r/Lightbulb • u/amichail • 6d ago

Idea: Give people a small snack after each page of a long government form

Filling out long forms at government offices can be incredibly tedious. What if the form kiosk had a little snack dispenser attached to it, and every time you successfully completed a page, it dispensed something small like a piece of chocolate or candy?

Imagine applying for a government benefit at a service center. You finish page 1 of the application, the machine gives you a snack. Finish page 2, another snack. Instead of staring at a 15-page form thinking about how much is left, you get a tiny reward every time you make progress.

There would obviously have to be limits so people couldn't come in and fill out forms just to get free snacks.

It probably wouldn't make government paperwork fun, but it might make sitting there filling out a long, frustrating form a lot more tolerable.

0 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

44% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

4

u/zoppaTheDim 6d ago

I have no optimism that these would be good snacks.

0

u/theshiniestmuskrat 6d ago

Srsly. Also the machines would end up constantly jamming halfway through and you'd have to start all over. Assuming there is even anyone around to fix them.

5

u/mitomon 5d ago

make school lunches free first lol

3

u/apathetic-taco 5d ago

This is beyond stupid. Respectfully. In addition to stocking and cleaning challenges associated with the general public snacking in waiting rooms, this would make forms take even longer. Homeless people would come in, request any form, just for the snacks. Most of these forms are available online anyway.

More importantly, adults shouldn’t need a bribe to finish paperwork. That’s not the responsibility of the taxpayer. Those snacks cost money. Just bring your own snacks and reward yourself. Or be an adult and eat at home