It’s funny how looking back makes everything clearer, right? People often resist change, even when it makes life easier, better, or faster. We take so many modern conveniences for granted today – things we absolutely rely on for work, life, and fun. Yet, when these ideas first appeared, the reactions were sometimes downright bizarre.
Get ready to discover just how strange public attitudes could be towards innovations that seem like total no-brainers now. Here are ten more incredibly successful and important ideas, inventions, and conveniences that faced some truly weird resistance.
10 We Only Needed 5 Computers… on the Planet
Today, computers are everywhere, but back in 1943, Thomas Watson, the chairman of IBM, famously predicted, “I think there’s a world market for maybe five computers.” Just five! Can you imagine?
Think about the device you’re reading this on right now. It’s a powerful extension of your brain that has changed human history more profoundly than fire. Yet, the head of IBM thought the entire planet might need only *five*? If you counted all the computers you own – desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, smart TVs, game consoles, even your car and microwave – you’d quickly see how wildly off that prediction was. Sorry, Mr. Watson, you missed that memo by a long shot! [1]
9 Trains Would Rip Women’s Uteruses Out
Early locomotives – those noisy, smoky, steam-spewing machines – terrified some people. A truly bizarre fear was that women’s bodies couldn’t handle speeds of fifty miles per hour. Seriously, some believed a woman’s uterus would be violently torn out by the sheer speed and power of the train!
This likely stemmed from a fear of the unknown, fueled by the rapid technological changes of the Industrial Revolution. Things that weren’t understood were often feared, especially if people thought they could harm women and children. Seeing a massive, fire-breathing machine for the first time, it’s perhaps understandable, though still strange, that people imagined the worst. [2]
8 Plato Didn’t Approve of Writing or Books
Plato, the legendary Greek philosopher who founded the first known university in the Western world, had some surprisingly negative views about writing and books. It’s ironic because we know his thoughts *because* they were written down!
In his dialogue *Phaedrus*, Plato argued against the invention of writing. He worried that relying on written words would weaken people’s memories. He believed people would just forget what they wrote or read and constantly need books as reminders, saying writing was a “recipe not for memory, but for reminder.” He felt face-to-face conversation was far superior for true learning, stating writing offered only the “semblance of wisdom.” It seems Plato preferred active involvement over passive reading. [3]
7 Computers Caused Miscarriages
During the 1980s and 90s, a common worry surfaced: could working on a computer harm an unborn baby? Many people feared that the old CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors emitted dangerous radiation that could cause miscarriages.
While CRT monitors do emit very low levels of radiation from weak electromagnetic fields, studies confirmed there was no danger to pregnant women or their babies. The real health issues linked to computer use were, and still are, things like eye strain, back pain, and potential worsening of varicose veins – reminders to take breaks and stretch, regardless of the screen type! [4]
6 The Answering Machine Was “Worthless”
Can you imagine a world without voicemail or answering machines? Well, AT&T once declared, “There is no need for answering machines.” Yes, *the* phone company! The history is a bit tangled; owning them was even semi-illegal in the late 60s/early 70s due to unfounded fears they could harm repairmen.
Despite AT&T’s dismissal in the 1950s, the FCC eventually permitted their use in 1975. By 1983, consumer models were readily available. It’s funny to think AT&T passed on an invention so integral to communication today. Maybe they should have checked their (non-existent) answering machine for that memo? [5]
5 Telephones Were “Instruments of the Devil”
When telephones arrived in Sweden, the country adopted them faster than anywhere else. But not everyone was thrilled. The idea of voices traveling through wires sparked skepticism and fear. Some worried sound could literally “spill out” if a wire broke!
People also feared electric shocks, a valid concern given early phone lines’ vulnerability to lightning. Superstition grew, with some believing evil spirits could travel through the wires. Even clergymen denounced the telephone as an “instrument of the devil.” Landowners resisted lines crossing their property, sometimes resorting to sabotage. Eventually, common sense prevailed, and Sweden, like the rest of the world, embraced this revolutionary technology. [6]
4 Cheeseburgers Were “Weird”
Sometimes, even the press gets things hilariously wrong. In a 1938 *New York Times* article, the cheeseburger was mentioned dismissively as part of the “whimsy” of California restaurants. Imagine thinking a cheeseburger was just a weird fad!
Nine years later, in 1947, *The Times* doubled down, stating, “At first, the combination of beef with cheese and tomatoes… may seem bizarre.” Thankfully, the reporter added that the combination was “sound gastronomically.” Fast forward over 80 years, and the cheeseburger is a global icon, ranging from fast food staple to gourmet delight, and even has its own national holiday (September 18th). Bizarre? Hardly! [7]
3 Fingernail Polish Was “Just A Fad”
Modern fingernail polish first appeared around 1917, thanks to Cutex, but it wasn’t an immediate hit. In 1926, *Vogue* expressed doubts about its safety and quality. A year later, *The New York Times* labeled it merely a “London fad.” In 1932, the *Atlanta Daily World* scoffed at its growing popularity, calling fashion “whimsical and wayward as the wind.”
Nearly a century later, this “fad” is anything but. Nail polish is a cornerstone of a massive global beauty industry, generating billions in sales. With huge advancements in formulas, colors, and marketing, it’s clear this trend wasn’t going anywhere. The media definitely missed the memo on this colorful “fad.” [8]
2 The Car Was “Impractical”
Once again, *The New York Times* chimed in with a questionable take, calling the automobile “impractical” in 1902. Critics compared its future to the recent decline of the bicycle craze, predicting a similar collapse. *The Times* complained that cars would never be affordable enough to become truly popular.
Early, ambitious ideas like extensive highway systems built just for cars probably didn’t help build public confidence either. It seemed hard to believe cars would ever take off. Then came Henry Ford and mass production, completely changing the game and proving the doubters spectacularly wrong. [9]
1 Teddy Bears Would “Cause Race Suicide”
This one is truly strange. In 1907, a Michigan clergyman named Father Esper made the shocking claim that teddy bears threatened the future of humanity. He believed that if young girls played with teddy bears instead of baby dolls, their maternal instincts would be destroyed, leading to “race suicide” (a term reflecting early 20th-century anxieties about birth rates).
The teddy bear, named after President Teddy Roosevelt five years earlier, was incredibly popular. Father Esper urged parents to throw away teddy bears, arguing they were “unnatural” toys diverting girls’ affection from doll “babies.” It’s a disturbing example of projecting societal fears onto a simple toy, likely causing heartbreak for many children forced to discard their beloved bears. [10]
Conclusion
Looking back at these reactions, from fears of exploding uteruses to worries about computers and teddy bears, it’s amazing how far we’ve come. It highlights a timeless human tendency: resistance to the unfamiliar. While some concerns might have seemed logical at the time, history shows that progress often prevails, and inventions once considered weird, dangerous, or impractical become essential parts of our daily lives. It makes you wonder what common things today might have faced similar bizarre resistance if we looked back far enough!
