A survey was recently conducted in Britain to find out the most hated inventions.
The most irritating invention was found to be the Karaoke machine: invented in 1971 by a Japanese musician called Inoue Daisuke, and brought to Britain by Ivor Arbiter and his daughter Joanne.
Here is what Kane Kramer (one of the directors of British Inventors Society) said:
“When people are singing karaoke they are enjoying themselves, but as a member of the audience you are just watching somebody who can’t perform – and isn’t particularly pleasant to listen to – for as long as you can bear it. It is anti-social. You might have 10 people who want to sing some karaoke, which means 150 people have to suffer it.”
24 hour sports channel was in the second place. Here is a quote from a hater: “The 24 hour sports channel wastes so much of my time – I want to quit, but just can’t – there is no escape. I keep staring at the screen for the whole day”.
Video game consoles were third. An old timer says: “In my younger days, we used to go out and socialize with other kids. Nowadays, these kids are sitting crouched in their rooms, and playing games the whole time – what a stupid way to waste time!”
Number four was mobile phone. A store worker’s quote: “I am sure I am not the only one who gets irritated when the customer at the checkout suddenly picks up his mobile phone and starts talking loudly, without regarding all the people standing behind him”.
Number five was alarm clock. Stacy Peters says, “Honestly, I don’t mind the alarm clock that much, it is the snooze button which I hate the most. Why have it there, if the purpose is to sleep again?” (Note: doesn’t sound like she hates the alarm clock – that sounds more like a “snooze hater”!)
Here is the whole list:
- Karaoke machine 22%
- 24hr sports channel 17%
- Video games consoles 12%
- Mobile phone 11%
- Alarm clock 7%
- Hair straighteners 5%
- Internet 4%
- Personal electronic organiser 2%
- MP3 player 2%
- Remote control 1%