Shall we praise the humble {fork | pencil | rubber band | other}?
Asked by
Jeruba (
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October 28th, 2022
What one domestic item that we take for granted would you like to single out for praise?
Something that we use without thinking about it and can’t imagine doing without.
Let’s notice it, admire its virtues, and glorify it.
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15 Answers
Paper clips! Not only did he/she/they do a laudable job as a Microsoft assistant some years ago but his/her or their humble siblings wait quietly in the drawer until the right moment comes and they are summoned to simple, unquestioning attachments.
Read this book
It pays great honor to the pencil.
Corkscrew comes to mind, had Pinot Grigio with lobster dinner tonight.
Toilet paper.
We would have a shitty time without it.
A water bottle. Imagine how difficult it is to transport water without bottles. How ingenious the different forms of stoppering them – corks, crown caps, screw tops, sports caps.
If humanity had to invent bottles again, I think we would all marvel at the inventor.
The revolver. Everybody has automatics these days.
A key ring! Without, you would have a pocket full of keys.
I nominate the red Solo Cup.
I would bow to things that fasten other things together:
straight pins
safety pins
adhesive tape
needle and thread
glue
nails and screws
staples
(and, yes, paper clips—I’m one of their greatest admirers)
Of those, I would save my highest praise for the needle and thread. You can work around the others somehow, but joining pieces of cloth or skins or leather requires something that pierces and something that holds. I daresay those are more ancient by far than the others I listed.
We would still be cutting holes out of a sheet and pulling it over our heads or tying flaps of skins together of it weren’t for a strand that holds the pieces together and a sharp tool to apply it.
White pencil erasers. Much better than the pink pencil erasers.
Kneaded erasers are also fun!
@raum And shall we talk about the wonders of rubber cement?
Ooh yes! Though 83% of that appreciation may stem from nostalgia for me. Makes me think of elementary school art projects. :)
I’d add book matches to the list! A matchbook is a wonder of chemical and mechanical engineering. The tips are incendiary devices that last for decades until a bit of friction sets them off. The ability to light a fire has saved countless people.
And the combination of wet rubber cement and matches is unbeatable fun if you live near water.
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