25 Everyday Innovations That Wouldn't Be Approved Of Today

As strange as it may be to think about, there are some things that we take for granted which might not be so easily accepted by society if they were to be introduced today. A good example would be sugar. In many ways, it is worse for you than a lot of illegal drugs (like marijuana). These are 25 Everyday Innovations That Wouldn’t Be Approved Of Today.

Featured Image: Nicolas Espinosa via wikimedia commons

Leaded gasoline

Image: pixabay.com (public domain)

This was possibly one of the worst ideas of the 20th century.

Putting microplastics in toothpaste

Source: http://www.xovain.com/wellness/microbeads-and-microplastic

Yes, companies put microplastics in toothpaste as well as other health & beauty products which is bad for the environment and not so good for anyone else either. Luckily, there are new laws being passed against this anyway.

Cheerleading

Imagine pitching this to somebody, “So, we’re going to have 3 teenage girls throw another teenage girl 15 feet in the air and then try not to catch her with their faces.”

Child beauty pageants

Image: pixabay.com (public domain)

Outside the United States, these are pretty much banned. In the places where they aren’t banned, they go by another name…auctions.

Motorcycles

Cars have airbags, crumple zones, seat belts, side impact steel, and more. With today’s safety concerns, motorcycles would be hard pressed to find a spot on the road if they were a new thing.

Some aspects of psychology

A vast majority of our understanding of the human brain comes from unethical experiments, many performed during wartime.

Public libraries

Image: commons.wikimedia.org (public domain via author)

Borrowing from Freakonomics, it stands to reason that publishers wouldn’t be down with such a high level of information sharing.

Cigarettes

Does this even need an explanation?

Lawn darts

These have already been outlawed in some places

Distilled alcohol

It’s pretty much 100% poison.

Curious about inventions? Take a look at 25 Accidental Inventions That Revolutionized Our World.

Bleach

There are less caustic products on the market that are only used for industrial purposes. Bleach is dangerous stuff.

If this made you think, wait until you see number 6!

Cars

Image: commons.wikimedia.org (public domain)

Assuming that planes, busses, and other public transport were prevalent and well developed, the idea of each person driving themselves would quite possibly come across as reckless and irresponsible. How could you keep the roads safe anymore?

Pepto Bismol

Scientists aren’t even sure exactly how it works.

Free public education

Image: www.pexels.com (public domain)

At least in the US, it is unlikely that people would be willing to pay for this. Imagine telling suburban parents that their taxes are going to fund schools in the “hood.” It would be like the healthcare debate of today.

Ironing boards

If you have any questions about this, just look up what Brian Regan has to say about it.

Summary: It’s an unstable, top-heavy board with a scalding hot iron on it.

Coca-Cola

Image: pixabay.com (public domain)

Its original recipe include cocaine and cola nuts.

Caffeine

Image: www.pexels.com (CC0)

It would probably be a lot more regulated and not as available to children.

Ski lifts

Image: pixabay.com (public domain)

It’s an elevator with no doors, and it doesn’t wait for you to get off. This is why they stopped making paternosters (open-door, multi-platform elevators that don’t stop moving).

Fire departments, interstates, and social security

These things would be seen as being far too socialist, and people would not be in favor of paying higher taxes for them. At least not in the United States.

Refined white sugar

Image: pixabay.com (public domain)

It has exactly 0 nutritional benefits and is extremely addictive.

Tylenol

The effective dose and the harmful dose are closer to one another than in a lot of medications. In all likelihood, it just wouldn’t be over the counter if it were invented today.

American football

Image: www.pexels.com (public domain)

Given what we know today about concussions, it would conceivably be hard to convince lawmakers that little kids should be allowed to play this sport. Of course, a lot of what we know about concussions comes from American football anyway.

Labor unions

Image: commons.wikimedia.org (public domain: published before 1923)

Corporate might take issue with this. Of course, it wasn’t like the people that started unions had it that easy. Even the government was known for killing people who tried to unionize (Ludlow Massacre).

Guns

The idea of producing a machine that allows you to end someone’s life simply by pointing it at them and pulling a lever seems like it might be a little controversial.

If you enjoyed this post, check out 25 Innovative But Crazy Inventions.