生活中的“安慰按钮”

按下门铃，就听到响声；按下自动售货机的按钮，饮料就咚咚咚的滚了出来。然而生活中，有很多看起来很厉害的按钮，实际上是没有任何功能的。比如在美国，电梯里都安装了一个“关闭”按钮，这通常是给检修员和应急救援人员使用的，而且只有在插上了一把钥匙时才管用。像这样没有实际功能的按钮叫做安慰按钮。

A placebo button is a push-button with apparent functionality that actually has no effect when pressed. Such buttons can be psychologically rewarding to pressers by giving an illusion of control.
安慰按钮指的是表面上看具备某种功能，但实际按下去却没有效果的按钮。这类按钮能给使用者带来心理上的收获，让人产生控制感。

They are commonly placed in situations where it would have once been useful to have such a button but the system now proceeds automatically.
安慰按钮常出现在过去有用，但后来系统实现了自动化的地方。

In some cases the button may have been functional, but may have failed or been disabled during installation or maintenance or was, in a relatively small number of cases, installed to keep people contented, much in the same way as placebos.
在一些例子中，这个按钮可能一直在使用中，但可能已经失效，或在安装维修中失去了功能；在少数例子中，安装这种按钮是为了让人们满意，类似于安慰剂。

Many walk buttons at pedestrian crossings were once functional in New York City, but now serve as placebo buttons.
纽约市人行横道的很多步行按钮之前曾经有作用，但如今只是安慰按钮。

It has been reported that the temperature set point adjustment on thermostats in many office buildings in the United States is non-functional, installed to give tenants' employees a similar illusion of control.
据报道，很多美国办公楼中温度控制器的设置按钮无效，安装按钮只是为了给其中办公的员工带来类似的控制错觉。

（中国日报网英语点津 yaning）