# Annoying others with your new technique...what do you proselytize about in your field or hobby? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 22, 2024, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057 "2024-10-22T11:12:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057/21 "2024-10-23T14:00:00Z")
Yeah, fair enough. I was just so surprised to hear someone suggest that the (slower IME) method was faster that I wanted to see if I was missing something. Different (key)strokes and all! ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057/22 "2024-10-23T14:01:28Z")
But it’s human nature to want to enlighten the unenlightened! I remember many years ago when I was chatting with a friend at work and he was telling me the benefits of NJ Manufacturer’s insurance. Apparently it’s some exclusive “gotta work for a member company” kind of insurance and it’s supposedly cheaper. I couldn’t get him to stop pestering me about it. “No, I’ll stick with my current insurance. It’s a pain to change. Lots of forms to fill out. blah blah blah” But he would still say things like “I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want to switch!” ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057/23 "2024-10-23T14:06:39Z")
Well yeah. Quality bandsaw blades are very inexpensive these days. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057/24 "2024-10-23T14:08:26Z")
> [@sunacres](#): > > This conversation sounds like something that got resolved in the 1990s: do it the way you like and stop annoying others. It’s less important than which way the toilet paper hangs. ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057/25 "2024-10-23T14:10:55Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > It’s less important than which way the toilet paper hangs. …which was resolved even earlier with the same recommendation. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057/26 "2024-10-23T15:21:45Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > I bet having that UUID of an order on a screenshot would be quite helpful for problem solving, so thinking about the support engineers, why not ask the developers to display it in light gray in tiny letters somewhere where it won’t intrude. That’s what we wound up doing. Rather than have the UUID as the clickable identifier in a list of orders, we used an order or invoice number that the user would recognize. Click on that and it would take you to a page that had detailed information for the order, including the UUID in small text. I don’t know if that ever came in handy though; I don’t think we did any debugging by screenshots. It could have also been written to a log file, where our support team would have access to it, but the users wouldn’t routinely see it. > [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > 1. hold the ketchup bottle in a slightly head-down orientation with one hand. > 2. Using your other palm as a stationary anvil, smack the neck of the ketchup bottle downward against that palm gently and repeatedly. The ketchup will move toward the lower side of the neck, and the air will move toward the upper side. Ketchup will flow quickly and easily from the bottle this way. My technique starts before opening the bottle. With the cap on, shake the bottle very vigoursly to loosen up the ketchup. Then open it, then pour it. Heinz stopped using glass bottles a while ago. The new plastic bottles are terrible in much the same way the old glass ones were. There’s a little constriction in the opening. Squeeze the bottle, nothing. Squeeze a little harder, still nothing. Squeeze a little harder, and too much ketchup comes squirting out. I can’t see any reason for the constriction; I almost think Heinz deliberately wants their bottles to suck at delivering ketchup. My solution was to buy another, normal squeeze bottle for ketchup. Buy a bottle of Heinz at the store, and then transfer the ketchup to the other bottle that does what it’s supposed to. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057/27 "2024-10-23T15:24:48Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I almost think Heinz deliberately wants their bottles to suck at delivering ketchup. Exhibit A: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZgqApKCN7Jo/maxresdefault.jpg "Heinz - The Rude Ketchup") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgqApKCN7Jo) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057/28 "2024-10-23T15:40:58Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Exhibit A: I remember Heinz’s “anticipation” commercials. I figured they were just trying to make a joke out of the difficulty of pouring ketchup. Then they switched to plastic bottles, and they’re still terrible at delivering the right amount of ketchup. That’s when I started to think they might be doing it on purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057/29 "2024-10-23T15:47:34Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > The new plastic bottles are terrible in much the same way the old glass ones were. There’s a little constriction in the opening. Squeeze the bottle, nothing. Squeeze a little harder, still nothing. Squeeze a little harder, and too much ketchup comes squirting out. I can’t see any reason for the constriction; I almost think Heinz deliberately wants their bottles to suck at delivering ketchup. I see both kinds of squeeze bottles. Wife and I buy bigger bottles at Costco, and they have a simple orifice in the cap that provides total control over the flow rate. These bottles are designed to be stored with the opening at the top, as I don’t believe they provide a perfect seal against leakage once the tamper-proof seal is removed. They make other bottles that are as you describe: the opening in the cap is fitted with a tiny silicone sphincter that provides a perfect seal against leakage when the pressure against it is below a certain threshold, but evert and allow ketchup out when you squeeze hard enough. These are designed to be stored with the opening downward, I guess so that the ketchup is right there when you pick it up, saving you from the agony of having to shake the ketchup from the other end of the bottle to the opening. And yes, I hate these, as the minimum non-zero volumetric flow rate of ketchup is inconveniently large, and the associated ketchup velocity is high enough so that splattering adjacent objects is a serious concern. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057/30 "2024-10-23T16:07:38Z")
PEMDAS is one of the worst things ever to happen in mathematics instruction. Many teachers get it wrong. Most students get it wrong. And it does not show the interrelationships in operations. Instead I teach the students this chart Powers Roots Multiplication Division Addition Subtraction I use this to teach how to solve arithmetic and algebra problems, inverse operations and distribution rules. Yet sadly I still need to help students undo their PEMDAS mislearning As an example, answer this question: You have a calculation that involves both multiplication and division. Which one do you first? NOT multiplication! You do both at the same time working left to right. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057/31 "2024-10-23T16:25:25Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Squeeze the bottle, nothing. Squeeze a little harder, still nothing. Squeeze a little harder, and too much ketchup comes squirting out. When you shake the ketchup bottle, none’ll come, but then a lot’ll.                                                 Anon. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057/32 "2024-10-23T16:27:24Z")
> [@ashtayk](#): > > The horizontal cut while chopping an onion. It accomplishes nothing - the onion is already in layers. But if you follow the longitude of the onion while making the vertical cuts, slightly angling the knife - it accomplishes the task of an even dice much better. I just learned about this from my favorite YouTube chef, chef Jean-Pierre. I’m just now at 47 getting into serious home cooking, and I will adopt this technique. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057/33 "2024-10-23T16:41:46Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > When you shake the ketchup bottle, > none’ll come, but then a lot’ll. > Anon. That would be [Richard Armour](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Armour). ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057/34 "2024-10-23T16:58:43Z")
Not sure what technique is being described here, please elucidate. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057/35 "2024-10-23T17:14:06Z")
I think this is describing how my wife cuts onions as well (the wrong way). I know nothing about cooking, but saw one video that explained how to dice onions and I suddenly realized that her technique was unnecessary and complicated. She chops the end off and cuts the onion in half on a meridian, lays one half face down, then cuts a series of horizontal slices from the South Pole (the cut end) to the North Pole (where the layers meet). This is scary to watch because she is holding the slippery onion and slicing with the knife parallel to the cutting board, under her hand. Then she makes a series of vertical cuts with the knife parallel to the axis and perpendicular to the cutting board. These are safe and easy cuts. Then she cuts along the lines of latitude, getting the chopped onions. The thing is, all you need is the vertical cuts–the horizonal ones are redundant and dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057/36 "2024-10-23T17:23:25Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > The thing is, all you need is the vertical cuts–the horizonal ones are redundant and dangerous. Not entirely. What they do is allow the first set of vertical cuts to be truly vertical. If you skip the horizontal cuts, the “vertical” cuts have to be radial cuts, going from the surface towards the center. That is more difficult than vertical cuts, especially since on the near side you’re cutting away from yourself which is clumsy. The real trick for the horizontal is to only do like 2 of them, close to the cutting board. You don’t need the horizontal cuts near the top of the onion, because the verticals will do just fine there, it’s along the side where the onion itself is vertical that needs the extra help. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057/37 "2024-10-23T17:34:45Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > The real trick for the horizontal is to only do like 2 of them, close to the cutting board. You don’t need the horizontal cuts near the top of the onion, because the verticals will do just fine there, it’s along the side where the onion itself is vertical that needs the extra help. I think you’re describing something like what I do. I always cut the onion in half at the equator so it will sit flat on the cutting board. Then I can do longitudinal cuts straight down or at an angle near the sides. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057/38 "2024-10-23T18:08:12Z")
Or you could just get a vegetable chopper and do away with knife work almost entirely. > **[Amazon.com: Vegetable Chopper, Pro Onion Chopper, Multifunctional 13 in 1 Food...](https://www.amazon.com/Vegetable-Chopper-Multifunctional-Kitchen-Container/dp/B09YH5CPQP)** > > Online Shopping for Kitchen Utensils & Gadgets from a great selection at everyday low prices. Free 2-day Shipping with Amazon Prime. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057/39 "2024-10-23T19:39:38Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Not sure what technique is being described here, please elucidate. That onions should only be cut vertically, never horizontally, unless one is making onion rings. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057/40 "2024-10-23T21:09:34Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Not entirely. What they do is allow the first set of vertical cuts to be truly vertical. If you skip the horizontal cuts, the “vertical” cuts have to be radial cuts, going from the surface towards the center. Ah yes. I told you I know nothing about this other than that my wife’s technique is wanting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-others-with-your-new-technique-what-do-you-proselytize-about-in-your-field-or-hobby/1009057.md?page=3)