Humans have always been innovative in finding ways to make their lives easier. While some inventions have been revolutionary, some are downright bizarre and have led to absurd beliefs that have been debunked over the years. From the pointless to the hilarious, here is a list of some of the most bizarre things ever invented by humans that will make you wonder what they were thinking:
1. The Pet Rock - Yes, you read that right. The Pet Rock was a fad in the 1970s where people bought rocks, put them in a box with air holes, and treated them as pets. It's hard to believe people paid money for rocks.
2. The Baby Cage - In the 1930s, parents thought it was a good idea to hang their babies in cages outside their windows for fresh air. It's safe to say, this idea didn't catch on.
3. The Honegar - A mixture of honey and apple cider vinegar that was claimed to cure everything from arthritis to cancer. Unfortunately, it was just a scam.
4. The Ouija Board - A board game that claimed to connect you with the dead. It's not surprising that this led to many spooky and hilarious moments.
5. The Shake Weight - A workout device that gained popularity for its suggestive movements. It's hard to take this one seriously.
6. The Vibrating Belt: The history of weight loss is full of crazy devices and pills that promise to melt the fat away while you sleep. However, one of the craziest devices ever invented was the vibrating belt workout machine. It was supposed to jiggle the fat off you while you stood there. Despite health experts knowing early on that these machines were essentially useless, they remained a must-have device in fitness centers for decades. Why? People found them appealing because they thought they had that magic something that delivered weight loss without diet and exercise.
7. Drunk driving used to be considered more of a rite of passage than a crime. Some juries even felt the same way too. In those days, if you were arrested for driving under the influence, you didn't admit guilt - you asked for a jury trial. Why? Because in most states, there was no strict limit on blood alcohol levels. Convicting you wasn't just a matter of giving you a breathalyzer test; the state had to prove that you were not only drinking but that the alcohol had impaired your ability to safely operate your vehicle.
8. Shooting Clubs: Years ago, public high schools often had shooting clubs and sometimes even gun ranges on campus. Since practices were held after class, kids could take their guns to school with them so they could go straight to the shooting range after school let out. Students would usually turn their weapons over to their homeroom teachers when they got to school, so technically they weren't roaming the halls with it slung across their back. Although this practice has pretty much died out, some schools still offer shooting clubs. However, the ranges that existed on high school campuses back then have been moved to new locations.
9. Radiation Exposure: Did you know that in the past, people used to think that exposing their bodies to radiation could cure various ailments and provide a miraculous Fountain of Youth? It's true! From radium-based beauty creams to radiation therapy devices sold for home use, people had a misguided trust in the powers of radiation. And who could blame them? Radium was found to exist in natural hot spring waters, which were hailed for their curative powers. It was marketed as a wonder cure for all sorts of ailments, but it was discovered that the tolerance was lower than expected, and exposure to radium caused long-term cell damage that could appear 40 years after usage. Let's just say, the idea of a radioactive spa day is not as appealing as it once seemed.
10. The Stewardess: Speaking of outdated ideas, did you know that flight attendants used to be called stewardesses? And the job requirements were pretty wild. Back in the day, to become a stewardess, you had to be at least 20 years old but no older than 27, thin and well-proportioned, weighing no more than 140 pounds, and of course, unmarried and childless. So basically, the two primary qualifications for serving bags of peanuts and ginger ale were that you had to be beautiful and single. Stewardess training included lessons on how to walk and stand sexy, and how to do your makeup and hair. If these things weren't maintained, you could be suspended or even fired. Oh, and retirement for a flight attendant occurred at the ripe old age of 30! Can you imagine a world where your job is determined by your looks and you're forced into early retirement because you're getting too old? Thankfully, times have changed, and flight attendants are now trained to prioritize safety and service, rather than their appearance.
11. Sugar has no Harm: Despite what we used to think, sugar can have a serious impact on our heart health and contribute to belly fat. But the sugar industry was so successful in getting us hooked on their product that we became addicted to it without even realizing it!
12. Women with Families Were More Bankable: an you believe that banks used to discriminate against women by refusing to give them credit cards unless they were married or had a man co-sign with them? It's hard to believe that was ever acceptable, but it was a different time.
13. Seatbelts Were Bothersome: Seatbelts were also once considered annoying and unnecessary, but now we know they can save lives.
14. Asbestos the Best Building Material: Asbestos as a building material was once considered perfectly safe, turned out to be deadly. It's crazy to think that these things were once accepted as normal.
15. Women must Diet to Attract and Keep Men: Let us not forget the ridiculous advice given to women in the 1960s, like always being on a diet and sounding pretty to keep a man happy. Thankfully, times have changed and we know better now.
These are just a few examples of the strange beliefs and inventions humans have come up with over the years. While some of these inventions may seem useless, they do serve as a reminder of how far we've come and how much further we can go. It's clear that times have changed, and what was once acceptable or even desirable may no longer be the case. As we continue to evolve, it's important to stay aware of the past and learn from it while striving for a better future.
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