# 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:** 5
**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 20, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/81 "2012-05-20T19:44:45Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > I think everyone should understand the basic US Income tax forms. They are not that complicated. Why on earth would I need to understand basic US Income Tax forms? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/82 "2012-05-20T20:38:46Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > I think everyone should understand the basic US Income tax forms. They are not that complicated. \ And not with a wet trout, either!:mad::mad::mad::mad: ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/83 "2012-05-20T21:29:00Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > How to use a map & compass :dubious: Although this sounds logical, how many people even have a compass? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/84 "2012-05-20T22:23:59Z")
How to make friends. How to be a good conversationalist. How to have grace under pressure. How to assert yourself. How to argue well. How to figure out stuff that you don’t know. (Sometimes it involves asking others for help and sometimes it doesn’t). How to keep yourself pre-occupied when no one is around. How to stay sane when things don’t work out the way you thought they would. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/85 "2012-05-20T22:37:31Z")
**monstro** : a corrollary to #1, how to **be** a friend. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/86 "2012-05-20T22:45:19Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > Telling someone you don’t have a FB page is like telling them you don’t have a SSN. I and millions upon millions of others have neither, so if you had tried to figure the odds, you’d be even more wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/87 "2012-05-20T22:51:56Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Why on earth would I need to understand basic US Income Tax forms? 😛 Resistance is futile. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/88 "2012-05-20T23:31:50Z")
How to listen. How to read. How to recognize poisonous plants. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/89 "2012-05-21T00:18:12Z")
> [@nivlac](#): > > … our sun is one star among hundreds of billions in our galaxy, and there are hundreds of billions of other galaxies! As a corollary, everyone should know that we need to pray that there’s intelligent life somewhere up in space, because there’s [bugger all down here on Earth](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buqtdpuZxvk). ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/90 "2012-05-30T14:57:40Z")
On the lighter side: how to pour ketchup from a newly-opened bottle. The classic technique involves inverting the bottle and slapping its bottom to drive the ketchup toward the exit. This technique sucks. The better way? hold the bottle by its bottom in your left hand, with the bottle oriented so that the opening is _slightly_ below the bottom (i.e. the bottle is nearly horizontal). Right palm faces upward, and you raise/lower the bottle so as to slap its neck into your right palm. This drives the ketchup to one _side_ of the bottle, and air to the other side, establishing clear paths for the exchange of ketchup and air. Once the ketchup gets close to the exit, you can tilt the bottle further, continuing the sideslapping as needed. On the more serious side: how to wear a bicycle helmet. Many Years ago while waiting in a doctor’s office, I saw an article tacked to the wall describing a study that revealed most people don’t know how to put on a bicycle helmet. It said the common (but wrong) way is to position the helmet far back on your head, leaving the forehead dangerously exposed. Indeed, in my years of informal observation ever since, that seems to be the near-universal fitment of bicycle helmets. If you wear a bicycle helmet, then presumably you are interested in protecting your head. If so, you cannot treat your helmet as some kind of magic amulet; you have to pay attention to achieve proper fit so that you gain the benefits you’re after. The NHTSA can tell you how; in my experience, most people get step #2 wrong. Get it right, and you might save your life. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/91 "2012-05-30T15:40:23Z")
> [@Gukumatz](#): > > Parents should be required by law to tell their children about the term “muscle memory” if they go into sports. Why? I was a kid in sports many years ago, my kids did a little bit of sports when younger, and I never even heard the term until your post. I googled it. I think I understand it. But, for the life of me, I don’t know why I should be required to tell my children about it? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/92 "2012-05-30T15:53:03Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Yes, the knowledge came in handy for them, in a specific circumstance. However, in my 54 years on this planet, I’ve never NEEDED to know about atlatls, other than reading about them in one of Jean Auel’s books. You do get that June 2nd is World Atlatl Day, right? Stoke up that BBQ. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/93 "2012-05-30T15:55:23Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > On the lighter side: > how to pour ketchup from a newly-opened bottle. [No longer a problem!!!](http://www.npr.org/2012/05/28/153883353/clogged-ketchup-no-more-with-mits-liquiglide)😃 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/94 "2012-05-30T15:59:03Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > On the lighter side: > how to pour ketchup from a newly-opened bottle. The classic technique involves inverting the bottle and slapping its bottom to drive the ketchup toward the exit. This technique sucks. The better way? hold the bottle by its bottom in your left hand, with the bottle oriented so that the opening is _slightly_ below the bottom (i.e. the bottle is nearly horizontal). Right palm faces upward, and you raise/lower the bottle so as to slap its neck into your right palm. This drives the ketchup to one _side_ of the bottle, and air to the other side, establishing clear paths for the exchange of ketchup and air. Once the ketchup gets close to the exit, you can tilt the bottle further, continuing the sideslapping as needed. I just dig it out with a knife. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/95 "2012-05-30T15:59:29Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > [No longer a problem!!!](http://www.npr.org/2012/05/28/153883353/clogged-ketchup-no-more-with-mits-liquiglide)😃 Well it won’t be once Heinz pays they poor MIT kids for all their hard work and starts using it 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/96 "2012-05-30T18:02:51Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > Get some jalepenos on your hands, handle your private bits for a while, then report back. That’s like the guy who was a novice (never rode, never had a lesson before) rider trying out one of my horses. (His wife was experienced and looking for a husband horse). He really liked the mare and the mare liked him. So, after he’d walked around on her a bit, I suggest that his wife try her at a trot and lope if she wanted to. -Man “Why her? I comfortable taking her for a trot.” -Me “Well, until you’ve had a lesson or two, you could just trust your wife’s judgement” -Man “No, I want to take her for a trot” -Me “okay, press your legs on her side and ask her to trot” Mare takes about three trotting steps and man pulls her to a halt -Me “Do you want your wife to try her now?” -Man “Yea, I think that will be better” ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/97 "2012-05-30T18:10:48Z")
Everyone should know: DO NOT feed cooked bones to critters. They shatter into sharp shards that can kill them. If your critter gets cooked bones by accident, you can feed them cotton balls to try to wrap the shards so they pass through their system without gouging large holes in them. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that someone’s dog came up ‘sick’ the day after Thanksgiving. It’s a painful way for a dog to die. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/98 "2012-05-30T20:09:16Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > One does not always end up in the water on purpose. A fraternity bother of mine was knocked off a dock and drowned. No alcohol was involved. Learn to swim. ---
**Author:** ![Cold\_Dish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cold\_Dish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cold_Dish)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/99 "2012-06-01T02:44:44Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > Facebook is a fad. It may be a huge and overpowering fad, but it will fade away as everything else does. > > Telling someone you don’t have a FB page is like telling them you don’t have a SSN. > > Facebook is a website, not a mandatory part of human culture. Facebook is evil ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/100 "2012-06-01T03:35:56Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > A fraternity bother of mine was knocked off a dock and drowned. No alcohol was involved. > > Learn to swim. Thousands of people get hit by cars every month. Learn to not be where cars are going to hit you. Oh wait, sometimes no matter how prepared you think you are, tragedy will happen anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150.md?page=6)