# Obsolete Advice (For things that still exist) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 1, 2024, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548 "2024-09-01T06:31:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548/1 "2024-09-01T06:31:19Z")
Inspired by the other topic was wondering what’s obsolete Advice but not because of technology changes or things that no longer exist, but rather we either have more knowledge or it was bad advice on the first place. (So don’t come in saying having to hand crank your car to start it is obsolete Advice) The one I still see THE MOST and people still believe is the whole “Stand in the doorway during an earthquake”, which only applied back when houses had actual wide arch doorways or metal framed doorways and not the cheap flimsy plywood doors with wimpy molding. So while houses evolved the advice didn’t and I still will see earthquake warning manuals with a picture of somebody with their back to the incredibly thin modern door frame. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548/2 "2024-09-01T06:53:39Z")
I think the advice to bury a wet cell phone in rice to dry it out has been repeatedly debunked but it keeps rearing its futile head. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548/3 "2024-09-01T07:04:29Z")
I have been told that it is no longer necessary to click on the _Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media_ icon in the system tray in a windows computer to remove an USB device. I still mostly do it. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548/4 "2024-09-01T08:04:12Z")
I seem to remember people saying seatbelts would kill you because they’d trap you in a burning vehicle. I say that’s been debunked, pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548/5 "2024-09-01T08:13:27Z")
That one isn’t obsolete-It is just wrong whenever anyone said it. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548/6 "2024-09-01T08:23:33Z")
Standing in a door opening during an earthquake is not bad advice due to how the door opening is constructed and you’re correct in that the door itself offers little protection nor does the molding. Still, conventional construction has 2 joined wall studs on each side of the door to support the larger header above the door making it stronger than traditional wall framing usually having single studs 16" apart. Of course, the best advice is to exit the building. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548/7 "2024-09-01T08:28:15Z")
I assume a bunch of folks believed it. Now most people do not. So obsolete. Which is a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Nyvaak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Nyvaak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nyvaak)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548/8 "2024-09-01T08:52:37Z")
To his dying day, my father recommended the practice of routinely slowing a car by downshifting, so as to save wear and tear on the brakes. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548/9 "2024-09-01T08:56:59Z")
> [@Dereknocue67](#): > > Standing in a door opening during an earthquake is not bad advice due to how the door opening is constructed and you’re correct in that the door itself offers little protection nor does the molding. Still, conventional construction has 2 joined wall studs on each side of the door to support the larger header above the door making it stronger than traditional wall framing usually having single studs 16" apart. Agreed. IMO the OP’s example of obsolete advice is an incorrect example. In a wood frame house a doorway is the best place to be. It might not be as good as a doorway was in a brick house or in some mythical Goode Olde Dayes when houses were supposed well-built. Very crooked and firetraps, but somehow well built. Besides, a picture that shows someone backed up to a closed door is already wrong. Open the door and stand in the door_way_. A big part of the protection offered by doorways is that the ceiling can’t fall on you while you’re between rooms. > [@Dereknocue67](#): > > Of course, the best advice is to exit the building. As to exiting the building, the risk is the transition. If stuff is falling off the building, you can’t really defend against being hit as you exit the building. You can’t see upwards until it’s too late to avoid the falling cornice or balcony or roof tile or … So that turns into: “If you know the building won’t collapse on you, stay inside. If you know it will, take your chances with the falling debris and run outside. If you don’t know which, flip a coin. Do ya’ feel lucky? Well … Do ya’?” Further, exiting the building is sorta bad advice in that it’s all but universally undoable in practice. Given the typical duration of ground shaking, you’d need to already be standing very near an exit to get out before the shaking stopped. So the larger the building, the smaller percentage of occupants can use the “exit the building” advice. I grew up in SoCal and experienced several earthquakes while living in 1- and 2-story tract houses. Once, maybe, there was time to get from where I was standing / sitting / laying to an exterior door before it was over. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548/10 "2024-09-01T09:06:06Z")
> [@Nyvaak](#): > > To his dying day, my father recommended the practice of routinely slowing a car by downshifting, so as to save wear and tear on the brakes. Mine too - It’s one reason why he refused to buy cars with automatic transmissions. To this day. I always feel slightly guilty when I slow down just using the brakes. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548/11 "2024-09-01T09:09:56Z")
> [@Nyvaak](#): > > To his dying day, my father recommended the practice of routinely slowing a car by downshifting, so as to save wear and tear on the brakes. And that’s why an old friend needed two clutch jobs in a single year. No, Buddy, your Toyota is not a Formula 1 race car. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548/12 "2024-09-01T09:24:10Z")
“10 and 2” was the rule for how to hold a steering wheel when I learned to drive. These days, 9 and 3 is the standard because of how airbags deploy. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548/13 "2024-09-01T09:31:59Z")
How do you rest you hands at 9 and 3? Or are you suppose to be constantly clutching the wheel? That sounds tiring. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2024, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548/14 "2024-09-01T11:03:15Z")
[deleted] ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548/15 "2024-09-01T11:44:40Z")
Not rotating radial tiers from the L to R or R to L side. Don’t change your transmission fluid ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548/16 "2024-09-01T11:46:30Z")
You don’t have to ask for a lube job when you get your oil changed any more. ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548/17 "2024-09-01T12:03:53Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I seem to remember people saying seatbelts would kill you because they’d trap you in a burning vehicle. Still excellent advice to have around - culls the herd. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548/18 "2024-09-01T12:28:54Z")
I’ll post the link to [FEMA’s advice on standing in doors in earthquakes](https://community.fema.gov/ProtectiveActions/s/article/Earthquake-Personal-Cover-Barriers-Do-Not-Use-a-Doorway); the short version is “it probably won’t help and may actually be more dangerous; either get outside or under a table”. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548/19 "2024-09-01T13:32:19Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I have been told that it is no longer necessary to click on the _Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media_ icon in the system tray in a windows computer to remove an USB device. I still mostly do it. I had not heard that – is there no longer an in-memory cache of not-yet committed writes? One I have heard is that is no longer necessary to do a “software shutdown” before shutting off a computer with the power button like you used to have to do in the 90s/early 2000s. The power button is now triggering the minimal software shutdown, rather than just cutting the power. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548/20 "2024-09-01T13:34:03Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I have been told that it is no longer necessary to click on the _Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media_ icon in the system tray in a windows computer to remove an USB device. I still mostly do it. It was only ever unsafe while the drive is writing data, and that is still the case. The operating system tells you that a file transfer is complete but it has actually only written the data to a cache and continues to drizzle it out to the slow USB flash. If the light is blinking on the USB drive, it is not safe to remove. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-advice-for-things-that-still-exist/1006548.md?page=2)