# Things you're shocked to find out some people don't know. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 10, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353 "2010-01-10T02:44:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353/401 "2010-01-22T08:25:47Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > If the gas stations were smart, they wouldn’t charge extra. Isn’t it all about customer service these days? Doesn’t research show that people almost always return to where received the best service? This being the Dope, could you show me any of this research? (We really need a CITE!? smiley.) As competitive as the retail gas business is in the US (they’re used as case studies in economics classes for competitive markets), the fact that gas stations don’t in fact do what you’re suggesting, leads to the conclusion that your question answers itself: No, no, and no. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353/402 "2010-01-22T08:47:35Z")
> [@](#): > > If the gas stations were smart, they wouldn’t charge extra. Isn’t it all about customer service these days? Doesn’t research show that people almost always return to where received the best service? Apparently not, as I cannot tell you anywhere I’ve seen in the last ten years or more to get “full service” gas station help. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353/403 "2010-01-22T09:47:51Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > two classic ones: > > 1. the idea that no or very few rivers flow north. I’m pretty sure that this idea emerged because most of the continental US drains into the Atlantic, the Pacific, or the Gulf of Mexico, so indeed few rivers in the US flow north. However, come on: the Mackenzie, the Nelson, the Ob, the Yenisei, the Lena, the _Rhine._ The freaking _Nile._ (I have heard the version wherein the Nile is the only river that flows north, which makes it extra super special.) I was taught that north flowing rivers were very rare, and the Nile was the only “major” river that flows north. I didn’t think to question that knowledge and would have gone on the rest of my life believing it if you hadn’t said anything. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353/404 "2010-01-22T12:32:14Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Then why not have both? Have attendants, \*and \*let you pump your own.Some people prefer to shave off a few seconds by doing it themselves, while other enjoy the convenience of being served. Shouldn’t a good business cater to both types? > [@Koxinga](#): > > Guess what? They do! If you don’t mind paying a couple of extra bucks for your gas, feel free to pull into the full service lane. Well, they _did_, back when self-serve gas was new, some 30 years ago. I don’t know of any gas station around me that still offers full service, but maybe there’s one somewhere. I suspect there just isn’t enough demand for full serve to make it worthwhile having an employee to pump gas. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353/405 "2010-01-22T13:36:57Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I’ve never understood the American insistance on self-service, especially in light of your obsession with drive-thru. What, you won’t get up for a cup of coffee, but you will for gas? Makes no sense. It’s not an American thing. Gas/petrol is completely self-service in the UK too. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353/406 "2010-01-22T13:59:39Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Two weeks ago, my coworker (the one who’s my age, mid-20s) looks at a piece of paper on the printer, turns to me, and asks, “What’s a… ‘faks-uh-mile’?” Yes, she was unfamiliar with the word facsimilie. Fortunately, she has a good sense of humor, so we joke about it constantly. I’m also unfamiliar with the word “facsimilie.” I am familiar with the word “facsimile,” though. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353/407 "2010-01-22T14:22:50Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > So in other states, do people always pump their own gas? Or does it depend on the individual gas station? I’ve been driving for 16 years and have never had someone else put the gas in my car, outside of fellow passengers 🙂 Of course, I’ve never been to Oregon and first went to New Jersey in December, but only long enough to get from the Newark airport to NYC. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353/408 "2010-01-22T14:39:57Z")
Reading some pregnancy boards, I’m surprised at the amount of people who don’t know what’s in the foods they eat & drink. Like, not knowing that black & green tea both have caffiene. And wondering if ice cream counts as a “soft cheese”. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353/409 "2010-01-22T15:52:42Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > You mean those little round pastry things with shredded coconut on them? … _Sure_. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Five-O _is_ a slang term for the police, but it [came from the TV show](http://www.mjq.net/fiveo/fiveofaq.htm), not the other way around. Well, sure, I know that _now_. > [@MLS](#): > > Yes. We were talking about how it was still light out at 4:30 pm. \*You \*were talking about how it was still light out at 4:30. \*She \*might have been talking about something different. People mis-hearing or half-hearing conversations, but continuing on anyway, is not unheard of. Especially with people in their 60s, who are often in denial about their hearing because they don’t want to be “old.” > [@robby](#): > > I am familiar with the word “facsimile,” though. 😉 :smack: Yet another one of the myriad reasons to hate IE: no spellcheck. Unfortunately, it’s all I can use at work. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353/410 "2010-01-22T16:03:03Z")
never mind ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353/411 "2010-01-22T17:00:00Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > never mind I saw what it was before you edited it. IMO, you should have left it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353/412 "2010-01-22T17:23:24Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > Well, they _did_, back when self-serve gas was new, some 30 years ago. I don’t know of any gas station around me that still offers full service, but maybe there’s one somewhere. I know of plenty. In the past few years I’ve been to places that are self-service only, full service only, and mixed. I can’t think of any specifically right now (I don’t drive), except for one place on Cape Cod. A middle-aged woman runs it by herself. She’s a little slow, but she keeps her prices competitive. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353/413 "2010-01-22T17:51:37Z")
There’s at least one more, in Wilmington MA. I think some communities here in Massachusetts require the station to pump. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353/414 "2010-01-22T17:59:43Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > I saw what it was before you edited it. IMO, you should have left it. 😃 I forgot how I worded it before, but OK: The gas station’s profit from a gallon of gas is mere pennies, simply not enough to cover the labor costs of a free attendant. I’m shocked people don’t know this. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353/415 "2010-01-22T18:32:01Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > I forgot how I worded it before, but OK: > > The gas station’s profit from a gallon of gas is mere pennies, simply not enough to cover the labor costs of a free attendant. I’m shocked people don’t know this. Then how do gas stations in New Jersey make money? ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353/416 "2010-01-22T19:07:55Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > Then how do gas stations in New Jersey make money? It’s built into the price, just like in Oregon. Part of the reasoning for the law there (at least) is that “studies” concluded that having an attendant doesn’t significantly raise the cost of gas. It’s complete bull. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353/417 "2010-01-22T19:11:21Z")
It might be bull, but NJ gas prices are significantly lower than NY and usually lower than nearby PA stations (at least the few I’ve passed), where most stations will not have an attendant. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353/418 "2010-01-22T19:29:20Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > It might be bull, but NJ gas prices are significantly lower than NY and usually lower than nearby PA stations (at least the few I’ve passed), where most stations will not have an attendant. That’s because the fuel taxes in NJ are significantly lower than those in the adjoining states you mention. In January 2010, the fuel taxes by state are as follows: NJ: 32.9 cents/gallon NY: 63.0 cents/gallon PA: 50.7 cents/gallon [Cite](http://www.api.org/statistics/fueltaxes/). (Note: these figures include state and federal taxes.) I’m shocked to find out that some people don’t know that the primary reason for the disparity in gas prices for adjoining states is the difference in state fuel taxes. 😉 (This is why I always fill my tank if I travel into Massachusetts, where the fuel tax is almost 20 cents/gallon lower than Connecticut.) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353/419 "2010-01-22T19:37:49Z")
Massachusetts has lower taxes than somebody? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353/420 "2010-01-22T19:44:37Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > I was taught that north flowing rivers were very rare, and the Nile was the only “major” river that flows north. I didn’t think to question that knowledge and would have gone on the rest of my life believing it if you hadn’t said anything. Happy to help! For the record, of the [ten longest rivers on Earth](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rivers_by_length), four – the Nile, Yenisei, Ob, and Lena – flow north. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-shocked-to-find-out-some-people-dont-know/524353.md?page=22)