Public Transportation tickets

Still struggling to figure out Paris metro tickets.

Oh, getting around is easy.  Each metro line is a color and a number combo. We are near the Jasmin stop so it is line 9 and an olive green color.  You need to know the end point so you can figure out which direction to go and then of course, the station name that you want to get off at.   That was fine, no worries.  We only made one error and that was because the exit from the platform to the line we wanted to switch to was closed and it was not clear how to get where we wanted to go. 

Google Maps is my friend. I would punch in where we wanted to go, and GM would tell us exactly which trains and stops and how much time it should take including the "2 minute" walk from one platform to the next.  It was awesome

The thing that Paris is not consistent with is what to do with your ticket later.  You buy the tickets from a machine (does have a languages choice).  You can buy a book or carnet of tickets but it just means you get 10 individual tickets - not an actual book :)

You put the ticket in turnstile and follow the signs to the platform.  The thing is you are supposed to hold onto your ticket to use to get OUT of the metro station as well.  Except there is no rhyme or reason as to which stations have an exit turnstile (requiring your ticket) and which just have a door.  And sometimes, they simply turn off the exit turnstiles and let everyone through.

Still trying to figure this one out.

Oh and how do you tell if your metro ticket is good?  Most have no indication that it went through a turnstile.  I have a collection of tickets on my dresser now.  I think there is one or two that did not get used yet but I can't tell by looking at them.

Advice I was given:  Hand the ticket to an agent and have them check it out.  You can't.

Note:  Decided to get the Navigo card.  It's weekly or monthly (by calendar). I did the math and decided weekly was my best bet.  I got one last Friday and will refill it for the next 3 weeks.  Works well and now I don't have a stack of paper tickets to figure out which, if any, are still good.  Oh and I did read an article this week that said they are going to do away with the paper tickets for good sometime next year.