# Things you know that it never occurred to you others wouldn't know... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 5, 2015, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696 "2015-11-05T11:07:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![ElderSign](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eldersign/32/8263_2.png) [@ElderSign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElderSign)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/81 "2015-11-06T01:28:09Z")
> [@HeXen](#): > > I didn’t realize that others would actually think or expect that everyone should know everything judging by their condescending responses throughout internet forums everywhere as if other people are stupid for not knowing something specific about any particular thing. We are all ignorant of something, even mundane or “common” knowledge things…I mistakingly thought everyone was aware of that fact. Good one. ---
**Author:** ![ElderSign](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eldersign/32/8263_2.png) [@ElderSign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElderSign)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/82 "2015-11-06T01:29:11Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > This is the internet; where would we be if we didn’t pretend our own tiny garden was the whole forest? In a place of realistic humility. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/83 "2015-11-06T01:43:57Z")
> [@HeXen](#): > > I didn’t realize that others would actually think or expect that everyone should know everything judging by their condescending responses throughout internet forums everywhere as if other people are stupid for not knowing something specific about any particular thing. We are all ignorant of something, even mundane or “common” knowledge things…I mistakingly thought everyone was aware of that fact. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/84 "2015-11-06T02:13:39Z")
> [@HeXen](#): > > I didn’t realize that others would actually think or expect that everyone should know everything judging by their condescending responses throughout internet forums everywhere as if other people are stupid for not knowing something specific about any particular thing. We are all ignorant of something, even mundane or “common” knowledge things…I mistakingly thought everyone was aware of that fact. Low hanging fruit post. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2015, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/85 "2015-11-06T02:46:52Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > That’s me. Mrs Piper eventually made the same adjustment when giving me driving instructions. My daughter would do that when I was teaching her to drive. She’s basically ambidextrous with a slight left side favour. When I’d tell her to turn left, she’d sometimes start to turn right and I had to quickly yell “No, the other left”😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/86 "2015-11-06T03:29:55Z")
> [@](#): > > > [@Ethilrist](#): > > > > The woman who sits behind me at work had no idea who Samson & Delilah were. > > > > A sadly disturbing number of college-aged people seem never to have seen _Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles_ or _Monty Python and the Holy Grail._ What were their parents _thinking???_ > > Maybe they were thinking, “Well, just because I liked it doesn’t make it some sort of cultural absolute, and I’ll just let them develop their own tastes. After all, if my parents had done the same and made me watch 40 year old media when I’d been growing up, I’d have been rolling my eyes through being forced to sit through Daredevils of the West and Junior G-Men of the Air as some sort of hallowed cultural rite of passage”. Because that’s what I was thinking. If it wasn’t for being force fed 40-year old media, I’d never have known Bob Seger died. Man was an icon. > [@](#): > > QUOTE=Macca26;] There was a startlingly large number of people in a college astronomy class that didn’t know the seasons occurred because the Earth is tilted. 38% or something. Apparently most of them thought the Earth’s slightly elliptical orbit was the reason instead. “Doesn’t it move closer and farther away from the sun?” > > I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt and supposed that when they were taught this at age 8 they weren’t paying much attention and the teacher did a poor job of explaining light physics. So they filed a half-assed explanation like, “the top part is farther away from the sun, therefore winter” as, “the whole Earth moves away from the sun, therefore winter” instead. > > And after that, when do 99% of people ever need to think about the cause of seasons or have it come up in conversation so they can get corrected on it? Here’s a delightful way to spend an afternoon. Ask your educated coworkers what causes the seasons. When they say “The tilt of the Earth,” as you’d expect, say “Mmhmm. Go on…” You’ll be shocked at how many people can’t elaborate. They know it’s the tilt, but they have absolutely no idea what that has to do with the seasons. They’ll say it’s because the top is closer to the sun, 'cause the day is longer, and all sorts of guesses until they say “Well…just…cuz, man. It just does. Go away.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/87 "2015-11-06T03:32:21Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I know he was a successful musician of my era. So…um…what was World War I like? Did you ever meet Abraham Lincoln? How do you know what a computer is? Are your great grandchildren typing your responses for you? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/88 "2015-11-06T04:03:33Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > I have met some educated professional adults who can not, under any circumstances, tell left from right. > > “Raise your right hand.” > “Sorry, which one is it?” > > I accept that this is probably some sort of actual minor brain malfunction, but really? Dyslexia, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/89 "2015-11-06T04:30:18Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Low hanging fruit post. Like a pineapple hanging low on a tree. For quarter of, does it help to think “it is a quarter shy **of** 7”? My parents are from PA and I grew up with “quarter of”, “quarter after”, and X:30 (not half past). ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/90 "2015-11-06T04:32:09Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > It’s still hard for me to grasp that some people really don’t know geographical North (much less south, east, west) in the areas they’ve lived and worked in for years. > “If you come out of your bank you’ll be on Main Street. Just head north about a block.” > “Which way is that?” > “North.” > “I don’t know which way north is.” > :smack: > “I’ll meet you at my child’s school where he has been attending for the past 5 years.” > “Okay, meet me at the south entrance.” > “Which one is that?” > “The one on the south side of the building.” > “I don’t know which side is the south.” > :smack: This is me. I have to think for a while till I picture a road I know is headed north and extrapolate back through town to what you are talking about. Also, distances like something being 100 yards ahead is lost on me. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/91 "2015-11-06T05:21:53Z")
> [@MoonMoon](#): > > I had no idea that so many people thought Denver was _in_ the mountains, and thus, buried in snow all winter. > > A friend’s family in North Carolina actually sent her a care package after they saw a news story that the mountains had received several feet of snow. Meanwhile, she was sitting in Denver enjoying the sunshine and temps in the low fifties. As a lifelong Midwesterner, I can testify that Iowa does not consist entirely of cornfields. We do have electricity and running water, and heat our buildings in the winter. We even have Internet access! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/92 "2015-11-06T05:24:05Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Apparently in St. Louis the kids tell jokes to get candy while Trick or Treating. My fiance, despite living in Chicago now for several years had no idea it wasn’t a national thing until I told her last year. Kids do that in Des Moines too. Those seem to be the only two cities where that’s done. Meanwhile, I have worked with pharmacists who did not know that: Lesbians menstruate Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in blood transfusions Woman usually have to give birth before they produce breast milk :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/93 "2015-11-06T05:29:53Z")
> [@MoonMoon](#): > > Same. I never realized it was a regionalism. I don’t think it is. I know exactly what it means, have heard it, and have said it, and I’m in Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/94 "2015-11-06T05:35:43Z")
> [@Macca26](#): > > There was a startlingly large number of people in a college astronomy class that didn’t know the seasons occurred because the Earth is tilted. 38% or something. Apparently most of them thought the Earth’s slightly elliptical orbit was the reason instead. “Doesn’t it move closer and farther away from the sun?” > > I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt and supposed that when they were taught this at age 8 they weren’t paying much attention and the teacher did a poor job of explaining light physics. So they filed a half-assed explanation like, “the top part is farther away from the sun, therefore winter” as, “the whole Earth moves away from the sun, therefore winter” instead. > > And after that, when do 99% of people ever need to think about the cause of seasons or have it come up in conversation so they can get corrected on it? Have they never seen a globe, and wondered why it was tilted? This post reminded me of this song. SFW. The title just screams “PROG ROCK!” 😛 [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sSZepYc219Y/hqdefault.jpg "Starcastle - Elliptical Seasons") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSZepYc219Y) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/95 "2015-11-06T07:05:09Z")
I know that the 1967 version of _Casino Royale_ is the greatest Bond film ever made. When I see people expressing admiration for any other “Bond” film, I presume that they’re fucking with me. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/96 "2015-11-06T07:18:04Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > If it wasn’t for being force fed 40-year old media, I’d never have known Bob Seger died. Man was an icon. Does[Bob](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Seger)know about this? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/97 "2015-11-06T07:25:55Z")
> [@kbear](#): > > I never actually considered how pineapples grew. i think maybe I thought more like coconuts in a tall tree rather than the short things I just saw in a google search. I wonder what else I have no clue how it grows? [Cashews](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cashew), I bet. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/98 "2015-11-06T07:29:26Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m shocked when simple Bible references leaves people confused. > Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego getting thrown into the fire. Sampson chained to the temple pillar. Daniel in the lions den. all famous stories we learned in Sunday school at age 5 or 6. > > David and Goliath seems to be the Bible Story everybody knows. Samson is a character in the Bible. Sampson is a hampster. ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/99 "2015-11-06T07:43:30Z")
I heard somewhere that a significant number of British students believe that Winston Churchill was a mythological character. Before smiling about this, I wondered how many American students believe the same about Washington, Franklin, Lincoln, Roosevelt and even Kennedy? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/100 "2015-11-06T12:26:10Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Like a pineapple hanging low on a tree. > For quarter of, does it help to think “it is a quarter shy **of** 7”? My parents are from PA and I grew up with “quarter of”, “quarter after”, and X:30 (not half past). I think it’s more of a peanut tree situation. It’s not just quarter of, you could also say 5 of or 10 of. IIRC correctly, it’s the same construction in Russian (the minutes, plus the genitive case of the hour) for minutes before the hour. I wonder if other languages have that construction. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696.md?page=6)