The Internet can be a great place to learn new things. And it’s not only for learning fascinating facts. In some online groups, folks share advice about simple everyday things that other people might not know about. Curious to learn why your postman might put a dryer sheet in your mailbox? This subreddit’s got you!
The online community we’re covering here today shares tips and tricks that they think all people should know. That’s probably why it’s called r/YouShouldKnow. Similar to the excellent r/LifeProTips subreddit, r/YouShouldKnow is a place “to share tips and tricks that will help [you] improve on activities, skills, and various other tasks.”
This post may include affiliate links.
YSK that if you have children, or even just someone who really loves you, you shouldn’t avoid being in pictures.
My mom was the type of person who HATED pictures. She thought she was ugly so she avoided them like the plague. Most memories I have involve her behind the camera, not in front of it.
She passed away unexpectedly 5 years ago, yesterday was the anniversary, and when she died my siblings and I combed through family photos, online pictures, anything we could think of to find some way to see our mom again. There are only 3, two of which are a side view and the other is blurry.
I keep her driver’s license because it’s the only head-on, smiling picture I have to remember her by.
Please don’t avoid taking pictures if you have children. Because I promise you we do not see ugly, we do not see fat, we do not see flaws...we see our parents, our mommy, the person we love so much and will miss so much when you pass. Let us have a way to look at you again even after you’re gone.
This is sad and sweet. I haven't willingly had my picture taken for at least 20 years. Maybe I'll take one for Mom, just in case.
YSK That there is a Youtuber called "Dad, how do I?" that explains everyday things that might need a father-figure to help you with.
His Dad walked out on him when he was 12, he makes maintenance vides for people with no Dad. It's just basic stuff but I know friends of mine that have watched his videos in the last couple of weeks and it has made a real positive difference to their life. He does videos from how to tie a tie to even how to check your car's oil. Very helpful stuff that everyone who doesn't have a dad or just wants some DIY tips should know.
I've heard about this man. I think it's a wonderful idea. He may not have had a dad, but he's definitely a positive father-figure.
YSK: that if something's worth doing, it's worth doing poorly. A wise man once said that, I can't remember where I heard it, but it boils down to this: Why YSK: If something is important, it's usually better to half-a*s it than it is to not do it at all. Some examples: Got a big test tomorrow and not up to studying? Study for 15 minutes. A 40 is much better than a 0. Don't feel like working out today? Go for a walk. Too busy for breakfast? Drink a cup of milk. Stayed up too late? Go to bed right now. 3 hours of sleep is superior to none. The pile of dirty dishes too daunting? Wash 5. Can't do the whole yard? Mow the front. The principle can be applied to various situations in life. Often times you may find that after you get started, you feel motivated to complete the task, but if not, hey...you did part of it, and that's nothing to sneeze at (and it's certainly better than nothing.)
This has really helped with my anxiety and depression which I partly have because I'm an overachieving perfectionist.
If there's one thing most people like, it's learning new things. The 5.3 million members of the r/YouShouldKnow community is a clear testament to that. The folks of this subreddit would also like others to know that it's not for learning new and interesting facts.
Whereas subreddits like r/TodayILearned or r/Fascinating are more for facts and figures, r/YouShouldKnow prides itself on being about self-improvement and how to do things. In fact, they're all about learning something new or improving an already-established skill.
YSK the easiest way to make sure your kid fights you on every chore is to avoid saying "thank you."
I'm a teacher. Every year, I get at least one parent who tells me that they just expect their kids to do their chores, and they won't ever say "thank you" for doing them. Then these parents wonder why their kids fight them on chores.
These same parents often tell me they don't understand why their kids put so much effort into my class.
It's really very easy. I thank them for their answers in class. I thank them for helping their classmates. I thank them for picking up after a lab. I thank them when they give their presentations.
Every opportunity I have to do it, I say "thank you."
My mom always gave me an enthusiastic "thank you!" when my sister and I did chores. As a result, we always did them, often without being asked. We said "thank you" when she made dinner.
A home culture of saying "thank you" is a very easy and effective way to improve adult/teen relationships, and you'll have happier teens too.
YSK if you randomly see a dryer sheet in the back of your mailbox, your mail carrier put it there for a reason.
Why YSK: it could save your carrier from being stung
Letter Carrier here.
We’re almost to the month of May which means nice weather, hanging out outside, school closing for the summer, and the return of those dastardly devils: Yellowjackets and Wasps.
I’m sure you’ve noticed. But just in case you haven’t, this time of the year wasps and Yellowjackets (especially Yellowjackets) like to make nests inside of mailboxes. In a lot of places this time of the year, it’s just beginning to warm up outside, but it’s still fairly cold at night. So mailboxes provide nice, easy shelter for them.
I can’t tell you how many times, especially during this part of the year, where I’ve opened up a box to see a little nest with 3-5 Yellowjackets just chillin. If I’m really unlucky, they will have made their nest at the very back of the box so I wind up sticking my hand in not knowing they are there. We all know how temperamental these little douchebags are and merely existing in their presence is enough to piss them off. Last year alone I was stung 10 times on 10 separate occasions.
Getting to my point. We’ve found that they hate scented dryer sheets. If we encounter a box that is a problem for nests, we’ll often put one in there and it does the trick.
So please, if you one day randomly see a dryer sheet at the back of your mailbox, just know that your carrier more than likely put it there to deter these Satanic creatures from building their home in it.
YSK that Sikh temples can provide a free meal, a safe place, or a temporary shelter if your ever need it. Anyone can visit the temple irrespective of their native language, sexual orientation or religious beliefs. Above all, they will never try to convert you.
Why YSK: If you ever need any of these things, just look for the nearest Sikh temple. While you’re there, please respect their culture and cover your hair while you’re in the prayer hall or in “langar” hall. A langar hall is where the food is served. If you like you can also volunteer to help in the kitchen and elsewhere.
Sikhs are really awesome people . From the ones I've met at least. There aren't too many out here. The ones I know are solid though.
A subreddit such as this can be a goldmine of simple everyday advice: some of it's like advice from a family member, other advice is more serious, veering into the territory of legal advice. Sometimes, it's about basic life skills any adult should probably know. But there's no shaming – just because you're an adult doesn't mean you can't learn new things.
Take the top post of the subreddit about Rob Kenney, a YouTuber behind the "Dad, How Do I?" channel. He teaches his subscribers basic skills a person should've been taught by their father. People who grew up without a dad really resonate with his content, as his videos feature teaching others how to tie a tie, fix a running toilet, or simply shave.
YSK that apologizing to your children and admitting when you're wrong is what teaches them to have Integrity.
There are a lot of parents with this philosophy of "What I say goes, I'm the boss , everyone bow down to me, I can do no wrong".
This approach is detrimental to raising children who take accountability for their own actions. They need to see you admit to your faults, and you do owe them an apology when you mess up, even if you happen to think that "seems stupid because they're just a kid".
Children learn by example, and they pick up on so many nuances, minutiae, and unspoken truths.
You aren't fooling them into thinking you're perfect by refusing to admit mistakes - you're teaching them that to apologise is shameful and should be avoided at all costs. You cannot treat a child one way and then expect them to comport themselves in the opposite manner.
YSK: Just because someone doesn’t look sick/disabled, does not mean they are healthy.
Why YSK: I am chronically ill and have an autoimmune disorder, the amount of times people have said “WELL... yOU dOn’t LOOK sick” to me is astounding. I didn’t know all illnesses have to be visible to others! I’m sorry I can’t show you my internal organs or muscles deteriorating for you to believe that I’m sick. It makes people with health issues feel like they have to explain their situation when they don’t.
This can be a real problem in the workplace. Coworker who was hit by a car got all kinds of love and consideration. Migraine headaches, completely different reaction.
YSK that people dealing with depression can find it incredibly hard to maintain contact with friends and family. If someone hasn’t been in touch for months don’t assume they’re a bad friend. Why YSK: Over the years I’ve known friends and family withdraw from the world for months on end because of depression or other illnesses. They often carry a lot of guilt about this and it becomes a self perpetuating issue because they’re afraid of the response they’ll get when they eventually do make contact again. You often won’t know what’s going on with them, they’ll just drop off the radar. But these people will need your friendship and support more than ever when they begin to engage with the world again. So if someone goes quiet don’t write them off as a ‘s***ty friend’. Be open minded about their reasons, give them space, time and understanding, and be ready to pick up the threads again when they’re ready. (Citation needed for sub rules about health flair? Here’s an NHS document that describes withdrawal from social activity as symptom of depression)
People with depression even struggle to get out of bed in the morning, and to fall asleep at night.
Kenney also published a book in 2021, named Dad, How Do I? Practical "Dadvice" for Everyday Tasks and Successful Living. He told USA Today that he didn't anticipate the kind of fame he got.
"I only expected to help about 30 to 40 people. Watch the videos to learn how to tie a tie and some car maintenance and fix some other stuff outside the house. I just wanted to leave a legacy for my kids and grandkids. Now, I've done stuff on perspectives in your life."
YSK: Service Dog etiquette is to leave them alone as to not distract the dog's focus. So if they come to you for attention, immediately locate their owner as they could be using a last ditch effort to get help.
However, so many people are now just downloading harnesses with 'service dog' or 'emotional support dog' or some other bogus nonsense to use on their pet so they can take them into supermarkets etc. It's a nonsense and should not be allowable. Makes the presence of the REAL thing much more acceptable.
YSK that letting your dog sniff on walks is very enriching, interesting, and stimulating for them. Your dog sniffing every little thing in the neighborhood is equivalent to us reading the newspaper; its how they absorb information, and will give you a calmer dog!
Why YSK: Dogs learn about their surroundings through their noses. What dog has been here? What is this interesting smell emanating from this green bin? Oh is that what snails smell like? There is a great misconception about walking dogs, that owners think the enriching part of the walk is the act of walking itself, when in fact its the sniffing your dog gets to do!
Your dog gets the opportunity to think, learn, and satisfy an innate behaviour. Think of it this way, you get satisfaction by scrolling through reddit, but if someone made you sit too far away from the screen, and scrolled by things that appear to be potentially interesting, it wouldn't relax you, it would likely do the opposite!
Next time you're out with your dog, try giving them ample sniffing time, you'll likely end up with a happy, calmer pup!
Ι see people walking their dogs and most of the time they're on their phone, oblivious to what their dogs are doing or even want. Sometimes the dogs want to go to one direction and the people just yank the leash and yell at the dog. It's the dog's walk, not yours and it's not a chore! Keep your dog happy.
YSK THe "Face Mask Exemption Card" is fake and you are more than allowed to refuse service to someone using it.
So there are people using something called a "Face Mask Exemption Card" that claims they are exempt from wearing a mask under the ADA because of "mental and/or physical risk to me" and that refusal of service would be violating the ADA. These cards are completely fake, aren't enforceable, and (at the time of this post) the website on the card doesn't even exist. Take the card, inspect it carefully, and then throw it in the trash right before you throw the entitled Karen out of your establishment.
Thanks to Rob Kenney and creators like him, people can now learn basic life skills online. The Internet is ripe with "how-to" videos nowadays. We can learn to sew buttons, do laundry, or trim a bonsai by watching other people give advice. This type of content boomed in popularity during the pandemic, as sites like bored.solutions started cropping up.
YSK: Apple Music deletes your original songs and replaces them with Apple-protected versions.
Why YSK: I recently made the mistake of allowing Apple Music to sync with my old iTunes library, which was full of mp3s and ripped CDs from over 10 years ago (aka my rightful files). After syncing the library so I could have my iTunes songs on my phone, I started noticing that some of them are no longer explicit versions and some are just plain missing from their folders.
In an attempt to save effort, Apple Music may replace your files with their own stored versions that are not necessarily identical to the ones you have. These files are protected and are not really "your" property anymore. And in some cases, if there's any lapse in payment or something on their end messes up, you might lose your files forever. Like I did. I now have hundreds of songs missing and unrecoverable. Thought I would put this out there to save someone else some pain.
YSK If you are a homeowner or renter, your home has a main water shut-off. The time to learn where it is, is right now.
When I bought my home 8 years ago, the prior owner made a big deal of showing me the water cut-off. It is in a closet. Today a pipe burst under my sink, and tons of water starting pouring everywhere. Luckily, I remembered where the cutoff was, and I killed the water to the whole house. Zero damage. Just a big mess to cleanup. If I didn't know where that cutoff dial was, it would have been thousands of dollars of damage.
Good piece of advice. In a more general perspective, learn about how your home is regarding water, electricity, gas, ways out in case of fire, etc. That’s the place where you spend the most time and where you’re the most likely to find yourself in trouble on day.
YSK: The term "Genuine Leather", it is not to reassure you that their product is made of leather, rather its the name of the lowest grade of leather a company can use.
The term "Genuine Leather" is a marketing term to sell the lowest quality leather possible.
When purchasing a leather product, look for full grain leather or top grain leather instead. These will provide a much higher quality cut of leather that will look and feel much better and last for much longer.
I didn't know this. *wanders off in search of a cow*
And it's not only basic life skills that the Internet can teach you. We can learn new languages (although my Duolingo owl has been snoozing for over a month), learn how to code, or even take classes from professors at Yale and Harvard. One might think: "Can I really get all the basics in that Philosophy 101 class?" Well, both in-person and online learning have its pros and cons.
YSK Declawing your Cats is like cutting off each of your fingers at the last knuckle.
Some people think that declawing is a simple surgery that removes a cats nails, this is not true. Declawing involves amputation of the last bone of each toe, removing claws changes the way a cats foot meets the ground and can cause pain similar to wearing an uncomfortable pair of shoes. There can also be regrowth of improperly removed claws, nerve damage and bone spurs. Most cats will become biters because they no longer have their claws as a defense. Cats scratch to remove dead husks from their claws, mark territory and stretch muscles.
YSK that lack of eye contact does not mean that a person is being rude. Autism, ADHD, PTSD and social anxiety can all make it difficult to look someone in the eye.
If people with these conditions force themselves to make eye contact they will often find it so distracting they won't be able to focus on what you are saying.
Also there are many cultures, including Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Native American, where eye contact can be considered disrespectful. For example, Japanese children are taught to look at others' necks to avoid making direct eye contact.
Consider that not all behaviors considered "rude" are intended to be, or even universally considered rude. This is especially important to remember if you are a parent, teacher, boss, or other authority figure.
YSK about the Fundamental Attribution Error, a key concept in psychology where we judge others based on their actions but ourselves based on our intent.
Why YSK: if someone is annoying you or does something that you disagree with, remember that you can’t see inside their thoughts.
When you cut someone off in traffic, it’s because you were being absentminded or because you’re late to sing lullabies to your newborn, right? But when someone cuts YOU off, it’s because they’re a jerk. You don’t know their inner thoughts, just the result of their actions in the world.
So: take it easy on your fellow people this holiday season, and remember the fundamental attribution error. You’ll be less stressed, less annoyed, and maybe even happier!
I was just thinking about this. BP loves posts in which the other person is called “entitled.” I actually believe that this is fairly rare. The woman who leaves her cart in the aisle while she runs to get something else may just be incredibly stressed. The coworker who does something you’re annoyed by probably isn’t even aware of it. Other people’s lives are just as complex and sometimes difficult as yours. Give them the benefit of the doubt.
Many online universities and learning platforms like Khan Academy or LinkedIn Learning boast the superiority of learning online. According to them, the obvious advantages are flexibility, more frequent assessments, higher retention rates, and benefits to the environment.
YSK Romanians are welcoming the Ukranian refugees with open arms and food. There are a lot of people who are renting their homes without any charge to the refugees. Also there is an animal shelter who is going to host the Ukranian pets of any kind.
Why YSK: Because Ukrainian civilians need to know about this.
People all over the world are doing this....not just in Romania
YSK that if you are planning a surprise for someone on an important day that giving them a small treat at the beginning of the day to show you remembered will be a much better cover and positive experience for them than making them miserable thinking you forgot or didn’t care about them.
Soooo many people (three that I’ve read on Reddit today alone) think that it will be cool and a great cover to make the person think that they forgot or don’t care about a birthday or anniversary etc. All it does is make the person sad and miserable all day. And then when the surprise happens they feel guilty and ashamed for feeling sad and miserable. All around not good.
Not to mention that if I think you forgot, I may just decide to go do something alone, not realising you actually made plans. If you ring me up later under a pretense to get me to go somewhere, I could have taken myself to the beach, cinema, axe throwing, or anything, and no longer be available
YSK that Harvard offers a free certificate for its Intro to Computer Science & Programming.
Why YSK: Harvard is one of the world's top universities. But it's very expensive and selective. So very few people get to enjoy the education they offer.
However, they've made CS50, Harvard's Introduction to Computer Science and Programming, available online for free. And upon completion, you even get a free certificate from Harvard.
I can't overstate how good the course is. The professor is super engaging. The lectures are recorded annually, so the curriculum is always up to date. And it's very interactive, with weekly assignments that you complete through an in-browser code editor.
To top it all off, once you complete the course, you get a free certificate of completion from Harvard. Very few online courses offer free certificates nowadays, especially from top universities.
I'm on the website and it says that you can get the course for free, but you won't get the certificate unless you pay 219$ for the whole thing. If I'm wrong, please correct me!
Yet when it comes to formal education during the COVID-10 pandemic, it seems that experts have only bad things to say. A UNESCO report unveiled the realities of what many students faced during the lockdown. Technology promised an easier and more seamless education process, but instead, the students were less engaged, felt like they were left behind, and achieved less.
YSK that there is NEVER only one deer.
Never, ever ever.
If you're driving at night and just saw a single deer cross the road at the edge of your headlights? SLOW DOWN ANYWAY. Slow to a crawl, if it's safe to do so. A second deer is nearby and will follow it across, every time.
I've driven on rural Midwest highways my entire life. Just yesterday, for the first time ever, I actually saw a lone deer. But that's not the norm, and that's how they getcha.
YSK that Amazon has a serious problem with counterfeit products, and it's all because of something called "commingled inventory."
Anecdotally, the problem is getting severe. I used to buy all my household basics on Amazon (shampoo, toothpaste, etc), and I've gotten a very high rate of fake products over the past 2 years or so, specifically.
Most recently, I bought a bottle of shampoo that seemed really odd and gave me a pretty serious rash on my scalp. I contacted the manufacturer, and they confirmed it was a fake. Amazon will offer to give your money back if you send it back, but that's all the protection you have as a buyer.
Since I started noticing this issue, I've gotten counterfeit batteries, counterfeit shampoo, and counterfeit guitar strings, and they were all sold by Amazon.com. It got so bad that I completely stopped using Amazon.
The bigger question is "what the hell is going on?" This didn't seem to be a problem, say, 5 years ago. I started looking into why this was the case, and I found a pretty clear answer: commingled inventory.
Amazon is bad for its workers, bad for the environment and bad for small businesses in your area. Even without counterfeit products I try to avoid buying stuff there as much as I possibly can
YSK: If a nurse tells you that you’re entitled to a second opinion, we think you probably should.
If a nurse goes out of his or her way to tell you this, they either don’t like your doctor or don’t agree with him/her.
We can’t tell you this outright, because it’s unethical (in some circumstances) and could get us in hot water.
Edit: wow! Never expected this to get so big. Thank you for all the awards.
It should be mentioned that any advice from any nurse or doctor should be taken with a grain of salt and with consideration of your relationship to that person. It also depends on the setting you are in.
A second opinion isn’t a bad thing and often times doesn’t mean the diagnosis is incorrect BUT sometimes there is more than one way to deal with things. (Treatment for cancer, surgical vs. medical management etc ). Sometimes it’s just nice to have two docs saying the same thing, especially when it comes to significant issues.
I merely wanted to point out that because of the broken system sometimes things aren’t as they seem. Just know if you have reservations or concerns you have the right to address them.
I have been a nurse since 1996, and I cannot tell you how many horrible doctors I have worked with, that I would not go to personally. Also, nurses know more about your health and what's going on in your life than your actual doctor. We spend way more time on patient care, yet so many patients act like they don't want to tell us stuff, and save it exclusively for the doctor. What do you think happens when you leave? The doctor tells us anyway bc there's usually some aspect of your care that we work on after you leave. Nurses should be your allies. Treat them as such.
However, some say that the Internet can offer alternatives to the things we learn in school. School, according to them, doesn't teach us the life skills that we need. Dr. Carol Morgan writes for HuffPost that the most important skill that we're not taught in schools is communication. Most people, according to her, don't learn to solve conflicts or express themselves well up until they're in college.
YSK that BBC has one of the biggest and best recipe collections available for free, and since they are a public service, they have no ads, no walls of text, just recipes.
Google has transformed every recipe web into a wall of text that they are forced to write if they don't want SEO to screw them.
Fortunately for us, BBC is a public institution and they don't need to do it. The collection is massive and has the recipes right away.
YSK That if you are a Verizon Wireless customer in the US, a new program launched today called Verizon Custom Experience. It tracks every website you visit and every app you use. The program automatically enrolls all customers, who must specifically opt out if they don't want to be tracked.
Why YSK: If you prefer to keep your browsing habits private, you should consider opting out. There is essentially no benefit to giving away your information to Verizon Wireless. Unlike with other sites, where one can at least argue targeted ads pay for free services, with this Verizon program, you are essentially receiving nothing in return for giving up your privacy.
YSK that just because someone appears confident and socialable, doesn't mean they don't have anxiety (social or otherwise)
She also mentions how skills like sewing, cooking, or financial planning aren't part of any curriculum. Her answer to why this happens: people think children will learn these things at home. The thing these people fail to consider is that not all parents know how to effectively communicate or have these simple life skills.
YSK if you own a Samsung smart TV that has ads, you can block them by adding ads.samsung.com to your block list on your internet router.
Have a Samsung smart TVs with ads that were annoying as hell. Found out they can be blocked and tried it. It worked!
I really need context for this. I've never owned a Smart TV. Just dumb TVs that only show what they're told to show. Are they going to start putting ads in out Fridges and Microwaves next?
YSK: Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy, created over 6,500 videos that can educate you (for most undergrad classes) on almost every topic in physics, math, astrology, history, economics and finance FOR FREE. His videos are great extensions to learning and help fill gaps of knowledge.
You can check his videos out on YouTube and Khan Academy!
YSK NASA has a webpage that offers advice to those wanting to write convincing science-fiction.
Just because they're easy, Morgan writes, doesn't mean they're not important. "I think another reason we don't teach these skills is because they're 'soft.' In other words, 'easy.' But I disagree. I think soft skills are more important than most of what our children are taught."
Which brings us back to our lovely subreddit. Did you learn some new things from this selection from r/YouShouldKnow? Don't forget to tell us in the comments!
YSK: Deer and rabbits "park" their babies and spend most of the day away from them. If you find a baby all alone, it is almost definitely not abandoned. DON'T bring it somewhere to 'save' it unless it's in immediate danger - you're probably just kidnapping it from its mom.
This has happened way too many times at our local wildlife rescue. People find baby deer or rabbits with no parents nearby and think they're abandoned, so they bring them in to try to "save them". In reality they're just forcibly separating the animal from its mother and greatly reducing its survival chances.
Infant rabbits without their mothers don't do well. Even in professional care settings, they have about a 90% mortality rate. Taking them away from the nest should be a last resort, only when death is guarenteed otherwise.
YSK: if you have an exceptional dog that is well behaved and smart, get a puppy before your dog gets too old to get around. The adult dog will teach the new puppy how he should act in your home.
This was the best advice our vet gave us. We've done this 4 times. A couple pups still needed a bit of training but not nearly as much as our first dog.
A puppy will help keep an older dog more active, and give it healthier and happier final years.
YSK VHS video cassettes degrade over time. Under average conditions, the tapes have a life expectancy of about 30 years. Those tapes laying around from the 90's with precious family memories are already significantly degraded. You should look to digitize all of your families VHS tapes now.
Why YSK: Many people have old VHS tapes laying around, not realizing that they will soon be degraded beyond usefulness. These could be the only video of loved ones, etc. If you want to keep these memories, you must convert these to digital ASAP.
Check at your local public library. Also check with a nearby university (the library or a department/degree program where they might be doing video editing). You might be able to get it done for free. If the service is available, they will generally do your own videos but not copyrighted material.
YSK a greeting, smile, or little wave can mean a lot to a child.
A child that says hello to you is learning social skills. A smile or wave can mean a lot to someone learning to interact with the world. I sometimes see my daughter muster the courage to say hello to a stranger and feel sad when she looks at me confused after she's ignored. A small acknowledgment is a quick and easy way to put some positive energy into the world.
As a custodian at a middle school, I don't go out of my way to greet students. But if one makes eye contact with me? They DO get a smile and a "how ya doin'"
YSK: If you get an email from a "hacker" which displays your ACTUAL password as proof that you've been hacked, just ignore it.
There has been a sudden uptake of blackmail emails claiming to have hacked the recipient where they demand cash or they'll release compromising images/videos.
In the emails, the hacker claims to have hacked your device and used his new found privileges to record you while pleasuring yourself. To prove that he is legitimate, he tells you your ACTUAL password.
The hacker demands that you send cash to their bitcoin account or they'll send the compromising footage to your contacts list and your social media friends. They also threaten to publish all your private data (pics, documents, videos... etc) to the internet if you do not comply.
These are all empty threats.
What they do is find/buy stolen password lists from the dark-web and send these blackmail emails to the people on that list. The fact that they have a legit password is often enough to compel people into complacency.
If your stay on top of your internet security, you'll find the password they send is an old one that you already changed - but if the password they tell you is the same as one that you are currently using, please change it now, it means that your password is out there and anyone with a bit of tech knowledge can find it.
I had a demand from someone who'd claimed that they had gained access to my PC's camera, and had video of me doing naughty things in front of the computer. They threatened that if i didn't pay them ,they'd send the video to all my family and friends. I urged them to do just that, as my PC has no camera of any sort, and the one on my laptop has had piece of thick black tape over the lens since Day1. I told them i was curious to see who they thought i was.
YSK that the term “non-GMO” is essentially an advertising ploy. GMOs have no established health risks in humans.
I expect comments might say this is common knowledge. I will point out that a lot of people don't know about GMOs or science in general, including some of my own friends and family. This post is meant to address those people.
The only legitimate controversies over GMOs involve ethical or environmental concerns. One example is Belgian Blue, a breed of cattle that contains extra muscles. Critics say it is unethical to create that kind of cow. Note that the issue here is NOT human health. The cows themselves are perfectly safe to eat.
I will repeat what I said in the title: GMOs have no established health risks in humans. In some cases, they are actually beneficial to humans. Consider golden rice, a modified version of rice that contains added precursors for vitamin A. This was meant to combat vitamin A deficiency in Asia, which can lead to blindness. The public’s perception of GMOs prevented golden rice from succeeding, as was addressed in a letter from over 100 Nobel prize laureates (discussed here).
GMOs do not cause cancer. They are created by inserting a non-naturally occurring gene or mutation into an organism which is then consumed by humans. While it is established that genetic modification can cause cancer, that would occur in the original organism, not the consumer. Genetic modifications are not passed between organisms. If you find yourself questioning that statement, consider the fact that genetic diseases are not transmissible.
There is an article from a Harvard blog that reinforces a lot of what I have said. Check it out if you’re interested, and I encourage you to do your own research as well.
GMOs have existed for a long time. It's called selective breeding.
YSK: why we (flight attendants) ask you to open the window shades before takeoff and landing.
Why YSK:
In addition, we always turn off the lights in the cabin at this time. This is so that the human eye can get used to the level of light outside the cabin. In case of an emergency situation and an urgent need to leave the cabin, it is very important that the person can immediately orient himself to his surroundings outside the plane and not wait for his eyes to become accustomed to bright light or darkness.
YSK that - especially in times as chaotic and uncertain as these - that a little patience and humanity towards customer service agents goes a long, LONG way. The less you shout at them, the more inclined they will be to help you.
I agree wholeheartedly - a please and thank you can go a LONG way.
YSK don’t turn around and go back home after your dog has done its duty.
The dog will begin to learn that you take it back home after it s**ts. And after they learn they’re going to hold their s**t in for them to walk longer. So what you need to do is have a set path or two that you take and follow that path completely. This lets the dog know that they have a set amount of time for them to do their duty before they get back home.
YSK - X percent of Y is equal to Y percent of X. So, if you want to find out what 7% of 50 is, you could instead find out what 50% of 7 is, which is 3.5. This means that 7% of 50 is also equal to 3.5.
More examples: If you want to find out what 2% of 20 is, do 20% of 2 instead and you'll get 0.4. So, 2% of 20 also equals 0.4.
Or, 12% of 25 can be alternatively written out as 25% of 12 instead, which would be 3.
Explanation: Commutative Property. So, 0.07 times 50 will always equal 50 times 0.07
YSK: NO ONE is thinking about you as much as you think they are. And that's perfectly fine. - A 2018 study found that most people don't care about you because their brains are wired to only think about themselves.
Why YSK: A lot of people tend to live life worrying too much about what others think of them. While it might be a scary thought, a lot of people need to realize that people just aren't thinking about them. And that's fine! Research has shown the human brain has been wired to be selfish and care more about itself. So live life to the fullest and stop worrying about what others think about you!
With the exception to ex in-laws; you will always remain the topic of conversation and live rent free in their shiny smooth grey matter.
YSK having a garbage bin in your guest bathroom can save your female visitors from a lot of discomfort.
I have noticed that many of my male friends who are either gay or single don't have garbage bins in their half bathrooms. This can make it very awkward for a female on their period. Either they have to try and wrap up feminine hygiene products in toilet paper and carry it around your house searching for another garbage or awkwardly stash it in their purse. It's 20 times more awkward if this happens during a party when you have a lot of people around. I've also had this problem before when visiting older women who don't need a garbage can for their own personal use anymore so men aren't the only culprits. So please consider that your guests might actually need and appreciate a small garbage can in the toilet area.
YSK that no matter how close you are with your children, you should not share the details of your marital problems with them.
Trust me. They may seem very intelligent, mature and understanding and they may be so too but you can do your children a very great favor by not blurring this line, or else, without you even realizing it can become an immense and distressing burden for your children.
YSK if you have a minimum wage job, the employer cannot deduct money from checks for uniforms, missing cash, stolen meals, wrong deliveries, damaged products, etc. You absolutely have to get paid a minimum wage.
Why YSK: It's extremely common for employers to deduct losses from employee's checks if they believe the employee had some responsibility for that loss. In some states this is illegal as well, but overall the employer cannot do this if it means you will earn less than minimum wage.
Some states enacted laws that force employers to pay out triple damages for violations of several wage laws. Most states will fine the company $1000.
YSK that the reason people sometimes drive cautiously is because they may have precious cargo and not because they’re old or too cautious.
You never know what someone has in their vehicle that is making them drive slow; could be their pets or an expensive item they are transporting. I know individuals who regularly transport $15k machine parts in their personal vehicles and they need to take turns slow. Too often, I get mad at someone for not being aggressive and taking that turn or accelerating slower than I do. I forget that not everyone has an empty vehicle like mine.
I always drive slower with the cat in the car! :) Mostly so she won't get carsick and puke.
YSK: Time invested in a relationship isn't a good reason to NOT leave.
Just because you have been with someone for what may be a considerable length of time doesn't mean you shouldn't leave. If a person is being abusive, the relationship has changed, or if you're simply not happy, just leave. If you've worked to remedy the problem and it isn't working, it's okay to leave. And it's okay to feel like you're starting over and it's going to hurt. It's going to feel like a complete waste of time. Thats fine. Use it as a learning experience for self growth.
Source: Left a relationship of 8 years and didn't want to be in it for at least 2 years. Best decision of my life was to leave.
Lady friend for 20 years. She did something inexcusable, so I ended it. I literally felt like a rock was lifted. She was a difficult person, but I didn't realize it until I was out of that relationship. I have no plans nor do I wish to ever see her again. From what I've been told, she burned many bridges and left California.
YSK That many people with a disability consider their aides (wheelchair, etc.) an extension of themselves. You should ask before touching or moving them.
In the UK if anyone touches my wheelchair when I'm in it, it is assault.
YSK: If you have a friend who doesn't like celebrating for their birthday it is not your job to "break their shell". If you really want to make them feel special and you're a close friend, plan a day alone with them and see what they say, anything more should always be planned with the person there.
Why YSK: Some people just don't like big celebrations with everyone staring and feeling obligated to say hi to everyone. It's very overwhelming especially for people on the spectrum. Try to always get said friends input on plans. Never surprise them with a grandiose gathering. Planning ahead and asking for permission will show a sense of understanding/empathy and win you some brownie points at least.
My 20 year old autistic son absolutely hates the birthday song and any fuss being made over him. I usually make him his favorite cake or cookies and get him presents but we do not make a big deal out of it. It took other members of my family so long to get used to this. I want my kid to have a good birthday. It's not about me and what I think would be fun. That's what you have to realize. Everyone's idea of what's fun is not the same as yours.
YSK: If you’re asking friends to help move, always have everything packed and ready to be picked up and go.
Currently helping my buddies girlfriend move and most of the things aren’t packed up.
Yes. If you ask people to help you move, you ask them to move boxes and furniture from point A to point B. If you need help packing, ask for help packing. And NEVER think the last bits will take no time, it always takes more space and time than you think. I've moved a few a few times and learned this through experience 😅
YSK: donating money to a soup kitchen or for bank is far more productive than donating food.
Why YSK: food banks and soup kitchens have connections and bulk buying power that they use to buy more than you can with the same amount of money. They can also buy fresh produce which cannot be donated easily by individuals.
I volunteered at a food bank and if you do donate food, DO NOT SEPARATE them in smaller bags. For example: Separately a large bag of rice into plastic baggies. The food banks will throw those aways. All foods, except fruits and vegetables need to be in their own containers and sealed. Also, they WILL take expire food up to a year if in its original packaging.
YSK: this is your yearly reminder with the holidays coming up. If someone declines alcohol don't push it.
Why YSK: the holidays are a really tough time for recovering alcoholics or people who quit for different reasons. If someone declines alcohol, don't make a scene or try to convince them to drink anyways.
I offer someone a drink, they decline, I offer water,tea, coffee or juice instead. Simple. Never push alcohol onto someone that's just a d**k move in my opinion
YSK: Yellowstone is NOT "overdue" for an eruption. Not only is that not how volcanos work, only 5-15% of the magma in the magma chamber under the volcano is actually molten. The rest is completely solid and stable.
That isn't to say that the volcano could never have another supereruption, but scientists do not believe it ever will.
The "overdue" myth stems from the average time between the three eruptions in the volcano's life. Which is the average of two numbers, which is functionally useless.
But even if it wasn't useless and it was rock-solid evidence of an eruption, we still wouldn't be overdue. There's still 100,000 years to go before we reach the average time between eruptions.
YSK: Every Car Built from 2018 Onwards is REQUIRED to Have a Backup Camera -- It is not an extra feature.
Why YSK: Since May 2018, all newly-built cars sold in the United States are required to have a backup camera and video display for the camera. Many car dealers, both used and new, will advertise the backup camera as some kind of added luxury or special option and try to charge you more for it. Don't bite the bait and understand that it is 100% a legal mandate to have it, like seat belts or air bags.
YSK that until November 2000, military dogs were euthanized or abandoned after retirement, however, you can now adopt one as a member of your family.
Before this time service dogs were considered “military surplus equipment” and deemed unfit to adjust to civilian life. These heroes were thrown away or put down instead of honored. President Clinton passed “Robby’s Law” in 2000 which allows handlers and their families first dibs at adopting military animals at the end of their useful service. The dogs are next offered to law enforcement, then adoptive families. Organizations like Saveavet.org place these retired heroes with suitable families and ensure they are given the honorable discharge they deserve. There is currently a waiting lists of civilians who want to give these veterans a loving home in which to retire. The wait is up to 12-18 months as of this post.
Military working dogs usually hold a higher rank than their handler. This is to prevent the handler from mistreating their dog and is usually a sign of respect. Most Military working dogs hold the rank of an Non-Commissioned officer. After their service every measure is taken to ensure that they are trained to get acclimated to civilian life. MWD's are usually German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois and Labrador's to name a few.
There are about 2500 dogs in active service today and about 700 deployed overseas.
There's also a program for police dogs who flunk their training for being just too darned friendly for police work to get adopted.
YSK if you're used to getting a deal from a place from a couple employees, that doesn't mean you are entitled to said deal from everyone. And by saying you are used to getting said deal to a manager, you are screwing over the employees who have been hooking you up.
And you won't get your deal from those employees anymore, and you could very well be jeopardizing their employment there, so just keep your mouth shut and be happy with what you get.
YSK "Colorado applicants need not apply," and similar statements on job postings could mean the employer has shifty wage practices.
Why YSK: Colorado recently passed a law that requires employers to post real salary ranges with every listing. Some employers don't like this and discourage or outright refuse to allow CO applicants. If that's the case, you may not want to work for them outside of CO either.
It's not just Colorado. NYC has this law too, as do other places in the U.S.
YSK Yelp filters non-recommended reviews & has been accused of hiding good reviews for companies that refuse to pay them for advertising.
Why YSK: Scroll down to the bottom of each business page and click on “reviews that are not recommended.”
YSK that if you aren’t getting a 2% raise every year, you’re losing money(in the USA).
Why YSK: The annual inflation rate for the USA is about 2%. Every 5 years, you’ll have 10% less purchasing power, so make sure you’re getting those raises whether it be asking your boss or finding a new job at a new place.
This is exactly the right way to phrase it. Not as a raise, but as an inflation adjustment. If your company doesn't offer it, they're effectively cutting your wage every year.
YSK Yielding the right-of-way at a four-way stop isn't "nice"; you're disrupting the flow of traffic.
Why YSK: Your intentions are probably kindly but the quickest, most efficient, and above all SAFEST way to process traffic through a multi-way stop sign is for people to take their right of way, in the order that they arrive at the stop. Waving people through to be friendly or because you aren't sure if it's your turn throws a giant wad of uncertainty into a rigidly mechanical and very safe system of prioritizing traffic. Pay attention and know whether it's your turn, and be friendly on social media or at the park.
Bonus tip: if you arrive simultaneously with someone who is crossing the intersection against your path, you can remember who has the right-of-way with this mnemonic: the person on the RIGHT has the right of way.
YSK It is totally fine to want a quiet, simple life of stability. You do not have to strive to change to world; you are not selfish for that. In fact, putting yourself first is noble in itself.
Why YSK: It’s okay if you want to just read a book on the weekends or play video games or go on hikes. it’s okay to just live. I know that sometimes we think about all of the grand ways we can change the world and we get down on ourselves when we feel like we don’t live up to our own standards, but it is absolutely okay to let yourself breathe and realize that you don’t HAVE to change the world - it’s okay to focus on yourself.
Constantly working on self improvement, educating yourself about major issues such as climate change, human rights, current politics and war, and pushing yourself to engage in activism, leads to burnout. It's okay not to be an activist all the time. It's okay to not be an actively involved in all the causes you believe in. There are a lot of causes that you can put in endless effort without achieving any measurable results. Pick your battles. Make pragmatic decisions how much time and mental and emotional energy you can dedicate. If you are burning out, step back, and take care of yourself first. Accept that you may not be able to make a difference in a global issue, or an injustice happening in a different country. Write a letter to your MP or senator, make a donation, and step back. Focus on what you can achieve. You can also work to make the world a better place in small local ways where you can see visible impact and results.
YSK that children should NEVER be forced to give hugs, kisses, or any other affection to anyone - including family members.
Because everyone has the right to decide whether they want to be touched, and that includes children, from as early as possible.
There are countless examples of all the dark things that kids suffer through every day which I don't need to get into, we all know what they are.
To be clear, it is NEVER the child's fault if they are victimized, nor is this advice meant to be some kind of protection against evil.
I'm a mother to a toddler, and my husband and I are in full agreement on this, practicing what we preach. If kiddo doesn't want to get all cuddled up on, he knows he can always refuse and we will listen.
And vice versa. Just because as an adult you don't want hugs, kisses, or other affection, that does not mean that you should withhold these from a child who wants it.
YSK: If you regularly lie to people or exaggerate events, and no one has confronted you, your friends are likely aware of you lying, but choose to stay quiet.
A few times I’ve seen people on Reddit state different varieties of something like “I lie about little things here and there, but no one knows”, which is rarely true. Most of the time, the friend group is very aware of someone lying on a regular basis, but they choose to not confront it either out of apathy, or - more often - to not cause the liar embarrassment.
So, no, you’re not a good liar, you just have good friends.
Why YSK: Because don’t feel like you need to lie to make yourself more interesting. You’re enough just the way you are.
YSK that you can use VLC Player to play YouTube videos in the background, with a sleep timer and without ads.
VLC Player is a very popular app for PCs, but is also available for mobile. You can play most online videos and streams by pasting the link to them into the application. It will play without ads and you can use such features as sleep timer, background playing, only audio etc. It's a bit slower, because you have to copy and paste the link, but especially for longer videos it's definitely worth it.
Why YSK: I personally allways wanted to play music steams or videos in the background while doing other stuff, but that is normally a premium YouTube feature. Using this technique you can get around that limitation pretty easily. It's also great for falling asleep to YouTube videos.
YSK: If you're too lazy to read the Terms & Conditions for a popular website there is a site that gives you a TL;DR and grades them on their shadiness
YSK: Changing your stance on ideologies or major issues doesn't automatically make you a hypocrite - it means you've educated yourself further and changed your opinion based off this new information.
Why YSK: Many people are quick to call others hypocritical, or even feel like a hypocrite when their stance on an issue changes. However, this new opinion often follows some sort of event which causes the person to see things from a different perspective. This in turn makes them re-think their stance in a way which could cause them to hold a totally different opinion of what they previously held. So don't condemn someone as being a hypocrite for doing a 180 on their beliefs - they just better informed themselves.
It bugs me when politicians are attacked for changing their stance on an issue. They should be expected to adapt their views to changing circumstances like anyone else.
YSK that if you sleep five hours or less a day, you will probably have false memories and your memory will suffer.
Why YSK: This information helped me a lot, because I am studying psychology and I began to wake up a lot, so much that I barely slept two or three hours a day for work and study, to the point that I began to create false memories of things that I had supposedly done, that I had read, which he had seen, but they were false memories.
A fellow student realized what was happening and sent me to read the study and from there I began to sleep for more hours, so you should know that this information will be useful at some point in case you sleep very few hours or in the case that you hear a false memory of another person. In my case, when someone remembers something that has not happened or that nobody has said, the first thing I do is ask how many hours they sleep.
People have such busy lives and so much stress that they don't realize how important the proper amount of sleep is for their overall functioning. I've seen what sleep deprivation does to the memory but it's usually one of the last things people consider when they are having memory problems.
YSK that if your dog eats cooked bones, give them bread. It could save their life. Long story short, my dog got ahold of a cooked bone. A big ol’ ham bone. She obliterated it. After some Googling, I found that you should immediately give them bread. I shoved bread down her gullet until she looked like she was pregnant. My vet commended the move and said with how much bone she ate and how much had splintered, the bread saved her life. And if not her life, it saved me from having to pay $3k+ for surgeries. A $3 loaf of bread saved my dog’s life. Crazy to think about. Why YSK: From my understanding, the bread “absorbs” the bone and keeps it from puncturing anything by essentially padding it. They may still need surgery to remove any big or sharp pieces, but it’s better than needing additional surgery for a puncture. You of course should still bring your dog to the vet asap, but all she ended up needing was some x-rays and pain meds. A s***ty situation ended better than it could have.
Raw bones break in mostly safe bits - that's how carnivores eat them naturally. Cooked bones break in sharp, pointy bits that are dangerous. My cat has been eating raw meat for years and enjoy crushing the bones under her teeth - preferably when I sleep so I can dream of big predators - and has never had a problem.
YSK that cooked chicken bones are dangerous for your pets. They tend to shatter and create shards that can tear up an animal’s insides.
Raw chicken bones are fine but be careful of cooked bones.
I learnt this just last week. YSK that grapes, raisins and raisin bread can be dangerous for cats and dogs.
YSK that there's this amazing website called Documentary Mania which literally has hundreds if not thousands of free documentaries sorted by themes or topics. It is fast and with no annoying ads.
Why YSK: I have always been a curious guy who loves watching a good documentary. The other day I had a really boring Physics lecture and I thought that maybe if I watched Cosmos: A space-time Odyssey, that would ignite a little spark to make my lectures more enjoyable. The thing is where I am from, I couldn't find it anywhere Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc. Miracously, I stumbled to this site, which looked very suspicious in the beginning (I am very skeptical of watching free stuff online). However, the online viewing quality is great, the download speed is decent and the few docs I watched even come with subtitles. Moreover, as the docs are sorted by themes, I found more than 10 I was interested in and added them to a potential playlist. I am very happy with this site, which I know, sounds too good to be true. So far, I haven't had a single problem. Enjoy!
It no longer exists. However, there are thousands of documentaries available to watch for free on YouTube.
YSK: If you want to start lifting, you're going to feel weaker than you actually are for a couple weeks because your brain is lazier than your muscles and doesn't want to change.
YSK: if someone yells “behind” in a kitchen, it means “don’t move or I’ll hit you.” They’re not asking you to step aside.
Why YSK: people have workplace accidents because of this misunderstanding all the time. If somebody is carrying, say, a scalding hot pot of soup and they say “behind,” a lot of newbies first instinct is to jump out of the way, resulting in them colliding with the person who called out. Instead, stand stock still until they’ve passed.
Interestingly, a similar problem occurs on bike paths when someone calls out “coming up on your left!” Many people have the inclination to hop laterally, causing an accident. Instead, just stay where you are, moving predictably.
Biking I always use "coming up!" because they invariably turn around and look anyway.
YSK It is highly unethical for someone to appraise an item for you and then make an offer to buy it. They are likely attempting to swindle you out of a lot of money. If that happens, be sure to go get an appraisal from someone else.
Whether it's Jewelry, Art, Property, or whatever it may be, it is unethical for someone to give you an appraisal and then immediately offer to buy it from you. That's a giant red flag that you should go to someone else for an appraisal, perhaps even getting multiple appraisals from different unrelated sources.
Why YSK: They could be giving you a knowingly very low appraisal so they can sell it themselves and make a lot of money off of you. For example: You bring in your Grandpa's old Gold Watch to get appraised, the appraiser appraises the item for $1,200, knowing it's worth closer to $10,000. You feel pretty good about having $1,200 in your pocket, but you just got swindled out of $8,800. You poor sap. What would your Grandpa think of you? He'd probably say "You damn fool! That was a Rolex! You just got flim-flammed!"...or something along those lines.
For really expensive items, it's a good idea to get multiple appraisals anyways, but if any appraiser turns around and makes an offer, you should run in the opposite direction. It's also easier than ever to research items you own that may be of value, thanks to the Internet. By doing 20mins to an hour of research online, you could find out everything you need to know about any potentially valuable item you may have and get a rough estimate of it's worth. You may also not find any info on the item you are looking for, but it's worth try.
Shout out to Antiques Roadshow who often educates viewers on this unethical practice of appraising something and then making and offer on it.
After Grandma passed, we decided to sell much of her furniture and furnishings for which nobody had any room or use. The first auction house I spoke with said they would offer the items for sale for 2-3 months, and anything that didn't sell would be theirs. I smelled a rat - what was to stop them from not touting stuff and then saying, "Time's up, we keep all the profits!" The next one had a strong positive reputation - we got some sweet moolah from them.
YSK: The purpose of turning your headlights on in heavy fog is not to see better, but to be seen from a greater distance by other drivers.
The distance you are visible to other drivers can be as much as twice as far with your lights on, than not. You should also roll down your windows when at an uncontrolled intersection, to listen for potential cross traffic, because you can hear a vehicle in dense fog, long before you will be able to see it.
YSK That it doesn't matter if you are skinny, fat, fit, or none of the above; DO NOT be intimidated by others in the gym. If you are in the gym working out, NOBODY ELSE GIVES A F**K about what you're doing but YOU.
If you are reluctant about starting, continuing, or ending your personal fitness journey because you are self-conscious about your size, form, or anything else that can riddle you with anxiety then know this; NOBODY else in the gym besides you cares about what YOU are doing. It doesn't matter if you're in there trying to lose weight, put on size, or just maintain a somewhat healthy lifestyle. Everyone in the gym is working towards a common goal; bettering themself.
There isn't a single person in the entire gym that knows EVERYTHING. There are so many different styles and techniques that it's nearly impossible. Don't expect someone to approach and help critique you because there is a fear of coming off as a know it all or a prick even though that's never the intention. But I guarantee if you ask someone who looks like they know what they are doing they would be MORE than happy to help. All you have to do is ask. Some of the nicest people I've met are the strongest guys/gals in the gym at any given time.
I say this because I witnessed it happen at the gym today. Someone with not a lot of experience was in a workout room that eventually filled with 3/4 "bigger" guys. While it was just him and I in there he was just doing his thing. After they got there, he did maybe two more sets before putting his weight away and hastily grabbing his jacket to leave the gym. To anyone that knows how to read people, anxiety was written all over his face. I could be wrong, but I do believe it's why he left.
Don't let other people intimidate you into not working towards your goals. Everyone starts somewhere, and nobody knows it all. Keep on trying your best, and don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it.
YSK the $35 that scientific journals charge you to read a paper goes 100% to the publisher and 0% to the authors. If you email a researcher and ask for their paper, they are allowed to send them to you for free and will be genuinely delighted to do so.
If you're doing your own research and need credible sources for a paper or project, you should not have to pay journal publishers money for access to academic papers, especially those that are funded with government money. I'm not a scientist or researcher, but the info in the title came directly from a Ph.D. at Laval University in Canada. She went on to say that a lot of academic science is publicly funded through governmental funding agencies. It's work done for the public good, funded by the public, so members of the public should have access to research papers. She also provided a helpful link with more information on how to access paywalled papers.
I read a huge number of research papers when I was in grad school. With very, very few exceptions, I received them direct from the author. They hate this pay-to-view system, and are happy to share their work. Having said that, ALWAYS give their work a citation. It’s professionally polite, and the least you can do.
YSK: If you're a good listener, you might notice you have friends who dump their joys and sorrows on you at every possibly opportunity. It's not because they're looking for pity or want to be annoying, it's because they know you listen.
Talking gives them some temporary relief from whatever emotions they may be experiencing, even if it doesn't seem like it, and you are the person they enjoy sharing those bits of information with.
Challenge yourself to see the big picture and listen to their message as a whole, rather than undoubtedly being confused over every little detail that comes to mind for them.
YSK: If you are buying a used car, test drive it to the nearest auto-parts store to have it scanned for check engine light codes. Sellers can temporarily hide them to deceive you.
Not everyone is mechanically inclined enough to inspect cars but all major auto part stores (auto zone, advanced auto, o Reilly’s) all offer free scanners for you to borrow. YouTube how to do it and you could save yourself thousands. People who sell cars can be sketchy and are good are hiding previous damage or mechanical problems. Pro Tip: offer to meet at the sellers house/dealer and ask them to not start it because you want to do a “cold start” which is starting the engine right up after it’s been sitting. Lots of mechanical problems can ‘hide’ or ‘disappear’ once the engine is warmed up. Starting it cold gives you a much better idea as to how it’ll work when you bring it home the next day. Best of luck!
YSK that i.e. and e.g. are not interchangeable.
This happens all the time where people misuse these two expressions.
When you want to provide examples, e.g. is appropriate. So it’s correct to say “There were many fruits (e.g. lemons and apples),” but not to say “(i.e. lemons and apples).” i.e. is correctly used only when the thing after the i.e. is exactly what you’re referring to. So “he ate his two favorite fruits (i.e. lemons and apples),” is correct. And “(e.g. lemons and apples)” would not be correct. Lemons and apples aren’t examples of his two favorite fruits, they are his two favorite fruits.
I know this sounds pedantic but it can lead to a ton of confusion since the two expressions mean fairly different things.
YSK: water heaters have an anode rod that prevents the tank from corroding. If you replace it every few years, it will extend the life of your water heater from ~10 years to potentially 25+ years.
Why YSK: Water heaters use an anode rod to attract and remove sediments from the water being heated. An anode rod will corrode and deteriorate over time until it’s no longer capable of functioning and has to be replaced. This part literally sacrifices itself to keep the tank in optimal condition. That’s why it’s also referred to as a sacrificial anode. Without it, the water tank would start corroding from the inside out which would eventually result in a severe leak at the bottom.
After the anode rod deteriorates, the tank will begin corroding. This is the reason water heaters typically only last 5-15 years. If you replace the rod every few years (cheap and easy), it will extend the life of water heater by decades.
And, by the way, if you have a boat there is one attached to the motor somewhere for the same purpose. Especially in salt water as it eats aluminum quickly.
YSK that when asked for your address, name, phone number or other personal information by a cashier, "No thank you" is a perfectly acceptable answer. Protect your privacy.
Why YSK: I'm posting this because that has always been my answer, and more often than not they look at me like I have three heads, which tells me that it's not a common response they get. While they may need that for you to get a 5% discount next time you go in, the real reason they want it is to sell your information and have you receive unsolicited phone calls. To that I say, no thank you.
YSK: In the US, hospitals are required to help pay for your medical bills if you make under a certain amount of money (typically 200-300% of the Federal Poverty Level). This could potentially cover the entirety of your hospital bill.
Why YSK: You should be aware of the medical care that is available to you, as well as the potential costs. Knowing that your hospital bill may be covered if your financial situation is not ideal could make the difference between life and death.
A provision of the Affordable Care Act mandates hospitals must provide a “financial assistance policy” that must “must apply to all emergency and other medically necessary care provided by the hospital facility” in order for the hospital to maintain its tax-exempt status as a nonprofit. Seeing as 57% of all hospitals are non-profit, this policy applies to majority of hospitals. If you are uninsured, these policies are most likely to apply to you. However, even insured people can qualify in many situations.
Simply search " *name of hospital* financial assistance " and go to the hospital's financial assistance page. Somewhere on that page there should be a document called "Financial Assistance Policy", and inside of that it will tell you the qualifying income for total coverage, as well as qualifying income for partial coverage. Please read it thoroughly to understand what you may or may not qualify for. For the most part this only applies to emergent, non-elective, and catastrophic care.. otherwise known as "medically necessary care".
As an example, the hospital closest to me covers my entire hospital bill if I make under 200% of the FPL, which would mean I have to make less than $25,760 if I was a 1 person household, or $53,000 for my family of 4. In addition they will offer partial coverage if I make under 600% of the FPL.
While this is true, some hospitals/medical providers make it too dfficult to apply for their assistance. The information is hidden somewhere on their site, then they require that the application be downloaded, printed, filled out by hand, and mailed in, before they make you come in for a physical meeting where they try to force you into a long-term payment plan. Never mind that the patient can't afford a printer, doesn't have a car, has to work during the hours the hospital financial office is open etc.
YSK that "what do you mean by that" is a good defense if you have the feeling someone is indirectly criticizing your behavior in a conversation.
It will bring them to specify their criticism. Sometimes it brings them to their borders as they realize they don't have any examples to bring up (which is needed in some forms of constructive criticism, not necessarily your SOs btw). Sometimes it will shut them up if they know a more direct criticism is not allowed or appropriate.
Many times, it will give you ground to react on or debunk the others critique. Be mindful though that, depending on your reaction, it can escalate an argument as well. It is recommended to hear the other person out and be mindful of what they have to say, IF they can really take a more direct approach to talk about problems with you.
YSK a high percentage of Amazon's sale prices are fake markdowns.
Why YSK: Like most retailers, Amazon relies on your perceived savings to trick you into thinking you're getting a deal. A tool called CamelCamelCamel allows you to see an independent price history of that item. In most cases, the "was" price never happened, or was so brief it barely happened.
YSK that, in the US, your income is taxed based on Tax Brackets - meaning not all of your income is taxed at the same rate.
YSK delivery apps charge restaurants 15%-30% on top of the fees they charge you, often eliminating the restaurants profits. Ordering directly is the best way to support local restaurants.
Why YSK:
Restaurants often operate on ~30% or less profit margins, so by using delivery apps they are often breaking even or losing money, essentially working for free. Most people think they are helping the restaurant but they could actually be hurting it.
As a disabled person who can't go fetch it, if I want restaurant food, I have to use a delivery app.
YSK that if an oncoming vehicle is flashing their lights at you for no reason it's likely there is a cop up ahead attempting to catch you speeding with radar.
You can thank that oncoming vehicle by paying it forward!
YSK: if a rock comes off of a truck and damages your windshield, the truck driver will be held responsible for damages.
A lot of gravel trucks have decals that read “stay back 200ft” or “not responsible for damages” to deter people into thinking the company/driver isn’t liable for damages, but that isn’t true. Decals are not legally binding.
All drivers are responsible for securing their load. In the event that an unsecured load damages your vehicle, you should always take the driver’s license plate number.
This is definitely not true (at least in Iowa, USA). That being said, it is IF the driver did not secure their load. However if the load is properly secured or the driver has an "empty" bed and a rock or debris from the truck comes loose and hits your vehicle or such, it is considered a roadway hazard and essentially no one is at fault. I say this being a former insurance agent and operations manager of a trucking company.
YSK that Youtube is updating their terms of service on December 10th with a new clause that they can terminate anyone they deem "not commercially viable"
"Terminations by YouTube for Service Changes
YouTube may terminate your access, or your Google account’s access to all or part of the Service if YouTube believes, in its sole discretion, that provision of the Service to you is no longer commercially viable. "
this is a very broad and vague blanket term that could apply from people who make content that does not produce youtube ad revune to people using ad blocking software.
Well good thing that the EU introduced a law that says that it's none of YT's business which software runs on the consumers PC, including ad blockers. That's why we in Europe didn't get blocked from watching videos during their latest attempts to fight those
YSK that there are cases of bubonic plague every year around the world and the recent cases in the news are no reason to panic.
It's also not a death sentence and treatable with antibiotics, so please don't be terrified by what you see in the news.
YSK that whenever you have a job interview you should always thank the employer for the interview after it's over, regardless of how it went.
Why YSK: I once had a job interview and I thought it didn't go well, but I emailed the employer after anyways just to thank them for the opportunity. When they got back to me they said that I got the job, partly because I was the only one to thank them for the interview. You should always do this even if you think it's pointless.
YSK that its illegal for a restaurant to make a server pay for a dine and dash.
Why YSK: Many servers do not know or understand their rights. With these tough times, I've experienced this myself as a Bartender and had my restaurant try this on me. I know other servers are all experiencing a huge increase in dine and dashers. Top it off with most people only tipping 10% and its miserable.
My restaurant in California tried this on me recently. I showed them the law and told them it wasn't happening. They did not like that but they let it drop because to fire me over it would be an insane lawsuit. I'm going to quit soon but thats a different story.
YSK also that every state is a little different. Some states do allow it conditionally, but if you know your states laws, the restaurant will probably not mess with you. A lawsuit can dig up a nasty past and nobody can afford back pay right now. Bassisically, if they make it a problem, and you make it a bigger problem (lawsuit) they will go out of business. Especially right now.
This applies to a lot of things, like working off the clock, owners/managers taking tips, meetings / writeups off the clock, and many other small tricks they use to save money from you.
TLDR: If a restaurant threatens your paycheck, stand up them. They are probably legally wrong, can't afford a lawsuit, and will back down. If they don't, sue the crap out of them.
YSK: Installing a bidet attachment to your toilet is super easy and probably cheaper than stockpiling a ton of toilet paper.
YSK your outdoor cat is causing detrimental damage to the environment.
Cats hunt down endangered birds and small mammals while they’re outdoors, and have become one of the largest risk to these species due to an over abundance of outdoor domestic cats and feral cats. Please reconsider having an outdoor cat because they are putting many animals onto the endangered list.
My cat isn't a hunter. We got him because we had rats - he used to sit on a bench and watch the baby rats play near him. Then we moved. Now he sits in the middle of the spread bird seed and the pigeons and small birds just eat around him. Yes he's a ginger lol
YSK if you're using a mask with glasses, applying a few drops of dish soap to the inside of your lens and rubbing with a cloth, will keep you fog free for 7 hours ish.
BP is really dredging the archives more than ever with these posts!
YSK that archive.org has millions of books available for free, many of which are hard to find elsewhere on the internet.
Why YSK: if you're doing homework, research, etc. and you are asked to consult a specific book which you don't possess, can't buy (either bc it's expensive or bc it's an old edition) and can't go to a library or get it another way, you can search there, and you may find it. For online class i was asked to cite an article of my country's civil code which was derogated, and no pdf had those articles, but i was able to find a version from the 1930s there. I've also found a couple textbooks which i needed for brief research.
YSK When they ask for objections at a wedding, it’s to make sure they don’t have secret marriages or the couple aren’t related. It’s not a ‘last call’ for heartsick exes.
If you’re waiting for the objection scene, you already missed the boat, and you’re about to ruin someone’s wedding.
Ysk Expect “strange” behavior from your friends and family this holiday season that may not be noticeable while interacting online. Especially those who live and work alone. Mental health issues, speech impediments, etc. can become worse when a person is isolated.
Why YSK: While this year has been hard on everyone, those who live/work alone may be going days or weeks without in-person interactions or even speaking. If a friend, family member, or loved one who has been isolated is spending time with you, it is because they care about you. Pointing out their “strange” (non-harmful) behavior will likely make them feel worse about something they’re aware of but struggling to control.
YSK: Mental health tends to improve with age. If you feel like things will never get better, know that multiple studies have found an improvement in happiness and decrease in neuroticism with age.
As a teenager or young adult it's common to feel like your mental health issues won't get better, but they almost certainly will. Source and Source 2 for anyone who needs a reminder that it will get better!
YSK if you adopt a very young child or baby, tell them they were adopted right from the start, don't wait until they're older.
"The few studies that exist indicate that the late discovery of adoption is linked to psychological distress and feelings of anger, betrayal, depression, and anxiety."
In this study it states that "Results indicated that those who learned of their adoptions from age 3 and older reported more distress and lower life satisfaction when controlling for the amount of time adoptees have known of their adoption statuses and their use of coping strategies."
Basically, if you tell them right from the start, including, of course, that you love them, it is much better for the child's mental health.
I saw a little squib after an article in Reader's Digest, where the couple started telling their daughter that she was adopted when she was two. She said, "I'm a doctor?"
YSK that when you go through a drive thru, you will usually still be close to the employee serving you. You should still wear a face covering as if you were standing next to them.
Why YSK: Just because you’re in your car, it doesn’t mean that something can’t be transmitted to the employee. If there’s no plexiglass barrier between you and the employee(s), you should wear a face covering out of respect.
For the people who don’t believe in the recent events, this post isn’t aimed towards you, you guys won’t wear one regardless where you are. This is for people who have truly cared about other people’s well-being and have been wearing a face covering in public spaces.
I’ve mentioned this to a few of my friends who wear face coverings in public, and they haven’t realized that going through drive thrus is essentially the same thing as standing next to the person. Ever since I brought it up to them, they started wearing one when they go through drive thrus.
YSK or rather BPSK (Bored Panda Should Know): Please review your post entries. Why BPSK: Many of these entries are outdated!
I stopped reading these half-way through because starting them all with "YSK" just got tedious and annoying.
Yeah. I could do without the YSK in front of everything. Otherwise it was interesting.
Load More Replies... YSK or rather BPSK (Bored Panda Should Know): Please review your post entries. Why BPSK: Many of these entries are outdated!
I stopped reading these half-way through because starting them all with "YSK" just got tedious and annoying.
Yeah. I could do without the YSK in front of everything. Otherwise it was interesting.
Load More Replies... 