fbpx

Technology: you love it except when you hate it

Technology helps me do so many things more quickly. Most of the time I adore it and thank God for it. Then there are other days.

You know what I’m talking about, right? All the lights flash on the dishwasher for no apparent reason (It’s possessed). The oven shuts off in the middle of a baking a cake. The computer locks up and even the power button doesn’t work so you can restart the stupid thing.

Or maybe it’s the washing machine.

Number One on my Love-Hate list of devices
Number One on my Love-Hate list of devices

I have lovely front loading machines for my laundry. Clothes come out cleaner and seem to look new longer. It even sings a pretty song when a load finishes.

Or it doesn’t work. Period.

You load in the clothes, dump soap in the dispenser and pour liquid fabric softener in its appropriate location. All set. Or so it would seem.

Of course, when you push the lovely power button: nothing. No lights. No sound. No error messages.

Things I’ve tried on the two occasions this event has happened in the middle of laundry day (of course, it could never be when I was just doing a mid-week change of bedding):

  • Open and close the door
  • Open and close the soap dispenser
  • Push all the other buttons
  • Throw the breaker switch
  • Check the door for obstructions and shut it – again
  • Depress the power button a dozen times
  • Hold the power button in for at least five seconds

The fact that this practically new wonder of laundry wizardry doesn’t work isn’t even the most annoying thing. What can be worse you’re wondering?

What irks me completely is that my husband will come home, open the door and check the power source (I’m too short to actually be able to reach the plug) and push the button. The panel will light up and the washer will tinkle its merry “I’m ready to serve you” tune.

At that moment, my jaw drops to the floor. I wonder why I didn’t kick the thing. No, I don’t. That would just hurt my foot. I’m more mature than that.

Can an inanimate device be so fickle that it stops working until its installer strokes it softly and tenderly? I mean, what other explanation could there possibly be?

The worst part is that this happens with other appliances, too. Vacuum cleaner makes a strange sound and starts smoking. Perfectly fine when hubby switches it on. Computer program refuses to open. Starts right up at hubby’s click.

Seriously? Am I just cursed? Do I possess some anti-technology gene or something that makes electric and electronic gadgets feel the need to mock me in this way?

The best part about the washing machine this time: my son was home and when he pushed the button nothing happened either. Ha! Maybe he inherited my curse.

I bet my husband has some sort of virus he implants in that thing so it stops working after so many loads. And I have the perfect solution for his sneakiness.

 He can do the laundry from now on.

What about you? Have you experienced these frustrating lulls in proper operation of mechanical devices only to have someone else step up and start it like a pro?

What do you think? Add to the discussion here.