# Ever been shocked at what some people don't know? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 10, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416 "2012-03-10T22:36:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416/401 "2012-03-17T16:51:24Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Unless I read **Misaheun** ’s post incorrectly, one person labeled the State of Indiana as the ‘State of Chicago’. Unless I read **FatBaldGuy** ’s post incorrectly, he was joking. ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416/402 "2012-03-17T17:53:46Z")
There are an incredible number of people that post questions to dog forums asking how much to feed their dog. Many people believing themselves qualified to give advice give a short answer to check the bag. Which yes, it is where to start. The concept of observing the dog’s body condition and adjusting the recommended amount as needed totally eludes many, including those giving advice. Do we not cut back what we eat when we get too fat, or feel we should? I loved the one snob bashing one of the common brands or dog food. He claimed his dog got fat on it although he wasn’t over feeding it. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416/403 "2012-03-17T18:14:11Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > One night at the convention center where I’m a chef, we were serving a barbecue buffet. A guest sent one of the waitstaff back to the kitchen to ask if there were any tomatoes in the barbecue sauce. Seriously, this is way more about your ignorance than theirs. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416/404 "2012-03-17T18:18:28Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Seriously, this is way more about your ignorance than theirs. Yeah. Besides, _everyone_ knows that the best way to serve up grilled meat is with a good seasoned rub. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416/405 "2012-03-17T20:07:03Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > On the subject, ketchup was originally a term for any number of thick sweet-and-savory condiments made from fruits or vegetables. I’ve seen old recipes for banana ketchup, grape ketchup, mushroom ketchup, onion ketchup, and walnut ketchup, none of which contain any tomatoes. Admittedly, tomato ketchup has long been the default flavor. Mushroom ketchup… Ooh! Onion ketchup? I want! And, yeah, one problem with detailed trivial knowledge is that things change. Someone thought they’d gotchaed me: I had thought there actually were plums in “plum pudding.” But, the funny thing is, there can be! There are lots of recipes for “plum pudding,” and some of them do include plums. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416/406 "2012-03-17T20:25:28Z")
Third post in [this thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=629246) ---
**Author:** ![C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C.Montgomery_Burns)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416/407 "2012-03-17T22:18:14Z")
> [@brittekland](#): > > Hahahahaha… I don’t know why but that really cracks me up. Hahahahaha. > > But just the same I hate the Chicago TV anchors who’s been around for years still can’t pronounce Chicago properly; it’s not _Chit-ca-go or Shit-ca-go_ damn it! No, but as a hick “down-stater”, I love this and think it should be! ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416/408 "2012-03-17T23:20:21Z")
> [@brittekland](#): > > Hahahahaha… I don’t know why but that really cracks me up. Hahahahaha. > > But just the same I hate the Chicago TV anchors who’s been around for years still can’t pronounce Chicago properly; it’s not _Chit-ca-go or Shit-ca-go_ damn it! That’s even more funny because “cago” means “shit” in Spanish. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416/409 "2012-03-18T01:36:27Z")
> [@Lionne](#): > > Maybe this is a bit specific, but I’m working with a team of 4 other local college seniors on a capstone project that calls for many, many revisions of our main document, for which we use Microsoft Word. > Not a single other team member knew: > [ul] > [li]how to use the citations tool (OK, it’s somewhat new, I can understand that…but it’s so incredibly useful)[/li][li]how to track changes (they would ask, “so what are all these lines for and will they be on the final document?”)[/li][li]how to add and delete comments (they thought only the professor could do such a thing)[/li][/ul] > It’s just perplexing to me that we are in the final year of college and they’ve somehow never encountered these before. We’re all around the same age, except for one much older lady. I’m no great Word magician…these are just necessary tools for college projects, I would think. Track changes is such a great tool, unfortunately, it’s not just college students who don’t have a clue, but people out in the workaday world also. It doesn’t shock me that some people aren’t computer literate, it’s not necessarily “stupid” just maybe generational. What surprises me is young people who aren’t very computer literate. I mean, they’ve grown up in this age of Twitter, FB, Google and all that. I’ve a coworker, a young woman of about 25-26, and when I first started at my company, I was often totally astonished that when I asked her to look something up, she needed to be spoonfed on how to google it. I’d say “can you google Big Brother Regulation 110 (no such thing), and shoot me a copy of Section 12 sub-paragraph 3(e)”? And she’d say “how do I find that”? I’d reply “oh, just plug in BBR 110 into your search engine and it should pull up a list of all of the sections and subsections and paragraphs”. And she’d say, “but how do I do that”? How can a 20 something in this day and age, not know how to google? And this kid is taking structural engineering for her degree (her second degree IIRC). She knows now of course (and no, I was never snarky or mean to her, I hid my surprise and patiently helped her with the internet and computer programs). She’s our resident GIS person as well (beginner level, and does produce really nice stuff for what we need), but if she doesn’t know how to do something yet, she’ll just say “oh, I don’t know how to do that” and that’s that. It just floors me. For her it’s like a locked door and she’s just done. It doesn’t seem to even remotely occur to her to maybe, I don’t know, LEARN it? (for those wondering, I’d LOVE to pick up the slack and go ahead and do it anyway, I love programs like ArcView etc., but our HQ has only authorized the use of one GIS license for our branch). I remember learning CAD (wish I still had access to it, I’m way out of touch and rusty). And if I didn’t know something, I’d be looking it up, or on the horn to my CAD mentor, or just ditzing (I’m naturally blonde) around on my own figuring it out. People like that always make me do the extreme dog head tilt and Scooby “uurrruuuh?” (at least on the inside). 😃 I mean, my thinking is “wow, I’m ancient, and pretty much a dumb dumb, if I can do it, why can’t this brilliant, fresh, young college student”? ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416/410 "2012-03-18T01:59:05Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I make three barbecue sauces whenever I make barbecue. Only one contains any tomato product. Yes, I agree tomato tends to be in what is “generic” barbecue sauce, but it’s not necessarily a stupid question. If you happen to be in the Carolinas or talking to someone from there, then it’s _especially_ not a stupid question. > > However, if you’ve seen the barbecue sauce, then you should usually be able to tell whether it contains tomato products or not. I’m having a hard time thinking of a reddish or brown barbecue sauce that doesn’t have tomato in it. (Well, Owensboro-style barbecue sauce/dip is dark, I suppose, and doesn’t have tomato.) I put cherries and chipotles in mine. Lovely red with no tomato. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416/411 "2012-03-18T02:28:16Z")
At college I was frequently shocked by my classmates’ ignorance regarding the _ **general** _ sweep of world history. Now, I know not everyone is as interested in history as I am, but I do expect someone attending a 4-year university to be able to place the following items \*roughly \*in some sort of chronological/historical context: – Alexander the Great – The Roman Empire – Jesus Christ – The Reformation _“Wait, when do you think Alexander the Great was kicking around?” “Oh, I don’t know.” “I mean, just ballpark it. If you absolutely had to guess.” “Like … 1200?” “1200 … AD?” “Yeah.” “… Yes, he proved quite the obstacle during the crusades.”_ Ok, I didn’t say the last part, but otherwise that’s an actual conversation. I mean, the total number of simple facts you need to **not** know in order to make that guess … mind-blowing. ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416/412 "2012-03-18T02:57:46Z")
What I find dismaying is that people that don’t realize there is software that didn’t come from Redmond and some people have never used word. I particularly hate being emailed things as Word files that could have just as well been written in plain text. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416/413 "2012-03-18T03:00:34Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > Ok, I didn’t say the last part, but otherwise that’s an actual conversation. I mean, the total number of simple facts you need to **not** know in order to make that guess … mind-blowing. Seems to me it’d be sufficient just not to know who Alexander the Great was. Which, I don’t remember when I first learned about him, but I don’t remember him ever being covered in school. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416/414 "2012-03-18T03:08:22Z")
Ah, yes, but this coming from someone who \*did \*understand him to be a Greek (Macedonian, whatever) who conquered huge swaths of land. I’d be rather surprised if you really never encountered him in school. I know I ran into him at least twice (once in elementary school, once in high school), and in any event he’s pretty memorable. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416/415 "2012-03-18T03:10:29Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Mushroom ketchup… Ooh! Onion ketchup? I want! I buy old cookbooks when I see them in flea markets. But you can find a lot of these recipes online Apple Catsup [Apple And Onion Ketchup Recipe | CDKitchen.com](http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/5/Apple_Catsup41684.shtml) Apple Catsup [http://www.food.com/recipe/apple-catsup-ketchup-275144](http://www.food.com/recipe/apple-catsup-ketchup-275144) Apple And Onion Ketchup [Apple And Onion Ketchup Recipe | CDKitchen.com](http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/5/Apple_And_Onion_Ketchup46310.shtml) Apple-Horseradish Ketchup [Homemade Tomato Ketchup Recipe | CDKitchen.com](http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/5/AppleHorseradish_Ketchup57789.shtml) Banana Ketchup [Banana Ketchup Recipe | CDKitchen.com](http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/679/BananaKetchup69631.shtml) Banana Ketchup [http://www.food.com/recipe/banana-ketchup-24945](http://www.food.com/recipe/banana-ketchup-24945) Spicy Banana Ketchup [Quick Mixed Berry Pancake Sauce](http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/spicy_banana_ketchup.html) Blackberry Ketchup [http://www.food.com/recipe/blackberry-ketchup-catsup-436793](http://www.food.com/recipe/blackberry-ketchup-catsup-436793) Blueberry Ketchup [Blueberry Ketchup Recipe | CDKitchen.com](http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/679/BlueberryKetchup69596.shtml) Blueberry-Balsamic Ketchup [Blueberry Ketchup Recipe | CDKitchen.com](http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/679/Blueberry-Balsamic-Ketchup142472.shtml) Caribbean Ketchup [http://www.food.com/recipe/caribbean-ketchup-20525](http://www.food.com/recipe/caribbean-ketchup-20525) Cherry Ketchup [http://homecooking.about.com/od/condimentrecipes/r/blcon83.htm](http://homecooking.about.com/od/condimentrecipes/r/blcon83.htm) My Ground Cherry Ketchup [http://www.food.com/recipe/my-ground-cherry-ketchup-114511](http://www.food.com/recipe/my-ground-cherry-ketchup-114511) Cranberry Ketchup [Cranberry Ketchup Recipe | CDKitchen.com](http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/679/cranberry-ketchup144681.shtml) Cranberry Ketchup [Cranberry Ketchup Recipe | CDKitchen.com](http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/679/Cranberry-Ketchup111345.shtml) Cranberry Catsup [Cranberry Ketchup Recipe | CDKitchen.com](http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/679/Cranberry-Catsup120217.shtml) Winter Cranberry Ketchup [http://www.food.com/recipe/winter-cranberry-ketchup-368190](http://www.food.com/recipe/winter-cranberry-ketchup-368190) Cucumber Ketchup [http://low-cholesterol.food.com/recipe/cucumber-ketchup-197112](http://low-cholesterol.food.com/recipe/cucumber-ketchup-197112) Currant Catsup [http://www.food.com/recipe/currant-catsup-39009](http://www.food.com/recipe/currant-catsup-39009) Elderberry Catsup [http://www.food.com/recipe/elderberry-catsup-171281](http://www.food.com/recipe/elderberry-catsup-171281) Ethopian Ketchup [http://www.food.com/recipe/awase-ethopian-ketchup-310557](http://www.food.com/recipe/awase-ethopian-ketchup-310557) Fruit Ketchup [Homemade Tomato Ketchup Recipe | CDKitchen.com](http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/420/Fruit_Ketchup_Plum_Sauce48163.shtml) Grape Ketchup [Epicurious – Recipes, Menu Ideas, Videos & Cooking Tips | Epicurious](http://www.gourmet.com/recipes/1940s/1948/09/grape-ketchup) Grape Ketchup [http://www.favoritefamilyrecipes.net/grapeketchup.html](http://www.favoritefamilyrecipes.net/grapeketchup.html) Mountain Grape Catsup [http://www.food.com/recipe/mountain-grape-catsup-5175](http://www.food.com/recipe/mountain-grape-catsup-5175) Grape and Apple Ketchup [http://123recipes.com/Recipe/Grape-And-Apple-Ketchup/Detail](http://123recipes.com/Recipe/Grape-And-Apple-Ketchup/Detail) Indonesian Ketchup [Indonesian Ketchup Recipe | CDKitchen.com](http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/679/Indonesian-Ketchup91226.shtml) Instead of Ketchup (Herb Ketchup) [http://www.food.com/recipe/instead-of-ketchup-225302](http://www.food.com/recipe/instead-of-ketchup-225302) Lemon Catsup [Homemade Tomato Ketchup Recipe | CDKitchen.com](http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/5/Lemon_Catsup60957.shtml) Lemon Ketchup [http://123recipes.com/Recipe/Lemon-Ketchup/Detail](http://123recipes.com/Recipe/Lemon-Ketchup/Detail) Mango Ketchup [Homemade Tomato Ketchup Recipe | CDKitchen.com](http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/679/Mango-Ketchup94009.shtml) Spicy Mango Ketchup [http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/spicy-mango-ketchup-recipe/index.html](http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/spicy-mango-ketchup-recipe/index.html) Mango Ketchup Recipe [http://homecooking.about.com/od/condimentrecipes/r/blcon79.htm](http://homecooking.about.com/od/condimentrecipes/r/blcon79.htm) Mango Banana Ketchup [http://homecooking.about.com/od/condimentrecipes/r/blcon136.htm](http://homecooking.about.com/od/condimentrecipes/r/blcon136.htm) Mushroom Ketchup [http://123recipes.com/Recipe/Mushroom-Ketchup/Detail](http://123recipes.com/Recipe/Mushroom-Ketchup/Detail) Mushroom Catsup [http://www.food.com/recipe/mushroom-catsup-32091](http://www.food.com/recipe/mushroom-catsup-32091) Mushroom Ketchup [Epicurious – Recipes, Menu Ideas, Videos & Cooking Tips | Epicurious](http://www.gourmet.com/recipes/1940s/1948/09/mushroom-ketchup-quick-method) Stan’s Peach Catsup [http://www.food.com/recipe/stans-peach-catsup-175744](http://www.food.com/recipe/stans-peach-catsup-175744) Peach Ketchup [Delicious Spicy Peach Chutney Recipe](http://homecooking.about.com/od/condimentrecipes/r/blcon128.htm) Plum Ketchup [http://www.food.com/recipe/plum-ketchup-64525](http://www.food.com/recipe/plum-ketchup-64525) Pluot Ketchup [http://www.food52.com/recipes/6427\_pluot\_ketchup](http://www.food52.com/recipes/6427_pluot_ketchup) Rhubarb Ketchup [http://www.food.com/recipe/rhubarb-ketchup-91505](http://www.food.com/recipe/rhubarb-ketchup-91505) Balsamic Rhubarb and Onion Ketchup [Best Onion Ketchup Recipe - How To Make Balsamic Rhubarb & Onion Ketchup](http://www.food52.com/recipes/4289_balsamic_rhubarb_and_onion_ketchup) Strawberry Balsamic Ketchup [http://www.food52.com/recipes/4286\_strawberry\_balsamic\_ketchup\_with\_a\_recipe\_for\_strawberry\_balsamic\_vinegar](http://www.food52.com/recipes/4286_strawberry_balsamic_ketchup_with_a_recipe_for_strawberry_balsamic_vinegar) Tropical Tamarind Ketchup [Tropical Tamarind Ketchup Recipe on Food52](http://www.food52.com/recipes/6482_tropical_tamarind_ketchup) Tomato Free Ketchup (cranberry, pear, carrot) [http://www.food.com/recipe/tomato-free-ketchup-173780](http://www.food.com/recipe/tomato-free-ketchup-173780) Un-Tomato Ketchup (carrot, beet) [Simple Slow Cooker Roasted Beets Recipe](http://homecooking.about.com/od/condimentrecipes/r/blcon75.htm) Walnut Ketchup [Epicurious – Recipes, Menu Ideas, Videos & Cooking Tips | Epicurious](http://www.gourmet.com/recipes/1940s/1948/09/walnut-ketchup) Homemade Walnut Ketchup [http://www.cookitsimply.com/recipe-0010-032r49.html](http://www.cookitsimply.com/recipe-0010-032r49.html) ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416/416 "2012-03-18T03:13:50Z")
Thank you, Forrest. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416/417 "2012-03-18T03:34:29Z")
**Little Nemo** : Hoykawow! Thanks! I won’t try all of these, but I will try some! I’m a terrible cook…can barely fry eggs…but some of these look easy enough that even I can do it! Bon appetit! (“[Ginsburg](http://jewishjokes.org/2011/02/the-french-way/)!”) ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416/418 "2012-03-18T03:46:08Z")
> [@Lionne](#): > > Maybe this is a bit specific, but I’m working with a team of 4 other local college seniors on a capstone project that calls for many, many revisions of our main document, for which we use Microsoft Word. > Not a single other team member knew: > [ul] > [li]how to use the citations tool (OK, it’s somewhat new, I can understand that…but it’s so incredibly useful)[/li][li]how to track changes (they would ask, “so what are all these lines for and will they be on the final document?”)[/li][li]how to add and delete comments (they thought only the professor could do such a thing)[/li][/ul] > It’s just perplexing to me that we are in the final year of college and they’ve somehow never encountered these before. We’re all around the same age, except for one much older lady. I’m no great Word magician…these are just necessary tools for college projects, I would think. Maybe in your field, but in my field (computer science) you’re only really likely to encounter them in an English class, and then usually only as feedback from the instructor. We tend to share code, but that’s usually done with something like subversion or (less commonly, at the moment) git. Every once in a while you’ll have to share plain text documents (like a readme), but that’s rare enough and they’re usually simple enough that something like track changes really isn’t necessary. Even if they’re not simple documents, they’re often something like a README for a very complex program which is going to be a plain text (.txt) file to maintain platform independence, or something sufficiently mathematical that you’ll probably end up using LaTeX. ETA: Also, at least at our university, we’ve been conditioned to avoid the citation tool like the plague since it often conforms to an outdated standard. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416/419 "2012-03-18T04:42:36Z")
About a year ago I was directing a play with three young ladies in it. All in their twenties. I said, and now you all start singing “We Shall Overcome”. None of them knew the song. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416/420 "2012-03-18T05:06:14Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > About a year ago I was directing a play with three young ladies in it. All in their twenties. > > I said, and now you all start singing “We Shall Overcome”. > > None of them knew the song. Guilty on that one. I mean, I know what the song is, but if you asked me the melody or any lyrics beside the title, I wouldn’t be able to give it to you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-shocked-at-what-some-people-dont-know/615416.md?page=22)