“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.

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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

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351points

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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

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253points

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

blaspheminCapn Report

Final score:

241points

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

Maybeyanny , Darius Krause Report

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238points

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“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

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

SummerGirlsByLFO1999 Report

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179points

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“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

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172points

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“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

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“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

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#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

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#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

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#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

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144points

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#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

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#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

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Jesse 11 months ago

Chlorine gas. Violates the Geneva Convention.

25points

Donkey boi 11 months ago

Fun fact: The Geneva convention only relates to acts carried out during wartime. So if you're not at war, you cannot breach it.

5points

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Sooploosh MacSchnibble 11 months ago

No actually that's a different gas. It creates Chloramine Gas.

4points

Astrophile 11 months ago

I remember the time I was trying to clean a coffee pot and accidentally violated the Geneva Convention. Lessons learned 😬

2points

Rostit. . 11 months ago (edited)

Chloramine technically. Its a mix of both chemicals. Chlorine gas would be without ammonia. and it is not on the geneva convention. you are mixing it up with mustard gas that people commonly are mistaken about when they hear chlorine and ammonia being mixed. chlorine gas as a weapon is against the geneva convention. I can't find a single mention of chloramine.

2points

Dumpster Fire 11 months ago

And I can make it at home?? YAY!!!

0points

Mike Loux 11 months ago

And will absolutely violate your lungs.

0points

Snakebite Mcghee 11 months ago

And your lungs too

0points

Jack McBride 11 months ago

The US never signed on and many of the signed don`t always play by the rules.

-3points

Leviathan 11 months ago

This!!! My aunt and I were feeling sick, I asked what he was cleaning the bathroom with, "window cleaner" Im like... do you know there is ammonia in pee and that cleaner?....she goes yeah, I tell her "And you are going to pour bleach on it.... "yeah" she says" "m like "THAT F**KING MUSTARD GAS/Poison gas STOP THAT!"

6points

meow point1 11 months ago

So she was using it on the actual toilet, or does she have a husband with bad aim?

3points

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Dillon McNichols 11 months ago

Yup, this is why you don't clean the toilet with bleach. You end up getting gassed

2points

Almost sunny 11 months ago

Whoops

0points

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Lsai Aeon 11 months ago

Urine contains ammonia, don't clean urine with bleach

2points

Santrikea 11 months ago

I need to pay more attention when cleaning my bathroom. I'm surprised I'm still alive.

2points

Almost sunny 11 months ago

Me too

0points

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zovjraar 11 months ago

if you have cats that pee on your clothes, pour some white vinegar in with your laundry.

2points

Vermonta 11 months ago

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Elchinero 11 months ago

Cures Covid 19 ... DJT

1point

Julia French 11 months ago

Urine contains ammonia so never clean urine messes (whether from a pet, a child or an incontinent elderly person) never clean urine messes with bleach!

1point

Andrea Steinacher 2 weeks ago

don´t pee while there is still bleach in the toilet! Won´t kill you, but smells really suspicious

0points

Maria Hiller-Regev 11 months ago

Also, don't use bleach to clean BODIES. I was speechless when l found out that's a thing.

0points

The Keeper 11 months ago

In fact, unless you're a chemist, do not mix any cleaning products together. Chlorine gas is one of the less lethal results you can get from mixing cleaning products together.

0points

Nonna_SoF 11 months ago

Vinegar + Bleach = Chloride gas. Acetone + Bleach = Chloroform. Don't mix Bleach.

0points

Laura Williams 11 months ago

Sad right. So many people don't know.

0points

Jeff Rhodes 11 months ago

also vinegar + bleach

0points

Thrillion 11 months ago

NEVER USE BLEACH on ANYTING OTHER THAN CLOTHES and only in conjunction with laundry detergent. These laundry detergents are made with the understanding they will/maybe mix with bleach. Bleach reacts to many many different chemicals found all over the house and garage. Unless you know for a fact its safe to use on your application, find an alternative.

0points

Willy Nilly 11 months ago

Don’t tell me how to mix my inhalants, I know what I’m doi…-Charlie Kelly

0points

Pug Pug 11 months ago

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Santrikea 11 months ago

Yes....yes you can. They're in the cleaning aisle.

6points

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#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.

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128points

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#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

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122points

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#17

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

BubblesO4 , Christian Buehner Report

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120points

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#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

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#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

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116points

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#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

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#21

I have an inner monologue which I thought everyone had

SL04NY Report

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#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

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110points

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#23

It's YIN and Yang, not YING!

Rich-Blacksmith6672 Report

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#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

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98points

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#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

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96points

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#26

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

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90points

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#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

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84points

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#28

Roman Numerals.

Not sure why I thought it was common knowledge.

Arkiswatching Report

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#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.

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#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

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50points

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#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

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“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

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31points

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#33

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

k_marts Report

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#34

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

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#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

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28points

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#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.

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24points

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#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.

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23points

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#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

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22points

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#39

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

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22points

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#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!"

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20points

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#41

Knocking on a door before going inside

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#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).

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#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

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20points

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#44

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

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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!

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?

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!!

-1point

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

Games

Justin Sandberg

Justin Sandberg

Mantas Kačerauskas

Mantas Kačerauskas

Word Search

WordroW

Jigsaw

Crossword

Sudoku

Picdoku

Killer Sudoku

Kriss Kross

Word Flower