Why is a Manhole Cover Round?

Foreword from Wikipedia

The question of why manhole covers are typically round was made famous by Microsoft when they began asking it as a job-interview question. Originally meant as a psychological assessment of how one approaches a question with more than one correct answer, the problem has produced a number of alternate explanations, from the pragmatic (“Manhole covers are round because manholes are round.”) to the philosophical.

Reasons for the shape include:

  • A round manhole cover cannot fall through its circular opening, whereas a square manhole cover may fall in if it were inserted diagonally in the hole.
  • A round manhole cover can be more easily moved by being rolled.
  • A round manhole cover is cheapest to manufacture related to other shapes

Blog by Mike Stonehill

1) I’m lonely. I don’t find enough fulfillment in the real life relationships I have. I just have a need for the good feeling I get when I am sexually satisfied.
We all have the need for interaction with other people. It’s the way God made us. God even created in us an attraction to the opposite sex. I think He did this because we are such a naturally self centered creatures, that if it was left up to ourselves we wouldn’t have sex because it didn’t make us feel good. God wanted us to be fruitful and multiply, so in the process He made it enjoyable and a representation of the great joy and satisfaction of an intimate relationship with Him.

Unfortunately, we have corrupted it, as we tend to do with everything because of our sinful nature. But regardless, He created the act of sex to be enjoyed under the right circumstances. Friendship and companionship are necessities of life. This is a life that was freely given to us. So the really amazing thing is that when we accept God’s gift of salvation through Christ the Bible says we are now considered His friend. In fact Proverbs 18 describes the strength of friendship with God. Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

This is so important in those times in our lives when our friends around us seem to be few, and those that are there seem to not be fulfilling the needs we have. Ecclesiastes 4:10 sums up what we need in a friend: “If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”

And Proverbs has a good word regarding our choices of who we turn to. Proverbs 1:10,15: “My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. My son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths.”

Psalms 101:1-4: “I will sing of your love and justice;
to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.
2 I will be careful to lead a blameless life—
when will you come to me?
I will walk in my house
with blameless heart. (This means we strive to have integrity, we won’t get there yet, but we head that way.)
3 I will set before my eyes no vile thing. (Notice it says “I will set…” , that means we make a choice to not place it before us. We can’t escape it especially in modern society. But we can make the decision to not place it in front of us.)
The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me.
4 Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil.” (Notice how many times it says “I will…” It’s an act of our will. We make a choice. It doesn’t mean we are a failure if we fall, which we will. It means when we fail, we “pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and try all over again…” but with God’s help)

2) Because I like the pictures. I’m looking at beautiful women that God created, and it’s no different than looking at pictures of anything beautiful that God created.

2 Timothy 1:8,9: “But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.”

It isn’t easy to deny ourselves selfish pleasure. But God has a plan for us, a plan that requires sacrifice and work. God has treasures for us that we can barely imagine, but we do need to make decisions to sacrifice some things with an eternal perspective in mind. God has created many things simply for our pleasure. Why else is so much in His creation so beautiful? God just tells us to follow His design and plan as best we can. Because He has things in mind that we can’t really begin to understand. He just says, “Have faith, trust me, follow My commands.”

Philippians 2:3,4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

3) I’m looking at it because I’m just bored and it’s free.

1 Peter 1:13,14: “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Boredom is obviously not an excuse to partake in porn. In today’s world there is too much to do. We must exercise self control and pursue things that edify and enrich that are not so destructive. Fill our minds with that which is good. If in doubt, throw it out!

The manhole cover makes sense.. Porn still doesn’t.

Why did you look at Porn? ….Disqus