# Well-known obvious facts that a lot of people are ignorant of **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 28, 2016, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294 "2016-04-28T00:06:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2016, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294/141 "2016-05-01T20:48:10Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Nightmares is a little strong. Anyway, you just let the least patient/more hurried/stupidest person to forth, then proceed by the rightmost-priority rule. So, abandoning my car and running off screeching and flailing my arms is not an option? ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294/142 "2016-05-02T03:27:29Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > And you can see the moon during the day, as well as at night. It’s amazing how many people don’t know this. Ask people how big the moon appears. Some people think that, if you shut one eye, the moon appears about as big as your palm at arm’s length. In fact, you can cover the image of the moon with your little finger, held at arm’s length. Also, if you know exactly where to look, it is possible to see Venus during the day. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294/143 "2016-05-03T03:13:11Z")
Whether the Sun rises/sets in the east or west. I’m still not sure… ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294/144 "2016-05-03T03:24:43Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > Ask people how big the moon appears. Some people think that, if you shut one eye, the moon appears about as big as your palm at arm’s length. In fact, you can cover the image of the moon with your little finger, held at arm’s length. I blame Hollywood for this. Movie makers are always making the moon look bigger than it actually is. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2016, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294/145 "2016-05-03T04:19:17Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > Ask people how big the moon appears. Some people think that, if you shut one eye, the moon appears about as big as your palm at arm’s length. In fact, you can cover the image of the moon with your little finger, held at arm’s length. Really? I sincerely can’t imagine anyone thinking that. Not even the sun is that big. (Well, the sun is about as big as the moon in the sky, isn’t it, so I guess that would be self-evident.) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294/146 "2016-05-03T04:40:40Z")
It’s not a conspiracy or poor memory. Welcome to the still-not-completely-explained [moon illusion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_illusion). ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294/147 "2016-05-03T15:42:16Z")
The children of your first cousins are your first cousins “once-removed” and vice- versa, not your 2nd cousins. Your children and your first cousins’ children are 2nd cousins to each other. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294/148 "2016-05-03T16:42:19Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Really? I sincerely can’t imagine anyone thinking that. In my experience EVERYONE thinks the moon’s apparent size is much bigger than it is, and if you don’t believe me, go around and ask people. “Hey, how large an object, if you held it at arm’s length, would be just enough to cover up the moon?” You’ll get guesses like “a softball” or “A bread plate.” Nobody will say “a penny,” which is more than big enough. This misapprehension is quite understandable. Viewed without references to any other object the moon does seem big. It is a very noteworthy object. After all, it’s the only thing up there at the time. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294/149 "2016-05-03T17:11:55Z")
> [@](#): > > When a moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie > That’s amore … ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294/150 "2016-05-03T18:45:16Z")
The First Amendment to the US Constitution applies only to the government. Private corporations, groups, and individuals are well within their rights to tell you what you may or may not say when on their property, in their meetings, etc. (and you, as a private citizen, are within your rights to ignore them, if you wish). Facebook is _incapable_ of violating your 1st Amendment rights. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2016, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294/151 "2016-05-03T19:01:28Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > In my experience EVERYONE thinks the moon’s apparent size is much bigger than it is, and if you don’t believe me, go around and ask people. “Hey, how large an object, if you held it at arm’s length, would be just enough to cover up the moon?” You’ll get guesses like “a softball” or “A bread plate.” Nobody will say “a penny,” which is more than big enough. Huh. I find that surprising. I only sampled one person, my wife, and she made an object about 4-inches round. Maybe it’s because I’m a photographer I’m more aware of sizes of objects in the sky. But the moon is tiny in the sky. I’d guess more like the size of a dime, myself, if not smaller. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294/152 "2016-05-03T20:25:31Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Not that, either! My daughter’s 2003 Honda CRV has the pump icon with the hose on the right, no arrow. The filler cap is on the left. My 1985 Mazda has the icon with the hose on the left, no arrow, filler cap on the left. My 2005 & 2006 Hyundai SUV’s have the arrow pointing to the correct side. I think it’s just model specific. Huh – that’s weird about the Honda and Mazda. Maybe the icon memo came out after 2003? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2016, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294/153 "2016-05-04T12:29:37Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > Private corporations, groups, and individuals are well within their rights to tell you what you may or may not say when on their property, in their meetings, etc. (and you, as a private citizen, are within your rights to ignore them, if you wish). I’m not sure you have full rights to ignore such. If you choose to ignore rules about expression set down by a private party (e.g. you start screaming obscenities in your local supermarket) they can have you removed - by force if necessary. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2016, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294/154 "2016-05-04T13:43:12Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > In my experience EVERYONE thinks the moon’s apparent size is much bigger than it is, and if you don’t believe me, go around and ask people. “Hey, how large an object, if you held it at arm’s length, would be just enough to cover up the moon?” You’ll get guesses like “a softball” or “A bread plate.” Nobody will say “a penny,” which is more than big enough. > > This misapprehension is quite understandable. Viewed without references to any other object the moon does seem big. It is a very noteworthy object. After all, it’s the only thing up there at the time. One of the most bizarre and improbable of all coincidences, is that the sun and the moon are both exactly the same apparent size as seen from earth. So much so, that at some times in their orbits the sun is larger, and sometimes smaller, in appearance. Which accounts for the fact that some eclipses of the sun are total and some are not, depending on whether the moon completely obstructs the sun or not. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2016, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294/155 "2016-05-04T14:32:01Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Whether the Sun rises/sets in the east or west. I’m still not sure… Exactly what is it that you’re “not sure” of? ---
**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:** [May 4, 2016, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294/156 "2016-05-04T14:58:38Z")
If a product is labeled with the wrong price, the seller does not have to sell it to you for that price legally. I don’t know who started that rumor, but it is not true. Otherwise, people could label a used car with a 99 cent sticker and the seller would have to honor it. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2016, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294/157 "2016-05-04T15:02:14Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > One of the most bizarre and improbable of all coincidences, is that the sun and the moon are both exactly the same apparent size as seen from earth. So much so, that at some times in their orbits the sun is larger, and sometimes smaller, in appearance. Which accounts for the fact that some eclipses of the sun are total and some are not, depending on whether the moon completely obstructs the sun or not. I would not call that improbable. In 100% of all recorded cases of an inhabited planet having a moon, that moon and the planet’s sun have the same apparent size when viewed from the planet’s surface. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2016, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294/158 "2016-05-04T15:02:29Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > One of the most bizarre and improbable of all coincidences, is that the sun and the moon are both exactly the same apparent size as seen from earth. So much so, that at some times in their orbits the sun is larger, and sometimes smaller, in appearance. Which accounts for the fact that some eclipses of the sun are total and some are not, depending on whether the moon completely obstructs the sun or not. I’d rephrase that first sentence as “have variable, and similar, apparent sizes”. Yeah yeah I know, nit. But it was driving me nut(s). ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2016, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294/159 "2016-05-04T15:41:32Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > If a product is labeled with the wrong price, the seller does not have to sell it to you for that price legally. I don’t know who started that rumor, but it is not true. I don’t know who started it either, but I wish I did so I could refer the people who peel a sticker off one thing at work and put it on another to argue we “have to” sell it to them for the lower price to that rumor-generator. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294/160 "2016-05-04T16:01:12Z")
> [@Me\_Billy](#): > > 4 way stop 4 stop signs. Two cars arrive at same time, car on right has “Right of Way”! I think almost all Americans do know this, but they overinterpret it as some fundamental law of nature that drivers on the right always have right of way. In fact, the conjunction of two _different_ meanings of the word “right” is simply a narrowly-applicable mnemonic to reflect an arbitrary convention to give priority to the driver on one side at one type of junction. As a counterexample, in a country such as the U.S. that drives on the right, the traffic on a roundabout (traffic circle) moves counterclockwise, so the car on the left (i.e. already on the roundabout) has right of way over the car on the right waiting to enter the roundabout. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-obvious-facts-that-a-lot-of-people-are-ignorant-of/753294.md?page=9)