# Questions people are convinced of the answer, but are wrong **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 11, 2022, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721 "2022-11-11T00:29:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**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:** [November 12, 2022, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721/101 "2022-11-12T17:00:02Z")
Yeah, my wife’s starts with 0 and she was born in/registered in Buffalo, NY. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721/102 "2022-11-12T17:29:14Z")
She thought there were only 100 towns in each state (or did she think those town digits referred to groups of towns?)! There used to be an urban legend that race was coded into the SSN > **[Are Social Security Numbers Assigned by Race?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/black-carded/)** > > Rumor claims the U.S. government assigns Social Security numbers on the basis of race, a practice that permits employers to screen applicants and weed out those of color. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721/103 "2022-11-12T17:32:19Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > the 50 lb ball will hit first, because the air will push back on both balls with the same force, since it is the same size and shape, yet will slow down the 50 lb ball less because it is using the same amount of force against a larger mass. 🤦‍♂️ You’re absolutely right. From 186’, the 50lbs ball lands in 4.1 seconds and the 20lbs ball lands in 5.2. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721/104 "2022-11-12T17:32:36Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I remember walking past a table manned by some nurses at a street fair. They were showing off their brand-new MRI machine (which was very new technology at the time). I nudged my friend and classmate, and said “Huh, look at that, it uses Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.” We had just been studying that in my Physics class, and had done some simple experiments with it. The Nurses looked horrified, and said “No, no - there’s no radiation involved!” I agreed, but said that the machine worked on the NMR principle, but it was clear there was no explaining that to them. This takes me back. In grad school, we shared part of our lab with a group working on NMR. They posted a prominent photo of the professor’s young daughter with her arm positioned inside the magnet for the inevitable question from visitors of “_Isn’t it dangerous_?” Why hasn’t anyone mentioned gluten? It has gone from a substance found is a few grains (most prominently, wheat), which some people were intolerant of, to a deadly toxin, potentially lurking in every type of food. I don’t need a prominent “gluten free” on those lollipops, or that popcorn, or… [![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0268/7510/1263/products/KellogsGlutenFreeCornflakes270g-TreatsfromOz.png?v=1628094400) ](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0268/7510/1263/products/KellogsGlutenFreeCornflakes270g-TreatsfromOz.png?v=1628094400) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721/105 "2022-11-12T17:42:07Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > There used to be an urban legend that race was coded into the SSN Race used to be coded in South African ID numbers. Well, still is, in my case, but not new ones. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721/106 "2022-11-12T17:51:13Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > Why hasn’t anyone mentioned gluten? It has gone from a substance found is a few grains (most prominently, wheat), which some people were intolerant of, to a deadly toxin, potentially lurking in every type of food. I don’t need a prominent “gluten free” on those lollipops, or that popcorn, or… - It can be an assurance that the manufacturing facilities do not process anything that contains gluten. Even a minute trace can be enough to trigger an attack. Of course, it can also be band-waggoning. it’s not a case of intolerance, it’s an immune system reaction. Read up. > **[Celiac disease - Symptoms and causes](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/celiac-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352220)** > > In this digestive condition, gluten in food damages the small intestine, making it hard to absorb nutrients and causing a variety of symptoms. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721/107 "2022-11-12T17:52:27Z")
Speaking as someone who, when younger, seriously considered, and I mean seriously considered, BECOMING A CATHOLIC PRIEST…Catholics are not a cult. They are not really extreme. They are pretty much like any other religion. I am still fascinated how Catholics are portrayed in film and TV shows. St. Christopher’s medal is usually a huge plot point. Naw, at least not where I was. They show them kind of creepy or at least very devout. Ha! Like any religion, there are some but no more, and probably less, than most. It’s just your run-of-the-mill religion with a really really cool mythology. Catholic mythology is interesting. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721/108 "2022-11-12T17:53:28Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > it’s not a case of intolerance, it’s an immune system reaction. Read up. > > [Celiac disease - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/celiac-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352220) There is also gluten intolerance > **[Gluten Intolerance: Symptoms, Test, Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21622-gluten-intolerance)** > > Gluten intolerance, or sensitivity, is when you feel sick after eating gluten. Gas, bloating and fatigue are common symptoms of gluten sensitivity. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721/109 "2022-11-12T17:56:09Z")
Agreed. Also the fact that if you had a choice… New car cost $X. Same 3 year used car costs $X-$Y. Would you take the used car at $Y or drive a new car for three years at $X-$Y?? The answer, at least to me, is I would ALWAYS choose to drive the new car for three years (or whatever years we are talking about) for $X-$Y. $Y is always way way too high, imo. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721/110 "2022-11-12T18:06:16Z")
> [@BlinkingDuck](#): > > Same 3 year used car costs $X-$Y. Shouldn’t this be ‘Same 3 year used car costs $Y’? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721/111 "2022-11-12T18:06:40Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > > [@running\_coach](#): > > > > it’s not a case of intolerance, it’s an immune system reaction. Read up. > > > > [Celiac disease - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/celiac-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352220) > > There is also gluten intolerance - > > [Gluten Intolerance: Symptoms, Test, Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21622-gluten-intolerance) Thank you. I stand corrected. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2022, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721/112 "2022-11-12T18:41:25Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > She thought there were only 100 towns in each state It would have to be in ten groups of states, as 0-9 obviously doesn’t cover each state individually. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721/113 "2022-11-12T18:43:02Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I remember walking past a table manned by some nurses at a street fair. They were showing off their brand-new MRI machine They brought a MRI machine to a street fair? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721/114 "2022-11-12T18:50:28Z")
Think “trade-show table.” They had posters of it, and brochures they were handing out. As I recall, this was at the Stanford Shopping Center, so the hospital was probably associated with Stanford. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721/115 "2022-11-12T18:58:28Z")
FINE! Be persnickety! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721/116 "2022-11-12T19:14:09Z")
This reminds me that belief in a god is the most widespread completely wrong thing in the history of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721/117 "2022-11-12T19:55:16Z")
D’oh. I didn’t even notice that part ---
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721/118 "2022-11-12T21:05:51Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > A 20lbs bowling ball and a 50lbs bowling ball of the same size will hit the ground at the same time. Why do you think otherwise? (I’ll start with the nitpick that the max weight of a bowling ball is 16 lbs. But it’s certainly possible to have a spherical mass the size of a bowling ball (diameter = 21.6 cm) that weighs well over 50 lbs, so we’ll go with that.) I assert that the heavier ball will definitely hit the ground sooner. Assumption: Because they are the same size and shape, at any given speed the two balls have the same aerodynamic drag. - Let D represent the drag at a chosen non-zero speed. - Let G represent the force of gravity. - At the chosen speed, the net downward force (call it NDF) on each ball will be (Mass \* G) - D - Because F = m \* a, change in downward speed will be NDF / mass = G - D / mass - Thus, the speed of the 50 lb ball is always\* increasing faster than that of the 20-lb ball. \*Until D = G for the 50-lb ball, at which point both balls are at constant (aka terminal) velocity, with the 50-lb ball falling much faster. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2022, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721/119 "2022-11-12T21:18:53Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > There is also gluten intolerance The cause of non-celiac wheat sensitivity (aka Gluten Intolerance) is still not known. [The Celiac Disease Foundation](https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/related-conditions/non-celiac-wheat-gluten-sensitivity/) has this to say about it: " At this point, research has not confirmed that gluten is the culprit triggering the immune reaction as is the case with celiac disease. Other potential culprits include amylase-trypsin inhibitors (ATIs) and fructans (found in FODMAPs). Each of these contain gluten, but gluten may not be the cause of the syndrome. According to head researcher of the study, Dr. Armin Alaedini, “there is some ambiguity there, which is why we are referring to it as non-celiac wheat sensitivity for now.” Intolerance can be triggered by gastrointestinal infections, medications, and surgery." ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721/120 "2022-11-12T21:26:57Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > But what he may have been saying is that the North side of the needle of a compass points North. (Or rather that this is a misconception of many.) > > Either way, both are valid reasons to say that a compass doesn’t point to the north pole. Yeah, that was on QI, and it is bogus. A compass has a needle which goes along a North/south axis. Yeah sure the “north” pole of the compass needle points south, but that is not material. The Geographic vs Magnetic is correct, but of course there is a (moving) Magnetic North pole, which a compass needle points towards. > [@Ulfreida](#): > > Because the organization is intractably anti-democratic, only males have power, and only bishops and above have a voice,… The Mother Superior of a convent would disagree. But that is not 'anti-democratic". The Church is Patriarchal. > [@MrDibble](#): > > Not going along with needless grammatical pedantry is not the same as being wrong. S Yep. And that is why people can say they have a masters degree. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-people-are-convinced-of-the-answer-but-are-wrong/974721.md?page=7)