Things you're shocked people don't know

[Jadzia]

In conversation with somebody this afternoon, a very simple numbers problem came up, and as the person stumbled on it, I tried to help them through it in baby steps. Only to discover that they just could not seem to get their head around it. I was honestly shocked, as this is somebody middle aged and quite capable of basic arithmetic. Let me describe it to you:

Which number between 1 and 10, when divided by 10, is biggest?

Are there any simple truths or problems that you have discovered a person doesn't know/understand, that has left you feeling shocked or bewildered? Or it could be a big news story or historical event they haven't heard of, or a famous person they've never heard of, or a word or a name that they make a habit of getting wrong...

Let's hear your stories, and we can together.

 

[sidious618]

That I'm better than them.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Good manners, generally speaking.

 

[C.E. Evans]

That not everyone believes in the same thing.

 

[FalTorPan]

How many licks it takes to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop. (One... two-hoo-hoo... three. Crunch. Three.)

 

[RoJoHen]

How many licks it takes to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop. (One... two-hoo-hoo... three. Crunch. Three.)

Maybe for an owl! His beak is probably stronger than my teeth.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

The Highway Code.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

How to drive when there's snow on the ground.

 

[RAMA]

That non-HD content on an HDTV won't look good because its not up to the standard of HD content, and not because the non-HD content is superior to the tv.

That widescreen is better than "full screen".


RAMA

 

[Zulu Romeo]

How to search for the answers to their questions on the Internet.


(sorry, I'm just coming up with more of these a little at a time...)

 

[AstroSmurf]

The Highway Code.

Thank you.

How to drive when there's snow on the ground.

Again, thank you.


For me it is the fact that most people have no idea what the definition of socialism, communism and fascism really is but are willing to point fingers anyway. Did no one pay attention in Social Studies?

 

[Squiggy]

The definition of socialism.

Of course most of those people who don't know it are easily scared and misdirected.

 

[RoJoHen]

For me it is the fact that most people have no idea what socialism and fascism is but are willing to point fingers anyway. Did no one pay attention in Social Studies?

Honestly, I don't think I ever learned about facism in social studies. Come to think of it, I'm still not quite sure what it is.

 

[Pingfah]

The Highway Code.

Thank you.

How to drive when there's snow on the ground.

Again, thank you.


For me it is the fact that most people have no idea what socialism, communism and fascism really is but are willing to point fingers anyway. Did no one pay attention in Social Studies?

How very socio-fascist of you

 

[AstroSmurf]

The definition of socialism.

Yes. That is more accurate. I changed my original post to reflect that.

 

[RoJoHen]

I just did this...

How to search for the answers to their questions on the Internet.

...to resolve this issue...

For me it is the fact that most people have no idea what socialism and fascism is but are willing to point fingers anyway. Did no one pay attention in Social Studies?

Honestly, I don't think I ever learned about facism in social studies. Come to think of it, I'm still not quite sure what it is.

The more you know.

 

[Amaris]

The Highway Code.

Thank you.

How to drive when there's snow on the ground.

Again, thank you.


For me it is the fact that most people have no idea what socialism and fascism is but are willing to point fingers anyway. Did no one pay attention in Social Studies?

Which brings me to my own, that people simply do not know their history. I'm not even talking about specific events, just things in general. Remember that joke in the movie Tommy Boy, where Tommy fills in "Herbie Hancock" as a noted signer of the Declaration of Independence? Well I know someone who didn't get the joke. Why? Because he had no idea who John Hancock was, so the joke was lost on him.

Before you ask, yes, he had graduated from high school.

 

[Mr. B]

Last week while speaking to an out of town friend about the Super Bowl, I had to explain what the kickoff is before I could talk about the onside kick that opened the 2nd half.

 

[RoJoHen]

Last week while speaking to an out of town friend about the Super Bowl, I had to explain what the kickoff is before I could talk about the onside kick that opened the 2nd half.

I am always shocked when an American doesn't know the rules to a major American sport.

I don't even like football, but I still know how the game is played.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Another thing that I'm shocked people don't know: not so much that they don't know what they're talking about, but more that they don't realise that they're ignorant on a subject they think they know about but don't (they don't know that they don't know).

Once one recognises that they don't know what they're taking about, it can encourage positive steps to rectify that oversight if they wish, or alternatively to simply acknowledge it as a failing and move on with life. However, the saddest sight is seeing those who are unwilling or unable to comprehend that they are this way, and will carry on regardless.