USB Insertion Issues

PROTIP: Press 'i' to view the image gallery, 'v' to view the video gallery, or 'r' to view a random entry.

This submission is currently being researched & evaluated!

You can help confirm this entry by contributing facts, media, and other evidence of notability and mutation.

About

USB Insertion Issues refers to difficulties some encounter when trying to insert a USB connection into a USB port. It is also known as the USB Paradox due to the fact that, despite there being a 50/50 chance of inserting it the right way, it often can take individuals three or more tries to have the connection go in correctly.^[1]

Origin

The USB 2.0 drive was introduced in 1996. The phenomenon of insertion issues has been experienced since the format gained wide usage. One of the earliest known memes evoking it was a Rage Comic published on the website 9GAG. ^[2] The post received more than 4,000 points (shown below).

Doesn't fit, Plug in USB flipit Doesn't fit, Now it fits flip it again VIA 9GAG.COM

Spread

That year, Lifehacker^[3] posted an article about the phenomenon and how to avoid it. They wrote:

Look at the top of your next cable. On one side is the manufacturer's logo, and on the other is the USB symbol (sometimes with another manufacturer logo underneath the symbol). The USB cable always plugs in with the USB symbol facing UP on your laptop. If you have a vertical monitor with USB ports, the USB cable always plugs in with the USB symbol facing you.

Over the next decade, memes involving USB drives continued to get more common. On August 15th, 2014, Star Trek actor George Takei tweeted ^[4] a meme about it. the post received more than 700 likes and 300 retweets in less than six years (shown below, left).

On October 1st, 2015, ClickHole published a video "Beautiful! This Woman Eventually Gets Her USB Cord Plugged In." The post received more than 7,500 views in less than five years (shown below, right).

Oh Muu George Takei @GeorgeTakei Can't they make these work no matter which way you plug them in? OPLUGGEDA USBIN ON THE FIRST TRY THERE'S NOTHING STOPPING ME TODAY 3:19 PM Aug 15, 2014 IFTTT

Various Examples

Inserting a usb be like: Wrong Wrong Correct

people that get the usb stick in first try Nasa scientists

It's a well known fact that you must spin a USB three times before it will fit. From this (intel) we can gather that a USB has three states: Software Up position Down position Superposition Until the USB is observed it will stay in the superposition. Therefore it will not fit until observed except for in cases of USB tunnelling.

The world if USB plugs would go in first try

A USB has two long sides right? Yup. Sothere is only two possible ways it can go in Yup. So I should only have to try at most two time's before getting it right nope nope

Search Interest

External References

^[1] NPR – Ever Plugged A USB In Wrong? Of Course You Have. Here's Why

^[2] 9GAG – All the time…

^[3] Lifehacker – How to Plug In a USB Cable Correctly Every Time

^[4] Twitter – @GeorgeTakei's Tweet

Recent Videos

There are no videos currently available.

+ Add a Video

Recent Images 27 total

USB Insertion Issues Uploaded by Reddit Moments	USB Insertion Issues Uploaded by Reddit Moments	USB Insertion Issues Uploaded by Evilthing	USB Insertion Issues Uploaded by Reddit Moments
USB Insertion Issues Uploaded by Reddit Moments	USB Insertion Issues Uploaded by Matt	USB Insertion Issues Uploaded by Matt	USB Insertion Issues Uploaded by Matt
USB Insertion Issues Uploaded by Bridget	USB Insertion Issues Uploaded by Reddit Moments	USB Insertion Issues Uploaded by Jill	USB Insertion Issues Uploaded by Jill

+ Add an Image

View All Images

Top Comments

VinchVolt

Nov 16, 2019 at 04:44PM EST in reply to Kommando_Kaijin

I think the issue is that when they have it oriented properly and still "get it wrong," it's more an issue of having difficulty aligning it exactly right with the port without directly looking at it or fumbling around to get it lined up correctly. As a result, they assume that they simply have it oriented wrong, flip it to see if that works, and inevitably realize that they had the orientation right the first time.

It's an understandable issue given that USB-A ports and plugs are asymmetrical in design, which makes it harder to spitball one's way into a proper connection without repeated practice/experience. USB-C ports were designed to be symmetrical for this reason, though adoption of the format is slow at the moment due to just how commonplace USB-A is at this point.

+18