# General Life Advice For Others **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 22, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997 "2007-05-22T00:14:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997/1 "2007-05-22T00:14:19Z")
I’d like to start a thread that offers others little secrets to making life easier for others… I’ll start. 1. Know makes and models of cars – you’d be surprised how helpful this could be in a myriad of situations. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997/2 "2007-05-22T00:30:18Z")
Could you name such a situation? Or two? I’ve been alive for 48 1/2 years and it’s never, ever come up. I don’t expect it to ever come up. But I’d be real interested to hear why you think it’s important. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997/3 "2007-05-22T00:34:06Z")
[QUOTE=fishbicycle] Could you name such a situation? Or two? I’ve been alive for 48 1/2 years and it’s never, ever come up. I don’t expect it to ever come up. But I’d be real interested to hear why you think it’s important. [/QUOTE] 1. Get into a car accident and the other person takes off. 2. Witness a kidnapping. 3. Witness a robbery of some sort and the perpetrators flee in a getaway car. 4. Witness a drunk driver and have sufficient information when calling police. Just a few – I’ve experienced 1, 3 and 4. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997/4 "2007-05-22T00:34:59Z")
[QUOTE=fishbicycle] Could you name such a situation? Or two? I’ve been alive for 48 1/2 years and it’s never, ever come up. I don’t expect it to ever come up. But I’d be real interested to hear why you think it’s important. [/QUOTE] I had much the same reaction. ---
**Author:** ![Zambini57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4491bb/32.png) [@Zambini57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zambini57)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997/5 "2007-05-22T00:50:21Z")
Worrying about doing something is 10 times worse than actually doing it. ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997/6 "2007-05-22T00:52:27Z")
“If you don’t want people to think you’re a degenerate n00b, don’t act like a degenerate n00b.” I wish more people took this to heart; too many individuals act surprised when their rudeness or thoughtlessness fails to get them what they want. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997/7 "2007-05-22T01:00:21Z")
Understand compound interest. Be polite to the people you love. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997/8 "2007-05-22T02:10:35Z")
The secret to negotiating relationships can be answered with three simple points: 1. Speak up. 2. Shut up. 3. Learn when to do which. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997/9 "2007-05-22T03:01:44Z")
Ignoring it will not make it go away. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997/10 "2007-05-22T03:52:18Z")
Lighten up, people. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997/11 "2007-05-22T03:59:40Z")
Don’t try to carry your mail _and_ two grocery bags _and_ and a new suit _and_ a take-and-bake pizza _and_ and a six-pack of beer all at once. I just learned this one today. ---
**Author:** ![Stinkum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Stinkum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stinkum)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997/12 "2007-05-22T04:00:58Z")
Don’t make things more complicated than they already are. ---
**Author:** ![Carson\_O\_Genic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Carson\_O\_Genic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carson_O_Genic)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997/13 "2007-05-22T08:55:15Z")
Frank,not with one hand,anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997/14 "2007-05-22T09:14:25Z")
If you’ve been awake for twenty hours after just three hours sleep and someone offers you sex, do not decide it would be a good idea to take an hour over the foreplay. It really isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997/15 "2007-05-22T09:33:01Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] Ignoring it will not make it go away. [/QUOTE] ## Not true. I almost never balance my checkbook and you’d be surprised how often I go broke. The [Notebooks](http://www.angelfire.com/or/sociologyshop/lazlong.html#inter) of [Lazarus-Long](http://www.angelfire.com/or/sociologyshop/lazlong.html#inter2) are far better than anything in the Old Testament as practical advice to live by, but the ones I learned the truth of the most in my life are- _Pay cash or do without_ _Never appeal to a man’s “better nature.” He may not have one. Invoking his self-interest gives you more leverage._ and _Sin lies only in hurting other people unnecessarily. All other sins are invented nonsense. (Hurting yourself is not sinful–just stupid.)_ # -Certainly not original to me but it’s good advice so I’ll pass it along: “Anytime somebody offers you a breath mint, take it.” (They might be trying to politely tell you something.) My non Lazarus/non etiquette bromide advice would be: -Buy three things if you’re going to own and drive a car: a battery charger, a set of jumper cables, and a hydraulic jack. You’ll thank me if you ever have to use any one of these things. -Always make note of where the exits are to a room upon entering. -Sometimes it’s best to just smile and nod until the other person goes away. -Never loan money you can’t afford to not have repaid, and always get the IOU in writing and signed- even if it’s your closest friend. -For all college students: forget about the dean, forget about the professors, forget about the administrators- MAKE FRIENDS WITH YOUR DEPARTMENT’S SECRETARIES. If you ever positively absolutely HAVE to cut through red tape and get something done overnight, they’re the ones who can make it happen. (I have a theory that they’re a secret priestesshood that dates back to at least Ur.) Know their names, know their interests, if they ever do you a favor bring them a gift (nothing too big but something you know they’ll like). $5 for a copy of _The Neon Bible_ for a secretary who said she wanted to read it but couldn’t find a copy and it was then out of print, plus another $4 for a card with a tiny handwoven Persian rug, wrapped in red tape for her to cut through instead of wrapping paper- THAT was the best $9 I ever spent in my career as a student because from then on if I needed help she’d give it, and I did a couple of times (once through my fuck-up and once through the school’s) and she helped when no one else could. Sorry for the ramble, but it’s an important point so I’ll repeat: STUDENTS: KNOW THE SECRETARY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUR MAJOR AND COURT HER FRIENDSHIP. ---
**Author:** ![buns3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c89c15/32.png) [@buns3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buns3000)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997/16 "2007-05-22T09:35:54Z")
Put your garbage in a garbage can, people. I can’t stress that enough. Don’t just throw it out the window. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997/17 "2007-05-22T10:07:06Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] -For all college students: forget about the dean, forget about the professors, forget about the administrators- MAKE FRIENDS WITH YOUR DEPARTMENT’S SECRETARIES. If you ever positively absolutely HAVE to cut through red tape and get something done overnight, they’re the ones who can make it happen. (I have a theory that they’re a secret priestesshood that dates back to at least Ur.) Know their names, know their interests, if they ever do you a favor bring them a gift (nothing too big but something you know they’ll like). $5 for a copy of _The Neon Bible_ for a secretary who said she wanted to read it but couldn’t find a copy and it was then out of print, plus another $4 for a card with a tiny handwoven Persian rug, wrapped in red tape for her to cut through instead of wrapping paper- THAT was the best $9 I ever spent in my career as a student because from then on if I needed help she’d give it, and I did a couple of times (once through my fuck-up and once through the school’s) and she helped when no one else could. Sorry for the ramble, but it’s an important point so I’ll repeat: STUDENTS: KNOW THE SECRETARY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUR MAJOR AND COURT HER FRIENDSHIP. [/QUOTE] Oh this is absolutely valuable in any job situation too. It’s amazing what a difference being polite to the receptionist can make. ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997/18 "2007-05-22T10:49:33Z")
In a surprising number of situations, ignoring it will, in fact, make it go away. Learn to recognize these situations. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997/19 "2007-05-22T11:01:18Z")
If you’re a straight male, have as many female friends as possible. They will pimp you out. ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997/20 "2007-05-22T11:03:31Z")
Be nice to people, eventually it will make its way back to you. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-life-advice-for-others/404997.md?page=2)