# I learned a valuable lesson today
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [August 31, 2006, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006 "2006-08-31T23:06:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2006, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006/1 "2006-08-31T23:06:27Z")
See, appearently after just shooting 60 rounds in quick succession with the M-4, it’s not a good idea to touch the barrel. I found out why earlier.
I think I can mark this in the “self-critiquing” category.
What have you done where you say to yourself, “Well, I sure as hell won’t do _that_ again.”
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### Author:  [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006/2 "2006-09-01T00:47:53Z")
I rammed my thigh into the arm of a bench at work today. The bench is huge. It has been in the same spot for seven years. It was in plain sight and I had plenty of room to walk around it. I was distracted only by my own thoughts, so I can’t even claim that I didn’t see it. I walked right _into the goddam thing. I howled, hopped around and swore a bit. Yeah, I said, "I’m not ever doing that again!" but you know what? I will._ I do it at least twice a week.
Things I have learned the hard way:
–Dawn cannot be used as a substitute for dishwashing machine detergent. I’ll not be doing that again.
–You cannot trust a dog not to steal a sandwich even if she’s ten years old and has never done so before. (All of God’s creatures have their limits to which they can withstand temptation. A roast beef cheddar melt was my dog’s undoing.) I will never leave a sandwich unattended, ever again, especially if that was the last of the bread.
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### Author:  [@krisolov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krisolov)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006/3 "2006-09-01T00:54:28Z")
a Gallon can of gasoline and road flares may seem appealing, but are not as easily managed as one might think.
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### Author:  [@the\_chicken\_of\_exeter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_chicken_of_exeter)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006/4 "2006-09-01T00:55:43Z")
things i have learned the hard way:
do not try to put a catheter in without the lubricatey gel stuff. luckily i was just practicing on one of my friends, we’re not allowed to do that on patients yet, and he was very nice about it. he was still limping by the end of the class.
if you do not know how to change the gas tank that fizzes up the barrel of ready-made pimms, you should wait for the stock boy to get back and not try having a go yourself.
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### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006/5 "2006-09-01T01:25:11Z")
Turn off the power at the circuit box before you start to work on the outlet, not after.
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### Author:  [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006/6 "2006-09-01T01:53:24Z")
If you get a pinprick on your hand, and a drop of blood forms, you can lick it off. You should not do this with blood on your shaving razor, although it seemed perfectly intuitive at the time.
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### Author:  [@the\_chicken\_of\_exeter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_chicken_of_exeter)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006/7 "2006-09-01T01:56:00Z")
:eek:
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### Author:  [@brendon\_small](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brendon_small)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006/8 "2006-09-01T02:28:40Z")
> [@kunilou](#):
>
> Turn off the power at the circuit box before you start to work on the outlet, not after.
Also, disconnect the battery before screwing with the car.
RIP Hyundai Radio ☹
Brendon
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### Author:  [@the\_chicken\_of\_exeter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_chicken_of_exeter)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006/9 "2006-09-01T02:32:49Z")
the razor blade thing is still making me cringe. and ditto with the DIY car repairs. apparently reading up on what is wrong with my car on the internet does not make me a mechanic.
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### Author:  [@Gleena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gleena)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006/10 "2006-09-01T03:03:42Z")
That round thing on the stove is over the pilot light. Don’t touch it.
_sigh_
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### Author:  [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006/11 "2006-09-01T04:51:12Z")
Don’t spray on perfume when you’ve just recently scraped / nicked your arms on something,
don’t go outside in the dead of winter with your hair still wet from the shower (it’s the icicle dreads look!),
and always use a stool to remove cobwebs on the ceiling.
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### Author:  [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006/12 "2006-09-01T04:58:38Z")
Not quite so painful as the rest of you folks, but I learned today not to wait until four p.m. on the day your tags expire to take the car through inspection. Busted on emissions. Let me be the first on this thread to :smack:
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### Author:  [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006/13 "2006-09-01T14:28:46Z")
> [@Lissa](#):
>
> –Dawn cannot be used as a substitute for dishwashing machine detergent. I’ll not be doing that again.
Just to save you having to try it yourself, I will share my friends experience that putting the washing machine tablet in the dishwasher and the dishwasher tablet in the washing machine leads to sub-optimal results for both.
Somewhat related to the OP - when tidying away the iron an hour or two after you finished using it and unplugged it, it’s worth considering whether someone else might have used while you were out of the room. Isn’t it odd how skin melts almost like plastic under certain conditions?
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### Author:  [@Surok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surok)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006/14 "2006-09-01T14:42:14Z")
> [@kawaiitentaclebeast](#):
>
> If you get a pinprick on your hand, and a drop of blood forms, you can lick it off. You should not do this with blood on your shaving razor, although it seemed perfectly intuitive at the time.
I really, really, really wish I hadn’t read that.
On a similar note to **Kytheria** : don’t spray on perfume in a very small enclosed bathroom with little ventilation, and then brush your teeth. Do it the other way round. It tastes a whole lot better.
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### Author:  [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006/15 "2006-09-01T14:47:42Z")
- Despite its intended application, desoldering braid is still a good conductor of heat.
- The unused ledges of an exposed circuit box are not good arm rests. Especially if you are in short sleeves.
- A PCI card, if not inserted properly such that it is angled and part of the edge connector is not making contact with the slot, will fry, howevermuch you assume there should have been safeguards against things like that.
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### Author:  [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006/16 "2006-09-01T14:52:48Z")
Have the weber grill going good, time to open the package of italian sausages.
Crap, I don’t have a knife or any sharp object to open the package.
I do however have a lighter.
Light the plastic package and let the plastic melt/burn till it brakes the seal.
Good, now blow out the flame.
Oooo, smoke. Plastic must still be hot. I’ll wait till smoke is gone.
Okay, smoke is gone. Grab package to pull open.
Sill hot liquid plastic all over my finger tips. Think hot glue gun.
Nice burns all over my fingers.
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### Author:  [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006/17 "2006-09-01T15:24:30Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#):
>
> See, appearently after just shooting 60 rounds in quick succession with the M-4, it’s not a good idea to touch the barrel. I found out why earlier.
MWA-HA-HA-HA-HA! Yes, I’ve done it too, and not just once
Don’t snuggle down tight with the scope on a rifle firing a .300 Winchester Magnum. You know that semi-circle scar some shooters have above their right eye? Yup, scope-to-the-head. :smack:
I always say “Well, I sure as hell won’t do that again”, but I don’t believe me.
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### Author:  [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006/18 "2006-09-01T15:30:38Z")
If a metal pot cover is accidently left on a turned-on stove burner, do not put it in the sink and turn on the water to cool it down. Unless you want third degree steam burns on your fingers.
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### Author:  [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006/19 "2006-09-01T15:30:59Z")
> [@Kythereia](#):
>
> don’t go outside in the dead of winter with your hair still wet from the shower (it’s the icicle dreads look!)
But that’s one of the really fun things about winter! Do you think hair would crack right off if you played with it ?? I’ve always been afraid to touch it.
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### Author:  [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-learned-a-valuable-lesson-today/371006/20 "2006-09-01T15:44:47Z")
> [@gigi](#):
>
> But that’s one of the really fun things about winter! Do you think hair would crack right off if you played with it ?? I’ve always been afraid to touch it.
No, the thin ice covering is the only thing that breaks, though I suppose if you had really weak hair, it might break off.
Think of it like the ice is like a really thick coat of hairspray.
(Saith Lissa, who doesn’t own a hair dryer.)
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