# Simple thing you finally figured out that made you feel stupid **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 4, 2005, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805 "2005-06-04T00:00:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/21 "2005-06-04T02:36:36Z")
> [@exastris](#): > > [AC/DC] > Dirrr-ty deeds and a thun-der jeep! > Dirrr-ty deeds and a thun-der jeep! > [/AC/DC] > > :smack: Dirty Deeds done to sheep!! ---
**Author:** ![saramamalana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@saramamalana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saramamalana)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/22 "2005-06-04T03:11:52Z")
I had a moment like that today. On Long Island there’s a small shopping center called the Country Glen Center. I’ve been there many many times and never gave any thought to its name. Mom and I were in the car and as we passed it, it suddenly dawned on me where the name comes from. The center is at the intersection of Old \*\*Country \*\*Road and \*\*Glen \*\*Cove Road. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/23 "2005-06-04T03:19:49Z")
I thought that the Florida panhandle was the big penis looking part. Until the people of this very board laughed and laughed at me. ---
**Author:** ![dinahmoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dinahmoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinahmoe)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/24 "2005-06-04T03:35:29Z")
Just realized today that the dog and cat in “Get Fuzzy”? Satchel and Bucky? Satchel Paige and Bucky (F’ing!) Dent. Not a smart girl, here. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/25 "2005-06-04T03:51:33Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > I was lousy at grilling things on my little Weber charcoal grill for **years** : if I grilled them on the lower grill, then they were way too close to the (tiny layer of) charcoal that I could fit in, and if I cooked them on the upper grill, then I had to fill the bottom of the thing with nearly half a bag of charcoal in order to get the heat close enough to the food. > > Then one day, it occurred to me that I could **put the charcoal on the lower grill**. The food came out beautifully, and manlier men for miles around mock me to this day. Okay, I think you win this round. And I never knew that about the Ghost in the Machine cover either. Cool, ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/26 "2005-06-04T04:04:26Z")
I had no idea that “elbow grease” meant ‘work’ until someone on these boards told a hilarious story about someone else who didn’t realize that. _sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![Gorgonzola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e480ec/32.png) [@Gorgonzola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgonzola)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/27 "2005-06-04T04:15:17Z")
> [@exastris](#): > > [AC/DC] > Dirrr-ty deeds and a thun-der jeep! > Dirrr-ty deeds and a thun-der jeep! > [/AC/DC] > > :smack: [boney m]Rah, rah, rescue team, lover of the Russian queen![/boney m] :smack: ---
**Author:** ![generica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@generica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/generica)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/28 "2005-06-04T04:15:36Z")
> [@exastris](#): > > [AC/DC] > Dirrr-ty deeds and a thun-der jeep! > Dirrr-ty deeds and a thun-der jeep! > [/AC/DC] > > :smack: I used to think it was “Dirty deeds and the Dunder Chief”. In my mind, it seemed to fit in just fine with all the fantasy imagery used in Led Zeppelin songs. Also, I used to think that the three-toed sloth had three toes TOTAL. No, I don’t know either. I used to think I was SMART, too, but I’ve managed to get past that little assumption. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/29 "2005-06-04T04:18:45Z")
I have lived in this house for 26 months. It took 24 of those months for me to discover that the ceiling fan in the master bedroom has more than one speed. :smack: > [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > manlier men for miles around mock me to this day Holy crap: not only is the alliteration good, the meter is great, too (especially “manlier men for miles around”)! Well done! 🙂 ::applause:: ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/30 "2005-06-04T04:48:31Z")
> [@dinahmoe](#): > > Just realized today that the dog and cat in “Get Fuzzy”? Satchel and Bucky? Satchel Paige and Bucky (F’ing!) Dent. Not a smart girl, here. What? ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/31 "2005-06-04T04:49:57Z")
Oh, baseball, nevermind. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/32 "2005-06-04T05:01:11Z")
Oh here’s a good one! I have felt stupid for years because of this… I dated a guy in college named Chris. But a lot of people called him “Topher.” I couldn’t figure out why, so one day I asked him. He said, with a laugh, “it’s because I like tofu!” And I was like, ohhhh-kaaay?! :dubious: It wasn’t until years later that I figured it out; it hit me like a ton of bricks… Chris **TOPHER**!!! DUH! :smack: :smack: :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/33 "2005-06-04T07:52:05Z")
I didn’t know what reversing lights were until I had had my licence for over a year. I didn’t feel so bad when I had to tell my SO what they were! ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/34 "2005-06-04T08:03:38Z")
We have a fast food chain here called Whataburger. For years I thought it was just a weird, made-up word that sounded like “Waterburger” Imagine my surprise. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/35 "2005-06-04T10:47:50Z")
Right after college I had a job as an announcer at an FM station playing jazz music and such things. Having never heard or seen the word “segue” before, I introduced _Seque In C_ (by the Basie or Ellington band IIRC) as if it it were **Seeg** and went happily on my way. It was years later and in a situation I can’t recall specifics about, when I heard someone say **Seg-Way** and it suddenly dawned on me what I had done before. Imagine blushing with embarrassment years after the fact! ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/36 "2005-06-04T10:50:22Z")
I never could understand why freight trains dragged all those extra engines around. I commented on this, even disparaging the train companies for their lack of commitment to energy conservations, to my fiancee one day while waiting at a crossing. The man laughed so hard that he’s lucky I married him afterall… I get it now. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/37 "2005-06-04T11:07:17Z")
I never connected the English word ‘exodus’ with the name of the Old Testament book. Exodus–leaving Egypt–get it? Duh! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/38 "2005-06-04T12:04:17Z")
> [@nyctea scandiaca](#): > > I dated a guy in college named Chris. But a lot of people called him “Topher.” Topher Grace was on some show recently and the host (Letterman? Leno?) asked him about his name and he said it was short for Christopher. I’d always wondered what the heck kind of name Topher was. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/39 "2005-06-04T12:58:13Z")
> [@Lisa-go-Blind](#): > > There’s a show on the local PBS station called _Louisiana: The State We’re In_. On seeing the show listed in the TV guide, I loudly proclaim to my mom, “_Louisiana: The State We’re In_?! Well, of **course** it’s the state we’re in! Geez!” After my mom finished laughing, she explained it was a play on words. :smack: I remember when I first heard about the President giving the “State of the Union” address. I thought that was kind of odd, I mean there’s fifty states in the union. I wondered whether the governors gave “city of the state” adresses, etc. One day, years later, I realized that State of the Union referred to the _other_ kind of state, and thus State of the State addresses and even State of the City addresses make sense. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/40 "2005-06-04T13:40:15Z")
I still don’t get “Louisiana: The State We’re In”. Could someone explain? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805.md?page=3)