Most important invention ever ?

Flat357 · May 14th, 2008, 11:34 PM

There's nothing like a good debate

There have been lots of inventions since mans creation , but which one has been the most significant ?

Some couldn't exist without others , and some have kept their function regardless of improvements .

Which has been the most important ?

I'm gonna say the pen

buddywayne · May 14th, 2008, 11:36 PM

Toilet paper.

Del Pickup · May 14th, 2008, 11:36 PM

The wheel might be a reasonable choice.

But then again, while strictly not an invention as such, discovering the various uses for fire might also qualify.

SMPTE · May 14th, 2008, 11:38 PM

The transistor.

Del Pickup · May 14th, 2008, 11:38 PM

Toilet paper would be useless without the toilet pan to get rid of it! Which means that the cistern is required; which needs running water.........

XKnight · May 14th, 2008, 11:39 PM

I'll go with electricity. Not so much an invention as a discovery, but many inventions would not be possible without it.

bowlfreshener · May 14th, 2008, 11:41 PM

I don't know if its the most important invention ever, but Jack Kilby at Texas Instruments: http://www.ti.com/corp/docs/kilbyctr/jackstclair.shtml
inventing and creating the IC-chip, or Integrated Circuit. Our lives would be so much different today if that was never invented.

outbreak · May 14th, 2008, 11:49 PM

the most important invention is the concept behind inventing which then led to everything we've ever invented

rhinocaster · May 14th, 2008, 11:52 PM

Quite seriously it was the printing press.

Shared knowledge has led to everything (Good and bad) that we have.

JayFreddy · May 14th, 2008, 11:54 PM

The number zero. The complete and total absence of anything is simply an idea, an abstraction, and has never actually been encountered in nature.

Without zero, we would have no mathematics, no trigonometry, no chemistry, no physics, no computers... I'd go as far to say that without zero, we'd have almost nothing...

outbreak · May 14th, 2008, 11:58 PM

rhinocaster, what about language itself?

ASAT-Sean · May 14th, 2008, 11:59 PM

Hot Wings.

jimd · May 15th, 2008, 12:02 AM

I'm going to have to say beer.

The contenders for 2nd place are the printing press, transitor and airplane.

adifferentbreed · May 15th, 2008, 12:04 AM

Mathematics, writing, art, philosophy, modern medicine.........all important, but nobody mentioned the "ONE". Pie

Flat357 · May 15th, 2008, 12:06 AM

Why did I choose the pen ?

Even in it's earliest form , which may have been simply drawing on walls with another rock , or a stick in the sand , being able to write something down , for me , has to be the most important invention ever .

Communication ? Preservation of thought ? Thousands of other reasons .

One of the few things in the world that everybody uses , or has used , will use , or has had benefit from others using it .

Without the pen ( including pencils , crayons , quils , etc etc ) I would hazard a guess that at least 99% of other inventions could not possibly have taken place .

We would have no , or little , knowledge of anything regarding history , and certainly no documentation of it .

For me , the pen is the utmost invention

Tim Armstrong · May 15th, 2008, 12:09 AM

The Thermos. I mean, really, you put hot stuff in and it stays hot. You put cold stuff in and it stays cold.

How does it KNOW???

Cheers, Tim

getbent · May 15th, 2008, 12:12 AM

oral sex. Whoever was thinking that stuff up was having a PRETTY GOOD DAY.

johnporter · May 15th, 2008, 12:14 AM

The Telecaster of course--- followed closely by the divorce!

outbreak · May 15th, 2008, 12:14 AM

ok getbent wins this thread
have some cake

charlie chitlin · May 15th, 2008, 12:14 AM

Tim!
This is not true!
I put soup and an ice cream sandwich in mine and it did NOT work.

Flat357 · May 15th, 2008, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by getbent

oral sex. Whoever was thinking that stuff up was having a PRETTY GOOD DAY.

I wonder if it was invented to give , or receive ?

Receiving is much more fun , and best of all , it doesn't require a pen lmao

surfoverb · May 15th, 2008, 12:26 AM

Walking

stephwills · May 15th, 2008, 12:28 AM

Beer and oral sex get my vote. I mean ... please ... after that, I'd vote for the printing press. Combining all 3 is like the perfect weekend.

getbent · May 15th, 2008, 12:31 AM

hey without the printing press... no, uh, self entertainment. Hey, we were all 14 once!

adifferentbreed · May 15th, 2008, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlie frey

Tim!
This is not true!
I put soup and an ice cream sandwich in mine and it did NOT work.

Thanks, saved from screwing up my luch tommorow.

Scott McCray · May 15th, 2008, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by getbent

oral sex. Whoever was thinking that stuff up was having a PRETTY GOOD DAY.

Wow...

I'm. Just. Sayin'.

So many quote opportunities in this thread -

.

My hat is off to ya, Randy...

Scott

neocaster · May 15th, 2008, 12:52 AM

Time. What could have possibly happened before it was invented?

Jakedog · May 15th, 2008, 01:03 AM

The condom.

Now if we could just get more people to use them, we could invent the most enjoyable things ever: A large dropoff in traffic, and a serious decline in third and fourth generation idiots screwing up EVERYTHING.

Sorry, had a rough time during the second half of the day.

I can say one thing with absolute confidence though. And that is, that if there is a God, he loves stupid people best. I can tell because he made more of them, than anybody else.

Jake

thunderbyrd · May 15th, 2008, 01:46 AM

the spoon. think about it.

hamatchi · May 15th, 2008, 02:27 AM

The United States Constitution.

Now that I'm working/living in another country, it really strikes me how much we americans take for granted that other folks would die for.

boneyguy · May 15th, 2008, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outbreak

rhinocaster, what about language itself?

Language gets my vote.

Flannel Pat · May 15th, 2008, 03:01 AM

Django Reinhardt.

Telakaster · May 15th, 2008, 03:12 AM

The axe/knife/blade. If you found yourself suddenly stranded in the wilderness this is the one invention that would most help you survive. Velcro just wouldn't 'cut it'.

cantolina · May 15th, 2008, 03:16 AM

Les Paul's multi-track recorder...

giginthesky · May 15th, 2008, 03:16 AM

the guitar strap. tele's are too heavy to hold.

petebradt · May 15th, 2008, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by getbent

oral sex. Whoever was thinking that stuff up was having a PRETTY GOOD DAY.

You know, I was gonna say this but you beat me to it. Glad to see your mind is in the same gutter as mine.

woodman · May 15th, 2008, 03:23 AM

we'd still be hunter-gatherers without the ramp.

cantolina · May 15th, 2008, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by getbent

oral sex. Whoever was thinking that stuff up was having a PRETTY GOOD DAY.

OK, I give up my choice....

Without beer and oral sex, there might never have been a multi-track recorder...

rhinocaster · May 15th, 2008, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boneyguy

Language gets my vote.

But language isn't an invention.

Unseen · May 15th, 2008, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhinocaster

But language isn't an invention.

I'm not sure about that, but writing is an invention.

I'd also have to nominate the invention of plastics as the most important contemporary invention.

Try to imagine modern life without plastics.

May 14th, 2008, 11:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
Flat357 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cheshire Age: 41 Posts: 3,068	Most important invention ever ? There's nothing like a good debate There have been lots of inventions since mans creation , but which one has been the most significant ? Some couldn't exist without others , and some have kept their function regardless of improvements . Which has been the most important ? I'm gonna say the pen __________________ MySpace http://www.myspace.com/flat357

May 14th, 2008, 11:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
SMPTE Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Minneeeesoooottta Posts: 1,330	The transistor. __________________ '63 CS Tele, HW1 Texas Tele, EJ Strat, MIJ JM, Epi Casino (AlnicoV), Gibson SG Robot, Gibson LP DC Studio, Steinberger, Squier PBass (heavily modded)

May 14th, 2008, 11:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
bowlfreshener Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2007 Location: Virginia, USA Age: 33 Posts: 2,022 6 Photos	I don't know if its the most important invention ever, but Jack Kilby at Texas Instruments: http://www.ti.com/corp/docs/kilbyctr/jackstclair.shtml inventing and creating the IC-chip, or Integrated Circuit. Our lives would be so much different today if that was never invented. __________________ RAMA LAMA FA FA FA

May 14th, 2008, 11:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
outbreak Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Australia Age: 22 Posts: 470	the most important invention is the concept behind inventing which then led to everything we've ever invented __________________ '07 MIM std tele '07 Epiphone Studio Dot '08 Gretsch 5120 '08 Ibanex accoustic '08 Fender blues deluxe '07 VOX ad50vt

May 14th, 2008, 11:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
rhinocaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oregon Age: 45 Posts: 1,858	Quite seriously it was the printing press. Shared knowledge has led to everything (Good and bad) that we have. __________________ Just because I "Don't" get it doesn't mean I "Won't" get it!

May 14th, 2008, 11:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
buddywayne Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: missouri Age: 63 Posts: 1,111 10 Photos	Toilet paper.

May 14th, 2008, 11:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
Del Pickup Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,532 6 Photos	The wheel might be a reasonable choice. But then again, while strictly not an invention as such, discovering the various uses for fire might also qualify.

May 14th, 2008, 11:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
Del Pickup Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,532 6 Photos	Toilet paper would be useless without the toilet pan to get rid of it! Which means that the cistern is required; which needs running water.........

May 14th, 2008, 11:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
XKnight Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: TX Posts: 1,312	I'll go with electricity. Not so much an invention as a discovery, but many inventions would not be possible without it.

May 14th, 2008, 11:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
JayFreddy Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dallas TX USA Age: 44 Posts: 2,232 23 Photos	The number zero. The complete and total absence of anything is simply an idea, an abstraction, and has never actually been encountered in nature. Without zero, we would have no mathematics, no trigonometry, no chemistry, no physics, no computers... I'd go as far to say that without zero, we'd have almost nothing...

May 14th, 2008, 11:58 PM	#11 (permalink)
outbreak Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Australia Age: 22 Posts: 470	rhinocaster, what about language itself? __________________ '07 MIM std tele '07 Epiphone Studio Dot '08 Gretsch 5120 '08 Ibanex accoustic '08 Fender blues deluxe '07 VOX ad50vt

May 14th, 2008, 11:59 PM	#12 (permalink)
ASAT-Sean Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ozark,MO Posts: 157	Hot Wings. __________________ "I would like to inquire about your spoons."http://www.thehighriders.com

May 15th, 2008, 12:02 AM	#13 (permalink)
jimd Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Age: 43 Posts: 902	I'm going to have to say beer. The contenders for 2nd place are the printing press, transitor and airplane.

May 15th, 2008, 12:04 AM	#14 (permalink)
adifferentbreed Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Holmes Beach, Florida Age: 44 Posts: 672	Mathematics, writing, art, philosophy, modern medicine.........all important, but nobody mentioned the "ONE". Pie __________________ Dig the Blues? Check out the Blues Republic! http://www.bluesrepublic.org "Life is just a tire swing"

May 15th, 2008, 12:06 AM	#15 (permalink)
Flat357 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cheshire Age: 41 Posts: 3,068	Why did I choose the pen ? Even in it's earliest form , which may have been simply drawing on walls with another rock , or a stick in the sand , being able to write something down , for me , has to be the most important invention ever . Communication ? Preservation of thought ? Thousands of other reasons . One of the few things in the world that everybody uses , or has used , will use , or has had benefit from others using it . Without the pen ( including pencils , crayons , quils , etc etc ) I would hazard a guess that at least 99% of other inventions could not possibly have taken place . We would have no , or little , knowledge of anything regarding history , and certainly no documentation of it . For me , the pen is the utmost invention __________________ MySpace http://www.myspace.com/flat357

May 15th, 2008, 12:09 AM	#16 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ocean Pines, Maryland, USA Age: 50 Posts: 13,048	The Thermos. I mean, really, you put hot stuff in and it stays hot. You put cold stuff in and it stays cold. How does it KNOW??? Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

May 15th, 2008, 12:12 AM	#17 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Posts: 13,591 37 Photos	oral sex. Whoever was thinking that stuff up was having a PRETTY GOOD DAY. __________________ Let me preface this by saying I don't know anything about anything.-- Allen St. John

May 15th, 2008, 12:14 AM	#18 (permalink)
johnporter Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Granite Falls,NC Posts: 164	The Telecaster of course--- followed closely by the divorce!

May 15th, 2008, 12:14 AM	#19 (permalink)
outbreak Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Australia Age: 22 Posts: 470	ok getbent wins this thread have some cake __________________ '07 MIM std tele '07 Epiphone Studio Dot '08 Gretsch 5120 '08 Ibanex accoustic '08 Fender blues deluxe '07 VOX ad50vt

May 15th, 2008, 12:14 AM	#20 (permalink)
charlie chitlin Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bucktown, Pa Age: 47 Posts: 3,493	Tim! This is not true! I put soup and an ice cream sandwich in mine and it did NOT work. __________________ Dig yo'self http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...6-bf3537901a07

May 15th, 2008, 12:26 AM	#22 (permalink)
surfoverb Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,087	Walking

May 15th, 2008, 12:28 AM	#23 (permalink)
stephwills Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 257	Beer and oral sex get my vote. I mean ... please ... after that, I'd vote for the printing press. Combining all 3 is like the perfect weekend. __________________ steph Think I'll just stay here and drink ...

May 15th, 2008, 12:31 AM	#24 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Posts: 13,591 37 Photos	hey without the printing press... no, uh, self entertainment. Hey, we were all 14 once! __________________ Let me preface this by saying I don't know anything about anything.-- Allen St. John

May 15th, 2008, 12:52 AM	#27 (permalink)
neocaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chester County, PA Age: 36 Posts: 3,935 11 Photos	Time. What could have possibly happened before it was invented?

May 15th, 2008, 01:03 AM	#28 (permalink)
Jakedog Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cleveland,OH But my heart's still in TX Posts: 4,496	The condom. Now if we could just get more people to use them, we could invent the most enjoyable things ever: A large dropoff in traffic, and a serious decline in third and fourth generation idiots screwing up EVERYTHING. Sorry, had a rough time during the second half of the day. I can say one thing with absolute confidence though. And that is, that if there is a God, he loves stupid people best. I can tell because he made more of them, than anybody else. Jake __________________ It's not that I lack focus, it's just that I'm musically schizophrenic...

IMPORTANT:Treat everyone here with respect, no matter how difficult! No sex, drug, political, religion or hate discussion permitted here.

May 15th, 2008, 01:46 AM	#29 (permalink)
thunderbyrd Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: central ky Age: 50 Posts: 731	the spoon. think about it. __________________ Nietzsche is dead.

May 15th, 2008, 02:27 AM	#30 (permalink)
hamatchi TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: singapore Age: 48 Posts: 10	The United States Constitution. Now that I'm working/living in another country, it really strikes me how much we americans take for granted that other folks would die for.

May 15th, 2008, 03:01 AM	#32 (permalink)
Flannel Pat Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Age: 21 Posts: 579	Django Reinhardt.

May 15th, 2008, 03:12 AM	#33 (permalink)
Telakaster Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toronto Age: 55 Posts: 240	The axe/knife/blade. If you found yourself suddenly stranded in the wilderness this is the one invention that would most help you survive. Velcro just wouldn't 'cut it'.

May 15th, 2008, 03:16 AM	#34 (permalink)
cantolina Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2008 Location: Warsaw, NY Posts: 121 5 Photos	Les Paul's multi-track recorder...

May 15th, 2008, 03:16 AM	#35 (permalink)
giginthesky Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: south jersey Age: 37 Posts: 1,575 6 Photos	the guitar strap. tele's are too heavy to hold.

May 15th, 2008, 03:23 AM	#37 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 63 Posts: 8,022	we'd still be hunter-gatherers without the ramp. __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Woody & the Stragglers - Western Swing/Roots-rock)