# What’s an innocent or common misconception about your profession or your hobby that just drives you up the wall? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 14, 2023, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496 "2023-06-14T14:06:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496/181 "2023-06-17T04:56:48Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Classic rock, a few beers, chatting and some chess, a perfect night. That sounds like a beautiful evening to me ---
**Author:** ![Eric1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3bc359/32.png) [@Eric1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eric1)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496/182 "2023-06-17T05:06:06Z")
I think your work description is so interesting. I’ve been a job coach since college in an organization like you describe here. I’ve been able to partner up with a social worker who does fundraising and admin sides of our organization. It’s hard to identify with her sometimes but we still reach across lines a lot. It’s a thrill to read about what you do Spice Weasel. ---
**Author:** ![Oooklout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ba8739/32.png) [@Oooklout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oooklout)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496/183 "2023-06-17T07:08:08Z")
Sometimes we want to avoid these questions – like the pilot who only admitted he ‘transported aluminium tubing’. I do get the usual engineer/Prof/IT responses, but once upon a time I only got an uncomfortable silence: Q: What do you do? A: I’m a psychiatric nurse. ( … cue sound of tumbleweed drifting across desert landscape) ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496/184 "2023-06-17T12:43:45Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > - “Advertising doesn’t work. I’ve _never_ bought something because I saw an ad for it.” > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > - “Advertising uses subliminal images and sounds to play mind games with you, to force you to buy things you don’t want.” I see a contradiction here. Either I’m aware that advertising is affecting my buying decisions, or it _is_ subliminal. definition: subliminal _adjective_ PSYCHOLOGY 1. (of a [stimulus](https://www.google.com/search?q=stimulus&si=AMnBZoFm76bvId4K9j6r5bU9rVYrVe-QxRabww4HS94BOmSfM3hyd0AMS6K1oR_GfMVfG_GXqXYSFjFPQA6aTnE4CYbtQLwvfw%3D%3D&expnd=1) or mental process) below the threshold of [sensation](https://www.google.com/search?q=sensation&si=AMnBZoFEI0LGJdD1jElhAGFwRnmoukkFQKUQATHYXIdxJ5_fDhPQ2LYiJIu5VAiXoBqILZyR29iUKcaTfPykxV3tpEXg_LIoWA%3D%3D&expnd=1) or [consciousness](https://www.google.com/search?q=consciousness&si=AMnBZoEFBhyZNIanF2PLYT1JPeYek0hhvKAGe2-rhK1qE3WpDBqAT1-URcwSQ4nxWnFYSvsusYgfbLSjLGJh_rSifNcDRy2MlhApT40kKANJJK5fYLGB8iM%3D&expnd=1); perceived by or affecting someone’s mind **without their being aware of it**. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496/185 "2023-06-17T12:52:06Z")
> [@Eric1](#): > > It’s a thrill to read about what you do Spice Weasel. Thank you! I love my work. It takes all kinds to run the ship. I enjoy working with direct service staff to figure out their vision for their programming and then translating that vision to funders to actually make it happen. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496/186 "2023-06-17T12:53:29Z")
Never mind. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496/187 "2023-06-17T15:16:17Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > I see a contradiction here. Either I’m aware that advertising is affecting my buying decisions, or it _is_ subliminal. I’m not necessarily saying that the **exact same person** is saying both, contradictory things (though I suppose that there’s someone who might), but I hear and see those statements regularly. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496/188 "2023-06-17T15:20:37Z")
> [@Oooklout](#): > > Q: What do you do? > A: I’m a psychiatric nurse. > ( … cue sound of tumbleweed drifting across desert landscape) Q: So, you’ve never asked other psychiatric nurses about their oddest patients, have you? ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496/189 "2023-06-17T15:23:24Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I’m not necessarily saying that the **exact same person** is saying both, contradictory things (though I suppose that there’s someone who might), but I hear and see those statements regularly. People have this really interesting characteristic where they think that everyone else is affected by things, but they are uniquely immune. Everyone else has confirmation bias, cognitive dissonance, gets overly emotionally invested in their own POV, overestimates their abilities, is manipulated by advertising, but not _me._ ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496/190 "2023-06-17T15:48:27Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I’m not necessarily saying that the **exact same person** is saying both, contradictory things (though I suppose that there’s someone who might), but I hear and see those statements regularly. Ok, I see your point and it makes sense. In retrospect, I probably should have differentiated between subliminal as in “not noticing”, and subliminal as in “flashing millisecond images of Oreos to trigger people into wanting cookies”. I realize there was a big kerfluffle over the latter some years back. > [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > People have this really interesting characteristic where they think that everyone else is affected by things, but they are uniquely immune. Everyone else has confirmation bias, cognitive dissonance, gets overly emotionally invested in their own POV, overestimates their abilities, is manipulated by advertising, but not _me._ Nonsense. I don’t time to discuss it though, because I need to go to the kitchen and get some cookies. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496/191 "2023-06-17T15:50:04Z")
If I cut you off in traffic, understand I am heroically dealing with a number of injustices and conflicts and that it was accidental as I am having a challenging day. If you cut me off in traffic, well, I might assume the same. But many would assume you did it intentionally, are a card-carrying Trumpista, smell rank and unpleasant, are a moron and a sociopath, that your mother has a chances on her nose, that you struggle with basic concepts like shapes and abstract thought, and, lacking judgement, are forever doomed to repeat your purchase of Ford Festivas in perpetuity… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496/192 "2023-06-17T16:17:57Z")
> [@Tzigone](#): > > But this is a totally inapplicable analogy - there are many, many new video games that are very mainstream - how many new board games are mainstream? Games that that at least 20% (and that’s a low number) of the population will have played or at least seen advertised or heard discussed? > > Having niche hobbies mean people have less knowledge base and far shallower knowledge of the topic, and it’s reasonable that that’s case. Doesn’t mean it can’t bug you, but there is nothing at all even remotely unreasonable about the people asking. I’m standing my ground on this one. I could argue the issue of how widespread the hobby of video gaming is but that’s not the point I was trying to make. My point is that I don’t play video games but I am self-aware of what that means. I know what I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496/193 "2023-06-17T16:37:44Z")
> [@Wolf333](#): > > I was an avionics technician Do you mind me asking which Air Force? ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496/194 "2023-06-17T16:42:06Z")
United States. Electronic countermeasures, to be specific. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496/195 "2023-06-17T19:48:39Z")
I worked for many years in the manufacture of air filter media. Yes, it’s obscure; no, I didn’t dream of doing that when I was little. The big misconception is that air filters trap particles bigger than the holes in the filter medium, and that’s all that’s going on. The truth is that they do do that, but they do much more. In fact the tiniest particles are easy to capture because they jump around so much due to Brownian motion. (Side note: Einstein worked on the issue of Brownian motion in airborn particles.) While I’m on the subject, the science of particles floating in air is called “aerosol science”, and an air suspension of particles is an “aerosol”. It was just a technical term. Then at some point advertising people decided “aerosol” sounded good as a marketing term for spray cans. As time went by, it came clear that many consumers thought “aerosol” meant “in a can having propellant”, so ad people started referring to pump dispensers without propellant as “non-aerosol”. This drives me up a wall because those dispensers are indeed aerosol dispensers, just propellant free ones. Which brings us to a joke from the world of aerosol science: The governor of Kentucky decides he wants his state to produce more winners in horse racing, so he calls together his elite cadre of scientists, namely, a geneticist, an aerodynamicist, and an aerosol scientist. He explains what he wants. The geneticist speaks first: “Obviously this is a breeding challenge. We need to use genetics to create the strongest horses.” Then the aerodynamicist says, “But it’s not just strength, it’s also the aerodynamic drag we need to understand.” To which the aerosol scientist replies, “Yes! Let’s begin by assuming the horse is a sphere…” This is hilarious for aerosol scientists, who often use an assumption of sphericity as a simplification tool. You’re welcome! ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496/196 "2023-06-17T20:11:57Z")
I was chatting with the nurse who was setting up my colonoscopy IV last week. I mentioned that I’d worked in a hospital in the same system, in inpatient psychiatry. She responded as people often do that she’d be too afraid of the dangerous patients. In the time during which I worked inpatient psych (7+ years-ish over 4 different facilities), one patient assaulted a staff member. ---
**Author:** ![Oooklout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ba8739/32.png) [@Oooklout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oooklout)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496/197 "2023-06-17T21:15:03Z")
I saw this thread as being about common questions from ‘outsiders’, rather than about black humour between caring professionals - about which I couldn’t possibly comment 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496/198 "2023-06-17T22:01:09Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Man, no kidding. I did fine in algebra and trig in high school, but never understood that there were practical world applications, especially for trig. And I still don’t know WTF I’m supposed to do with calculus. I had the opposite experience with calc—all those max-min problems. It was fascinating to me to discover, for example, that virtually every type of packaging took its shape and size from calculus. Why are all soda cans the same shape and basic form? Because math! ---
**Author:** ![TheTooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/919ad9/32.png) [@TheTooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheTooth)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496/199 "2023-06-17T23:49:18Z")
Calculus is the mathematics of motion and change. It’s also useful for adding up an infinitely large number of infinitely small things. It’s good for torturing engineering students taking courses in electromagnetic field propagation as well. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496/200 "2023-06-17T23:51:40Z")
I’ve never checked to see if soda cans are shaped to minimize material for a given volume. I’ll have to check that out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-an-innocent-or-common-misconception-about-your-profession-or-your-hobby-that-just-drives-you-up-the-wall/985496.md?page=11)