盤點十大現代生活中的糟糕發明(上)

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.

現代生活中，總是充斥着各種各樣的產品，或屬功能型，或是垃圾貨。然而，我們仍然年復一年地購買着那些我們本以爲可以優化我們生活的垃圾產品。以下是現代十大糟糕發明清單。

osable Eating Implements

10.一次性餐具

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. I am not an environmentalist but even I can't see any benefit to using disposable eating equipment. 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.

一次性餐具在日常生活中極其普遍，將玻璃、瓷器、金屬製品取而代之的是一次性外帶杯，一次性盤子，一次性餐具等。這種發明不僅費財（爲了節省清洗餐具時間）還給自然環境造成負擔。我不是環保主義者，即便如此，我仍不看好一次性餐具。

osable Razors

9.一次性剃鬚刀

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.

剃鬚刀公司對如下事情有十足把握：首先，在刮鬍市場有虛擬壟斷；其次，人們依賴他們的產品，人們已經不知道沒有一次性刮鬍刀該怎麼刮鬍子了。在剃鬚刀流行之前，男士們通常用多次可磨的直筒式剃刀。那時候，大多情況下男人們要一次性付清剃鬚刀和磨刀皮帶的初始價。你也可以購買直筒式通式剃鬚刀（暱稱：剃鬚刀殺手），這種剃鬚刀很值得投資。

Products

8.減肥藥

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 (anorexia anyone?) 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.

現在有兩種主要的減肥產品，第一種是藥效強卻可能非常危險，另外一種是藥粉藥片或者飲品。最壞的情況是你喝的減肥飲品在胃部固結，這樣即便不進食也不餓。（有人會得厭食症）最好的情況是用蛋白飲品代餐。畢竟，是藥三分毒。這些產品都延續着通過節食控制體重的神話。唯一瘦身的方法應該是均衡適量飲食。既省錢又舒心。

h Mixtures

7.止咳藥水

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), mix together a little beaten egg white, honey, and vinegar and take it by the spoonful – it is cheap and just as effective at clearing phlegm. If you have flu ache, take tylenol (or paracetamol) and lie down for the afternoon. The flu will run its course naturally and you won't be out of pocket.

當你感冒時，除了保暖吃好，別的什麼都無濟於事。止咳藥是給爲處於痛苦的病人緩解症狀使用的，而且並不裝於瓶內。與其買昂貴的瓶裝止咳糖漿（實則無用），還不如將碎蛋清、蜂蜜、醋各一勺混合起來飲用用。這樣既便宜又有效，可以幫助清痰。如果因爲感冒頭痛，吃些泰諾（或撲熱息痛）並午休。感冒會自然被驅散，也不會費多少銀子。

Help Books

6.自救手冊

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.

自助手冊根本沒用。他們只是掙錢的營銷噱頭。你遇到過因爲讀過<<窮爸爸富爸爸>>所以一躍成爲企業大亨的人嗎？你遇到過在讀了一本自救手冊之後而不再抑鬱的人嗎？現在這個市場很龐大，並且有各式各樣的書爲你解憂。最終，真正得到幫助的人還是變得慢慢富有的作者自己。如果你覺得你的生活需要一些指導，可以試着在網絡中搜索尋找答案。比如從一些已經走出困擾的人中取經。

翻譯:高羽 來源：前十網