I’ll probably never understand the concept of a multi/eleven-dimensional universe (multiverse) or M-theory or String theory, or how a cat in a box is neither dead nor alive*
So far I think that’s it. I can ‘understand’ pretty much anything, at least at a very basic understand-the-concept level. I can’t think of anything else that I think I will never understand… I’m sure such things exist though. And I’m sure I’ll see some of them in the replies to this thread.
[sub]*But I do understand that the act of observing an object at molecular level changes that object - Which I think is the rationale behind schrodinger’s cat[/sub]
Edit: It has to be something that someone understands. You can’t say “I don’t understand what it feels like to be a gazelle” because nobody else can say they do.
Are you kidding? My list would be shorter if the OP were ''What DO you understand?"
I don’t understand how I can be an atheist yet believe that everything is destined to work out.
I don’t understand how people can stand to be alive given the incredible capacity for human suffering that exists–living seems like an incredibly risky, painful endeavor – yet, here we are.
I don’t understand the way the economy works (or doesn’t), I don’t understand why people are mean to one another when it is so obviously self-defeating and I sure as hell don’t understand string theory.
I think I understand this… Believing everthing will be ok is a self-preservation trait, and it is a self-fulfilling trait.
Same for believing in free-will. I believe it’s an illusion, but life is easier to live if you maintain the belief that you have free will, or rather suspend disbelief
It’s why most hollywood films are watchable… We have brains quite good at believing nonsense.
I can’t believe that big scary person hasn’t shown up yet with the Big Ledger and showed me my name, all over several pages and told me that I have blown all my chances and must be exterminated for the good of mankind.
I wish that were more of a joke than it is for me.
If you want concrete stuff, I will never believe/understand pi, as in 3.14-what’s is used for, what does it signify in my life? Given this lack of understanding, I will also never comprehend in any meaningful way most geometry or trig. I never made it to calculus, so I am not even sure what that is.
I will never understand racial hatred like the whole Israeli/Palestine thing–hey, you came and just took territory. No wonder they’re pissed. Hey, there was a time when this could have been worked out to the betterment of everyone, too bad you didn’t listen, Palestine. :rolleyes: Same with Serbs/Croats and Orange Irish/Catholic Irish etc.
I will never understand the stock market–if it’s so great and all, how come it’s as flighty as an airhead blonde due to rumors or something like the President getting shot (thinking Reagan)? One dead President does not an economy or market ruin.
I will never understand the selfishness of others. But then, they don’t understand mine.
Straight guys obsession with lesbians. Straight guys fear of a gay guy checking them out. Sports. I’m sure there’s a bunch more I’m not thinking of at the moment.
I don’t think I’ll ever get religion, and especially Christianity. Why people have this need to be created and judged and forgiven, all by something that doesn’t exist except by a circuitous argument of one’s own belief. (Yes, I know, I’m getting a bit opinionated, so I’ll stop now )
I will never comprehend rap as a form of music. I can see how folks of an older generation thought the same about Elvis or The Beatles, but at least their music was… melodic. Rap is not melodic. It is not easy to listen to. I don’t find anything relaxing, nice, or artistic in it at all. And don’t play it while standing on my lawn!
Ditto. And the way so many straight guys badmouth their wives/girlfriends . . . and the way many straight women badmouth their husbands/boyfriends. Aren’t you guys supposed to ***love ***the other person?
I don’t understand how someone can knowingly have at their fingertips, at no cost to them, the ability to save a specific innocent person from great suffering, and choose not to.
[/cliche’]
For our most recent example, please see the various “I’d nuke the entire universe to save a hair on my kid’s head” threads. You just hope we’d gotten past that to where people would understand it’s in their own best interest to not act like animals. But I suppose when we’re talking fruits of loins here and all. < sad shrug >
I will never, never, NEVER understand how someone can thing it’s cool to wear their pants with their underwear showing. I swear that I have seen morons with their belt loops below their asses.
To get this thread back on the track of things that are understandable, but you (I) just don’t get, but are not personal choices…
I don’t understand the OSI model. I’ve gone over it and over it, and I just don’t get it. I’m a hardware/ physical layer kinda tech… the rest is beyond my ken.
How can someone have a Master’s Degree in Warehousing Management, or Transportation, or something similar, yet not be familiar with concepts of Pantry Management that my 94-yo grandma uses daily (for example “minimum stock”).
How can there be factories which claim they never make “bad” material - and company managers who believe them.
How can anybody celebrate a murder.
Why we get so worked up about “my people” and “your people.”
I’ve taken computer sceince (c programming) twice - got an A in it the second time after failing the first, and I will never understand what a pointer is.