5 ms·

I agree, if 70% of straicases wind one way there's got to be a reason, it's unlikely to be random chance. If the author is not willing to explain why he thinks

by simias 5y ago

I agree, if 70% of straicases wind one way there's got to be a reason, it's unlikely to be random chance. If the author is not willing to explain why he thinks that it's a bad justification, and at the same time can't come up with a better explanation, what's the point? The fact that fights rarely occurred in practice in these staircases is moot: if we assume that the choice of orientation is mostly arbitrary and clockwise stairs offer a theoretical advantage in an unlikely scenario, why not go for it? You don't lose anything by building it that way.

ghaff 5y ago
(Weak) convention? Most US cars have the gas cap on the left side but there's no inherent design reason even if some people have preferences and it's by no means universal.
- torstenvl 5y ago
  > there's no inherent design reason The driver sits on the left in the U.S. And, lacking widespread public transit, most driving hours are commuting... alone. Having the gas cap on the left both makes it easier to pull up to the fueling station without being too far or bumping into it, and - having done so - prevents the driver from having to walk around the vehicle.
  - ghaff 5y ago
    That is one point of view. I've also read others who say that they prefer the right because it means that there isn't a gas pump right next to their car door--which means they have to carefully open their door so they don't ding it. I probably prefer left but don't have a strong opinion.
    - bluGill 5y ago
      And still another that says it should be on the right because if you run out of fuel you are away from other traffic while refueling. In truth cars are designed for the entire world. Designers will switch the steering wheel side for the country, but they will avoid having to make changes to something far away there that doesn't need to change.
      - ghaff 5y ago
        Right--a very rare event but still. The bottom line is that there are weak preferences, weak arguments for right vs. left (or clockwise vs. counterclockwise), and generally weak design asymmetries/constraints for a given situation and you end up with a majority (but by no means universal) choice. Not saying that's the case related to the OP, but it seems reasonable absent specific evidence to the contrary.
    - skeeter2020 5y ago
      What's the justification for those cars that fuel up behind the rear license plate? Probably aesthetics, like Jobs insisting the Apple have no vents
      - ghaff 5y ago
        As far as I know, those have always been pretty rare. Maybe more the style a few decades ago? I'd probably put my money on designers.

by simias 5y ago

ghaff 5y ago

(Weak) convention? Most US cars have the gas cap on the left side but there's no inherent design reason even if some people have preferences and it's by no means universal.

torstenvl 5y ago
> there's no inherent design reason The driver sits on the left in the U.S. And, lacking widespread public transit, most driving hours are commuting... alone. Having the gas cap on the left both makes it easier to pull up to the fueling station without being too far or bumping into it, and - having done so - prevents the driver from having to walk around the vehicle.
- ghaff 5y ago
  That is one point of view. I've also read others who say that they prefer the right because it means that there isn't a gas pump right next to their car door--which means they have to carefully open their door so they don't ding it. I probably prefer left but don't have a strong opinion.
  - bluGill 5y ago
    And still another that says it should be on the right because if you run out of fuel you are away from other traffic while refueling. In truth cars are designed for the entire world. Designers will switch the steering wheel side for the country, but they will avoid having to make changes to something far away there that doesn't need to change.
    - ghaff 5y ago
      Right--a very rare event but still. The bottom line is that there are weak preferences, weak arguments for right vs. left (or clockwise vs. counterclockwise), and generally weak design asymmetries/constraints for a given situation and you end up with a majority (but by no means universal) choice. Not saying that's the case related to the OP, but it seems reasonable absent specific evidence to the contrary.
  - skeeter2020 5y ago
    What's the justification for those cars that fuel up behind the rear license plate? Probably aesthetics, like Jobs insisting the Apple have no vents
    - ghaff 5y ago
      As far as I know, those have always been pretty rare. Maybe more the style a few decades ago? I'd probably put my money on designers.