Bug List
1. When only one register is open at Publix
Why it exists: Grocery stores are often understaffed because they choose to work the minimum amount of employees to save money.
2. When people do not clean the weights or machines they use at the gym at West 20
Why it exists: There is only one wipe dispenser in the gym, and the wipes are difficult to remove.
3. When Uber prices surge during a storm
Why it exists: Uber knows people will pay a higher price to avoid walking or biking in the rain. There are no regulations to control surging Uber prices.
4. The absence of bike lanes on certain streets on campus
Why it exists: A lot of roads predate the implementation of bike lane regulations.
5. When people overshare on social media
Why it exists: People need emotional outlets. The internet is a place where one can quickly and easily vent. Other methods, such as therapy, are expensive and time-consuming.
6. Continuously increasing rent prices (that do not correlate with inflation) at apartment complexes near campus
Why it exists: Apartment complexes near campus increase the cost of rent each leasing term because they know students will pay a higher price to live in a more convenient location. Also, nothing is stopping these companies from continuously increasing the cost of rent.
7. When the bus arrives and leaves before it’s scheduled departure time on Rider at West 20
Why it exists: The scheduled time on Rider is only an estimate because the tracking technology used to locate the buses is inefficient.
8. When cars do not stop for pedestrians at crosswalks
Why it exists: A lot of people are unaware of the fact that they must yield to pedestrians at these crosswalks, and most of these crosswalks are not accompanied by a yield sign.
9. When YouTube videos buffer at West 20
Why it exists: West 20 requires residents to purchase and set up their own router, which leads to broadband router configuration errors and problems with connecting to the internet.
10. When people cannot parallel park correctly
Why it exists: The State of Florida does not require people to parallel park during driving tests.
11. Untrained dogs that chase me when I jog by their home
Why it exists: People do not have the time or money to hire a dog trainer or send their dog to an obedience school.
12. When a bookmark falls out of my book and I lose my page
Why it exists: Bookmarks are flimsy and are not designed to stick to the pages of the book.
13. When I get the flu vaccine and still get the flu
Why it exists: There are different strains of influenza and it is impossible to predict which strain will be prominent during the flu season.
14. Narrow sidewalks that require people to walk on the grass
Why it exists: Poor infrastructure planning
15. Dryers that do not completely dry a load of clothes in one cycle in West 20
Why it exists: West 20 has not upgraded their dryers, which are older and inefficient.
16. When people wear dark clothes at night, which makes them difficult to see while driving
Why it exists: People who cannot legally drive yet or people who do not drive are not aware of the possibility that a car may not see them if they are wearing dark clothing.
17. When I am stung by a hornet at West 20
Why it exists: The pest control company that works for West 20 does not efficiently detect and spray hornet nests.
18. People who smoke in public places in New York.
Why it exists: Many places in New York do not have designated smoking zones. People smoke anywhere in public as a result.
19. The overuse of single-use plastic at the Starbucks in Marston.
Why it exists: Plastic is cheaper for companies to buy in bulk than decomposable materials.
20. The majority of my pants do not have pockets,
Why it exists: The pockets on women’s pants are often sewn in to better the appearance of the clothing. Companies do not realize that women value pockets over appearance, which may be caused by a lack of female representation in the workplace.
Reflection
This assignment has allowed me to realize that problems often have a deeper root than one often assumes. For example, I may assume the reason someone may not clean their machine at a gym is that this person is lazy. I now realize that my apartment complex may be at fault for not making this process more feasible and convenient. I believe I will now be more likely to find deeper solutions to problems. For example, I have never assumed that the flaws in women's clothing may be due to a lack of female representation in the industry. This is a complex issue; however, it results in many small "bugs." These small bugs may be a great way to educate people about a larger issue. Overall, I enjoyed this assignment and now see how these bugs can possibly be avoided.
Reflection
This assignment has allowed me to realize that problems often have a deeper root than one often assumes. For example, I may assume the reason someone may not clean their machine at a gym is that this person is lazy. I now realize that my apartment complex may be at fault for not making this process more feasible and convenient. I believe I will now be more likely to find deeper solutions to problems. For example, I have never assumed that the flaws in women's clothing may be due to a lack of female representation in the industry. This is a complex issue; however, it results in many small "bugs." These small bugs may be a great way to educate people about a larger issue. Overall, I enjoyed this assignment and now see how these bugs can possibly be avoided.
It was interesting to see how many of the “bugs” seem to be part of your daily life. Did a few of these come easy at first and then help you think if others. I think a lot of them are also “bugs” a majority of people in the class would agree upon. Having only one register open drives me crazy too! I think your “whys” have addressed some obvious roots of the problem, but have also touched upon some of the less obvious ones. The exercise does help you see the world differently. You could see a more in depth view on your “whys” as the list went on. The end “bug” and “why “ were particularly fascinating and connected to a much larger issue in society. The connection to the workplace was intriguing. I would also ask, do you think companies leave pockets out because it is assumed that women carry a purse, so do not need them? Another would be, do pockets make the pants look bigger and they assume women want pants to look slender? I think this shows us that some of the “whys” are superficial while others have a far deeper root in societal norms, stereotypes and expectations.
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