XwboOx98

79. Jaz_3 - November 26th, 2008 at 5:55 am

tobacco
guns
drugs
segway(the thing u need to lean to make it move)
n
wwe

80. im a muslim - November 26th, 2008 at 6:06 am

oh.i forgot to mention my objection to you. television is a very great invention!!!without it i could’nt watch hundreds of great korean dramas such as stairway to heaven, sad love story, romance,my girl, hotelier etc

81. theleafs - November 26th, 2008 at 6:08 am

rap”music”…..the most horrible sounds ever made by man

82. Gabby - November 26th, 2008 at 6:24 am

#61. Fernut - November 26th, 2008 at 2:05 am
Sex is the worst ever . . it hurts

/ came in to say “Then you’re doing it wrong”

83. DiscHuker - November 26th, 2008 at 6:29 am

God and religion? geez people, look past your bias to see that the infrastructure of society would fall apart if it weren’t for these. we would lose many hospitals and schools, most charitable organizations and unleash billions of people who no longer have a moral code.

surely there are things that don’t have as many positives to go along with the negative aspects.

there is a common theme between just about every suggestion so far. human.

if a gun can be used to provide food for a family (good) and kill somebody you disagree with (bad) then it seems that the invention is subject to the whims of the user.

man, pride, anger, jealousy, pettiness, sin essentially is our problem.

although to answer the question, i would say the little thing in public bathrooms that stops the toilet paper roll from moving freely thus giving you only one or two squares at a time.

84. Randall - November 26th, 2008 at 6:37 am

I’m torn between the hydrogen bomb and high fructose corn syrup.

85. Nicosia - November 26th, 2008 at 6:38 am

Oh, snap… Gabby- You took my line!

86. Nicosia - November 26th, 2008 at 6:42 am

“although to answer the question, i would say the little thing in public bathrooms that stops the toilet paper roll from moving freely thus giving you only one or two squares at a time.”

YES! DiscHuker! Is toilet paper thievery really that big a problem?

87. LordCalvert - November 26th, 2008 at 6:42 am

our soon-to-be president, invented by communists and radicals to destroy this country

88. Sugen - November 26th, 2008 at 7:07 am

#1: guns don’t kill people do
#8: i agree with you perfectly. I was about saying nuclear bombs but what about nuclear energy?

89. trojan_man - November 26th, 2008 at 7:08 am

Taxes!

90. Jackie - November 26th, 2008 at 7:08 am

Haha Randall! Have you seen those commercials now about how high fructose corn syrup supposedly really isn’t bad for you? hmm…I need to find it somewhere and get back to you…anyway the commercials don’t convince me, I still think it’s bad for you, especially when it’s unnecessarily added to things that don’t need it like juice.

91. Dr. Bob - November 26th, 2008 at 7:11 am

Bluetooth Headsets

I cannot tell you how many times I have been quietly shopping in the supermarket while some rude person is walking down each and every aisle laughing and talking extra-loudly with their earpiece in (like your friend can’t hear you if you use your inside voice).

I understand that using headsets are very convenient for hands-free phone use while driving, but maybe they should be sold with a tether that forces you to leave it in your vehicle. That way, you don’t have to be such a jerk.

And for the people that walk around with one constantly in their ear…I hope you get ear cancer and drop dead! It’s like you’re always expecting a call, and nobody is sure if you’re talking to them or if you’re on the phone. It’s not a status symbol or a piece of jewelry. And if you spend so much time on the phone that it is so much of a bother for you to be putting it in and taking it out all the time, then I think there is something wrong with you!

If anyone reading this is wearing a Bluetooth headset and is either talking loudly in public or not talking on the phone at all, I am not sorry. You are probably extremely annoying and/or creepy. Please try to better yourselves.

Thank you.

92. rushfan - November 26th, 2008 at 7:12 am

Randall stole mine.

93. wachinga - November 26th, 2008 at 7:26 am

school XD

94. theleafs - November 26th, 2008 at 7:29 am

one more….RELIGION, has the ever been an invention that killed more people or was the reason to wage war; belief in God is one thing; organized belief and forcing it upon others is another, one with often horrific consequences.

95. ihsanjr - November 26th, 2008 at 7:35 am

Gunpowder is the worst invention. It destroyed feudalism, but it will destroy humanity. (Just kiddin, hurrah gunpowder, damn barbie dolls, hurrah atomic bombs, damn spongebob)

96. Kreachure - November 26th, 2008 at 7:37 am

This is actually a pretty good question…

I’ll have to say REALITY TV!!!!

Tila Tequila and The Hills alone are enough to lose hope in humanity.

But that doesn’t mean I hate TV as a whole.

97. Kreachure - November 26th, 2008 at 7:41 am

Also, why is the image “WHAT IS THE BEST TV SHOW EVER?” “My Answer: Television”? Never heard of that one…

98. Bob - November 26th, 2008 at 7:42 am

lawl letz all say religion or god, guyz. . .hurhur. . .amirite?

Honestly, though, it’s homosexuality.

99. Bob - November 26th, 2008 at 7:44 am

By the way, godless philosophies have been the cause of far more deaths than all religions put together, even if you count bloodthirsty religions like Islam that have violence as one of their main tenets.

100. Kreachure - November 26th, 2008 at 7:45 am

Ugh, I forgot to say that the only Reality show that I consider worth it is The Amazing Race. Okay I’ll stop with the multiposts now (although I’m eager to defend TV’s contributions to modern society… )

101. JUNQUEMAN - November 26th, 2008 at 7:49 am

WHY, THE ANSWER HAS TO BE—LISTS!

102. Jackie - November 26th, 2008 at 7:57 am

Bob @97: Can you give me an example of how “godless philosophies have been the cause of far more deaths than all religions put together” ?

103. bulldada - November 26th, 2008 at 8:03 am

You are all wrong.

The worst invention by man is alligator clips.

104. Brickhouse - November 26th, 2008 at 8:06 am

I agree with TV to a point. I think if TV were to shut off at 11 or 12 at night and come back on at 5 or 6, that would encourage a lot of people to get more sleep. Like they used to when it was first invented.

I would say the remote is worse than the TV. The more inventions humans create to make our lives easier are slowly making us all heavier and killing us off sooner… Watch Wall-E. I think they were spot-on to where we are headed with trash and conveniences.

105. Mike - November 26th, 2008 at 8:07 am

Organized fanatical religion and neoliberal capitalism are the first things that come to my mind when considering the worst inventions of mankind.

106. GTT - November 26th, 2008 at 8:16 am

Disc (81)- WOW, I was actually phrasing my post in my mind when I read yours and figured you had already eloquently written what I wanted to say. Kudos.

107. DiscHuker - November 26th, 2008 at 8:24 am

thanks gtt. which part? i am equally supportive of God/religion and free flowing toilet paper.

108. Anon - November 26th, 2008 at 8:29 am

Bob, (96),

“Honestly, though, it’s homosexuality”

Let’s have the name of its *inventor* then, Bob. Every invention has to have an inventor.

For those who say nuclear weapons. Really? Any device which so scares shit out of humanity as to be the ONLY way of stopping a third and most lethal world conflict for the entire last 60+ years can’t be all bad. Oh yes it has been, sad to say, don’t let’s try to pretend otherwise.

109. Jackie - November 26th, 2008 at 8:32 am

Randall: check this ad out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEbRxTOyGf0

there’s a couple of them..it’s really bizarre because I’ve read everywhere else that it’s bad for you but these commercials try to convince otherwise

110. Fazrin - November 26th, 2008 at 8:36 am

Bob,ur comment will for sure hurt us(muslim).Well, i cannot blame you 100% as there are so many misconceptions about islam.study first every statement that u hear and u will realize that islam do not teach terrorism.

111. bucslim - November 26th, 2008 at 8:38 am

Hot Pockets!

112. DiscHuker - November 26th, 2008 at 8:43 am

bucslim: you mean boiling hot magma and pepperoni pockets

113. Anon - November 26th, 2008 at 8:43 am

Disc et al.,

Its inventor as well as beneficiaries of the bog paper stop gadget might well claim that the worst invention is the fellow human being who keeps pulling and pulling and pulling the free-flow type. Result: the next person along discovers too late there is none left for their dire (or diorrhea) hour of need. Hands up anyone who’s NOT been in that situation? Recommendation. Use paper handkerchiefs and always carry a sufficiently large wadge in your pockets. (That’s for blokes and ladies who don’t use handbags.)

114. danmoo - November 26th, 2008 at 8:53 am

for everyone who says tobacco and is from the united states think again. Tobacco was one of the most important staple crops in this country in the 17th and 18th century. W/O it the colonies would not have survived. That was their biggest export out of the colonies allowing them to thrive and begin to incorporate other crops. Tobacco was not an awful invention, nor are cigarettes

115. Pyderz - November 26th, 2008 at 9:01 am

99. Bob

“By the way, godless philosophies have been the cause of far more deaths than all religions put together, even if you count bloodthirsty religions like Islam that have violence as one of their main tenets.”

What Godless Philosophies? Could you explain

116. Raptor - November 26th, 2008 at 9:13 am

Leaded petrol, and CFC’s to cool refrigirators

117. segue - November 26th, 2008 at 9:16 am

42. scarlet_tear: necessity is the mother of invention..
****
Oh, no! Necessity is the mother of strange bedfellows!

As to the Atom bomb, and all that followed, even Einstein was devastated when he realized what he had helped to do. Had the first not been invented, none of the following been invented, we’d undoubted be living in a much more serene (at least mentally, phychologically) world.

118. bucslim - November 26th, 2008 at 9:19 am

KFC!

The Colonel puts an addictive substance in his chicken that makes you crave it fortnightly, SMARTASS! OOO I hate the Colonel and his wee beady eyes!

119. Anon - November 26th, 2008 at 9:25 am

segue, (117),

Ah, one of our very rare bit civilised points of disagreement then? (See my 108.) I can only add that having lived through a world war and a cold war, I know my preference without a moment’s hesitation. The cold had really frightening moments, but like the genuine threat of a major earthquake where we live now, it dod not prey endlessly on my mind, or those of all I knew, or blight our lives. With nuclear weapons I could have been called up for active service when on call (up to 45). Without them I’m as near certain as possible I would have been.

120. Grelf - November 26th, 2008 at 9:27 am

The cell phone.

121. longball - November 26th, 2008 at 9:45 am

the womans vibrator…

ROFL

seriously though…i think it sucks.

122. Blogball - November 26th, 2008 at 9:55 am

Lawn Jarts! http://snag.files.wordpress.com/2007/01/jarts.jpg
Remember those things? Really fun game but someone should have seen the writing on the wall that kids (like me) would throw them up as high as possible not knowing where or who they will land on.

OK not really the worst human invention but for some reason Lawn Jarts came to my mind.

123. jadester - November 26th, 2008 at 9:56 am

Oh I disagree with television being the worst. I have learned a lot of things from the simpsons and it has also taught me to be more open minded to other cultures and societies by watching and learning about them.
My worst thing, although it was probably already said, is religion.
Not god, but religion.

124. Fazrin - November 26th, 2008 at 10:10 am

I agree with u Buckslim.KFC suppliers cram birds into huge waste-filled factories,breed and drug them to grow so large that they can’t even walk and often break their wings and legs.So, ladies and gentlethinker let us boycott Kentucky Fried Cruelty(KFC)

125. Anon - November 26th, 2008 at 10:12 am

A pity we have no opening parameter to define what was intended to constitute an invention here. Presumably though it was intended to cover material gadgets and implements, not philosophies and religions, attitudes, natural resources or human behaviour, etc. Many of those non-material *inventions* add little but pointless aggro to this thread, as elsewhere in LV.

Maybe the following point has already been made explicitly or implicitly, but the definition The Worst Human Invention doesn’t have to signify it has no beneficial side. E.g. despite saving lives in emergencies, improving business deals and the like, cell phones still qualify. Likewise the openingchoice of TV.

Perhaps this needs splitting into two: The most terrible human ionvention AND The most irritating human invention!

126. Anon - November 26th, 2008 at 10:19 am

Tobacco isn’t an invention. The cigarette is. It has just killed one of my two best friends, despite his having given it up immediately the anti-cancer campaign started all that time ago. So don’t give me that codswallop about cigarettes not being an awful invention danmoo, despite my learning so much from those wonderful little informative picture cards they used to put in the packets.

127. Jon - November 26th, 2008 at 11:00 am

simple; the zike

128. Wolf - November 26th, 2008 at 11:10 am

I will agree with TV to an extent; at one time it was informative and educational. However with the advent of this “reality TV” bull shit all use for TV is gone and that is the reason we got rid of our cable.

129. DonJuan - November 26th, 2008 at 11:13 am

The Federal Reserve

130. ploni - November 26th, 2008 at 11:23 am

TV while it has many bad things, is the reason you can travel around the world and SPEAK ENGLISH to people. If you have ever been to a country that doesnt teach English in school and were able to survive speaking english, this is most likely because the people that COULD speak English watched a lot of TV

131. Miss Destiny - November 26th, 2008 at 11:23 am

Nuclear bombs. Why would we want to create something that could blow us all up?

132. Talanic - November 26th, 2008 at 11:56 am

Gonna be hard to get any kind of consensus here.

Nukes are TERRIBLE when used…but what has their very presence done to the world? We’re a lot less willing to engage in major wars–look at the 1800s and compare to the 1950s and later; there have been tons of small wars (which are no less horrific) but no massive conflicts so far. Here’s hoping.

Petroleum distillation? On one hand, it brought us to our modern age. On the other, it might wipe us out. Who knows? That throws it in with the same potential as such things as robotics, artificial intelligence and nanotechnology–each of which COULD rock, or they COULD annihilate us.

Or religion. It’s one of the things that led to civilization rising at all. When Rome fell, the only reason that not all the works and ideas of Rome and Greece were lost was because of monks making copy after copy. Tons of people can only find contentment in religion. And yet, at the same time, it’s been abused to justify atrocities and manipulate people. You can probably say the same thing about any economic or governmental system.

How about this as an idea: Tobacco.

133. Anon - November 26th, 2008 at 12:22 pm

Talanic,

(Sighs) There’s a pretty extensive tobacco thread above you already. It goes down as far as Post 126.

(Sighs again) There’s also a fair consideration of the pros and cons of nuclear weapons. It reaches Post 119, and then crops up again in Post 131 without reference to previous discussion.

Interactive discussion is actually far more interesting, believe it or not. And Talanic, regulars just HATE seeing something presented as brand new which has long been discussed in the thread. It may even be their *worst human invention*! Hahaha.

134. Q43 - November 26th, 2008 at 12:39 pm

Atomic bomb is by far the worst invention of mankind.
it is enough to say that the creator of the bomb Robert Oppenheimer after seeing first nuclear test said : “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds” .
Anything that has power to take so many lives should not be in people’s hands.

135. Mr. Plow - November 26th, 2008 at 12:46 pm

Godless philosophies that have led directly to wholesale slaughter?

Nazism and communism to name a couple (and let’s not forget the fans of eugenics that were popular in the 18/1900s)…killing over belief is not solely a religious thing.

I know blaming religion is a REALLY popular, but lets be fair. Mankind has shown it can kill for many reasons.

Worst invention, any philosophies or governmental forms that take away from the individual rights of people…or to be more partisan, anything that takes away from free markets or liberties.

inb4 capitalist pig or religious fundie

136. Rob - November 26th, 2008 at 12:52 pm

Yep…cigarettes have to be right up there. They smell, are bad for your health, highly addictive and completely pointless.

137. Jazoo - November 26th, 2008 at 1:17 pm

Religion.

138. bucslim - November 26th, 2008 at 1:45 pm

#124 Fazrin - you’re confusing me with the animal rights lunatic fringe. I enjoy chicken, chopped up, dusted with flour and salt, deep fried and slathered in sauce, or roasted, or the filling in a Philly sandwich, or only the wings with bbq sauce or cold from the fridge the next day.

So, to quote Maddux, for every animal you refuse to eat, I’m going to eat three, negating your fondness for the salvation of the animal kingdom put on this planet to be consumed by us.

Teach that chicken to build a hospital or drive a car, and I’m on your side.

139. Cullinan - November 26th, 2008 at 2:05 pm

The macarena,

140. theSKIN - November 26th, 2008 at 2:10 pm

People saying that religion killed more people than anything else, how ignorant can you be. Who ever taught you this was wrong. War and disease have kill way more people then religious persecution. There have been far more persecuted people because of their race, nationality’s, ideas, and tribal ancestry. Look at Africa since the imperialism of the land, its people have been subjected to killings, slavery, and torture. Even now, they are killing each other just because of the tribal differences. WW2 Nazi’s killed millions of people because of their heritage, Japan slaughter millions of people because their race/nationality. Mention one war on religion I’ll raise raise you 10 wars started over other reasons. Don’t be so blind sided by your vendetta towards religion, that you believe one thing you’ve read or heard.

141. Randall - November 26th, 2008 at 2:14 pm

Jackie:

Goddamn high fructose corn syrup peddlers, trying to force their clear semi-liquid Koolaid on us… forcing us to buy more and more and more, keeping The High Fructose Council and the High Fructose High Lord of Sweetness in perpetual business… damn them all to hell.

That, or like I said, the hydrogen bomb. Not a nice invention. Scary, very scary. But has hurt fewer people than High Fructose Corn Syrup, I betchya. Hmmm. Tough choice.

Actually, you know, if you put high fructose corn syrup in ANYTHING, Americans’ll buy it. Did you know that? It’s true.

Ah well. This truly is a silly Your View.

Television the worst invention? (!) PSSSHAWWW!!! Think of the world without TV… (as Homer Simpson said–I paraphrase cuz I can’t remember the exact quote–”friend, parent, secret lover…”) No televised boxing! No Monday Night Football! No Diana Rigg in her skin-tight leather outfits (drool). No Marianne in her lil’ short shorts and cut off top (double drool). None of the sheer delight of waiting for those odd moments when Joyce Dewitt would wear something tight or revealing, and you’re yelling at the TV for that dumbass Jack Tripper to get the hell out of your way! No Star Trek (original only!) with the Spock and the Kirk and “Dammit I’m a doctor, not a concierge!” (”I’m not a madam! I’m a CONCIERGE!”—and how would I have heard that when the damn movie came out when I was only THREE, but for TV? I ask you!) No “Circus of the Stars” or “Battle of the Network Stars!” No “Love Boat” and no… well wait, I’m making the argument for it here, aren’t I? Well… no Star Trek! That was a damn good show! So was Seinfeld! Cripes! No Twilight Zone, no Naked City, no The Defenders, no Wild Wild West… am I making my point? No, I didn’t think so.

I do like Ghost Hunters and How It’s Made though… the quality of my life would be lessened without them.

I also think Cheez Whiz is pretty sucky, and should be considered as another terrible invention. Wonderbread too. Yick.

142. ringo710 - November 26th, 2008 at 2:26 pm

JB is a fucking moron. anyone who thinks that inventions like the television are making people “lazier” should go live in an amish town. the purpose of all invention is to ease the toil of man, and if you look at it from a cavemans point of veiw, all humans are lazy. and as for the making people stupider part, its only dipshits like you who think like that. in fact, why do you turn in your computer and buy a nice stationary kit, so you can mail people stupidity.

143. mlb - November 26th, 2008 at 2:27 pm

Automatic-flush toilets. They inevitable flush at the most inopportune time, and are notorious for splashing one’s nether regions with whatever vile substance is in the bowl.

144. hope - November 26th, 2008 at 2:28 pm

can anyone who posted homosexuality please explain why you think it is wrong? outside of religion, I have yet to find a single intellegent answer to that question. I keep hearing it destroys families but noone can say why!

The worst inventions all can be found on an infomercial staring Billy Mays….he’s a great salesman but all the products he promotes are useless!

145. ringo710 - November 26th, 2008 at 2:32 pm

and to theSKIN, ever hear of manifest destiny? its what europenas belived. it means that god ordained them with holy right to conqure africa and america. hitler specifically killed the jews and atheists becouse of his roman catholic veiws, whitch he said many times[also, jewish is not a race, dumbass.]. the crusades were in the complete name of christianity. the salem witch trials, saddam hussein s slaugher of shiites, etc. etc.

in short, you are a fucking idiot.

146. Lynn in Oregon - November 26th, 2008 at 2:36 pm

The Cartoon Network has destroyed society!

Life was better before children had access to cartoons 24 hours a day.

In “the old days”, Saturday morning cartoons were a meaningful part of our lives. We got up early, fixed a bowl of cereal (our first experience at “cooking”), snuggled up in our favorite chair or with a favorite pillow and settled in for 5 or 6 hours of pure kidertainment. Followed by “GASP” going outside and playing… nowdays cartoons are aways on, never giving kids a chance to “PUT DOWN THE FOOD AND STEP AWAY FROM THE TV”

Saturday mornings were something to look forward to all week(teaching patience)

Saturday mornings were a privilege and could be taken away
(teaching actions have consequences)

Saturday mornings were a good thing.

sigh…Stupid Cartoon Network…

147. Mr. Plow - November 26th, 2008 at 2:49 pm

Holy crap…Hitler…a Catholic? Raised maybe. But observant? Hell no.

Hitler’s numerous crimes were not committed out of his zeal for the Catholic church. Check it out…http://www.lawandreligion.com/nurinst1.shtml

Fool.

And “Jewish” can refer to both a religion or a ethnicity.

And Saddam’s persecution of the Shiites was much more about their revolt…not their religion. Saddam was pretty secular…Islamic only when it politically suited him.

Give me a religious conflict, and i’ll give you secular reasons for a ‘religious’ war.

Settle your 16yo butt down ringo, no one is trying to convert you.

148. OceanMan. - November 26th, 2008 at 2:50 pm

ringo get your facts straigh, Hitler was Catholic,but he`s motives werent influence by it,to say that is just plain ignorant, read Alfred Rosenberg(one of hitler`s chieff ideologist) “The Myth of the 20th Century” in wich he blast the catholic church pretty damn hard, he`s hatred of the jews wasnt religion motivated, study first.

the manifest destiny was an american manifest, not European, and it was NOT influenced by God, but rather by power,nationalisim etc..

get your facts straight buddy.

And religion is always and excuse, not the reason, ideology gone extreme is the fault, communism(Stanlin), religious fundamentalism (kkk)..ideology, not religion.

149. b-lucke - November 26th, 2008 at 3:09 pm

Meth !!!!

150. ericdraven26 - November 26th, 2008 at 3:10 pm

war
intelligence
religion

151. guy - November 26th, 2008 at 3:11 pm

the air conditioner! it allows people to stay inside even on hot days so they do not need to go take part in their community and stuff. less people meet i guess. idk

152. ericdraven26 - November 26th, 2008 at 3:11 pm

on intelligence, think about back before we could create, we had no ozone holes, or many extinct/endangered species
look at it now

i rest my case.

153. guy - November 26th, 2008 at 3:12 pm

God invented humans- the most harmful invention ever

154. ROK - November 26th, 2008 at 3:12 pm

Organized religion is the worst “invention” of mankind. Ever.

155. segue - November 26th, 2008 at 3:13 pm

119. Anon: segue, (117), Ah, one of our very rare bit civilised points of disagreement then?
****
Yes, it is. I remember so vividly my grammar school days; once a month the civil defense sirens would sound, and you would crawl under your desk (if at school, a table if at home) curl into a ball, and clasp your fingers together behind your neck. When one next siren sounded we’d lineup and march to our underground lunchroom, where we’d wait for the next “all clear” siren.
I had an ulcer by nine, sure I’d be dead one of those times the sirens sounded. I’d seen the civil defense films, I knew crawling under the desk was a waste of time.
During the Cold War, my dad was Supervisor of a construction crew which was putting up perimeter fencing around minuteman silos in the Northwest. In all of the little towns around the sites everyone, children included, wore dogtags so that, in case of nuclear attack (they’d be a first strike location), the bodies could be identified. I was 12. Imagine what kind of influence that had on my psyche.

156. cb - November 26th, 2008 at 3:19 pm

Dischuker: you have a good point about funding and religion but I don’t know of any hospitals funded by the church and every religous school I know of costs a fortune to go to and brainwashes children or atleast attempts to about religion I would know I started in a catholic pre school and finished all my schooling years at a catholic school. That aside if religous people’s ethics are only due to a childhood like reward system, that being good you get rewarded (heaven), bad you get punished (hell) then what people are they anyway? they merely act good or bad on a reward basis not because they have any real moral fibre but because a book told them to. I think or atleast hope it goes a bit deeper than that and their actions and morals are more concrete than that for there sake and everyone else’s too. As for bob #98,#99 firstly how is homosexuality an invention? And even if it was how is that bad unless you were raped and are holding a grudge I suppose and as for godless philosophy being a bigger killer than religion? Where did you pull that from I’m sure even the religous people will back me on saying that’s a lie. In fact it was the philosophical teachers who were killed and imprisoned by religous fanaticals and I can list quite a few.

157. Zakšek - November 26th, 2008 at 3:22 pm

CLOTHING
GUNS
RELIGION
TIME
CELL PHONES
MCDONALC
KAVIAR
TELEVISION

If I would have to chose just one, it would be RELIGION !

158. Paulb - November 26th, 2008 at 3:37 pm

The Xbox 360, the Wii and PS3 are much better

159. Miss Laura - November 26th, 2008 at 3:51 pm

In my opinion, the Casket. I believe people should contribute to the environment instead of being locked in a box unable to decay as every other thing does. Burial grounds take up tons of space as well. Not entirely sure if this was an invention or more as a rite of passage, but either way someone along the line more or less brought it to be.

160. goof_ball - November 26th, 2008 at 3:55 pm

deep friers. it makes people fat and fat people fatter.

161. Mr. Plow - November 26th, 2008 at 4:02 pm

cb

There are numerous Catholic hopsitals…feel free to google ones in your area.

As for your schooling, well, I think the fact that you were ‘brainwashed’ from pre school to graduation is a great example of someone coming from a religious backround, and still making decisions for themselves.

So how then again are schools brainwashing the kiddies? I think we can both agree that when we are adults, we make our own decisions, and someones adult faith is certianly one of them.

You view that religon=wars shows you really do not have a firm grasp of historical fact nor a realistic concept of why wars/conflicts are fought. Most conclicts are over resources, cultural influence, or just plain old power lust.

Very rarely is relgion in itself a motive to go to war.

But, I think your rather simplistic interpretation (”a book that promises rewards”) take on religion, and let’s be honest, you are talking about Christianity, shows you to be someone is who is really more concerned with maligining a denomination you disapprove of than anything else.

162. Valencio - November 26th, 2008 at 4:11 pm

The DVD rewinder is THE king of stupid inventions

163. Kealey - November 26th, 2008 at 4:30 pm

Text messaging, its created a barrier for real communication, its dumbed down our youth, and it’s anti social. I am an avid texter. Urgghh.

164. JohnSomats - November 26th, 2008 at 4:34 pm

McDonalds 15 cent cheeseburgers.

165. egbert - November 26th, 2008 at 4:35 pm

Ringo710:

First, if you are going to write something anywhere (public forum or private note) go back to school or use a dictionary and look up the word. Spelling mistakes, poor syntax, etc. just make you sound plain ol’ dumb!

Second, if you’re going to pontificate (look it up) about Roman Catholicism, Hitler, and other things try to get your facts straight. If you have only a vague idea of the actual historical facts and context then google the subject or look it up in a school textbook before making a fool of yourself in public. Otherwise you just strike all observers as ignorant.

Needless to say, your arguments have fallen flat and doubtless have turned others off to your way of thinking.

On the other hand, if you are - as I suspect - just some angry kid spouting off then all your spittle-flying hate phrases will neither rouse us nor satisfy you. And frankly I truly feel sorry for you.

166. cb - November 26th, 2008 at 4:53 pm

Mr. Plow

The closest catholic hospital to me is nearly 6 hours away still a valid point though. In my post I wrote “brainwashes children or at least attempts to about religion”. It’s quite easy how they brainwash children, I had to have studies of religion as a compulsory lesson in my HSC, I was given a bible I had to read and do exercises in. I was made to participate in a re-enactment of the crucification of Jesus, made to go to church weekly and do the rosary amongst other things. I have many friends who were brainwashed into religion. One of them said if it wasn’t for him being tutored in physics he would still believe what the school fed him and many other smart friends of mine still do. Still religious brainwashing is slightly off topic. As for me saying religion = wars that’s very much out of context all I said was religion was a bigger killer than godless philosophies and how mindless drones fight for their god that’s hardly stating that religion = wars. (except these posts are a good example of some listverse wars hehe).

All in all I still believe torture (whether that include the rosary is up to you) is still the worst invention but religion is up there for it’s brainwashing, slowing down of civilization (Galileo, killing and imprisonment of ancient philosophers, men & dinosaur business etc), Sacrifices, Jihads, conflict (note conflict not war), Eating only certain things ie haram, kosher,being a vego etc and the taking away of people’s rights.

167. Navik - November 26th, 2008 at 5:01 pm

dude quit saying nukes, if the stupid jap bastards didn’t have to blindside us in the first place nobody would know their power is except for the testers, and cigarettes, you have a choice, the worst invention is whatever makes the largest number of people miserable, yea religion is pretty stupid too, look how many wars it has created, therefore requiring upgrades in weapons to kill your ‘inferior’ religious opponent, religion probly

168. Navik - November 26th, 2008 at 5:03 pm

dude and mr. plow, i just heard on the news the other day that every war being fought right now is religious, and look how many in the past, so it is a huge motive

169. Theodoric of York - November 26th, 2008 at 5:06 pm

CB, I hardly see where religion, the rosary, or your unhappiness at a Catholic school have anything to do with inventions. If you have a beef with religion, Catholicism, etc. that is your business. But let’s focus on the question here: the worst invention.

Inventions by the very definition are intended to improve something. If the invention has worked then hopefully it has improved upon its purpose. So to me the questions here are:

a) What invention was truly a horrible invention;
b) What invention was completely and utterly useless.

My choice for a) is nuclear weapons. My choice for b) is poison gas in WW1 (devastating for both the intended victim as well as the user).

170. fThrud - November 26th, 2008 at 5:06 pm

The internal combustion engine.

Steam, Wind and Hydro power were already in use when petroleum based technologies were developed. If the internal combustion engine had not been invented, mankind would have focused on developing those clean and renewable energy sources much sooner.

171. Theodoric of York - November 26th, 2008 at 5:08 pm

Narvik, it was not religion that caused wars. It is the greed, selfishness, and lack of moral center that caused wars. Plenty of unscrupulous individuals have hidden behind the mantle of a religious cloak. But that does not inherently prove that that religion is bad nor that religions in general are the cause of the problems. It simply shows that human nature is generally corrupt.

172. OceanMan. - November 26th, 2008 at 5:17 pm

nice job Theodoric.

173. cb - November 26th, 2008 at 5:20 pm

Theodoric of York:

“I hardly see where religion, the rosary, or your unhappiness at a Catholic school have anything to do with inventions”

Religion is an invention hence the relevance in this forum that being “Your View: What is the worst human invention”

Invention is simply something that was invented.
Invented by definition is the following:

1. To produce or contrive (something previously unknown) by the use of ingenuity or imagination.
2. To make up; fabricate: invent a likely excuse.

Hope this helps clear up why I suggested religion and then named several reasons why it is one of the worst inventions.

174. Mr. Plow - November 26th, 2008 at 5:26 pm

171 York, agreed.

Navik, whatever troll.

cb, you still are no longer a practicing Catholic, so why are you NOT brainwashed and all those you graduated with ARE? Either you are supremely brilliant or maybe the brainwashing is not that effective.

And are you really that surprised that a religious school endorses a religion?

Also i’ve never heard of eating kosher violating anyone’s individual rights. Religion is a choice, just like your choice to leave, there are no taking of liberties, one simply chooses a lifestyle in which they know they will have certain rules.

AS for religion being such a killer, peruse this link, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L.....death_toll

Is religion really the biggest killer…or conflict causer? It is a myth that religion is the prime cause of conflict…the historical record simply does not bear that out, read for yourself.

I agree on the torture, but still maintain that liberty killing philosophies and governments are the worst invention humanity has created.

175. Cedestra - November 26th, 2008 at 5:29 pm

Without TV we would have no Listverse.
Telemarketing.

176. Bigwig Rabbit - November 26th, 2008 at 5:34 pm

Reader comments.

177. Cyn - November 26th, 2008 at 5:38 pm

Bigwig Rabbit -
you wascaly wabbit! as much as i bitch and moan about commentors..at times…it is what makes this site so entertaining. otherwise it’d just be lists..which is great but the internet is about interaction NOT just reading.
so pooh pooh on your comment bashing commentors!
for shame you wascaly wabbit!

178. cb - November 26th, 2008 at 5:41 pm

Mr Plow

Have you ever heard a brainwashed person say they’re brainwashed? All those people that follow cults, mass suicides, suicide bombers that believe they will go to heaven and get heaps of virgins etc are they not brainwashed?

The conclusion that you came to stating that either I am supremely brilliant or the brainwashing in not that effective is fairly limited. Could it be perhaps that I was further educated than those through science or philosophy. Perhaps it was that I was not as ignorant as others the possibilities are far more than the my brilliance or the ineffectiveness of their brainwashing.\

Thank you for the link even if it is misguided as you keep stating that I believe religion is “such a killer”. It’s just more of a killer than a godless philosphy is all I said. However the human sacrifice statistics were interesting.

179. mike - November 26th, 2008 at 5:46 pm

Annoying forced 4chan internet memes. God dammit man, it was funny for about… Two minutes! No more!

180. Theodoric of York - November 26th, 2008 at 5:47 pm

CB, Let’s objectively look at the numbers, shall we? In terms of “religious wars” we can easily lump in the Jihad by Muslims from 632 to at least the suige of Vienna in 1638; on the Christian side the Crusades in retaliation from the 11th century on; the Dutch Revolt (1560s to 1648); the 30 Years’ War (1618-1648) but really almost nothing afterwards (unless you include the Taiping rebellion 1850-1864 in China). The Napoleanic Wars were fought for a secular ideal. The wars of the 19th century (Crimean War, wars of Italian and German reunification; American Civil War) were all for nationalism in one sense or another. The British, French and Russian imperial wars were simply expansionist. Thus we are left with the 20th century. Those wars (WW1, WW2, colonial struggles in Africa and Asia, proxy fights of the Cold War, etc.) were all purely secular. Unless you consider Nazi-ism, Communism and Western liberal democracy religions (I don’t and I have never heard anyone who does). The death tally from the 20th century wars - easily more than 100 million (20 million WW1; 60 million WW2; 40 million Chinese civil wars; etc.) were all secular. Casualties in the Crusades were sometimes as low as a few dozen in battles and never more than a few 10s of 1000s. There were not that many combatants. Even the worst excesses of the Muslim-Christian wars (eg Vienna, Constantinople, etc.) were 100,000s. At most the tally from the Thirty Years’ War was 1 million (largely thru starvation and disease).

Now, tally up how you get religion to blame for those numbers or where you find a larger tally of deaths directly attributable to ANY religion?

181. cb - November 26th, 2008 at 5:56 pm

I almost feel like I am talking to a brick wall. Where in any of my posts did I say religion starts wars and is the biggest killer etc? I didn’t and you are straying from the subject. However your post does show religion does kill hundreds of thousands and I thank you for showing yet another reason why religion is one of the worst human inventions.

182. Mr. Plow - November 26th, 2008 at 6:02 pm

“more of a killer than a godless philosphy ”

Well cb, I think those particular stats prove just the opposite. (Even if you add in the sacrifice stats, as I would lop those in the religion camp.)

Your statement that religion is more of a killer than a godless philosophy is objectively wrong. It should be pretty obvious for you, as I provided a link with some very basic stats showing just how many wars/conflicts/deaths are NOT in fact based in religion.

As for the brainwashing stuff. You grew up in a religious school, thought about it, and decided it was not for you. Do you know for a fact that the rest of your class mates, or any religious person for that matter, have not sat down and had the “do I believe or not” talk with themselves?

As a man who has been “further educated” in science or philosophy, how do you know that those with faith have not made a conscience decision to practice that faith?

The truth is you don’t know.

Your non belief does not make you any better or worse than those who believe.

183. simuun - November 26th, 2008 at 6:02 pm

Everything we know to exist is an invention. Literally. And notice its always the atheists that bring up religion? Why are you so scared to admit that others views are as possible as any of yours? Seriously, everytime an atheist or anyone who doesn’t believe in religion has to comment on it the first chance they get, and it seems the comments stem from your insecurities about the unknown. Those who believe in religion know about as much of what happens after death then those who don’t believe in religion, yet if you have any beliefs you will get called out on it. I can’t remember the last time i came in these comments and heard anyone preaching their religion, however i can always find someone calling it out. ok, we get it, you don’t believe in anything, now get over it and move on, cuz if you felt so strongly about it you wouldn’t have to keep commenting about it every time you have an opinion about anything. like i said, we get it already.

184. Elihu - November 26th, 2008 at 6:09 pm

Saying television is the worst invention ever is pretty ignorant. Have cases arisen where it has been abused? Yes, just like any other mass media. However, it remains an incredibly complex and infinitely valuable artform. At its highest, television has helped expand the nation’s imagination and created eternal chronicles of the human condition.

The kind of person who is “dumbed down” by television never needed any help getting dumber, it was going to happen one way or another for him, anyway. If he decides to let TV nanny his children, it is his fault and his fault alone. In the years before television, that person would have let the bad neighborhood children parent his child. The invention of television was inconsequential to it.

185. deepthinker - November 26th, 2008 at 6:10 pm

Rock Band. I’m totally addicted to it, I’m having withdrawals right now… Curse you, Rock Band, for taking over my life!! Also, Crocs, truck nuts, techno music. I love TV too much to agree with you, jfrater.
Also, BTG, what is your beef with Texas? I’m a Texan!

186. Mr. Plow - November 26th, 2008 at 6:14 pm

cb,

Settle down tiger, I think myself and York are trying to show that objectively, using stats, that secular/godless philosophies have killed many more people than all the religions combined.

“all I said was religion was a bigger killer than godless philosophies”

Your quote.

And you have another good one…
“However your post does show religion does kill hundreds of thousands ”

By that logic, I could state the ’science’ has killed 100s of millions.

Sorry you are being ‘persecuted’ by all these brick wall like fundies. But, if you are going to state religion kills more than godless philosophies…than I don’t think it’s too much to ask for you to back it up a bit, no?

As a man of science, I would think you would be up for the discourse.

187. cb - November 26th, 2008 at 6:31 pm

Mr Plow,

So all wars that are not based on religion are based on godless philosophy? If that’s what you’re arguing we both have very different takes on what godless philosophy is.

“Do you know for a fact that the rest of your class mates, or any religious person for that matter, have not sat down and had the “do I believe or not” talk with themselves?”

Do you know? Does anyone? I concluded that either they must not have as if they really did they would have came to the scientifically accepted conclusion using empirical thought that god does not exist, Or perhaps they have and instead of using their knowledge they hid behind the comforting thought of heaven and the like drilled into them.

I don’t believe that I am better or worse than those that believe I just feel sorry for those that do and all the consequences and ways they must live their life in accordance to a fable.

188. Mr. Plow - November 26th, 2008 at 6:41 pm

“Do you know? Does anyone?”

No, but I am not the one throwing around the term ‘brainwashed’ am I?

“I concluded that either they must not have as if they really did they would have came to the scientifically accepted conclusion…they hid behind the comforting thought of heaven and the like drilled into them.”

So I agree with you or I am somehow a simpleton? Or a ‘weak’ person who relies on God as a crutch?

“I just feel sorry for those that do and all the consequences and ways they must live their life in accordance to a fable.”

Your intolerance is astounding.

You have proven nothing today in this thread, other than your intolerance for people who you do not agree with.

Charlatan.

189. Mr. Plow - November 26th, 2008 at 6:44 pm

Or to use your words you have not used one shred of ‘empirical thought’ to address any of the of the data I have presented you with.

“I don’t believe that I am better or worse than those that believe”

We both know that is a lie, don’t we?

190. cb - November 26th, 2008 at 6:49 pm

Mr. Plow,

Thank you for your debate it was enlightening and I enjoyed seeing things from the other perspective, however may I just ask one question if you did have the do i or don’t I speech how did you come to the conclusion that you do believe?

Seeing as I am so intolerant it may help to broaden my views.

191. Mr. Plow - November 26th, 2008 at 7:06 pm

My own faith or non-faith is not the point of contention here nor is it really relevant, seeing as I am not trying to convert you to anything or defending religion…deflect all you want.

I simply was calling you out for not having your facts straight. I don’t see how my faith/non faith would change this discussion?

What may be more interesting is, why do you want to know?

The fact of the matter is, empirically, you could not defend your positions.

It’s not my gig to broaden your views about religion/wars/inventions…it’s yours.

192. dchuskerls - November 26th, 2008 at 7:12 pm

i see a lot of people putting down war. without war: (circa 1940-ish) UN “hitler, please stop killing the jews”…hitler “no”, so either we go to war, or the holocaust continues. that also requires guns. i agree that nukes are bad, but there more efficient than conventional arms, but the radiation really hurts…
i have to say cigarettes and illegal drugs. harmful to all who use them

193. mexmark - November 26th, 2008 at 7:18 pm

cell phones, whos with me?

194. rapanui - November 26th, 2008 at 7:28