# Life lessons learned the hard way **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 17, 2021, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104 "2021-03-17T17:39:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104/101 "2021-03-24T20:40:00Z")
Any money that you have loaned to a friend, is money that you have _given_ that friend. Otherwise don’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104/102 "2021-03-25T00:13:58Z")
Don’t wear a hat when you ride Splash Mountain, unless it has a chin strap. Make sure the cap is actually screwed on before shaking the salad dressing bottle. ---
**Author:** ![blabbermeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9a140/32.png) [@blabbermeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blabbermeister)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104/103 "2021-03-25T00:36:33Z")
Knives are sharper than you expect. Spoons are duller than you expect. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104/104 "2021-03-25T02:28:32Z")
Sniff the milk before you take a swig out of the carton. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104/105 "2021-03-25T02:36:46Z")
I keep waiting for it and it keeps not appearing: Never under any circumstances take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night. (Dave Barry) ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104/106 "2021-03-26T11:15:23Z")
Learned many years ago from a leak: Know how to safely shut off _everything_ that enters your house. Water, gas, and electricity. Know where the shutoff is, how it works, and if necessary have tools to operate it. Corollary: Know how to prepare everything you own for freezing. House, boat, RV, pool, spa, you name it. Have the necessary tools, attachments, antifreeze, and pumps to winterize it all on a moment’s notice. Many thousands of people learned this the hard way last month in Texas. We keep a shelf-full of pipe antifreeze and the required tools ready in case we need to shut off, drain, and winterize the house in a freeze emergency. Ditto for our expensive toys. It’s cheap insurance. ---
**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:** [March 26, 2021, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104/107 "2021-03-26T12:06:30Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > If you’re carrying a pot of very hot food to another area If you’re carrying a pot of very hot food, make sure there’s a place to put it **before** you pick it up. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104/108 "2021-03-26T13:44:42Z")
And know exactly where your kids and pets are, and what they’re doing, before you start walking. ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104/109 "2021-03-26T13:59:06Z")
And announce your intent to carry the pot. Loudly. All the way there. ---
**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:** [March 26, 2021, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104/110 "2021-03-26T14:13:41Z")
Cats. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104/111 "2021-03-26T14:36:34Z")
If you’re going to hide the keys to your fire safe prior to going on a long vacation, note where you’ve put them and take the note with you. A year after having a locksmith open the safe, the keys were found in a box of greeting cards. Wear a pair of house shoes in your home. A broken toe never really heals properly. Unplug the RV power cable _prior_ to backing out of your driveway. In fact, you should always do a walk-around of any vehicle prior to moving it. A pan coming out of a toaster oven is just as hot as a pan coming out of a regular oven. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104/112 "2021-03-26T14:41:46Z")
Don’t store anything in the oven that is not oven-safe. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104/113 "2021-03-26T14:50:33Z")
> [@Jumpbass](#): > > And announce your intent to carry the pot. Loudly. All the way there. " **HOT FOOD! COMING THROUGH!! BEWARE, BEWARE!!!** ---
**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:** [March 26, 2021, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104/114 "2021-03-26T15:03:21Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > Learned many years ago from a leak: Know how to safely shut off _everything_ that enters your house. Water, gas, and electricity. Know where the shutoff is, how it works, and if necessary have tools to operate it. This. Any person who might conceivably be left alone in the house should know this info. > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > If you’re carrying a pot of very hot food, make sure there’s a place to put it **before** you pick it up. > [@Cervaise](#): > > And know exactly where your kids and pets are, and what they’re doing, before you start walking. > [@Jumpbass](#): > > And announce your intent to carry the pot. Loudly. All the way there. All good tips. My wife and I cook together a lot, and before moving hot food/water across the kitchen, I always make sure I know where she is, and that she knows what I’m up to. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104/115 "2021-03-26T17:26:14Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Wear a pair of house shoes in your home. A broken toe never really heals properly. This reminds me of one of my Prime Rules for Moving Furniture: Always wear shoes-- REAL shoes. Never do it barefoot or just with mules, sandals, or flip-flops. Real, closed-toe shoes with a back. ---
**Author:** ![Limmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Limmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limmin)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104/116 "2021-03-26T17:26:38Z")
> [@blabbermeister](#): > > Knives are sharper than you expect. Spoons are duller than you expect. Don’t invest in only stainless steel knives. They look nice but don’t stay sharp very long. You’ll have to sharpen them often. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104/117 "2021-03-26T17:32:10Z")
Regarding knives: it’s a really poor practice to just toss them in the sink when they’re dirty, especially if there is someone (anyone) else living in your home who might reach into the soapy water for any conceivable reason. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104/118 "2021-03-26T17:34:43Z")
Also: if you drop a knife, let it go. Don’t try to grab for and catch it. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104/119 "2021-03-26T17:36:00Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Regarding knives: it’s a really poor practice to just toss them in the sink when they’re dirty, especially if there is someone (anyone) else living in your home who might reach into the soapy water for any conceivable reason. Good one! To add: always hand-wash and dry knives (except butter knives), because someone will inevitably put one in the dishwasher handle-down/point-up, which will stab the person who unloads. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104/120 "2021-03-26T17:39:57Z")
Worst knife cut I ever got was because someone had put a santoku in a sink full of suds. It had rolled onto its back, so was edge up when I stuck my hand in the water. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/938104.md?page=7)