# Stuff you learned the hard way **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 12, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484 "2010-11-12T21:34:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484/21 "2010-11-14T17:17:06Z")
Don’t open a coffee maker if it’s still running. Steam burns hurt. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484/22 "2010-11-14T17:35:07Z")
Always wear an apron while cooking. And – if you’re me – while eating. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484/23 "2010-11-14T18:31:59Z")
An apron while eating… why didn’t I think of that?! ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484/24 "2010-11-14T20:30:56Z")
Don’t tell a co-worker that you may have done something that inadvertently resulted in another co-worker losing his job. Some people don’t understand the world ‘inadvertently.’ ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484/25 "2010-11-14T20:34:36Z")
Don’t put off routine dental care even though it seems like it costs too much at the time. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484/26 "2010-11-14T20:40:10Z")
Don’t trust implicitly what your partner _says_ in a relationship. Watch instead what they _do_. ---
**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:** [November 14, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484/27 "2010-11-14T21:13:10Z")
Don’t fry bacon shirtless. Never take in a stray with the intention of finding it a good home. Unless your home isn’t very nice. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484/28 "2010-11-14T21:57:38Z")
When using power tools, if your inner brain says, “I could really get fucked up if I continue in this manner”. Believe it, reset, reassess and start over. Don’t push it. A power tool not used wisely, will screw you up way, way before you can compensate for your error. This is the only reason I still have all my fingers. ---
**Author:** ![prettydorky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f04885/32.png) [@prettydorky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prettydorky)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484/29 "2010-11-14T22:35:41Z")
If you’re in a car accident, GET A POLICE REPORT. Even for minor fender benders. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484/30 "2010-11-14T22:50:17Z")
Look out for your own interests first as the rest of the world will just fuck you over even unto your death. Remember this always. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484/31 "2010-11-15T00:02:20Z")
When your inner voice starts yelling at you that there’s something wrong in your life, believe it. That inner voice is smarter than you are. Loyalty is for your friends, family, and whatever faith you might have. It is _not_ for your place of employment. If you find a better job, dump that old job like you would dump that psycho girlfriend who boiled your goldfish because you forgot her sister’s birthday. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484/32 "2010-11-15T00:25:59Z")
> [@prettydorky](#): > > If you’re in a car accident, GET A POLICE REPORT. Even for minor fender benders. Yes! And carry disposable cameras in your vehicles and take a ton of photos before you move anything. My husband got burned by failing to take photos, since it was his word against hers. ---
**Author:** ![Silvorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Silvorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silvorange)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484/33 "2010-11-15T01:16:16Z")
A balloon won’t stop a knife. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484/34 "2010-11-15T01:54:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Don’t trust implicitly what your partner says in a relationship. Watch instead what they do. I learned it as, ‘People show you who they _ **really** _ are, all the time. Your job is to see!’ You are not your intentions, you are, in the end, your actions. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484/35 "2010-11-15T03:22:22Z")
Not to try to clean dried seafood cocktail sauce off the mouth of the bottle with my finger. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=11109267#post11109267](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=11109267#post11109267) ---
**Author:** ![Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nefarious_chipmunk/32/1045_2.png) [@Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefarious_Chipmunk)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484/36 "2010-11-15T04:09:47Z")
> [@prettydorky](#): > > If you’re in a car accident, GET A POLICE REPORT. Even for minor fender benders. In addition to this, NEVER believe anyone when they say they want to just pay for the damage and keep it out of insurance. This is a great way to get burned. I don’t care if it is a priest driving the church bus, get their insurance information. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484/37 "2010-11-15T04:45:11Z")
> [@heraldgwena](#): > > In addition to this, NEVER believe anyone when they say they want to just pay for the damage and keep it out of insurance. This is a great way to get burned. I don’t care if it is a priest driving the church bus, get their insurance information. I actually did that once, kept it away from insurance, and the guy that hit me totally paid up. I got lucky. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484/38 "2010-11-15T04:46:01Z")
Credit cards. Very useful. Very handy. Also very, very, very dangerous. Don’t be stupid with them. You will regret it. I promise. ---
**Author:** ![Moment\_Slayer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Moment\_Slayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moment_Slayer)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484/39 "2010-11-15T14:55:00Z")
Don’t go into business with a friend. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484/40 "2010-11-15T16:16:04Z")
Nobody wants to hear about my amoral co-workers, their doomed project, and how miserable it all makes me. Especially not people who are even tangentially related to the company. And no, I haven’t been fired or laid off. That would have been sweet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-learned-the-hard-way/560484.md?page=3)