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35 People Who Noticed An Alarming Number Of Individuals Not Knowing Basic Facts Share What They Were
Common knowledge isn't that common. Sure, you can't know everything, and excelling in one area often means neglecting another, but things like first aid and the definition (and use) of free speech should be universally understood. At least, in the perfect world — it's in everyone's best interest.
But, again, they're not. So when Reddit user CasualBeers made a post on the platform, asking its users to share basic facts that they've noticed a surprisingly large number of people don't know, folks immediately started listing their suggestions. Here are some of the most popular ones.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
that freedom of speech doesn't mean you can say whatever you want without consequences or other people giving you s**t about it. it just means you can't go to jail for criticizing the government.
RELATED:
#2
How vaccines work. If they “make you sick,” it’s because they’re working! Your body is mounting a defense and creating antibodies to help fight off infection. A lot of really smart scientists have devoted their entire lives to keep us safe against life-threatening infection and people who have no medical training refuse them. It seems pretty idiotic and cavalier to me
#3
Just because it's natural doesn't mean it is automatically healthy.
Just because it is artificial or synthetic doesn't mean it is automatically bad for you.
#4
Blinkers aren't for you; they're to warn other road users of your intentions. Blinking a fraction of a second before you turn, or worse, start to turn then activate the blinkers does f**k all.
William Teach 3 years ago
It's why it's called a signal: it signals your intention to slow down and turn. Do it. Do it before you put on your brakes. Give people that warning.
#5
Antibiotics do not work on a virus.
Edit: I did not expect this to blow up this much. Thank you so much for the awards and the shared information!
#7
#DON’T BOTHER WILD ANIMALS
I’m sure it’s just natural selection at this point
but the amount of stupid people I see walking up to wild creatures for video footage is irritating tbh.
Bonus points if the human gets hurt haha
#8
The difference between there, their, and they’re.
#9
It is very easy to not block the whole aisle with your cart at the grocery store.
Appalachian Panda 3 years ago
But what if you, your spouse, and kids run into another family of five who you haven't seen since last Sunday and you have to spend 20 minutes catching up? /s
#10
Don't just pet someone's dog. Always ask first!
Mabelbabel 3 years ago
Especially if its a service dog, like a seeing eye dog. He's working, so don't distract him.
#11
How long it takes a semi truck to stop
#12
Don’t dive in the water to save a drowning person. They WILL kill you. Throw them a flotation device. Hand them a broomstick and pull them to safety. Do NOT get in the water with a panicking person. Wait until they are unconscious and then dive in to retrieve them.
Source: years of swim lessons and unfortunately knowing somebody who has died trying to rescue somebody
#13
That you should wait for people to get off the elevator when it arrives at your floor, instead of cramming yourself in when the doors open, blocking their departure.
#14
This one is for my fellow men out there. Washing your booty hole DOES NOT make you gay. I have seen comments being made by a plethora of males stating that. It’s basic hygiene yo.
#15
You can pick the better of two evils and still not like either choice. Related: You don't need to be 100% for one thing and 100% against something else.
Catherine Graffham 3 years ago
So many people don’t seem to understand grey area or nuance. I see it a lot with politics and opinions. I learned early on growing up with my siblings that sometimes you can both be kinda right or wrong and that just because someone did something hurtful doesn’t necessarily mean it was their intent to hurt, but so many people are so quick to vilify others for deeds or opinions (obviously this isn’t counting objectively wrong stuff like most crime or bigotry)
#16
Woman is singular, women is plural. Hate seeing inspirational comments that are intended to be moving start off with “As an independent women, I feel xyz” Also that being a feminist doesn’t mean you hate men
Bunzilla 3 years ago
If you hate men, you're a misandrist, not a feminist. A feminist, by definition, feels that men and women should be treated equally and fairly.
Lauren Copland 3 years ago
im a straight feminist. i like men but women need to be treated better in some places
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Michael Largey 3 years ago (edited)
As a male, I know that feminism is in my interest. When I'm laying on my death bed, I don't want to be wondering if someone could have become a doctor and found the cure for what is killing me but was told that "Girls become nurses." Justice and equality benefits both sexes.
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bottomless.abyss.of.bordem 3 years ago
Misandrist! That's it! You found my future baby name! Except I'm going to spell it MizzAnndr.ist!
Barbara Kayton 3 years ago
Basic spelling. Devine is not the same as divine, ensure and insure are also different words…. I could go on and on.
Channon Doughty 3 years ago
As we like to say, "Feminism is the radical notion that women are people too" The ERA was passed because women and poc were literally NOT people under the Constitution. Thing is, it has never been ratified! So we still aren't given the same status by law.
BetterBitterButter 3 years ago
I also have the misfortune of meeting and knowing people who think (are sure) that men can't be feminist.
Bobby 3 years ago
And I was reading something recently where the author went into the etymology of the two words. They derive from different words entirely but have the same singular plural mechanism. Or it could have been an anti feminist approach now that I think on it. I'll have to find it again and vet it. Either way it was an interesting read
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Katy Cordeth 3 years ago
Who does that first thing? People whose first language isn't English, maybe, but literally no one else.
Duane Johnston 3 years ago
I'm happy to let women be as equal to me as they right up until they decide they don't want to be then I will open the door for them lift something heavy or whatever. It's called respect. Learn it, live it. This is not the 1800s.
Laurora Borealis 3 years ago
Some people assume that being a feminist automatically implies being a lesbian…if that were true, then wouldn’t being a chauvinist imply that guy would be gay?
ScoMu7eD 3 years ago
So this article was written by a woman. To be fair based on the opinions I kind of detected that already. The grammar police are almost disliked as much as pedophiles. It shows no understanding of others and potentially the trouble they have reading and writing. Its just bullying someone for no reason. Don't be so up your own a**e that you can't control your own emotion when you read something. AND THIS COMES FROM AN AUTISTIC. I'm going to start a new movement called Manist and see how long it is before the women complain about sexual equality and s**t. Feminism has sexist undertones and should not be encouraged if you believe in sexual equality. Just by giving them a group and them asking for special treatment because they are in this group causes a secular community to develop. The communities if you want to eradicate sexism, racism and any other type of difference is to treat the communities as a whole and apply blanket laws and advice to the ENTIRE community as opposed to sections
Tamra 3 years ago (edited)
Your comments prove you have a minimal grasp of what feminism truly is. True feminism is the *opposite* of sexism. I shouldn't be surprised at your comments though, as in another post you confidently (and incorrectly) stated that a woman's urethra is located on the vagina, and that a woman could "close her orifices" if you submerged her in water. 😂. You have a lot to learn, and might want to take that into consideration before posting walls of self-righteous text. And P.S. Feminists don't ask for special treatment, they want *equal* treatment/rights.
Load More Replies... Mental Liberals 3 years ago
feminism in Amerika has taken the hating men path...definition or not
Tamra 3 years ago
There will always be groups of people who take things to extremes, but that doesn't negate the importance and legitimacy of the original movement, nor the people who practice it. I find that the people who complain the loudest about feminism are the ones who fear it the most.
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#18
That not all internet news is real ….
#19
The Earth is not flat.
Pieter LeGrande 3 years ago
I had flat-earthers neighbour. He was a pretty good artist so I got him to do a mural of the solar system for my son's bedroom. Did a good job but he left out the Earth. Just couldn't bring himself to do a sphere, or a pancake so totally at odds with everything else.
#20
A guest requested their chicken to be cooked medium rare this week. I don't understand why I have to stress that chicken only leaves the kitchen when it's completely cooked
#21
That the scientific meaning of “theory” isn’t what the colloquial sense means.
#22
That epipens and narcan do not stop reactions/overdoses. They slow them down so getting a person to proper care is still a necessity
#23
Frankenstein isn’t the name of the moster. It’s the name of his doctor who created him. Completely worthless information still.. I thought it may fit here. :|
Nicole Weymann 3 years ago
...until you get philosophical and realize that indeed, Frankenstein was the monster.
#24
That Africa is not a country.
#25
How you should vote in elections. Just because your parents were one side or the other, doesn't mean you have to be. You don't have to tell anyone how you voted. Do your research and vote smart.
#26
Any soap is antibacterial, You do not need soap labeled as such to kill germs effectively
Guido Pisano 3 years ago
And most of all: friction is more important than the soap... So when you wash your hands rub accurately...
#27
Ponies are *small* horses, not *baby* horses.
#29
How to tell if food has gone bad. When I worked in a meat department, we got like one call a day from people saying “I bought this X days ago, is it still good?” Lady, I’m not there with you. This ain’t a smellophone. You’re going to have to use your own senses and brain on this one.
#30
How to merge in traffic.
#31
Evidence based reasoning and what evidence means.
#32
Fact checking.
Most of people are prone to fake news and propaganda nowadays.
censorshipsucks 3 years ago
fact checking is easy. 1. Is it exciting or outrageous? 2. Does it make you angry or scared? 3. Does it contain exclamation marks? 4. Does it threaten your personal ingroup/identity? 5. Does it refer to, or imply, a massively powerful cabal controlling everything? If the answer to any of the above 5 is "yes", then it is likely fake news.
#33
How to spot an obvious scam. Look how many people fall for those clickbait articles and chain posts and propaganda and stuff
indiecognition 3 years ago
I will teach YOU how to avoid scams. Just send me your bank account info to get started.
#34
First Aid
indiecognition 3 years ago
Not really a fact so much as a body of knowledge. Or knowledge of body.
#35
It's better to use water that's not quite boiling when you're making your tea.
Andrea Delden 3 years ago
Yes, you should "hot the pot", but not put the kettle back on the boil. The few minutes it cools is perfect to make the tea. So, warm your tea pot with a small amount of water after the kettle boils, swirl the water in the pot, pour out that water, put the tea in the pot and add the rest of the water. Then enjoy!
#37
Turn signals * They're not optional on cars for a reason. Use them. * A turn signal means you're intending to change direction and let other around you know this intention. It does NOT give you the authority to change direction.
Henrik Schmidt 3 years ago (edited)
Whenever you feel useless, remember there's a guy whose job it is to install turn signals on BMW cars.
#38
Sit properly in any vehicles. Leg injuries are no joke and you can even dislocate/break your legs easily in a car crash because your legs where on the dashboard.
censorshipsucks 3 years ago
I know someone who does this AND they have already been in a near fatal accident and they still do it.
#39
That the yolk of an egg does not develop into the chick
#40
Sharing someone’s personal images, whether they’re an adult or a minor, whether you are an adult or a minor, can still end you on the sex offender registry. Revenge porn is real, even for adults. Keep your NSFW pics to yourself
#41
That pretty much every machine requires maintenance. Think dishwashers, washing machines, cars, mowers, etc.
They aren't magic boxes. And they will last longer if you know how to maintain them.
My mother in law is in her 80s and until recently didn't know that the dishwasher needs its filters cleaning every so often.
Edit: since this blew up a bit, for those that would like to locate their dishwasher's filters, they're different for every make and model. You'd do well to Google the make and model of the unit and see if you can find a manual. Maybe even YouTube will have some information (YouTube is a great resource for learning about things). Taking my dishwasher as an example, there are some reasonably obvious plastic pieces in the bottom of the washing area that can be slid out/unscrewed (there are 3 parts to my filter). Rubber gloves when touching them might be a good idea. Cleaning them is as simple as taking a brush and some soapy water to them to remove all the gunk before reinstalling. You can also buy a plastic bottle full of chemicals that you put into the dishwasher. You run a cycle and the chemicals clean throughout the unit.
I do both because I like a clean dishwasher. I do it every month or so, or whenever I notice that dishes aren't getting as clean as they should or some 'not clean' smell.
Edit: thanks for the awards. Now clean your dishwashers!
Pieter LeGrande 3 years ago
Dishwashers are not so bad. It's clothes dryers that will catch fire and burn the house down if not cleaned frequently
#42
How a 4 way stop works. Every hurricane in Florida we've several traffic lights go out. People are supposed to treat it like a 4 way stop, but instead they do this nonsense, "oh, he went? 10 more of us will go! It's fine!!" I actually saw ONE light where people were doing it correctly after Ian and I nearly s**t myself I was so shocked.
censorshipsucks 3 years ago
No in South Africa our traffic lights are out so often that we know how to do this. Only people who disrespect the rule (sometimes) are minibus drivers.
#43
That mixing bleach and pine sol creates toxic fumes that can actually kill you if they build up too much in a room. A scary number of people actually do this though in their laundry or when cleaning their homes.
#44
Basic knowledge of electricity and electrical safety. Ohms law should be taught, explained and known by everyone. - Sincerely, a student learning Electronics
Robert B 3 years ago
Former electrician here: yes everyone should learn some basics, like what constitutes a circuit. And that if one is unsure one should leave anything electrical alone and get assistance. Like my first boss would say “ electricity isn’t your friend, you can’t see, you can’t hear it, and if you taste it then it’s already too late. “
#45
Tax brackets. You only pay the higher rate on the portion above the threshold amount
Edit: great example video [here](https://youtu.be/VJhsjUPDulw)
Robert T 3 years ago
In the UK it used to be the case that stamp duty (a tax on property purchases) did NOT work like this. If you exceeded the threshold, you paid a percentage of the full purchase price, and not the amount over the threshold. I got stung by this when I bought my first apartment, as I opted to have carpets, tiling and alarm installed, and it pushed me over the threshold, and my idiot solicitor neglected to tell me about it until afterwards. Thankfully things have now changed and it works the same as income tax banding now.
#46
that light bulbs burn out. now that one might seem like common sense, but i'm telling you, when i left for college i made a friend who had his own apartment. after a few months, the bulb in his closet burnt out and when i came over the next day he was telling me he has a power outage only in one room. i was confused and asked him to show me what he was talking about. he told mw how the light wasn't working and some of his other friends said it must've been a power outage from the rain the week before. i explained to him that it doesn't work that way, and i went out and bought him some lightbulbs that he could use for next time
#47
How to talk to people. Like, in general. Stuff like basic phone etiquette (greeting, ending a conversation)...
censorshipsucks 3 years ago
ASD people find this difficult. If you have someone in mind who does not understand this stuff, get them to take an online ASD test like this. https://www.idrlabs.com/tests.php
#48
Not to pour water into hot oil
Edit. Damn, this blew up! (Lol)
I’ll also add that that this may not be basic knowledge - but it should be. I myself only found out from one of my science electives in year 11/12 and even then it was a topic that only came up after a student asked my teacher about an incident that popped up on the news so chances are it would never have been mentioned otherwise.
Schools should at least have a lesson/program highlighting the common risks at home and the methods to avoid/contain them. Homeroom class would have been a perfect time - we spent the majority of that twiddling our fingers until the bell rang
Thomas Bentley 3 years ago
there was a story at my old school that a mad science teacher set off the fire alarm displaying it. thanks for the relaxing lesson Mr. V, I'm sure they've replaced the ceiling tile.
#49
There is an arrow on the fuel gauge of cars that tells you which side of the car the gas cap is on
#51
How to perform CPR.
#52
How to change a tire
censorshipsucks 3 years ago
PS for those outside USA, the spelling used is "tyre", because "tire" means "to become weary"
#53
That the health of your teeth, gums, and mouth, is directly related to the health of your heart and how much inflammation exists in your body.
Judes 3 years ago
There is *some* relationship between the health of your teeth and gums and the rest of your body (not necessarily your heart). Saying "direct relationship" is overstating it because it is saying that your tooth/gum health is always in proportion to the health of your heart, which is clearly not true (I currently have an ulcer on my gum and a perfectly healthy heart).
#54
Unsolicited advice is generally going to be taken as criticism. Criticizing the people in your personal life creates distance. Butting in where you aren't wanted is going to harm your relationships with other people, and they're going to take your opinions and advice less seriously over time because they'll think of you as a noodgy know-it-all. Overbearing people get tuned out. Instead, first ask yourself if your advice is even needed. Does this affect you? Is this an emergency? Is anyone going to be harmed if you don't put your oar in? Are you being asked for advice? Or is this person just sharing information about their day and building their relationship with you? And if you do need to weigh in, try leading with, "May I make a suggestion?" Otherwise, you're going to rile the other person up. And on the flip side, if you have a noodgy know-it-all in your life, it's best to simply pause them with a calm and polite, "thanks, but I didn't ask." If you try to explain your life to them, they see it as an invitation to be even more overbearing.
censorshipsucks 3 years ago
My way of giving advice is to say "this happened to me and what I did was X, but obviously your situation is different."
#56
That in a lot of vehicles, when you turn on your hazard lights, it disables the brake lights. This is bad because I have seen in rain storms people will drive with their hazards on. They think they are being extra safe but in reality they are making it more dangerous, because now the person behind them won't know when the person in front is stopping. EDIT: spelling
#57
Basic computer knowledge. If you don't even know how to extract a zip file you better leave this job.
#58
The average person is chronically dehydrated. Drink more water. Stay hydrated. This is a threat.
Henrik Schmidt 3 years ago
The average person is absolutely NOT dehydrated! This is complete hogwash. "According to the lay press, 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. While this is not supported by medical literature, dehydration is common in elderly patients." (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555956/)
What do you think ?
Brobro McDuderson 3 years ago (edited)
Freedom to believe anything you want, including nothing if someone prefers.
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wowbagger 3 years ago
How to navigate the city/town/area they're living in without GPS. GPS is great, especially when going somewhere new, but it's very useful to have an internal map of your own town in your head.
The Other Guest 3 years ago (edited)
My sense of direction is...shaky, at best. Although I live on the West Coast, because of the weird coastline shape the fastest way to get to the beach from here is to head directly south; you'll arrive in 10 minutes as opposed to over an hour going due west. This kinda messed with my whole N/S/E/W perceptions. Additionally, I have to envision the living room of the home I grew up in, and orient it in my head to match where I am to figure out directions. "OK, it's early afternoon and I'm pretty much facing the sun, which means it would be shining in the side window, not the front, so behind me is roughly North."
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censorshipsucks 3 years ago
that's what it is. But at least it's curated and neat. I find Reddit impossible to follow because it's such a mess, and the tiktok reposts save you the nusance of watching a moronic video.
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Cass Malone 3 years ago
Birds are real! They aren't mini drones that the govt put out to spy on us
Beck 3 years ago
Easy life hack:: always make your bed when you wake up. Climbing into a nicely made bed at the end of a long day is PRICELESS!!
RafCo (he/him) 3 years ago
I learned the hard way to make your bed and tuck in the sheets. Climbing into a bed with a snake in it is mildly uncomfortable at best.
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Electra Complex 3 years ago
I wish everyone learned how to understand statistics and research. It's not enough to just say "well this study demonstrated X" like... What's the sample size? What's the population? I can say "100% of people surveyed think I'm super cool and smart" if I only survey my friends and family.
Brobro McDuderson 3 years ago
Many (most?) studies cite n, confidence intervals, distribution, etc.
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Brobro McDuderson 3 years ago (edited)
Freedom to believe anything you want, including nothing if someone prefers.
Load More Replies... wowbagger 3 years ago
How to navigate the city/town/area they're living in without GPS. GPS is great, especially when going somewhere new, but it's very useful to have an internal map of your own town in your head.
The Other Guest 3 years ago (edited)
My sense of direction is...shaky, at best. Although I live on the West Coast, because of the weird coastline shape the fastest way to get to the beach from here is to head directly south; you'll arrive in 10 minutes as opposed to over an hour going due west. This kinda messed with my whole N/S/E/W perceptions. Additionally, I have to envision the living room of the home I grew up in, and orient it in my head to match where I am to figure out directions. "OK, it's early afternoon and I'm pretty much facing the sun, which means it would be shining in the side window, not the front, so behind me is roughly North."
Load More Replies... censorshipsucks 3 years ago
that's what it is. But at least it's curated and neat. I find Reddit impossible to follow because it's such a mess, and the tiktok reposts save you the nusance of watching a moronic video.
Load More Replies... Cass Malone 3 years ago
Birds are real! They aren't mini drones that the govt put out to spy on us
Beck 3 years ago
Easy life hack:: always make your bed when you wake up. Climbing into a nicely made bed at the end of a long day is PRICELESS!!
RafCo (he/him) 3 years ago
I learned the hard way to make your bed and tuck in the sheets. Climbing into a bed with a snake in it is mildly uncomfortable at best.
Load More Replies... Electra Complex 3 years ago
I wish everyone learned how to understand statistics and research. It's not enough to just say "well this study demonstrated X" like... What's the sample size? What's the population? I can say "100% of people surveyed think I'm super cool and smart" if I only survey my friends and family.
Brobro McDuderson 3 years ago
Many (most?) studies cite n, confidence intervals, distribution, etc.
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