Educating Annoying Ignorances

[New Troll]

Everyone is ignorant when it comes to certain things. Take for example me when it comes to vehicles. I have little idea what car is what when it drives by me on the street. And even less of a clue what I'm looking at once a hood has been popped. So a lot of people's ignorance can be taken lightly. But then there's the stuff that's just extremely annoying...

Like the misconception of the term "iPod." I work retail and I swear every single customer either believes iPods are different then MP3 players, or don't even know there's an electronic device called an MP3 player. And even MP3 player is slang! Or really just an obsolete description. Now it's Digital Media Player. An iPod is a brand of MP3 player, just like how Kleenex is a brand of facial tissue and Q-Tip is a brand cotton swab and Coke is a brand of soda. But every day I will get customers asking for "Sony iPods" or "generic iPods." Every single time.

And another annoyance, and the reason I thought to make this thread, is the misconception of what a hamper is. My roommate just asked me if I wanted a hamper and I replied that I did. So I cleaned out a spot in my bathroom to put it just for him to bring me an old laundry basket. And this isn't the first time someone has done the exact same thing to me. I already have laundry baskets. Really nice ones too. But what I could use is a hamper. NOT another basket! And for those who don't know the difference, a hamper is a container used to hold dirty clothes out of sight. Usually it's a semi-decorative plastic or wicker container with a lid. A laundry basket on the other hand is a container for carrying clothes, usually to and fro the washer/ dryer or outside clothes-line. Now I know a lot of people use laundry baskets as hampers, just like I've been doing for awhile now since I'm too cheap to buy a real hamper, but there still remains a difference.

So what ignorances do you find frustrating?

 

[smearyllama]

This week is midterm week.
Of course, after taking the exams, we all ask each other about which exams we took. My first test was in orchestra. Almost every single time I brought it up, someone would go "Wait, you have midterms in orchestra? That's dumb." and then I'd have to explain that, yes, in orchestra we actually learn things, and do not, in fact, just dick around with instruments for 90 minutes.
That's a pain to deal with.
Also, my mom's ignorance of single thing I do is mildly frustrating.
"So... Which instrument do you play again?"
"I'm a violist, mom. I've been doing this since sixth grade."
"That's nice."

 

[ohnoitsabear]

Basically anything my dad thinks relating to computers.

"No dad, you don't need to print a Microsoft Word document, then scan it, then save it a as a pdf just so you can email it."

I also have to agree with MP3 players. When most people see me use my Cowon J3, they automatically assume that it's a cheap iPod ripoff that is inferior in every way. It usually takes me a while to explain that my J3 is superior to iPods in many ways and that I don't give a shit about stupid apps.

 

[McMullen]

I'm a graphic artist, and have had friends and family ask for small photo touch-up projects occasionally. Some of them think the Magic Enhance Button from the movies is a real thing.

 

[New Troll]

Carrying on with the iPod name theme.
A lot of computer novices call the actual computer itself the "hard drive".
I always to an 'internal' facepalm in my mind whenever I hear someone use this term incorrectly like this.

Oh yes, I get this quite often too. Or they think the monitor is the "computer" and have no clue what the tower is actually for. And I hate netbooks! Yes they are great for what they're made for (basically note taking and internet research) but 99% of the people who buy them truly believe they're getting an actual laptop notebook. Course thier ignorance is very much less annoying than all those parents buying their children iPads just to play games on. Could buy a really good laptop for the same price. Or better yet, a PS3 AND a 32" TV to play it on. Course maybe I'm just jealous cause all I got at that age was He-Man and G.I.Joes. Had to share the family computer with all my siblings and even worse, my parents. Kids today...

 

[Lilani]

It really bothers me when people misunderstand certain phrases, because they only know them phonetically and have never seen them written down. For example, they'll say "all of the sudden" instead of "all of a sudden," or "in yet" instead of "and yet." Or sometimes they just totally screw the phrase up altogether. The best one I ever saw was on a shirt this girl had made for a trip she went on with some friends. It read "What stays in Panama happens in Panama." I mean...really? There were like 13 names on the back of that shirt, and NONE of them noticed that?

 

[Tharwen]

Truthfully, I love hearing other people get things wrong. It makes me feel better about myself. I'd never admit that though.

It really bothers me when people misunderstand certain phrases, because they only know them phonetically and have never seen them written down. For example, they'll say "all of the sudden" instead of "all of a sudden," or "in yet" instead of "and yet." Or sometimes they just totally screw the phrase up altogether. The best one I ever saw was on a shirt this girl had made for a trip she went on with some friends. It read "What stays in Panama happens in Panama." I mean...really? There were like 13 names on the back of that shirt, and NONE of them noticed that?

Obviously she did it to be ironic.

 

[Aidinthel]

My dad didn't realize that video games had stories. Seriously. It's always an interesting conversation whenever I try to talk about games with him. Previous revelations include that different players take different roles when working together in WoW, what the name for an FPS is, what a cutscene is, the existence of gold farmers (I had to correct him when he called them "miners"), and that playing games requires more thought than watching TV. To his credit, though, he's not dumb and never makes the same mistake twice. It's just a constant reminder of the very different worlds we live in.

yes, in orchestra we actually learn things, and do not, in fact, just dick around with instruments for 90 minutes.

Is it theory tests or a performance? Or both? I took choir in high school, and people had similar reactions. It was always amusing to listen to the slackers freak out 'cause they'd joined the class thinking it'd be an easy A.

It really bothers me when people misunderstand certain phrases, because they only know them phonetically and have never seen them written down.

Intensive purposes. That is all. *twitch*

 

[RJ 17]

Snippage

To your first story, I can express nothing but shock. How in god's name can you exist in the year 2012 and not at least know what an iPod is? Or the fact that iAnything is going to be an Apple product? I can understand maybe not having one. Hell, to this day I don't even have a smart phone and I'm 26. But I can easily understand your rage at the ignorance of customers.

To your second story, I can do nothing but laugh...and laugh hard. You've gotten punked with a laundry basket instead of a hamper MULTIPLE times? That seems like the kind of thing that happens once and you get a funny story out of it, but that it's happened a couple of times is just flat-out funny. I think what I find so humorous about this is the fact that I honestly can't imagine a roommate just up and saying "Hey, you want a hamper?" But apparently he had an extra laundry basket and he wanted to share. Hey, it's the thought that counts!

As for the last time I've felt such frustration...I know I have before, and I'd imagine it involved trying to explain a game to someone. Just can't remember anything specific at the moment. Just to offer something, I guess it would be trying to teach my little brother (14) how to play CoD...he keeps chucking his flashbangs and then staring right at them, and every time he asks me "Why do I keep getting blinded when I throw a grenade?" to which I must remind him the difference between a flashbang and a grenade...a difference which eludes him entirely, apparently.

 

[Ultress]

As I pointed out in another thread: The idea that the Funeral industry is recession proof. No it is not.while it's true people will continue to die, howeverI can't(legally) control the death rate.In addition people want to do less and less with a funeral, so we don't make as much on each funeral. In the end the sucky economy extends everywhere.

Going off this article and what it represents:http://www.rd.com/13-things/13-things-the-funeral-director-wont-tell-you/, this idea that funeral directors are greedy bastards who want to rob you blind, I won't speak for all Funeral directors but most of the ones I have met are good people who love the families they serve.

Also some key points from that article:3. You can buy caskets that are just as nice as the ones in my showroom for thousands of dollars less online from Walmart, Costco, or straight from a manufacturer., yes but does McDonald's have to tell you you can get better hamburgers at Burger King or Red Robin?

7.Protective? caskets with a rubber gasket? They don?t stop decomposition, No one's claiming they do.

9.Ask the crematory to return the ashes in a plain metal or plastic container,most will do that.

10. Shop around. Prices at funeral homes vary wildly, with direct cremation costing $500 at one funeral home and $3,000 down the street. (Federal law requires that prices be provided over the phone.) Different places price things differently, NO WAY!

11. We remove pacemakers because the batteries damage our crematories. Yes, Yes they do. Your point?

 

[New Troll]

Another thing that always frustrates me to no end... Full Frame vs. Widescreen! Even now when all TVs are made widescreen and 99% of DVDs are made widescreen, I still get customers who demand Full Frame because they claim widescreen chops the tops and bottoms of movies off. Full frame was the worst term ever thought up, for ignorant people see the word 'full' and jump to the conclusion that means 'complete.' I even get a lot of customers who believe Full Frame and Widescreen are the exact same picture, just widescreen has been stretched to fit misshapen TV sets. And I hate getting the deer in headlights look from them when I try to explain how movies (and now most TV shows) are made wide, just as how a movie screen is wide in the theater. Goes right over their heads.

yes, in orchestra we actually learn things, and do not, in fact, just dick around with instruments for 90 minutes.

Is it theory tests or a performance? Or both? I took choir in high school, and people had similar reactions. It was always amusing to listen to the slackers freak out 'cause they'd joined the class thinking it'd be an easy A.

I just watched The Breakfast Club again and I always find it amusing how ignorant the "Brain" is about taking shop.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

ATM machine
PIN number
"Hi, am I speaking to the house owner?"
"Your call is important to us."
"We are sorry for the delay."
"I know about Trading Standards."
and
"I'm only trying to help."

All of these show a basic ignorance of the ideas, with platitudes to keep people "informed".

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

To your first story, I can express nothing but shock. How in god's name can you exist in the year 2012 and not at least know what an iPod is?

The public wants what the public gets.
(NSFW)

 

[Thaluikhain]

I don't mind intensive purposes, in that I remember much mocking of a guy who said that while trying to impress us with his write wordy skills.

Generally, eh, I could care less.

 

[kasperbbs]

Well my dad thinks that computers hard drive's size determines how good the computer is, its a good thing he asked me to help him buy a new laptop.

 

[BringBackBuck]

Intensive purposes. That is all. *twitch*

Holy fuckballs. This.

Man, I only came into this thread to make a lame "first world problems" gag and now, upon reading this sentence have turned into a complete gibbering mess. It's just so wrong, so utterly ridiculously...just...I don't even...uuugh

 

[launchpadmcqwak]

people who think screamo is the same as metal...IT AINT!

 

[BringBackBuck]

I don't mind intensive purposes, in that I remember much mocking of a guy who said that while trying to impress us with his write wordy skills.

Generally, eh, I could care less.

Good god man, have you no decency? My head literally exploded when I read that.

 

[Randomologist]

My parents swear blind that leaving my PC on hibernate uses up just as much power as when it's on. I pointed out that the PC is actually off but has the RAM saved to the hard disk, but no, apparently its just in a non-responsive state. And they're sure they're not talking about standby.

My dad didn't realize that video games had stories...

I had a similar conversation with my mother the other day, over what you actually get to do in games. She thought all games were effectively Duke Nukem-style FPS games. To her credit though, she did look at some of my games (Portal, Minecraft, Civ 4) and noticed they weren't gung-ho soldiers shooting at everything that moves.