What makes it good, makes it bad
July 15, 2022 7:06 PM Subscribe
What commercially available products, or even things occuring in nature, have a characteristic that is both its best quality and one of its worst qualities?
For instance, plastic food wrap is great because it's so sticky and will maintain a good barrier between the hunk of cheese it protects, from oxygen and odors in the fridge. But one of its worst qualities is that it's so dang sticky that it can be hard to use because it binds to itself before you can get it around the cheese. Of course the environmental impact of plastic wrap is way worse... But that's true of most things we humans use.
So from a human use perspective, other than the environmental horrors of production and waste, what other items have characteristics that make them suck that are the same characteristics that make us want to use them?
No need to limit responses to physical items.
For instance, plastic food wrap is great because it's so sticky and will maintain a good barrier between the hunk of cheese it protects, from oxygen and odors in the fridge. But one of its worst qualities is that it's so dang sticky that it can be hard to use because it binds to itself before you can get it around the cheese. Of course the environmental impact of plastic wrap is way worse... But that's true of most things we humans use.
So from a human use perspective, other than the environmental horrors of production and waste, what other items have characteristics that make them suck that are the same characteristics that make us want to use them?
No need to limit responses to physical items.
Best answer: Similar to cling-wrap, superglue is a blessing and a hazard.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:35 PM on July 15, 2022 [10 favorites]
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:35 PM on July 15, 2022 [10 favorites]
The caffeine in coffee. First you drink it to stay awake, then you get hooked and learn to like the taste and then you want to drink it at night but can’t because of the caffeine. (Yes decaf but it tastes off to me)
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 7:36 PM on July 15, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 7:36 PM on July 15, 2022 [6 favorites]
The refreshing coldness of ice cream, slurpees, etc can also cause brain freeze. Piping hot coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are delicious but also a good way to burn your mouth.
Capsaicin is very much a two-edged sword.
posted by jedicus at 7:50 PM on July 15, 2022 [3 favorites]
Capsaicin is very much a two-edged sword.
posted by jedicus at 7:50 PM on July 15, 2022 [3 favorites]
Alcohol
posted by glaucon at 7:52 PM on July 15, 2022 [9 favorites]
posted by glaucon at 7:52 PM on July 15, 2022 [9 favorites]
Best answer: Wireless headphones are great except that there's nothing preventing them falling to the ground and bouncing away if they fall out.
Earplugs are great because you can't hear anything. They're bad because you can't hear anything.
posted by jedicus at 7:55 PM on July 15, 2022 [5 favorites]
Earplugs are great because you can't hear anything. They're bad because you can't hear anything.
posted by jedicus at 7:55 PM on July 15, 2022 [5 favorites]
Expanding foam. It completely fills even complex and narrow gaps, reduces sound transmission, secures PVC pipes, and has a myriad of other uses. We once used it to stop a small wasp nest starting in the cracks of our chimney.
But the propellant gas is explosive (don't use by an open flame), the gases produced by the reacting foam contain isocyanates which can irritate nasal passages and trigger respiratory problems (crack a window). And when the foam is wet it can create skin rashes (gotta wear gloves). And it's stickier than that song you can't get out of your head (so have a solvent nearby to get it off you, or things you value).
Oh, and its perfect sealing abilities can backfire. The wasps weren't able to get in from outside anymore, but the few that were already in the chimney, with all other roads barred, uh, found a way into the house.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 7:59 PM on July 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
But the propellant gas is explosive (don't use by an open flame), the gases produced by the reacting foam contain isocyanates which can irritate nasal passages and trigger respiratory problems (crack a window). And when the foam is wet it can create skin rashes (gotta wear gloves). And it's stickier than that song you can't get out of your head (so have a solvent nearby to get it off you, or things you value).
Oh, and its perfect sealing abilities can backfire. The wasps weren't able to get in from outside anymore, but the few that were already in the chimney, with all other roads barred, uh, found a way into the house.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 7:59 PM on July 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
sugar
posted by amtho at 8:13 PM on July 15, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by amtho at 8:13 PM on July 15, 2022 [7 favorites]
Best answer: Cyanoacrylate glue? Sticks to everything. And sticks to everything.
Razor blades? Cuts everything. And cuts everything.
Sirens? Impossible not to hear. And impossible not to hear.
posted by eotvos at 8:15 PM on July 15, 2022 [4 favorites]
Razor blades? Cuts everything. And cuts everything.
Sirens? Impossible not to hear. And impossible not to hear.
posted by eotvos at 8:15 PM on July 15, 2022 [4 favorites]
Protective dogs? [Edit: I guess I mean aggressive guard dogs. There isn't really an easy word for that that I know.]
posted by eotvos at 8:18 PM on July 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by eotvos at 8:18 PM on July 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
Best answer: The Internet. Pluses: you're connected to everyone in the world. Minuses: you're connected to everyone in the world.
posted by zompist at 8:19 PM on July 15, 2022 [25 favorites]
posted by zompist at 8:19 PM on July 15, 2022 [25 favorites]
Lavender is both delightful and way too much.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 8:26 PM on July 15, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 8:26 PM on July 15, 2022 [4 favorites]
Border collies are high energy dogs with a strong drive to work (so they may obsessively try to get you to play fetch and may have a hard time settling down and being calm.) They're very alert and aware of everything around them (so they may be very worried about things that look or sound weird). They're very sensitive to input from their handlers (so they may be easily upset if you talk to them the wrong way or use body language that makes them uncomfortable.) They're clever and learn quickly (so they're good at figuring out how to get you to do what they want and they can develop a longstanding fear or bad habit based on one or two experiences.) All those characteristics make them great at herding and all kinds of dog sports and also make them the kind of dog people warn you away from.
posted by Redstart at 8:32 PM on July 15, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by Redstart at 8:32 PM on July 15, 2022 [5 favorites]
rat poison
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:36 PM on July 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:36 PM on July 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
Best answer: mandolines. f'ing terrifying.
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:36 PM on July 15, 2022 [13 favorites]
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:36 PM on July 15, 2022 [13 favorites]
When I moved into my house, the front yard was bare and depressing. A stark wrought iron fence presided over a concrete patio.
I quickly got a few potted plants, but they looked isolated and small. Then my partner had a brilliant idea: morning glory seeds, planted in the cracks in the sidewalk! They grew so fast, and they thrived with no care at all. Soon our fence was covered in a jungle of vines and pretty purple flowers. They came back even thicker the next year. And the next year. And the next year.
I don't think I really need to finish this comment.
posted by aws17576 at 8:43 PM on July 15, 2022 [19 favorites]
I quickly got a few potted plants, but they looked isolated and small. Then my partner had a brilliant idea: morning glory seeds, planted in the cracks in the sidewalk! They grew so fast, and they thrived with no care at all. Soon our fence was covered in a jungle of vines and pretty purple flowers. They came back even thicker the next year. And the next year. And the next year.
I don't think I really need to finish this comment.
posted by aws17576 at 8:43 PM on July 15, 2022 [19 favorites]
Cyanoacrylate glue? Sticks to everything. And sticks to everything.
It's worse than that. It has an inhibitor in it that breaks down in the presence of water. Normally atmospheric moisture does this and which allows the glue to cure, but you know what has a ton of moisture in 'em? Fingers! So it's not just an illusion, it really does bond more readily to your hands than the stuff you're trying to fix.
posted by aubilenon at 8:53 PM on July 15, 2022 [6 favorites]
It's worse than that. It has an inhibitor in it that breaks down in the presence of water. Normally atmospheric moisture does this and which allows the glue to cure, but you know what has a ton of moisture in 'em? Fingers! So it's not just an illusion, it really does bond more readily to your hands than the stuff you're trying to fix.
posted by aubilenon at 8:53 PM on July 15, 2022 [6 favorites]
Cats are weird. Also, cats are weird.
posted by Mizu at 8:57 PM on July 15, 2022 [9 favorites]
posted by Mizu at 8:57 PM on July 15, 2022 [9 favorites]
Marmite is yeast concentrate! Marmite is… yeast concentrate.
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 9:15 PM on July 15, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 9:15 PM on July 15, 2022 [5 favorites]
Hot glue mistakes bond and burn fingers in sets of three... first the clumsy one and then the two that come to the rescue.
posted by tinker at 9:54 PM on July 15, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by tinker at 9:54 PM on July 15, 2022 [6 favorites]
Prickly pear cactus. It has long thorns but worse is the little hair-like things that easily get through gloves, and/or socks, absolutely jams right on through your skin. It is horrible.
Prickly pear cactus. It grows faster than you'd think it would. Those thorns and prickly stickers make any animal -- including humans -- any animal will do all that it can to avoid it. It makes a great fence.
I would say the same things about poison ivy but a lot of people who don't know would walk right through it and their life will be ruined for a month. I don't think it makes animals itch but when your dog walks through it and then you pet your dog you're in trouble.
Pecan trees are self-pruning, limb gets out too far and it breaks right off the tree. Also, the limb gets too long and it'll break right off the tree, onto your car etc.
posted by dancestoblue at 11:25 PM on July 15, 2022 [3 favorites]
Prickly pear cactus. It grows faster than you'd think it would. Those thorns and prickly stickers make any animal -- including humans -- any animal will do all that it can to avoid it. It makes a great fence.
I would say the same things about poison ivy but a lot of people who don't know would walk right through it and their life will be ruined for a month. I don't think it makes animals itch but when your dog walks through it and then you pet your dog you're in trouble.
Pecan trees are self-pruning, limb gets out too far and it breaks right off the tree. Also, the limb gets too long and it'll break right off the tree, onto your car etc.
posted by dancestoblue at 11:25 PM on July 15, 2022 [3 favorites]
Salt licorice! So bad it’s good.
posted by Admiral Viceroy at 2:54 AM on July 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Admiral Viceroy at 2:54 AM on July 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
mandolines. f'ing terrifying.
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:36 PM on July 15
eponysterical
posted by meijusa at 4:02 AM on July 16, 2022 [21 favorites]
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:36 PM on July 15
eponysterical
posted by meijusa at 4:02 AM on July 16, 2022 [21 favorites]
Alcohol, the cause of and solution to all of life’s problems.—Homer Simpson
posted by scratch at 7:01 AM on July 16, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by scratch at 7:01 AM on July 16, 2022 [6 favorites]
Best answer: Chemotherapy. It kills the cancer cells in your body, making you healthier! It also kills some normal cells, making you awfully sick.
posted by ejs at 7:40 AM on July 16, 2022 [9 favorites]
posted by ejs at 7:40 AM on July 16, 2022 [9 favorites]
Durian's odour. It makes it delicious, but it also makes it offensive.
Similar with some of the... more odiferous... of cheeses.
posted by porpoise at 11:37 AM on July 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Similar with some of the... more odiferous... of cheeses.
posted by porpoise at 11:37 AM on July 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
In Rob Pike's talk The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: The Unix Legacy he says:
"What makes the (Unix operating) system good at what it’s good at is also what makes it bad at what it’s bad at. Its strengths are also its weaknesses. A simple example: flat text files. Amazing expressive power, huge convenience, but serious problems in pushing past a prototype level of performance or packaging ..."
posted by JonJacky at 2:04 PM on July 17, 2022 [3 favorites]
"What makes the (Unix operating) system good at what it’s good at is also what makes it bad at what it’s bad at. Its strengths are also its weaknesses. A simple example: flat text files. Amazing expressive power, huge convenience, but serious problems in pushing past a prototype level of performance or packaging ..."
posted by JonJacky at 2:04 PM on July 17, 2022 [3 favorites]
Stick-to-it-I’ve-ness. “Try, try, try again” is a fine quality. It is also one that shades into stubbornness and bloody mindedness very easily.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 5:51 PM on July 18, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Jon Mitchell at 5:51 PM on July 18, 2022 [2 favorites]
Greed.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:53 AM on July 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:53 AM on July 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by kevinbelt at 7:31 PM on July 15, 2022 [2 favorites]