# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![haardvark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5ac83/32.png) [@haardvark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/haardvark)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/121 "2005-06-07T16:02:34Z")
When I was a kid, and people talked about the nation’s flag, I always assumed there was a single instance, a Platonic flag, that was THE flag for that nation, and that all other flags were just copies. Following this “logic” one might assume that “the” flag would be kept in a vault at the nation’s capital, or in some very important display. Nope. I figured that THE flag was the BIGGEST flag. So, we’d be driving down the interstate and there’d be a truck stop with an ENORMOUS flag over it, and I’d say, “Wow, that MUST be _THE_ flag!” mom: “yes, honey, that’s the flag.” me: “Yeah, but is it _THE_ flag?” rinse. repeat. I didn’t get it until I was 10 or 12. My mom didn’t get what I wasn’t getting until I was 20 or so. (I kept trying to tell her the story for fun but the subtlety at work escaped her for the longest time. On a related note, I had a discman that had prominent buttons that were easily jostled, and I was constantly frustrated with unwanted power-off, track changes etc. I was constantly swearing that the thing needed some kind of a lock switch to isolate all the buttons. After three years, I found the little switch on the side with the nice little padlock icon next to it. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/122 "2005-06-07T16:23:49Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > This was my first assumption when I heard the term “duck/duct tape”, and I’m happy to see it has some corroboration. > > Also corroborating it are recent reports that actual tests indicate that one of the things this tape doesn’t stick well to is _ducts_. In reverse order, Duct tape (not the shit sold near the registers at Home Depot) most assuredly does stick to ducts. Go to the back of the Home depot where they sell heating ducts, and look for a roll of [Nashua 357](http://www.hillas.com/Products/Duct_Tape __Tyco/Nashua_357_OD_1__ x_60Yd.asp) I think you could build ducts out of this stuff. Spendy but it really sticks. Now about the name. A about a year ago, this came up and somebody had a link to Snopes. The Snopes link agreed with you that it was first called Duck tape. I wrote them a note, and they replied with a link to the [Duck tape company](http://www.ducktape.com/) That claimed that the tape was called that during WWII because it shed water like the back of a duck, and was used in waterproofing. At the time I thought that using a company named Duck tape to verify the origin of Duck / Duct tape was a little hinky, but I let it pass. When I read **Cardinal** ’s post I went to Snopes to find the link, but it is gone. I tried to search Duct tape, Duck tape, and went one by one through the areas. It just isn’t there. So I went to the Duck Tape Company’s [site](http://www.ducktape.com/university/history.asp) and their story is different also > [@](#): > > Let’s fast forward to World War II. There was a need for a strong, flexible, durable, waterproof tape that could seal canisters, repair cracked windows, repair trucks and help the war effort in general. Permacell, a division of the Johnson and Johnson Company, came to the rescue. Using medical tape as a base, they applied two new technologies. Polycoat adhesives gave the tape its unshakable stick and polyethylene coating allowed them to laminate the tape to a cloth backing, making it extremely strong and flexible. The resulting **nameless tape** stood up to the harsh war environment, while ripping easily into strips for fast convenient use. > > After the war the tape was put to the more civilian use of holding ducts together. So the product changed from a **nameless army green tape to the familiar gray duct tape.** [Bolding mine] Talk about a WTF moment. 😕 At this point, I think that the current story at the Duck Tape site is correct, based on what I know of the use of the product during the 1950s and 60s in the construction trade, but I cannot prove it. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2005, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/123 "2005-06-07T16:31:06Z")
> [@Glassy](#): > > You know the song “I’m No Angel” that came out in 1987? For seventeen years, from 1987 until 2004, I thought it was an Eddie Money song. I used to think “I Want You to Want Me” was by Culture Club. My wife corrected me a couple of years ago, and I argued with her until I actually looked it up. Duhhrrr. ---
**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 7, 2005, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/124 "2005-06-07T16:31:13Z")
**Haardvark** ’s story makes me remember one from my young Catholic days: During Mass, Catholics recite something called the Nicene Creed, which is basically a litany of things that they believe in. Part of it says, “We believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church,” and as a kid I didn’t get the concept of “Church” with a big “C” and I thought that meant that we were only supposed to go to one church _building_. Like we had to be loyal to one particular parish. It disturbed me a little, because my father was an organist and we used to go to lots of different churches! Finally I worked up the nerve to ask my mom about it, and luckily she didn’t laugh _too_ hard. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/125 "2005-06-07T16:48:05Z")
> [@Glassy](#): > > You know the song “I’m No Angel” that came out in 1987? For seventeen years, from 1987 until 2004, I thought it was an Eddie Money song. I always thought that song was by Bruce Springsteen, until I saw the video on vH1 Classic last summer. IMHO, it doesn’t sound much like Eddie Money’s voice, but it sounds a lot like the Boss to me. Similarly, it took a good while for me to realize that “Hungry Heart” was not Billy Joel – rather it was Springsteen. Lastly, that “100 Years” song by Five for Fighting. I just found out last week that it wasn’t the Dave Matthews Band. Dead ringer for DMB’s sound, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/126 "2005-06-07T18:14:32Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > I have made it a mission as a teacher to spread the word on that one. > > “Yes, I KNOW there’s a picture of a duck on it. That’s the brand. It’s a JOKE.” It comes _packaged_ with a duck on it? They’re just playing with our minds now… :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/127 "2005-06-07T18:44:37Z")
I used to love the show “3rd Rock from the Sun” and never missed it but it wasn’t until I was watching the series finale that I realised the three male main characters are named _Tom, Dick, and Harry_. ---
**Author:** ![Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Licentious_Ectomorph)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/128 "2005-06-07T19:58:04Z")
> [@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. Huh? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/129 "2005-06-07T20:00:00Z")
> [@drm](#): > > I used to love the show “3rd Rock from the Sun” and never missed it but it wasn’t until I was watching the series finale that I realised the three male main characters are named _Tom, Dick, and Harry_. You must have missed the episode when Mary Albright pointed that out. ---
**Author:** ![Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Licentious_Ectomorph)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/130 "2005-06-07T20:01:43Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > 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. I don’t get this one either. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/131 "2005-06-07T20:04:04Z")
> [@Licentious Ectomorph](#): > > I don’t get this one either. The extra engines are there to provide additional power to pull all those freight cars. They’re not dead weight. ---
**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 7, 2005, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/132 "2005-06-07T21:34:37Z")
> [@Licentious Ectomorph](#): > > Huh? 😕 [Satchel Paige](http://www.cmgww.com/baseball/paige/) [Bucky Dent](http://www.dentbaseball.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/133 "2005-06-07T21:42:21Z")
> [@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. Actually it’s Buck O’Neil. I see him around every once in a while. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/134 "2005-06-07T22:21:40Z")
Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I wondered for years what the Frenchmen were talking about when they were calling Arthur’s knights “canniggits.” Felt very stupid when I figured that one out. ---
**Author:** ![EvilHamsterOnCrack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@EvilHamsterOnCrack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilHamsterOnCrack)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/135 "2005-06-07T22:32:27Z")
> [@Only Mostly Dead](#): > > Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I wondered for years what the Frenchmen were talking about when they were calling Arthur’s knights “canniggits.” Felt very stupid when I figured that one out. Wait… it actually means something? Pray tell! ---
**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 7, 2005, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/136 "2005-06-07T22:33:58Z")
> [@EvilHamsterOnCrack](#): > > Wait… it actually means something? Pray tell! Pronounce the word “knight” phonetically. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/137 "2005-06-07T22:34:19Z")
The French don’t do blends. So instead of k-n-i-g-h-t being pronounced to rhyme with “kite”, they sound out each letter. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/138 "2005-06-07T22:51:14Z")
> [@EvilHamsterOnCrack](#): > > Wait… it actually means something? Pray tell! Blue Sky and Rilchiam beat me to it. “Caniggit” is a phoenetic attempt at “knight.” Good, I’m not the only one who was lost. ---
**Author:** ![Tierce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@Tierce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tierce)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/139 "2005-06-07T23:00:02Z")
I’m an adult and fairly well read, but it was only until the recent papal succession that I made the connection about the etymology of the verb “to pontificate”… ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2005, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805/140 "2005-06-08T06:00:56Z")
My first evening of serious wine tasting, and I’ve been placed at the table next to a very attractive single lady (deliberately by the hostess, I suspect). We’re chatting about the qualities of the wines, and naturally I’m trying to impress her with my perceptiveness, oneological experience and wit. I’m doing well I think until in the middle of this I come out with “Oh, I much prefer a hermitage to a shiraz”. Time stands still as she stares at me - in retrospect I suppose trying to see if I was joking - they she says slowly " … but a hermitage IS a shiraz!". Crashed and burned … I never saw her again. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-thing-you-finally-figured-out-that-made-you-feel-stupid/306805.md?page=8)