“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge

In the 21st century, the real issue isn’t “How do you find information?” but “How do you sift through the oceans of data out there?” As a result, it can be hard to actually know what is “common knowledge” and what is some obscure factoid you have randomly memorized.

Someone asked “What’s something you thought was common knowledge but found out most people didn’t know” and netizens shared their best examples. From intricate traffic rules to observations about human behavior, hopefully, you will learn something new. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorite examples, and comment your ideas below.

This post may include affiliate links.

If you flick the bar sticking out of your steering wheel up, it causes the lights on the right side of your vehicle to flash. And if you flick it down, the left side flashes, so people know you are going to make a turn or change lanes. It even works in pickup trucks!

EkbyBjarnum Report

Final score:

351points

POST

View more comments

Queer people existed in the "olden times". And they exist in countries where it's banned. And they exist in ultra-conservative families.

PrecariousThings Report

Final score:

253points

POST

View more comments

Social media is NOT for you, it's for advertisers. You're the product.

blaspheminCapn Report

Final score:

241points

POST

Luke Branwen 11 months ago

Except Tumblr. It has already cost a large company billions of dollars and is somehow still running.

33points

Kira Okah 11 months ago (edited)

The thing about Tumblr is that companies keep withdrawing ads on there, thinking that they are not getting traffic from there because it doesn't show up on their metrics. But all outgoing links on Tumblr run through a hidden referrer link (href.li), so all traffic is anonymous and doesn't show on tracking metrics. It's brilliant.

20points

Load More Replies...

Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 11 months ago

Of course we're the product. Audi and I are the two most famous and adorable cats on all of Bored Panda! We are always the product. You're welcome, soft can-openers.

3points

David 11 months ago

LOL at seeing comments like this posted on social media sites. Both user and provider benefit from the arrangement and if you disagree - stop posting.

1point

Rinso the Red 11 months ago

In general, if they're offering a "free" service, you are the product.

1point

Lyone Fein 11 months ago

Product? More like target.

0points

Roxy222uk 11 months ago

If it's free, you are the product.

0points

Erick L. 11 months ago

Can't say the contrary.

0points

DrBronxx 11 months ago

While I agree that we are the product, just because it's for advertisers doesn't mean it's not for us. It's not a binary thing.

-1point

John Connell 11 months ago

as with newspapers

-1point

Lydsylou (she/her) 11 months ago

You say that like it's a bad thing

-1point

Becky Samuel 11 months ago

How brainwashed do you need to be to think that it's okay for a corporation to know everything from your sexuality, your purchases, your geographical position, your political opinions etc?

6points

Load More Replies...

Jared Robinson 11 months ago

That's not how that works but you are close.

-2points

View more comments

“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge You let people out before entering

Maybeyanny , Darius Krause Report

Final score:

238points

POST

View more comments

“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge Being nice and patient will give you a bigger chance of getting a refund or a new of whatever is broken, than being angry and blaming the random worker

ellaablair , Clay Banks Report

Final score:

201points

POST

View more comments

You have to empty the lint trap on your dryer after each load.

SummerGirlsByLFO1999 Report

Final score:

179points

POST

View more comments

“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge If you are driving and it is raining - turn your lights on.

broncoguy612 , Thái An Report

Final score:

172points

POST

View more comments

“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge That you should wash your hands every time you use the toilet. Yes, even if you “got nothing on them”.

Ecstatic-Barracuda20 , Clay Banks Report

Final score:

172points

POST

View more comments

“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge HR is there to protect the employer, NOT you.

Grenadine is made from pomegranate, not cherry.

rayyy16 , im Gouw Report

Final score:

166points

POST

View more comments

#10

“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge Gambling at a casino will most likely result in losing money.

Layla_BC , Kaysha Report

Final score:

148points

POST

View more comments

#11

“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge The older I get, the more I'm realizing basic history is not known at all.

Yanwes , Zach Plank Report

Final score:

147points

POST

View more comments

#12

RSVP means Please Respond. Not respond if you're coming, or respond if you're not coming. Respond whether you're coming or not.

EstablishmentLucky50 Report

Final score:

144points

POST

View more comments

#13

Vehicles entering a freeway/merging with traffic do not have the right-of-way and YIELD signs are not merely suggestions.

No_Independence1479 Report

Final score:

142points

POST

View more comments

#14

“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge Ammonia + Bleach = Poison Gas. Don't combine the two, and pay attention to the active ingredients on cleaning products. Glass cleaner is often ammonia-based while "bathroom cleaners" usually contain bleach, for example.

paleo2002 , Kelly Sikkema Report

Final score:

130points

POST

View more comments

#15

95% of getting what you want, is in HOW YOU ASK.

Don't be a d**k/karen, and you will likely get whatever you need.

PitBullFan Report

Final score:

128points

POST

View more comments

#16

“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge Cows have to give birth first before they can produce milk
Just like any other mammal

schlingelschlange , Suvrajit 💭 S Report

Final score:

122points

POST

View more comments

#17

“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge Lefty loosy, righty tighty

BubblesO4 , Christian Buehner Report

Final score:

120points

POST

View more comments

#18

“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge Mayonnaise does not have any dairy in it. Just because eggs are sold in the 'dairy' section of the grocery store does not mean eggs are dairy products. They will not trigger your lactose intolerance because they have no lactose in them.

WesleySmusher , Jaye Haych Report

Final score:

118points

POST

View more comments

#19

“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge If the traffic lights are out at an intersection, treat it as a 4 way stop.

porcelainvacation , Davis Sánchez Report

Final score:

116points

POST

View more comments

#20

If interrogated by the police for a crime ask for a lawyer and say nothing. You can be incredibly guilty but without your testimony you have a chance to get off. You have rights.

df_45 Report

Final score:

116points

POST

View more comments

#21

I have an inner monologue which I thought everyone had

SL04NY Report

Final score:

115points

POST

View more comments

#22

“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge You wash out blood with cold water

Complikatee , engin akyurt Report

Final score:

110points

POST

View more comments

#23

It's YIN and Yang, not YING!

Rich-Blacksmith6672 Report

Final score:

103points

POST

View more comments

#24

Some eggs aren't fertilized and will never become a baby/chicken/penquin. It baffles me how many folks Ive had to explain that to this month alone.

ScreamingMoths Report

Final score:

98points

POST

View more comments

#25

“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge Blue light on your dash means your brights are on

Car_loapher , Hannes Egler Report

Final score:

96points

POST

View more comments

#26

I'm always surprised by the number of people who think that ponies are *baby* horses rather than *small* horses.

TheMightyGoatMan Report

Final score:

90points

POST

View more comments

#27

“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge A lot of media online. It's easy to see something being really popular online and forget that it's only popular amongst people of a certain demographic or audience.

The_One_Guy1 , dole777 Report

Final score:

84points

POST

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#28

Roman Numerals.

Not sure why I thought it was common knowledge.

Arkiswatching Report

Final score:

80points

POST

View more comments

#29

If you want to drink beer all night long, drink a glass of water between each beer. You will be the last one standing.

scrimage Report

Final score:

72points

POST

View more comments

#30

“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge The arrow next to your gas pump symbol on your dashboard indicates what side of the car your tank is on. ⛽️🚗

Iwantacheezeburger84 , Danny Sleeuwenhoek Report

Final score:

50points

POST

View more comments

Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium

Unlimited content

Ad-free browsing

Dark mode

#31

“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge Police are allowed to lie to you, manipulate you and twist your words during interrogations. Most people assume there's some kind of rule in place but once you waive your right to an attorney and agree to talk they can basically do whatever they want short of a threat. Innocent or not, always, always lawyer up immediately.

Lordfuton92 , LOGAN WEAVER | @LGNWVR Report

Final score:

34points

POST

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

#32

That you could just remove all the zeros from a multiplication question, multiply all the non zero numbers, then just add the zeros back afterwards.

E.g. 234000 × 6000 could be done as just 234 × 6 first, which is 1404, and then since there are 6 zeros in total from the original two numbers, just add 6 zeros to the back of 1404. Then you have 1404000000.

Very easy.

olmepha Report

Final score:

31points

POST

View more comments

#33

In the US, even numbered highways go east and west whereas odd numbered highways go north and south.

k_marts Report

Final score:

30points

POST

View more comments

#34

Capybaras are the worlds largest rodent. I guess not everyone grew up with The Wild Thornberries

FroggiJoy87 Report

Final score:

30points

POST

View more comments

#35

Many people can't picture faces in their heads, even of their loved ones. We don't fully remember faces but recognize them.
I can tell you a few things about my mother's face, but I don't have a picture of it in my head.
I am very fascinated by people who can do it though.

Neo_bow Report

Final score:

28points

POST

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

#36

If you go under a tunnel in the states, if there is a red line along the wall it means your under ground and if it’s blue you’re under water.

Wide-Ad346 Report

Final score:

24points

POST

View more comments

#37

If your birthday is on a Monday, then the next year it will be on a Tuesday, then on a Wednesday and so on with the exception of leap years where it skips a day.

InviteAromatic6124 Report

Final score:

23points

POST

View more comments

#38

“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge Pressing the “TEST” button on a smoke detector will silence it.

I still see people fanning towels at them sometimes.

darknecross , Wikipedia Report

Final score:

22points

POST

View more comments

#39

That the Alphabet Song is just "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" in disguise.

_TwentyThree_ Report

Final score:

22points

POST

View more comments

#40

Some people confuse the concepts of "checking your oil level" with "changing your oil periodically". Both activities need to be done regularly.

As in "why would I need to change the oil? The light hasn't come on yet!"

casapulapula Report

Final score:

20points

POST

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

#41

Knocking on a door before going inside

hajoonxx Report

Final score:

20points

POST

View more comments

#42

This may just be a local thing but here goes. The reflectors in the roadway at night are white when you’re going the right way, and red when you’re not. Specifically it’s the reflectors that divide traffic lanes (white dashed lines).

XxDrummerChrisX Report

Final score:

20points

POST

View more comments

#43

“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge In the US, a lot of hospital systems have financial aid based on income. I've gotten 60-100% of my bill wiped *after* insurance. Even while making a living wage, they still took off 60%.

272027 , Adhy Savala Report

Final score:

20points

POST

View more comments

#44

How to read a map. General directions. NEWS. Sometimes there's no wifi and apparently, no common sense.

cre8magic Report

Final score:

20points

POST

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

What do you think ?

Denise Greenhoe 11 months ago

Highly Useful Fact: When driving on the freeway in a snow storm allow all pickup trucks to fly past you at 80 mph. You'll find them in a ditch about a mile up the road.

8points

Tiff Day 11 months ago

Anyone up for a ddos attack on bored panda next time the repeat the worlds worst 40 facts for morons?

7points

Rostit. . 11 months ago

they use a CDN so its pretty hard to do that.

Annik Perrot 11 months ago

Well, duh!

2points

Lori Rommel 11 months ago

Something I noticed one day -- odd-numbered street addresses will be on the north side of the street and even-numbered on the south side; odd on the west and even on the east. This isn't actually carved in stone, but it seems to be pretty universal (at least in California.) Also, the noises that the walk lights make -- the cuckoo bird sound is for going north-south, and the chirpy one is for going east-west.

SeaLouse 11 months ago

The absolute bare essential basics about how weather/climate work. Did you know that North America, Europe, Russia, Asia and most of Africa have the same seasons?

Sooploosh MacSchnibble 11 months ago

Another highly useful fact: Godzilla Minus One's theatrical run in the US (and other regions too but I forghetti which ones) has been extended from Dec 7 to Dec 13 in certain theaters (I think Regal and AMC and a few others but once again I forghetti) so if u've given up on seeing it, try checking to see if its playing past the 7th in any theaters near u!! Even if ur not a G fan I would strongy suggest watching it! its very good!!

“Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty”: 30 Highly Useful Facts That Are Not Yet Universal Knowledge

Games

Justin Sandberg

Justin Sandberg

Mantas Kačerauskas

Mantas Kačerauskas