Monday, September 28, 2009

10 Bad Products

I like reading a website called Listverse, that publishes interesting Top 10 lists. I thought I'd throw one on my blog, just to take a break from the usual. I made a few edits to some of the entries, but I more or less agree with all of the choices.

Top 10 Worst Products Ever

Modern life is filled with a myriad of products; many of them are useful, but many of them are junk. Unfortunately we so often buy into the idea that life is better with these junk products and billions of dollars are spent every year acquiring them. This is a list of the ten worst products in modern times.

Disposable Eating Implements

It is becoming more and more common these days for people to use throw away cups, plates, and cutlery instead of glass, china, and metal. Not only is this a ridiculous waste of money (for the sake of saving a few minutes of dish-washing time) it places a burden on our natural environment. There is no reason that children shouldn’t use glass like everyone else – they did in the old days and it didn’t kill them. Do yourself a favor, save some money and buy a real dinner set.



Disposable Razors

The razor companies have it made – they have a virtual monopoly on the shaving market and people have become so reliant on them that they no longer know how to shave without a throw-away razor. These razors use cheap blades which go blunt quickly and can’t be re-used. Prior to these razors becoming so popular, men would use a straight razor which could be sharpened as needed on a razor strop. The initial price of the razor and strop needed to be paid once in most men’s lifetimes. You can still buy straight razors (or as they are affectionately known: cutthroat razors) and it is well worth the investment.


Diet Products

There are two main types of diet products – the first are strong medications that can be very dangerous, and the others are powders, herbal pills, and drinks. At the worst end of the scale we have drinks that solidify in the stomach so you feel full without eating and at the safer end of the scale are protein drinks used as meal substitutes. The fact is, all of these products are bad because they perpetuate the myth that you need to “diet” to lose weight. The only diet that truly works is moderation – eat less. It saves you money and makes you feel better.


Cough Mixtures

When you get a cold or a flu, there is virtually nothing you can do except keep warm and eat well. Cough medicines are marketed to people who are suffering and want respite – but it doesn’t come in a bottle. Instead of buying incredibly expensive mixtures (which do little or nothing to help), simply don't eat mucus-producing foods (dairy products, white flour, meat, eggs, potatoes, beans, rice, grains, fish, peanuts and fats) and eat lots of fruit that thins the mucus (pineapple, grapes, citrus) – it is cheap and just as effective at clearing phlegm. If you have flu ache, take Tylenol and lie down for the afternoon. The flu will run its course naturally and you won’t be out of pocket.


Self Help Books

Self help books don’t help. They are merely a marketing gimmick to get people to part with their hard earned money. When was the last time you met a person who had become a property tycoon after reading “Rich Dad Poor Dad”? When was the last time you saw someone beat depression after reading a self help book? This huge market now has books for virtually everything you could need, and ultimately the only person being helped is the author who is slowly getting rich. If you really feel that you need advice on life, try searching the internet for examples from real people who really found a way out of their problems.


Sleeping Pills for Children

Takeda Pharmaceuticals is a company that produces sleeping tablets for pre-pubescent and pubescent children. They used loopholes in the US marketing laws to advertise their products without mentioning the fact that they had not been fully tested on children and without listing any of the potential side effects. While that is bad enough, it is even worse that there are people who would consider buying these for their children. In most cases, a child who is not sleeping well can have their insomnia cured by more vigorous activity during the day. You don’t get side effects from turning off the television and computer.


Microwave Ovens

Microwaves have played a large part in the removal of decent cooking from so many of our homes and have helped the chemical laden “ready meal” market to blossom. In some supermarkets it is nearly impossible to find raw ingredients for cooking as the pre-cooked, pre-made meals now take up so much room. In most cases, there is nothing you can do in a microwave that can’t be done better on a regular stove and oven – and in many cases it can take as little time! Furthermore, oven cooking won’t give you food that is soggy, limp, and colorless – a microwave will.


Ab Machines

Infomercials have been pumping out a variety of ab building machines for the last ten years. The fact is, these machines are used once or twice and then end up in the garage or a cupboard never to be used again. The machines do nothing that the human body can’t already do, and if you are earnest about building up good abs, you would be far better off doing regular sit ups and getting a gym membership. It will probably cost the same price and won’t clutter up your home!


Sugared Cereals

It was a true genius that came up with the idea of taking something healthy and coating it with loads of sugar to appeal to children. Unfortunately this concept has now become so popular that many children will refuse to eat any cereal that is not sugary. All around the world governments are whining about fat children and trying to find a solution by banning all manner of things and trying to promote healthy living – but no one seems to be concerned about the fact that the majority of children start their day with a huge sugar rush followed by a crash and carbohydrate cravings.


Bottled Water

Bottled water is an utter waste of money and resources. To illustrate just how ridiculous a concept it is, I will demonstrate with Dasani Bottled Water. This product was created by Coca Cola and was marketed as superior bottled water. First of all, bottled water is a ridiculous concept in the western world where we all have easy access to tap water which is drinkable in most areas. Coca Cola wanted to be part of the ridiculous fad so they entered the bottled water market, but they simply filled their bottles with tap water! When the product was released in the UK it was a disaster. Scientific testing of the bottled water showed traces of bromate – a carcinogen. Coca Cola had to withdraw half a million bottles of the water and they pulled the product from the UK market.

5 comments:

bonnie said...

very interesting....thanks for sharing. love you

Fran said...

This is a neat thing you did. So true, so true! The world needs much reeducation. Let's spread the news.. :)

Lynn said...

Preaching to the choir here, of course, but I have bought or borrowed self-help books out the wazzooo (I can resell them to other messed up folks and make at least some of my money back) and will probably never buy a straight razor.
Interesting sounding website. I may check it out sometime.

Lynn said...

I might add, if tap water here has bromate in it, then maybe we SHOULDN'T be drinking tap water...he he

Burton Meahl said...

Interesting list.

I am unsure how our family would manage without a microwave though. I guess you pick your poisons in life.

The self-help books crack me up. Admittedly, I bought one a few years ago called "Flip the Switch." It was a book to help you motivate yourself to lose weight. I got to reading it and it frustrated me so much after only 4 or 5 pages. I realized my "switch was already flipped." ...and so the question haunted me, why would someone buy a "Flip the Switch" book? (Why did I buy it?!) Wouldn't they have to flip the switch and be motivated BEFORE buying the book? I finally figured out that I was...