Things everybody should know but for some reason, most don't.

[RoBi3.0]

60% of people in my school (Australia, <Year 11) don't know what WWI or WWII are!

WWII didn't happen, it's just an urban legend.

Whatever, everyone knows that WWII was a horrible time where Hilter through deception seized power in Germany then went on a power mad quest to take over the world. Aided by his vampire allies who feasted on the blood of countless Jews. In fact Hitler and the Vampires probably would have succeeded if it were not for Abe Lincoln 16th president of the United States and his band of Vampire Slayers.

 

[Grog289]

Here's one that my fellow Americans need to really take to heart. Don't listen to anyone who wants to declare war on a concept (see communism, drugs, terrorism). Such wars will do nothing but drain your country of lives and money

 

[OldNewNewOld]

Europe is a continent not a country. And we don't speak French.

 

[Mike the Bard]

1) I really, really, really wish that people understood science better. How it's performed, when it's good, when it's bad, and what you can conclude from the findings. Very few things piss me off more than going onto a fluff article on CNN or something about "Eggplant may cure cancer!" and seeing a bunch of "It totally worked for ME..." in the comments. The plural of personal experience is not data! Also, correlation is not causation!

2) Global Climate Change is real, it's happening, and humans are causing it (we 'tipped the scales' with fossil fuels). The dissenting scientific community makes up about 2% of all scientists, and most don't have a related degree. You don't go to an MBA for your goiter, you don't ask a Historian about climate. We're not going to stop it or slow it in time, either. The only reason we're not noticing quite yet is because of our location and wealth. Prepare to move, people. I'm thinking Northeast or Northwest.

3) I'm also aghast at how short too many peoples' political memories are.

you sir, win my respect for the day.

overall i think people should have a better understanding of history and philosophy. It gives an interesting insight on politics. after all as the old saying goes "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." and philosophy is really what political opinions are made out of. so having an understanding of philosophy gives you a leg up as a voter.

 

[Rumpsteak]

That when discussing something the phrase "in my opinion" does not need to be included in every other sentence. I can almost always determine what is fact and what is opinion please don't keep stating it.

Sorry, that has just been annoying me for some time.

 

[waj9876]

-to the third: It doesn't matter. Stating facts to a death cult-

Hey, you set up a good example for mine! A lot of people are using the word "cult" wrong.

That new religion down the street? That's a cult.

Islam when it first came into practice? That's a cult.

Christianity when it first came into practice? Cult.

That first example, the new religion down the street? It doesn't matter if it's true or not, it doesn't matter if the heads of the cult can actually summon the powers of nature through having a week long orgy or not. Hell, it doesn't even matter if they can SUMMON A GOD ITSELF into this mortal plane. It'd still be considered a cult.

A cult is a new religion. That's it. It isn't a term for false religions, mass-suicide religions, or even as a term to throw around against certain religions you personally are ignorant and/or prejudice against.

 

[Scarim Coral]

While people know the 911 event was September 11 but some people forgot the year on when it happen.
How hard is it to remember that it was 2001? I mean I pretty sure this was the terrorist humour to attack in that time when it's the same emergency number.

 

[Captain__Cookies]

I would slow down if I were you. Stuff like this gets people suspended. I've seen it countless times.

Really? a dictionary definition of cult, and some random (completely true) facts about Christianity to support my point, I'm not sure I like the idea that you can get suspended for that. An argument with a fact and two pieces of evidence, minimal non-offensive persuasion. Hmm

 

[GundamSentinel]

The toilet is NOT a trash can! Paper towels and wet wipes NEVER go in it! Those aren't NEARLY the same thing as toilet paper! Toilet paper is specifically designed to dissolve in septic tanks. You know what isn't? PAPER TOWELS!!!

Interesting. I did not know that. Thanks for enlightening me.

to topic:

You should *NOT* give cats anything containing milk.
Such as cream, butter, joghurt or... erm... MILK!

Ffs, so many people are seriously risking their cat's health.

Cats are one of the few mammals that can reasonably cope with cow milk, even though it's not good for them. Lactose can be outright fatal to many small mammals as mammals generally become lactose intolerant after weaning.

Humans are one of the few species where that generally isn't the case (seems to have been a fairly recent biological development) and the only reason cats can deal with lactose is because of their size.

 

[isometry]

Democracy is a terrible form of government, because it always degenerates into a plutocracy - rule by the rich. The ideal republic needs governors who are truly rich, not in gold, but in the wealth that makes happiness - a good and wise life.

 

[Sethzard]

Put on a condom and go buy a puppy. They'll love you forever and you'll never have to pay to send them to college. Also, they're adorable. Babies are kinda like... tiny Winston Churchills.

Only when you stick a Cigar in their Gob.

Probably that those people who complain about genetic engineering should realise that selective breeding is basically the same thing (in terms of the un-natural thing) and if they've ever eaten wheat, or a cow, or an orange carrot have eaten something which has been selectively bred.

 

[theheroofaction]

Here's one that my fellow Americans need to really take to heart. Don't listen to anyone who wants to declare war on a concept (see communism, drugs, terrorism). Such wars will do nothing but drain your country of lives and money

This, so much of this.

Anyhow, many people take pride in being able to pick a the good option when being presented with a good, or bad option. That's easy, but real life doesn't work like that.

In real life, you're faced with choices that would benefit you in different ways.
In real life, choices can have both positive and negative effects.
In real life, the hardest choices aren't between a good option and a bad option; they are between a bad option and a worse option.
In real life, you always have the choice to not act at all, but you're rarely in a situation where you're completely incapable of acting.
In real life, there are more options than the immediately obvious ones.

anyhow, that's my $0.02

Oh yeah, and I wish more keyboard manufacturers knew how many people use the phrase "that's my two cents", then maybe I'd have the right symbol.

 

[RustlessPotato]

That Atheism is not a religion, that Dawkins is not a priest like figure, nor do we worship him.

Also, with the recent things like Acta etc.. That our rights shouldn't be taken for granted.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

While working at Gamestop and even while visiting some friends, it surprises me how many times I've seen game discs that looked like they were used to sharpen the claws of a family of feral cats. Repairing a disc isn't something everyone is able to do and it isn't something everyone knows but preventing the scratches and gouges is something that everybody should know how to do! Some of the discs I've encountered looked like they were cleaned with sandpaper. This isn't just game discs but DVDs and CDs too: Maybe some people are unlucky or, maybe I'm the disc equivalent of a White Mage but everyone should know how to keep their discs from reaching such states of degradation.

In the U.S. Exit numbers increase from 1 when driving north on an interstate at 1-mile increments. They decrease by 1 going south. The number resets back to 1 (or the highest exit number of the state) every time you hit a new state.

Just found out this wasn't common knowledge not too long ago.

This makes a lot of sense...I didn't know this before and while my mind isn't quite blown I feel like a moron for not knowing about this before. I also realized about a week ago that northbound exits are the same numerically as they are southbound on those same interstates (ie: Exit 6 on route 270 north and south in Maryland is Rockville Town Center. I only just realized that last week while driving north from a local Mall I only seldom visit)

 

[Lug100]

The internet and the web are not the same thing.
When the big bang happend, the whole universe didnt just explode out like it is now, complete with planets and asteroids and stars.

Those two are my main pet hates.

 

[theheroofaction]

That Atheism is not a religion, that Dawkins is not a priest like figure, nor do we worship him.

I have inscrutable evidence otherwise

It came from the internet, so it must be true.

 

[DrgoFx]

What I think most people should know but don't? Just because a song is catchy doesn't mean it's good. For example, look at almost every Nikki Minaj song in existence.