# Wrong teachings when I was young **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 21, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673 "2012-11-21T02:19:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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:** [November 23, 2012, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673/81 "2012-11-23T01:31:08Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > It looks like the cathedral windows being thicker at the bottom is not proof of this. Some windows are thicker at the top, or at the sides. Conclusion: manufacturing inefficiency is all. So it seems there’s no case of glass objects “flowing” into a flat puddle on their own weight. Applying pressure on glass or any substance for that matter is something else. Anything can be deformed given enough heat and/or pressure. Wikipedia actually has a decent list of demonstrations that glass does not flow. Among them: 1) if medieval glass has flowed, Roman glass should have flowed more, but this is not observed; 2) if medieval glass has flowed visibly in that time period, modern glass should flow a small amount, enough to be detected in the glass in precision optical instruments for example, but this is not observed; 3) (as you note) sometimes medieval windows are found with the thick edge on top. ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673/82 "2012-11-23T01:45:29Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > I had physics professors teaching this as late as 1985. > > Has anyone ever actually done the experiment of putting a weight on glass and seeing if it “flows?” My old teachers said that this would happen, including the glass flowing “around” and encircling the head of a nail, if weight were put upon it. I was always taught this too! I am so glad I know better now. Thanks SDMB. > **[Is glass liquid or solid?](https://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/General/Glass/glass.html)** > [@](#): > > There is no clear answer to the question “Is glass solid or liquid?”. In terms of molecular dynamics and thermodynamics it is possible to justify various different views that it is a highly viscous liquid, an amorphous solid, or simply that glass is another state of matter that is neither liquid nor solid. The difference is semantic. In terms of its material properties we can do little better. There is no clear definition of the distinction between solids and highly viscous liquids. All such phases or states of matter are idealisations of real material properties. Nevertheless, from a more common sense point of view, glass should be considered a solid since it is rigid according to everyday experience. The use of the term “supercooled liquid” to describe glass still persists, but is considered by many to be an unfortunate misnomer that should be avoided. In any case, claims that glass panes in old windows have deformed due to glass flow have never been substantiated. Examples of Roman glassware and calculations based on measurements of glass visco-properties indicate that these claims cannot be true. The observed features are more easily explained as a result of the imperfect methods used to make glass window panes before the float glass process was invented. ---
**Author:** ![KermitTheFrig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/47e85d/32.png) [@KermitTheFrig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KermitTheFrig)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673/83 "2012-11-23T04:19:35Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > In Grade 1 I remember being told that there were these little tiny explosive silver cannisters that bad people had scattered around our school, and if you saw one of these tiny silver things, don’t touch it because merely touching it will cause it to explode and blind you. I remember looking all over the schoolyard for little silver things just to see if they were real or not. 😛 This almost sounds like a real warning we were given in grade school when a major highway was being built nearby. We were shown a poster with pictures of various kinds of blasting caps and told not to ever pick one up if we found them on the ground. We were to report them to a responsible adult. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673/84 "2012-11-23T16:21:11Z")
> [@KermitTheFrig](#): > > This almost sounds like a real warning we were given in grade school when a major highway was being built nearby. We were shown a poster with pictures of various kinds of blasting caps and told not to ever pick one up if we found them on the ground. We were to report them to a responsible adult. Sounds like a plan! 1. Tell young boys that there are explosive devices lying around, so they should never touch them and certainly not do anything very cool with the explosives and toilets or see saws. 2. ??? 3. Safety! ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673/85 "2012-11-23T16:26:31Z")
> [@KermitTheFrig](#): > > This almost sounds like a real warning we were given in grade school when a major highway was being built nearby. We were shown a poster with pictures of various kinds of blasting caps and told not to ever pick one up if we found them on the ground. We were to report them to a responsible adult. You may have solved my mystery. For 33 years I have wondered where that memory comes from. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673/86 "2012-11-23T17:19:38Z")
Did it used to rain blasting caps or something? I saw both a film and film strip on the topic when I was in grade school. I remember seeing posters about it at school and in public buildings like post offices and police stations. I believe I even saw PSA’s about it on local TV. I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s, btw. Yet the only blasting caps I’ve ever seen in real life were the ones the I used as a combat engineer during my olive drab period. No doubt, at least partially as a result of all that childhood indoctrination, I handled them with the utmost care and respect. Managed to come out with all my fingers and eyes still in original condition. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673/87 "2012-11-23T18:56:15Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > The Brits do that. We do not. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673/88 "2012-11-23T19:50:03Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Sounds like a plan! > > 1. Tell young boys that there are explosive devices lying around, so they should never touch them and certainly not do anything very cool with the explosives and toilets or see saws. > > 2. ??? > > 3. Safety! We had a fire safety seminar in grade school where a fireman not only told us that hairspray was flammable, but demonstrated this fact. Every-single-boy went home and tried this amazing blow torch effect that night ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673/89 "2012-11-23T19:55:17Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > We do not. Some do. It depends where we’re from/what accent we have. For example I don’t (RP), but my mother-in-law does (Lancashire). ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673/90 "2012-11-23T20:37:39Z")
> [@Teacake](#): > > Some do. It depends where we’re from/what accent we have. For example I don’t (RP), but my mother-in-law does (Lancashire). True so far as it goes. It’s not however true to say without qualification that “Brits say Tor-toyse” any more than it is to say “Americans say y’all”. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673/91 "2012-11-24T00:00:07Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > We do not. Allow me to amend. I have heard some Brits doing that. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673/92 "2012-11-24T08:08:56Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Allow me to amend. I have heard some Brits doing that. I’ll buy that. But I’ve probably heard “pacific” for “specific” more often than I’ve heard “tortoyse”. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673/93 "2012-11-24T08:41:46Z")
One of my favourite Pawn Stars moments is Rick telling off Corey for perpetuating the “glass is a liquid” myth when discussing an old lamp (IIRC). ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673/94 "2012-11-24T09:03:09Z")
> [@naita](#): > > One of my favourite Pawn Stars moments is Rick telling off Corey for perpetuating the “glass is a liquid” myth when discussing an old lamp (IIRC). I have been grossly misinformed on what it takes to be a successful pawn broker. ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673/95 "2012-11-24T13:12:13Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > True so far as it goes. It’s not however true to say without qualification that “Brits say Tor-toyse” any more than it is to say “Americans say y’all”. Certainly, and I was just about to challenge it when I saw that you already had! But it’s equally untrue just to say “no we don’t”, when some of us do. ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673/96 "2012-11-24T14:48:50Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > True so far as it goes. It’s not however true to say without qualification that “Brits say Tor-toyse” any more than it is to say “Americans say y’all”. At any rate, the teacher in my little anecdote was as Texan as Ann Richards (in fact she resembled former Governor Richards both physically and in the degree of her Texas twang). ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673/97 "2012-11-24T16:02:07Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I have been grossly misinformed on what it takes to be a successful pawn broker. Reminds me of the time I scammed a pawn shop by telling them that old foot locker contained a rare Higgs Boson. Suckers. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673/98 "2012-11-24T22:57:12Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Pluto was a planet. Common! It took forever to find it. It looked like a point of light when they found it and it still did even decades later. And don’t get me started on that weird assed orbit. On that last point… I was in grade school in 1979 when I read that Pluto was entering into a closer orbit than Neptune. Not only that, but it was going to stay that way for _twenty years_. This was huge! Until some far-off, practically sci-fi date in 1999, teachers were going to have to teach kids a completely different mnemonic to remember the order of planets! Except no one would believe me. The fact that a bunch of 5th-graders wouldn’t take my word over the teacher’s is one thing, but not a single teacher would believe it either! Uh huh…because when going for scientific truths, it’s always better to go with a Catholic school teacher over a fresh copy of Scientific American. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673/99 "2012-11-24T23:13:53Z")
> [@Chef\_Troy](#): > > At any rate, the teacher in my little anecdote was as Texan as Ann Richards (in fact she resembled former Governor Richards both physically and in the degree of her Texas twang). Texan here of both far West and Southeast and I have to say that is an astounding drawl. I have heard em too, kinda amazing. Were you in Texas or was she a transplant? **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673/100 "2012-11-24T23:52:28Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > By “caught on” I meant why did firearms win out - not that people did not use crossbows. I’m sorry about my poor word choice. The short answer is that training takes less time with a musket, and fatigue doesn’t slow down a Musketeer as much. The phrase used with regards to the longbow was: “If you want to train a longbowman, start with the grandfather”. You needed strength, years of training, and archers on full rations for a longbowman to be effective. A crossbowman needs much less training, but still a substantial amount. The crossbowman does need decent rations as the reloading is an effort. The reloading was still slow, and in fact most crossbowman worked in pairs, one loading, one firing. Musketeers needed minimal training. You could train a decent one in an afternoon. Muskets (or calivers, or arquebuses) use resources like gunpowder, but a half-starved Musketeer fires not much worse than a fully fed one. While Musketeers can work in pairs, they get more firepower if they all load and fire. There’s also the fact that musket balls have more stopping power. They kill by crushing the opponent’s bones and internal organs. Crossbow bolts and arrows kill by bleeding you out, and that takes time. Hollywood likes to imply that a hit with an arrow is an instant kill if it hits anywhere in the chest, but that really isn’t the case. The enemy will probably eventually die, but he can still do damage while he is bleeding out. By comparison, a soldier even hit (solidly) in a limb with a musket ball is pretty much incapacitated. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-teachings-when-i-was-young/641673.md?page=6)