# Things That Are Technically True But You Shouldn't Say Out Loud **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 28, 2022, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839 "2022-03-28T15:28:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839/141 "2022-04-04T04:37:38Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > When I was a child, I thought aunts and uncles were always old people. I thought so too. Until I became a first-time uncle at age 16. > [@Moriarty](#): > > You’ve never actually seen your face\* > > [. . .] > > \*And because you’ve only seen a reflection, I’ve seen an accurate reflection of my face, and you can too. There are mirrors that will reverse a reflection so it’s not a “mirror image”, and it’s easy to construct a simple one. Just take two plain flat mirrors, and stand them upright at right angles to each other so they meet at a 90º corner. Then look into that mirror near that corner. You’ll see your face as others see you. ETA: A picture: [![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/21/c2/6f/21c26f7f6cd32b99633d4df2eafcc244.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/21/c2/6f/21c26f7f6cd32b99633d4df2eafcc244.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839/142 "2022-04-04T13:41:03Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > The Nazis were responsible for the first anti-smoking campaign, being ahead of their time in the late 1930s Naah, they were 300 years late. > **[A Counterblaste to Tobacco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Counterblaste_to_Tobacco)** > > A Counterblaste to Tobacco is a treatise written by King James VI of Scotland and I of England in 1604, in which he expresses his distaste for tobacco, particularly tobacco smoking. As such, it is one of the earliest anti-tobacco publications. > It is written in Early Modern English and refers to medical theories of the time (e.g. the four humours). In it, James blames Native Americans for bringing tobacco to Europe, complains about passive smoking, warns of dangers to the lungs, and decries tobac... ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839/143 "2022-04-04T13:49:04Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Most trees are almost entirely composed of non-living matter. I don’t know about “almost entirely” - quite a lot of the mass of a tree ( 20-30%) can be leaves and roots, both of which are mostly living cells. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839/144 "2022-04-04T13:49:55Z")
[You’re surrounded by bacteria that are waiting for you to die](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/youre-surrounded-by-bacteria-that-are-waiting-for-you-to-die). As soon as you die, they’ll swoop in. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839/145 "2022-04-04T13:55:10Z")
Almost all adults has mites living in their face hairs. Yes, you, too. They’re there, right now, sitting in your eyelash and eyebrow follicles. Hi! [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DrG1Lr2XcAABbiv.jpg) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DrG1Lr2XcAABbiv.jpg) ---
**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:** [April 4, 2022, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839/146 "2022-04-04T14:47:26Z")
Is there anything living in _its_ follicles? ICK! ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839/147 "2022-04-04T14:54:09Z")
> Great fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite 'em, > And little fleas have lesser fleas, and so ad infinitum. > And the great fleas themselves, in turn, have greater fleas to go on; > While these again have greater still, and greater still, and so on. Augustus de Morgan. The original was by Jonathan Swift: > The Vermin only teaze and pinch > Their Foes superior by an Inch. > So, Nat’ralists observe, a Flea > Hath smaller Fleas that on him prey, > And these have smaller yet to bite 'em, > And so proceed ad infinitum: > Thus ev’ry Poet, in his Kind > Is bit by him that comes behind ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839/148 "2022-04-04T15:00:20Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > You’ve never actually seen your face\* Maybe if you live in 1800. Looking in a mirror is not the only way to see your face. We’ve had cameras for quite a spell now. And currently, we could see them live and flip the image as we want to. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839/149 "2022-04-04T15:18:53Z")
I call my dog a 'son of a bitch". ---
**Author:** ![AgnesiaBirgith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@AgnesiaBirgith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AgnesiaBirgith)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839/150 "2022-04-04T15:21:40Z")
I agree. Edible even when not cooked. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2022, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839/151 "2022-04-04T15:40:42Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > [You’re surrounded by bacteria that are waiting for you to die](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/youre-surrounded-by-bacteria-that-are-waiting-for-you-to-die). As soon as you die, they’ll swoop in. Surrounded by? More like composed of. There are more non-human cells in your body than human cells (though some of the human ones are much larger) and you would be much less healthy (probably dead) if you got rid of all the guests. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839/152 "2022-04-04T15:49:27Z")
The Earth’s surface is about 70% water. Non-carbonated water. So yes, technically, the Earth _is_ (mostly) flat. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2022, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839/153 "2022-04-04T17:01:32Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Maybe if you live in 1800. Looking in a mirror is not the only way to see your face. We’ve had cameras for quite a spell now. And currently, we could see them live and flip the image as we want to. Looking in a mirror is not seeing your face, and neither is looking at a video display. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839/154 "2022-04-04T17:14:00Z")
Ah – because **Moriarty** asterisked the bit about seeing your reflection and your features being reversed, I misunderstood the reversal part as the salient point. So my post then is a rebuttal to the asterisked fact of “because you’ve only seen a reflection”, but not what I see now as the actual intent of the original thought, which I guess is that you’ve never seen your actual, physical face, only representations of it. So pretend I just quoted the asterisked bit. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839/155 "2022-04-04T18:52:14Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > There are more non-human cells in your body than human cells (though some of the human ones are much larger) and you would be much less healthy (probably dead) if you got rid of all the guests. Definitely dead, as your digestive system would totally collapse. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839/156 "2022-04-04T19:14:29Z")
Thanks for this. Interesting. And although we are deluged with endless rants and trivial shock and schlock, we really don’t get enough “counterblastes” these days. A shame. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2022, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839/157 "2022-04-04T19:20:13Z")
Who left the cap off, goddammit? ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839/158 "2022-04-04T19:30:44Z")
Yes that makes you look fat. or , to ramp it up a bit… No, THAT doesn’t make you look fat, you ARE fat. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839/159 "2022-04-04T19:38:26Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Actors just pretend to go to work Oh my. I had a couple actor friends (and they even made me get on stage once, I was literally a spearcarrier (Roman soldier)with one line ) and the work they go through before it starts is amazing. All their lines must be committed to memory. They have to do rehearsal after rehearsal. They have to be fitted to costume and subjected to make up. “Get your money for nothin’ and the chicks for free”… 😛 😁 > [@DesertDog](#): > > One the family stories from my maternal grandmother was on their migration from Indiana to Kansas, sitting on the tailgate of a covered wagon watching the landscape rolling by ever so slowly. According to a family story, my Great Aunt and Great Grandmother were the first two women to do the Oregon trail by themselves (in a wagon train, but without a husband, brother, etc). I am slightly doubtful about that “first” part, but they certainly did so. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839/160 "2022-04-04T19:49:32Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Oh my. I had a couple actor friends (and they even made me get on stage once, I was literally a spearcarrier (Roman soldier)with one line ) and the work they go through before it starts is amazing. All their lines must be committed to memory. They have to do rehearsal after rehearsal. They have to be fitted to costume and subjected to make up. I think the thrust of that statement was not that actors don’t work, but they work by pretending to be someone else. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-technically-true-but-you-shouldnt-say-out-loud/961839.md?page=9)