# What I learned on The Straight Dope... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 1, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098 "2014-04-01T16:47:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whammo72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/77aa72/32.png) [@Whammo72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo72)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098/1 "2014-04-01T16:47:27Z")
String cheese can actually be pulled apart… into strings. My whole life I had been eating it sans fun. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098/2 "2014-04-01T17:32:00Z")
I learned that the whole “seat up” versus “seat down” argument is moot. It’s seat and lid down so the toilet doesn’t spew fecal particles throughout the entire bathroom. ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098/3 "2014-04-02T02:08:53Z")
Neti pot! ---
**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:** [April 2, 2014, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098/4 "2014-04-02T04:14:53Z")
Some women are unaware that the have separate openings for peeing and sex/babies. And they remain unaware in spite of their monthly “visitor.” ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098/5 "2014-04-02T04:47:42Z")
That a man CAN fart through his dick, sorta. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098/6 "2014-04-02T05:18:29Z")
Leave the cover on and poke smaller holes in your Comet shaker top so you don’t shake too much out at one time (the pre-cut holes are freaking HUGE - your cleaner will be gone in no time with those size of holes). ---
**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:** [April 2, 2014, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098/7 "2014-04-02T05:34:05Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > I learned that the whole “seat up” versus “seat down” argument is moot. It’s seat and lid down so the toilet doesn’t spew fecal particles throughout the entire bathroom. I leave the lid down so the dog doesn’t drink out of the toilet. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother since I live by myself. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098/8 "2014-04-02T10:37:38Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Leave the cover on and poke smaller holes in your Comet shaker top so you don’t shake too much out at one time (the pre-cut holes are freaking HUGE - your cleaner will be gone in no time with those size of holes). My mother taught us to remove the sticky cover and replace it with just 2 holes uncovered - same effect, different approach. As for me, I’ve learned to read most of a thread before clicking on links in the OP - I’ve managed to avoid things I’d find unsettling. I’m a delicate flower of womanhood, after all. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098/9 "2014-04-02T11:06:33Z")
I didn’t know raisins came from dried grapes … I wonder why they don’t have raisin wine? ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098/10 "2014-04-02T11:17:49Z")
Lots of people in the US have no idea the letter “Z” is prounounced “Zed” in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2014, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098/11 "2014-04-02T11:38:17Z")
The incredible power of confirmation bias. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098/12 "2014-04-02T11:48:46Z")
Check your sources. Anecdote =/= Data. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098/13 "2014-04-02T21:55:01Z")
1. When I drove, I changed 2 habits the the dope showed me were irratating to other drivers. Now that I no longer drive, kinda moot. 2. Question all sources. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098/14 "2014-04-02T22:33:07Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > The incredible power of confirmation bias. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098/15 "2014-04-02T23:29:15Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > I didn’t know raisins came from dried grapes … I wonder why they don’t have raisin wine? Wikipedia says they do. It’s called straw wine, but it’s very labor intensive to make. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098/16 "2014-04-02T23:38:07Z")
I learned there are a hell of a lot of things not worth arguing about, even when the other person is demonstrably wrong. “Someone is wrong on the internet.” I learned not to care (in most cases, at least). ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098/17 "2014-04-03T00:44:19Z")
I learned that aluminum foil, Saran Wrap, etc. have tabs on the end that you can push in to keep the roll from coming out when you use it. That people will get irate and start civil wars over seemingly mundane stuff like which way to put the toilet paper\* or whether circumcision is okay or akin to chopping off your kids arm. > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Leave the cover on and poke smaller holes in your Comet shaker top so you don’t shake too much out at one time (the pre-cut holes are freaking HUGE - your cleaner will be gone in no time with those size of holes). I do this for liquids, just poke a small hole on the edge. \*Although I have my opinions, I put it off the roller and high up so a cat doesn’t destroy it. Same reason the toilet lid is down. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098/18 "2014-04-03T00:47:04Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Lots of people in the US have no idea the letter “Z” is prounounced “Zed” in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. And in Canada. I have a hard time not pronouncing the movie title “World War Zed.” > [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > I learned there are a hell of a lot of things not worth arguing about, even when the other person is demonstrably wrong. > > “Someone is wrong on the internet.” I learned not to care (in most cases, at least). Also, you’re probably arguing with a 13 year old. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098/19 "2014-04-03T00:54:07Z")
You know that little doohickey that holds the vacuum cleaner power cord? You can just turn it 180 degrees to release the cord all at once, instead of having to unwind and unwind and unwind and unwind it. Haven’t found a way to save time putting the chord back, though… ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098/20 "2014-04-03T00:57:04Z")
On a practical matter, I learned about recycling a small sliver of bar soap. Wet the sliver, wet the new bar and mate them. It is awesome. On a cosmological matter, I have learned I don’t know sheet. Thanks for pointing that out. I am humbled. For both of these lessons learned, I am a richer person. Gracias! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-learned-on-the-straight-dope/685098.md?page=2)