Where is the problem?

I take the bus and/or the subway to work everyday, and I see a lot of people. Most of the time, other passengers just wait silently for the correct stop. And since most of them now have some sort of music player, so it's a smooth and quiet ride. But the behavior of some really bothers me. And it's not just on the bus, but also at work, and everywhere I go: People act really stupid and blame others for it.

I witnessed a perfect example this morning. Usually, you get on the bus by entering the front door, and getting out the back door (so you don't bother those comming in). For a couple of years now, the new bus have motions detectors to open these door, and it's written on the door "Motion detector". I see all sort of behavior on 'how to open the door'. Some of the individuals who can't open the door simply try to push it, and by pushing hard enough eventually the motion detector see motions and opens the door. Others try to put their hand on the door, as if it had a 'hand is on the door' detector. Others think that the bus driver is supposed to open theses door and just wait in front of them. Of course, if they can't manage to open the door in time, they then proceed to shout when the bus tries to live without them getting out, and finally blame the bus driver for their own inability to open a door.

I see this everyday at least once and I am always reminded of a study that proved that being ignorant usually meant that you lacked not only the skilled themsleves, but also the habilities to see that you lacked these skills, and thus never improved. People assume they have the right idea, that they are right. A sort of misplaced confidence. (original paper here )

We see that a lot on the internet, where everyone can simply claim that their are an expert on any subject. I could aloborate, but i'll keep this for a future post.

But on the idea of the bus door, where exactly is the problem? Is it really because the individuals can't be bothered to read what's in front of them and come up with a logical reasoning on how to open an advance door? Or is it because the door is well designed? So who is to blame?

Both.

Think about it. You shouldn't have to think about it. After all, isnt it just a door? But since people can't see that their are doing wrong they are also partialy to blame...

The solution: There is none. There is a saying that goes:

"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning"

And it applied on the bus example. You just have to design so that most people can use your product/application/door/whatever and to have to think about it. There will always be one idiot who can't use it. Let the rest enjoy it.

And i'm sure I am to blame on some subject... I just can't see which one... A sort of misplaced confidence...