# 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:** 13
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/241 "2016-09-27T13:56:22Z")
Yesterday at the library a young woman asked me how I type without looking at the keys. I told her about touch typing. She had never heard of it. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/242 "2016-09-27T14:29:31Z")
> [@Avarie537](#): > > Yes, your male and female puppies from the same litter WILL breed and make babies. They don’t “know better.” Same with parent / offspring pairings. So will rabbits. Oh my god!! So many rabbits. And it all started with one (who was apparently pregnant when we got her). ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/243 "2016-09-27T22:30:56Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > It’s a mandatory feature on mowers sold in the USA. I think I get it, you’re talking about self propelled mowers? We don’t have those in Aus, at least if we do they’re very uncommon. (except ride on mowers) Lawn Mowers here have a motor that makes the blades spin, but you need to push or pull it to make it move. Start it up and it will just sit there. I guess the safety switch on yours is to stop the thing from taking off if you let go of it, which isn’t a problem if they aren’t self propelled. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/244 "2016-09-27T22:55:31Z")
> [@stui\_magpie](#): > > I think I get it, you’re talking about self propelled mowers? Nope. Even ones you push without help from the mower will have a [Safety Bar](http://www.thecourse-pm.com/Library/Everyday%20Examples%20of%20Mistake-Proofing_files/grout008.jpg) or other device that has to be used while the mower is running. When the bar is let go the mower shuts down. It’s a Darwin thing. Don’t know when they made them required. I had an older mower that didn’t have one. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/245 "2016-09-27T23:33:17Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Nope. Even ones you push without help from the mower will have a [Safety Bar](http://www.thecourse-pm.com/Library/Everyday%20Examples%20of%20Mistake-Proofing_files/grout008.jpg) or other device that has to be used while the mower is running. When the bar is let go the mower shuts down. It’s a Darwin thing. > > Don’t know when they made them required. I had an older mower that didn’t have one. Yup. When starting the mower, you also have to depress the handle with one hand while bending over and pulling the starter cord with the other, which can be an exercise In contortionism. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/246 "2016-09-27T23:41:56Z")
> [@PrimalEnvy](#): > > That certain Newfoundlanders can’t name the capital of Labrador when asked. Funny in a sad way. But can they name the capital of Newfoundland? Because that might help. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/247 "2016-09-28T00:14:32Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Nope. Even ones you push without help from the mower will have a [Safety Bar](http://www.thecourse-pm.com/Library/Everyday%20Examples%20of%20Mistake-Proofing_files/grout008.jpg) or other device that has to be used while the mower is running. When the bar is let go the mower shuts down. It’s a Darwin thing. > > Don’t know when they made them required. I had an older mower that didn’t have one. The mower my parents bought in the 1970s didn’t have one. I bought a used mower in the 1990s that probably was a good 10 years old, because it allowed the oil to be poured directly into the motor, and it had one. I would guess early 80s. There was a lot of safety stuff then. The Tylenol poisoner caused a lot of companies to try to brainstorm all the ways their products could be misused or booby-trapped. It’s when chairs started coming with warning tags not to place on top of something and stand on. ---
**Author:** ![Kiwi\_Fruit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiwi_fruit/32/12_2.png) [@Kiwi\_Fruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiwi_Fruit)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/248 "2016-09-28T01:46:59Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > Well here’s on that I just learned about 2 hours ago - I’m wondering how many people other than me already knew it… > > …_Soweto_, a suburb of Johannesburg. I always assumed was some South African Afrikaans-like word. Nope - it’s an abbreviation of South Western Township. I’ve known this since mid 70’s as for some reason we had a close interest in what was going on in South Africa and Soweto was often in the news. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/249 "2016-09-28T02:22:13Z")
> [@Kiwi\_Fruit](#): > > I’ve known this since mid 70’s as for some reason we had a close interest in what was going on in South Africa and Soweto was often in the news. Don’t feel bad. It took 20 years for it to dawn on me why ABBA was called ABBA. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/250 "2016-09-28T02:22:32Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Nope. Even ones you push without help from the mower will have a [Safety Bar](http://www.thecourse-pm.com/Library/Everyday%20Examples%20of%20Mistake-Proofing_files/grout008.jpg) or other device that has to be used while the mower is running. When the bar is let go the mower shuts down. It’s a Darwin thing. > > Don’t know when they made them required. I had an older mower that didn’t have one. Well there you go, learn something new all the time. I bought a new one only 12 months or so ago, nothing like that. I’d find that as annoying as hell if the motor stopped every time I let go of the handle. I guess we haven’t reached that stage of nanny state stuff yet, at least not in that area. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/251 "2016-09-28T02:30:30Z")
> [@stui\_magpie](#): > > Well there you go, learn something new all the time. > > I bought a new one only 12 months or so ago, nothing like that. I’d find that as annoying as hell if the motor stopped every time I let go of the handle. > > I guess we haven’t reached that stage of nanny state stuff yet, at least not in that area. I think most people find it less annoying than having their hand cut off. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/252 "2016-09-28T02:38:27Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I think most people find it less annoying than having their hand cut off. Fair call, but I think anyone dumb enough to stick their hand into the spinning blade shouldn’t be operating any equipment more complicated or powerful than a plastic tricycle:D ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/253 "2016-09-28T03:46:25Z")
> [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](#): > > In nursing school I was in the same clinical group with a woman (age 18) who was told to give the patient an enema. She was supposed to wait for Mrs. A, our teacher but she was intimidated by the nurse and gave it to her patient. > > She came and told me that the liquid “all came back out”. It did not assist the patient to have a bowel movement. > > This woman, who by all appearnces was both toilet trained and had passed puberty gave the poor woman a vaginal enema! I tried to stick up for her, the nurse was really intimidating but this classmate did not plead nervousness. Her answer was “I’m Catholic we don’t know or talk about things like this.” > > I bet Mother Theresa knew her rectum from her vagina! > > By the next week this classmate had decided she was leaving college to go to hairdressing school instead. (cues up “Beauty School Dropout”) ---
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/254 "2016-09-28T08:57:03Z")
> [@Sangahyando](#): > > Some of us, to manage navigating, have to turn the map around at need, to match the direction of travel. Regarded with great contempt by the truly adept map-practitioners… > [@Nava](#): > > The problem is when you get someone like that who then needs to straighten the map to read the signs. It probably counts as great arm exercise or something, mind you, but I get tired just watching it. It looks like you and I had better not make a car trip together – at least, not in the respective roles of driver and navigator ! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/255 "2016-09-28T09:01:47Z")
Hey, if you are at least conscious that you need to do it, you’re better at it than Mom, and I still haven’t killed her! ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/256 "2016-09-28T09:43:53Z")
> [@stui\_magpie](#): > > Fair call, but I think anyone dumb enough to stick their hand into the spinning blade shouldn’t be operating any equipment more complicated or powerful than a plastic tricycle:D That’s why I called it a Darwin device. You just know someone, somewhere, for some reason, reached under a running mower. ---
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/257 "2016-09-28T13:45:05Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > I’m shocked when people don’t know that “college educated” should be hyphenated. 😃 How can one tell what is and what is not…I learned very little grammar I guess while I was in school. I was good at spelling for a time but hyphens were not something I learned! > [@Morbo](#): > > Well here’s on that I just learned about 2 hours ago - I’m wondering how many people other than me already knew it… > > …_Soweto_, a suburb of Johannesburg. I always assumed was some South African Afrikaans-like word. Nope - it’s an abbreviation of South Western Township. I dont remember learning this but African history was not studied for too long as US history was in our school > [@panache45](#): > > There are Americans who don’t know how many states there are (or how many stars are on the flag). Nor do some people know when the last two states were added to the 48 to make 50 or which states they were that were admitted > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > My Canadian friend does not know the capital of Canada. I found this out while reading a trivia question. > mmm I just learned that my cousin didnt even know! > [@pkbites](#): > > \*How to merge on a damn freeway from an acceleration ramp. Folks, people already on the highway have the right a way and should not have to speed up, slow down, or change lanes to adjust for you. > > \*That there is no federal gun registration and, with a very small exception, no state/local gun registration. I can’t believe how many people have asked me how they go about registering a gun they just bought. Merging is always a treat to watch NOT! I usually top the speed limit going down the ramp into the highway just so I know I can get on the lane. Course that’s only because I dont pay attention to my speed. Isnt the interstate a race track?? You dont have to register guns? 😕😕 > [@Gatopescado](#): > > **Things you are shocked people don’t know** > > Soylent Green is _ **PEOPLE!** _ OMG I almost forgot!! I’m still trying to read all of the posts in this thread. Some of you are very funny! I giggled out loud more than once…the horse with no name was a very good one!! ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/258 "2016-09-28T14:16:27Z")
Simple things like, you don’t need your ID to vote and that there is a difference between right of way and right away. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/259 "2016-09-28T15:10:05Z")
This one isn’t about people in general, but I’m always surprised when I meet a teacher who can’t recognize dyslexia. The mistakes of dyslexics are completely different from those of bad spellers (never met a bad speller who confused bdpq, for example), and both from those of people who think that writing like ass is kool. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348/260 "2016-09-28T15:41:32Z")
> [@stui\_magpie](#): > > Well there you go, learn something new all the time. > > I bought a new one only 12 months or so ago, nothing like that. I’d find that as annoying as hell if the motor stopped every time I let go of the handle. > > I guess we haven’t reached that stage of nanny state stuff yet, at least not in that area. A quick question for Stui. Do your mowers have a brake on the flywheel that stops the blade within a second or two of stopping the motor? In the US, the requirement (IIRC) is that the blade stop within two seconds of the operator releasing the handle. Most manufacturers use a combination of a kill switch and flywheel brake to meet this requirement. There are some models that use a clutch between the motor and blade to achieve the same result. But, you’re right; it is annoying as hell. I figure it’s just the nanny state forcing citizens to learn how to not let the little things bother you. To be fair, lawnmowers are much easier to start than those of my youth. Most of them are designed so you can reach the pull-cord while standing behind the mower with your hands on the handle. My current push mower is over 10 years old and lives outside not even under cover. It will still start (cold) on either the first or second pull. If it doesn’t start by the second pull, there is either water in the carburetor (not terribly uncommon since it lives outside) or it is out of gas. Once it is warmed-up, slightly more than a gentle tug on the starter rope gets it running. The mowers of my youth would not have survived a season if they stopped running when you let go of the handle. Sometimes starting them was more difficult than mowing the entire yard. I will admit, however, that I have defeated the kill switch on my current mower. At one time, the cable that controlled the switch rusted away (probably something to do with how it has been stored), so I had it rigged to be always on; you had to pull the spark plug cable to get it to stop (not bad, once you learn to make sure you are not touching any metal when you pull it). But, when the throttle cable also rusted, I bought two new cables so it runs like it is supposed to, now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-are-shocked-people-dont-know/766348.md?page=14)