# Things you are shocked people don't know **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 19, 2016, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348 "2016-09-19T14:50:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/181 "2016-09-22T18:47:36Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > This thread has a bit of ivory tower syndrome; posters are saying that they are shocked that other people don’t have the knowledge about the poster’s hobbies or interests that the poster does. Some validity to your point. Other than some aspects of driving, dishwasher use, and grocery expiration dates, we haven’t touched on a lot of just basic living knowledge people lack. Maybe this fits your ivory tower, but I’ve been surprised when I’ve asked folk where their community’s water comes from. I admit my question reflects my personal interest, but living right near Lake Michigan, and hearing of folk living in the SW, I think that’s a pretty basic concern. But a lot of people seem content to know it comes out of the tap when they turn the handle. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2016, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/182 "2016-09-22T19:40:45Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > This thread has a bit of ivory tower syndrome; posters are saying that they are shocked that other people don’t have the knowledge about the poster’s hobbies or interests that the poster does. The ground under your feet isn’t an ivory tower hobby, as far as I’m concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/183 "2016-09-22T20:05:35Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > The ground under your feet isn’t an ivory tower hobby, as far as I’m concerned. Knowing the specific names for all the different kinds of rocks is absolutely a niche hobby and not general knowledge. Many of the posts in this thread are just people trying to prove how much knowledge they have. “Well I can’t believe the general public doesn’t know all these esoteric facts about this one thing that I am interested in!” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/184 "2016-09-22T20:08:09Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Where do olives fit in? I would guess “fruit” based on the above. Actually, to be honest, I don’t really think I’ve ever heard olives referred to as either one or the other. They just kind of are. olives are classified as a vegetable. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/185 "2016-09-22T21:08:23Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Knowing the specific names for all the different kinds of rocks is absolutely a niche hobby and not general knowledge. > > Many of the posts in this thread are just people trying to prove how much knowledge they have. “Well I can’t believe the general public doesn’t know all these esoteric facts about this one thing that I am interested in!” :rolleyes: I grew up near Morton, MN and swam in the granite quarries there. It turns out to not be granite, but gneiss and [apparently the oldest rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morton_Gneiss) in the US. I found out after the town put up a billboard saying something like “Don’t take it for granite, it’s gneiss!”. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/186 "2016-09-23T01:39:33Z")
> [@Leo\_Krupe](#): > > That “right of way” is a concept, period. . . . . It’s also a location, but that’s esoteric. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2016, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/187 "2016-09-23T05:57:21Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > \*\*Knowing the specific names for all the different kinds of rocks \*\*is absolutely a niche hobby and not general knowledge. Good thing that isn’t what I said, then. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2016, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/188 "2016-09-23T06:51:08Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > The thing that always shocks me is how people (and by this I mean, like, 95% of people, most places) just don’t know thing one about the rocks in the place they live. That’s because, to 99% of people, the rocks in the place they live have absolutely no relevance to their actual lives. What shocks me is that anyone other than a geologist would have more than the most casual interest in this. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2016, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/189 "2016-09-23T07:33:50Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > That’s because, to 99% of people, the rocks in the place they live have absolutely no relevance to their actual lives. Well, that’s utter bullshit. _Most_ of the world lives in places where the rocks in the place they live have a very real, immediate and sometimes lethal impact on their lives. > [@](#): > > What shocks me is that anyone other than a geologist would have more than the most casual interest in this. I’m _talking about_ a casual interest. I’m not talking about people knowing kyanite from sillimanite, I’m talking about knowing “Yeah, I live on a goddamn [active fault line](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of_Fire)” I’ve had born-and-bred Angelinos tell me they had no clue why earthquakes happen. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/190 "2016-09-23T08:07:14Z")
I had a girlfriend who did not know what the Chernobyl disaster was, despite having been of voting age when it occurred. No outlier reason, either: she wasn’t shipwrecked on a deserted island or in a coma for a few years or anything. I was shocked. Then _she_ was shocked when I showed her a documentary about it. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/191 "2016-09-23T12:53:46Z")
I’m reminded of a thread several years back (I imagine there have been more than one) where people were discussing “what everyone should know”. Or even whether that was a legitimate question that could be answered. Obviously, you have to identify your population. Obviously, everyone needs to know such things as which end to insert food into, or they won’t be around for very long. But beyond that, “basic knowledge” would differ somewhat for hunter-gatherers compared to college-educated westerners. I’m sure a huge number of people would be astounded at my ignorance regarding - say - popular music, or popular celebrity culture, or sports personalities/trivia. And those same people would have no idea why I take pleasure in trying to being able to distinguish birds by their song. ---
**Author:** ![Lowdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Lowdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lowdown)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/192 "2016-09-23T13:11:22Z")
(Men) How to buy shirts that fit. (Women) How ridiculous they look wearing heels if they can’t walk in heels. After one of my many speeding tickets, I had to go to a defensive driving course. At one point the instructor made some sort of joke about rolling stops at stop signs. It was funny. I don’t remember the specifics. What I _do_ remember, is one dude piping up (and completely serious) with “That’s actually true. If the stop sign says ALL WAY, then you have to stop all-the-way. Otherwise you don’t.” The whole room went silent and stared at him. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2016, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/193 "2016-09-23T13:13:09Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Well, that’s utter bullshit. _Most_ of the world lives in places where the rocks in the place they live have a very real, immediate and sometimes lethal impact on their lives. No, MOST people, at least in this part of the world, lives in places where they have no reason to give a fuck about the rocks under their feet. > [@](#): > > I’m _talking about_ a casual interest. I’m not talking about people knowing kyanite from sillimanite, I’m talking about knowing “Yeah, I live on a goddamn [active fault line](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of_Fire)” > > I’ve had born-and-bred Angelinos tell me they had no clue why earthquakes happen. Seriously, what percent of the population lives on or near a fault line? And please stop redefining what the fuck you’re talking about. Your original post said nothing about fault lines, just the rocks under one’s feet. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2016, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/194 "2016-09-23T13:20:01Z")
> [@Lowdown](#): > > What I _do_ remember, is one dude piping up (and completely serious) with “That’s actually true. If the stop sign says ALL WAY, then you have to stop all-the-way. Otherwise you don’t.” I wonder what he thought when he saw a [three-way stop sign.](http://www.radarsign.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Multi-Way-Stop-Signs-Do-Not-Control-Speed.png) ---
**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:** [September 23, 2016, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/195 "2016-09-23T13:41:54Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I’m reminded of a thread several years back (I imagine there have been more than one) where people were discussing “what everyone should know”. Or even whether that was a legitimate question that could be answered. They’re usually related to that idiotic Heinlein quote about [specialization being for insects](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=410094). ---
**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:** [September 23, 2016, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/196 "2016-09-23T13:56:47Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > No, MOST people, at least in this part of the world, lives in places where they have no reason to give a fuck about the rocks under their feet. Yeah, I’m not really thinking of the backwoods of Ohio when I think “most people” > [@](#): > > Seriously, what percent of the population lives on or near a fault line? I’d happily guess upwards of 50% lives near enough to be at risk of _some_ seismicity. You tell me, what percentage of the global population lives [under these black dots?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Quake_epicenters_1963-98.png) > [@](#): > > And please stop redefining what the fuck you’re talking about. Your original post said nothing about fault lines, just the rocks under one’s feet. My original post said squat about anyone’s feet, neither. Major faults/seismic risks are a big part of “thing one about” the rocks around us. That _you_ didn’t understand what I was saying kind of proves my point. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/197 "2016-09-23T14:33:43Z")
When you talk about things like - what everyone should have learned in grade school, I bet igneous and sedimentary would make a bunch of peoples’ short lists. (I’m imagining a bunch of folk would forget or be confused about metamorphic.) Gee - who might wonder about the substrate? Anyone who has ever done any gardening, had or seen a home or building built? Anyone who has seen a local quarry, or travelled to some local park that has exposed rock features? Anyone who has noted the predominant stone used in local buildings? Anyone who has read/heard anything about underground water tables/resource extraction? This thread is highlighting the extent to which a great many people simply are not observant or curious about the world around them. ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/198 "2016-09-23T14:39:06Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > This thread has a bit of ivory tower syndrome; posters are saying that they are shocked that other people don’t have the knowledge about the poster’s hobbies or interests that the poster does. To be fair, though, the title of the thread is “Things you are shocked people don’t know,” not “Things you should be shocked people don’t know” or “Things it’s reasonable to be shocked people don’t know.” If someone genuinely is shocked that most people don’t know about enantiomers or the names of different types of rock, who are we to judge; those things are on-topic! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/199 "2016-09-23T14:48:57Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > The thing that always shocks me is how people (and by this I mean, like, 95% of people, most places) just don’t know thing one about the rocks in the place they live. Perhaps they don’t care, on account of the items being, you know, rocks?🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/200 "2016-09-24T02:35:55Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Actually, all you need is one of [these](https://www.google.com/search?q=screwdriver&biw=1162&bih=1031&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjX9Iyp653PAhXLsB4KHZvDBFoQ_AUIBigB#tbm=isch&q=flat-head+screwdriver). Gently pry up the lid in one or two spots, until you hear the vacuum escape. Is the sound of vacuum escaping similar to the sound of one hand clapping? I’m positive you know that the sound you mention is NOT the sound of vacuum escaping—I think you are very sly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348.md?page=11)