# Stupid stuff I thought when I was a kid **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 14, 2021, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317 "2021-11-14T03:12:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317/63 "2021-11-14T22:03:33Z")
I misread one of those mattress tags that say “Do not remove under penalty of law” as “Do not remove under plenty of law”. I thought it meant you needed to have plenty of law on your side in order to be authorized to remove the tag. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317/64 "2021-11-14T22:05:44Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > My mother actually made quite good coffee. By the time I’d grown up I liked it fine. > > Little kids’ tastebuds often work differently than they do when those same kids are grown. Also, to be fair, if you grew up in the '50s through the '70s, and your parents drank coffee, there’s a strong possibility that they drank some nasty, bitter coffee. In that era, most of the major U.S. coffee brands were making coffee which was predominantly made up of Robusta coffee beans (as opposed to Arabica beans), which were less expensive, but also tend to be more bitter. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317/65 "2021-11-14T22:38:47Z")
When I was a kid, I thought everyone in the world was either Catholic, Protestant or Jewish. I just wasn’t aware of any alternatives. And I thought the loser in a Presidential election became the Vice-President. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317/66 "2021-11-14T22:46:36Z")
> [@Die\_Capacitrix](#): > > At a similar age I believe that the moving tree branches made the wind blow. This is actually a beautiful idea. Too bad reality had to beat the sad truth into you. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317/67 "2021-11-14T23:01:31Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > “Do not remove under plenty of law”. There was a sign near my house that said “unlawful to litter” and I thought it said “unawful to litter” and figured this was the part of the street you could throw stuff out the windows. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317/69 "2021-11-14T23:08:12Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > When I was a kid, I thought everyone in the world was either Catholic, Protestant or Jewish. I went to Catholic school, so in my mind, there were only Catholics and Publics. 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317/70 "2021-11-14T23:11:00Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Also, to be fair, if you grew up in the '50s through the '70s, and your parents drank coffee, there’s a strong possibility that they drank some nasty, bitter coffee. In that era, most of the major U.S. coffee brands were making coffee which was predominantly made up of Robusta coffee beans (as opposed to Arabica beans), which were less expensive, but also tend to be more bitter Yeah, that’s probably true; but it’s also true that by the time I was grown I liked my mother’s coffee fine, and it was still only around 1970. We usually drank it with cream and sugar at the time, though. > [@panache45](#): > > I thought the loser in a Presidential election became the Vice-President. It worked that way originally; for a little while after the country got started, the runner up became Vice-President. It rapidly became clear that that wasn’t working out well at all, and got changed. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317/72 "2021-11-14T23:35:30Z")
> [@PennTeller](#): > > In a similar vein, one time when I went hunting, I saw a sign that said BEAR LEFT, so I went home. Yeah, and one time I saw a sign by the side of the street that said FINE FOR PARKING, so I parked there. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317/73 "2021-11-14T23:39:18Z")
When I was a kid, I went to the zoo once and there was some kind of animal in an exhibit that said “Vanishing animal”. I stood there and stared at it, and when my parents asked what I was doing, I said I was waiting for it to disappear. They had to explain to me that “vanishing animal” in this context meant an endangered one. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317/74 "2021-11-14T23:41:29Z")
My grandfather owned several grocery stores in our town. When I was a kid, we would often drive past a particular building, and my mother would say “That was your Grandad’s first grocery store.” She meant, of course, that it was the first grocery store he had owned. For a long time, I thought she meant that it was the first grocery store ever, and it had belonged to my grandfather. Yup, you know that whole “selling food to people” thing? Totally my grandfather’s idea. Don’t know how people got by before he came along! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317/75 "2021-11-14T23:58:32Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > > [@Die\_Capacitrix](#): > > > > At a similar age I believe that the moving tree branches made the wind blow. > > This is actually a beautiful idea. Too bad reality had to beat the sad truth into you. On the other hand, you have Calvin’s Dad who told him wind was caused by trees sneezing. 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317/76 "2021-11-15T01:16:51Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > …Calvin’s Dad… Ever notice the complete lack of resemblance between Calvin and is dad? I think Mrs. Calvin’s Dad has some explaining to do… ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317/77 "2021-11-15T01:18:10Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Ever notice the complete lack of resemblance between Calvin and is dad? They have the same kind of imagination, though. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317/78 "2021-11-15T01:20:39Z")
Remind me, I saw a cartoon once, might have been Mad, where the milkman walks into the Mitchell kitchen, and he looks just like Dennis. I wonder if there’s a Calvin version, except no milkmen now a days. He’d have to be the cable guy. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317/80 "2021-11-15T01:59:36Z")
Nah, Calvin doesn’t have cable. [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/CQb0ath.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/CQb0ath) ---
**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:** [November 15, 2021, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317/81 "2021-11-15T02:09:21Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Ever notice the complete lack of resemblance between Calvin and is dad? I think Mrs. Calvin’s Dad has some explaining to do… [![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ea/69/17/ea691755774b377161170ba36741d8e2.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ea/69/17/ea691755774b377161170ba36741d8e2.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317/82 "2021-11-15T02:28:27Z")
He doesn’t look like his mom, either… ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317/83 "2021-11-15T02:53:37Z")
He looks more like Hobbes than he looks like his dad. Hm, maybe that’s why Hobbes always pretends to be inanimate when Calvin’s dad is in the room. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317/84 "2021-11-15T03:16:54Z")
Do Bart, Lisa and Maggie resemble their parents much? ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317/85 "2021-11-15T03:17:52Z")
They all have the same overbite. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-stuff-i-thought-when-i-was-a-kid/954317.md?page=5)