# Things everyone should know about but probably don't. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 17, 2012, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150 "2012-05-17T00:02:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mewl\_Dear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mewl\_Dear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mewl_Dear)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/1 "2012-05-17T00:02:36Z")
I was talking hunting with a guy at the bar and mentioned an atlatl (still too stupid for hyperlinks) [Spear-thrower - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlatl) So what tidbit do you think more people should know about? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/2 "2012-05-17T00:15:39Z")
Blackberries are red when they’re green. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/3 "2012-05-17T02:08:20Z")
How to code hyperlinks. There’s a button where the bold, italic, etc. buttons are at the top of the board’s text entry box. It looks like a small globe with an infinity sign at the bottom (a _link_ of a chain). Type whatever you want. Highlight the text you want to turn into a link. Click the button. Type/paste in the URL. It really is that simple. If you didn’t highlight text, I believe the box asks you what text you want. Alternately, you can use [noparse][/noparse] tags: [noparse][this is the text you want to display](this is where the web address goes)[/noparse] ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/4 "2012-05-17T06:18:25Z")
Why should everyone know about atlatls? How many people use spears or darts these days? Now, if someone is interested in primitive weapons, either as a hobby or as part of his/her profession, yes, knowledge of those things is essential. Otherwise, well, it’s interesting to think about at times, but really, when was the last time you NEEDED to know about them? I think it’s more important to know about compound interest, myself. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Know\_Nothing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f04885/32.png) [@I\_Know\_Nothing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Know_Nothing)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/5 "2012-05-17T06:33:55Z")
Wash your hands after using the restroom. Unless you’re eating jalapenos. Then wash your hands **before** and after. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/6 "2012-05-17T06:36:26Z")
Barack Obama is an American. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/7 "2012-05-17T06:37:33Z")
And honey is really bee vomit. (Learned from Cecil eons ago) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/8 "2012-05-17T13:46:45Z")
When I read the OP, I thought, “Yeah! Atlatls are totally cool. More people _should_ know about them!” Then I clicked the link, and realized I was thinking of _[Axolotls](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axolotl)_. Now _those_ are kickass. Axolotls! They’re [neotenous](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoteny)! Tell your friends! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/9 "2012-05-17T13:53:01Z")
How to change a tire on your car. How to put gas in your car. That oil changes for your car aren’t just a scam, and should be done regularly. I seem to be on a bit of a car kick today. 🙂 ---
**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:** [May 17, 2012, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/10 "2012-05-17T13:55:58Z")
> [@Mewl\_Dear](#): > > I was talking hunting with a guy at the bar and mentioned an atlatl (still too stupid for hyperlinks) [Spear-thrower - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlatl) > So what tidbit do you think more people should know about? Why on earth should everyone know about this? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/11 "2012-05-17T14:03:05Z")
> [@I\_Know\_Nothing](#): > > Wash your hands after using the restroom. Unless you’re eating jalapenos. Then wash your hands **before** and after. Why before? ---
**Author:** ![Corcaigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Corcaigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corcaigh)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/12 "2012-05-17T14:04:34Z")
Owning a horse doesn’t mean you’re a millionaire. Looking after old people isn’t some fulfilling, rewarding pastime. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/13 "2012-05-17T14:07:00Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Why before? I concur. Jalapenos is a tingly bonus. Habaneros are where the real junk-burning occurs. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/14 "2012-05-17T14:07:28Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Why before? Get some jalepenos on your hands, handle your private bits for a while, then report back. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/15 "2012-05-17T14:09:08Z")
Gray does \*not \*go with beige. I don’t care if they are both “neutrals.” ---
**Author:** ![SprungFromCages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@SprungFromCages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SprungFromCages)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/16 "2012-05-17T14:12:05Z")
How to work a butterfly ballot would have been helpful fairly recently. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/17 "2012-05-17T14:16:46Z")
What a standard deviation from the mean is, and what “statistically significant” means. Well, a lot of other stats stuff too, but we can start there. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/18 "2012-05-17T15:24:30Z")
If your instrument panel in your car has a picture of a gas pump and an arrow, the arrow is telling you what side of the car the gas tank is on. You’re welcome. Oh, and your box of aluminum foil or parchment paper or whatnot has little tabs you can fold in to keep the roll in place when you pull out the end. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/19 "2012-05-17T15:27:31Z")
Boiled eggs should be cracked at the little end. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/20 "2012-05-17T15:30:00Z")
You can give Benadryl to a Golden Retriever with an allergic reaction to a bee sting, just like you’d give to a human, and save a $200 ‘Emergency Vet’ bill… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150.md?page=2)