# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 6
**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:** [June 1, 2012, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/101 "2012-06-01T03:38:02Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > The NHTSA can tell you how; But not, alas, from your link. Correct link [http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/EasyStepsWeb/images/EasyStepsEngColor.pdf](http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/EasyStepsWeb/images/EasyStepsEngColor.pdf) Also [http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/EasyStepsWeb/](http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/EasyStepsWeb/) ---
**Author:** ![manila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@manila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manila)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/102 "2012-06-01T13:14:57Z")
Everyone should know how to make their own greek style yoghurt. Store sold yoghurt would lose 80% sales overnight ---
**Author:** ![Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prelude_to_Fascination)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/103 "2012-06-01T13:36:25Z")
People should understand that basic grammar and spelling are essential. ---
**Author:** ![Yaxche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8dc957/32.png) [@Yaxche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yaxche)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/104 "2012-06-01T14:40:59Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > How to figure out stuff that you don’t know. > > How to stay sane when things don’t work out the way you thought they would. One could easily argue these two are the entire point of being alive 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/105 "2012-06-01T14:49:45Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Everyone should know how to use **Excel**. Am amazed so many people still crunch numbers using a handheld calculator. Tell me about it. Last winter, I took over a position from a woman who retired. The months leading up to January, I was training with her. Part of the job involves some very light statistical analysis of data we take. Simple stuff, just computing a mean and an upper confidence interval. Well, she had a little equation written on an index card that she slid into the cover for her little calculator, and every time she needed to get the info, she’d pull it out, tediously type in the data, type in the equation, etc… and obviously there’d be plenty of times when she’d hit the wrong number and have to start all over from scratch. First day on the job I made an excel spreadsheet that does all that for me. I type in the data in one column, and all the info I need comes up in other cells. Took me five minutes to create. Why she never did that, I have no idea. And it wasn’t like she was computer illiterate. She was very good with Word and general Windows stuff. ---
**Author:** ![scratch\_llll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@scratch\_llll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scratch_llll)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/106 "2012-06-02T03:34:47Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > :dubious: > Although this sounds logical, how many people even have a compass? I still have my scout compass. More importantly I still have my scout knowledge which includes using a compass, swimming, first aid, CPR, poisonous plants, and much more in this thread. Sometimes I’m amazed at all it taught me. I had to come here to learn GuanoLad doesn’t believe in the scout motto though. The thing about learning to swim is that it IS like learning not to stand in the road or step off a roof. It’s just one more arrow in the arsenal to avert tragedy. Tragedy still happens but if you are prepared you have a greater chance to avoid or deal with it. I can’t imagine having to stand on the beach and watch someone drown because I never learned to swim. To add to the thread: the most useful mechanical advice is righty tighty- lefty loosey. ---
**Author:** ![dtrobson099](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@dtrobson099](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtrobson099)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/107 "2012-06-02T03:42:33Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Everything used to cost a nickel. A ticket, a car, a house, all were 5 cents. It was the only unit of currency. Just ask an old person how much anything used to cost if you doubt me. And back in my day, nickels had pictures of bees on 'em. Give me 5 bees for a quarter, I’d say… so… I tied an onion to my belt, which was the style at the time… ---
**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 2, 2012, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/108 "2012-06-02T07:27:44Z")
> [@scratch\_llll](#): > > I had to come here to learn GuanoLad doesn’t believe in the scout motto though. I think you’ll find it’s Batman’s motto. And he’s a fictional character! QED. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/109 "2012-06-02T07:56:16Z")
We have seasons because the Earth’s axis is tilted 23.5 degrees relative to the plane of its orbit, affecting the amount and intensity of the sunlight received by the Northern and Southern hemispheres through the course of a year. It has nothing to do with our distance from the Sun. In fact, we are closer to the Sun at the beginning of January than we are at the beginning of July (perihelion and aphelion). I was shocked to hear a teacher at a private school (where you, like, actually pay money for your children to attend in the belief they’ll get a superior education) tell her students the latter (i.e., that it depends on our distance from the Sun). ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/110 "2012-06-02T08:09:40Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > We have seasons because the Earth’s axis is tilted 23.5 degrees relative to the plane of its orbit, affecting the amount and intensity of the sunlight received by the Northern and Southern hemispheres through the course of a year. > > It has nothing to do with our distance from the Sun. In fact, we are closer to the Sun at the beginning of January than we are at the beginning of July (perihelion and aphelion). > > I was shocked to hear a teacher at a private school (where you, like, actually pay money for your children to attend in the belief they’ll get a superior education) tell her students the latter (i.e., that it depends on our distance from the Sun). Explain to me again why I should know that? I’ll just grab a beer and ponder the rain, the park and other things. ---
**Author:** ![MN\_Maenad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@MN\_Maenad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MN_Maenad)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/111 "2012-06-02T13:02:33Z")
> [@Brewah](#): > > How to merge into traffic; and maintain proper distance. Analogously, the difference between Merge and Yield when getting on to a highway. Yield means, “If there’s no opening in traffic, you wait for one, even if it means stopping.” Merge means, “Get your butt moving, even if you have to spend a little time on the shoulder getting up to highway speeds, then ease into a gap in traffic.” ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/112 "2012-06-02T14:11:21Z")
> [@Patience\_Jones](#): > > The time zone of the person you’re trying to call. Can I get an ‘amen’? One of my sons and his wife have no clue about this. My last call from the wife was at 0630. My contributions: Warm air doesn’t rise. The left lane is not the ‘fast’ lane; it’s the passing lane, so move the fuck over. Driving with just your parking lights on makes you look like a douche. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/113 "2012-06-02T14:18:33Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > Explain to me again why I should know that? I’ll just grab a beer and ponder the rain, the park and other things. First, you tell me WTF you’re even on a site devoted to fighting ignorance??? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![scratch\_llll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@scratch\_llll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scratch_llll)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/114 "2012-06-02T15:53:17Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I think you’ll find it’s Batman’s motto. And he’s a fictional character! QED. The fact you think this statement QED shows nothing except an inability to grasp logic. I hope it was your attempt at humor. It’s like saying because a fictional character jumped off a roof and died that it proves jumping off a roof keeps you alive. Surely I was whooshed and missed the funny. The scout motto was coined in 1907 by Baden-Powell and predates Batman by quite a bit but sorry so serious. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/115 "2012-06-02T16:29:29Z")
People should know what number each month is. I don’t know how many times I’ve responded to “expiration date?” with “September 2014”, and been asked “is that, like, seven?” Why yes, it is; much like red is like blue. One should be able to do simple math in one’s head. It’s becoming less and less common. Clerks can’t add or subtract without resorting to a calculator, and forget about multiplication. I’m 65 and can do fairly complex calcs in my head without difficulty, so why can’t younger people figure out what three times eleven is? Dangnabbit. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/116 "2012-06-02T18:10:54Z")
I’m just 2 years older than you are, and I have always had difficulty doing arithmetic in my head. I know the times tables, and can add single digits, but more than that I have to write it down. Sorry, some of us have the knack and some don’t. My daughter, for example, could add several multi-digit numbers in her head before she even started kindergarten. I don’t know where she got that from. However, I DO know how to make change by “counting up” from the cost to the amount tendered. Not a whole lot of young folks seem to be able to do that. Young whippersnappers and their fancy calculators. Back in my day an adding machine weighed about 10 pounds and was the size of a toaster, and all it did was addition. Oh, and get off my lawn. ---
**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 2, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150/117 "2012-06-02T23:46:34Z")
> [@scratch\_llll](#): > > I hope it was your attempt at humor. You’re a harsh critic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-everyone-should-know-about-but-probably-dont/622150.md?page=5)