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People acquire different knowledge depending on their age. You start to realize that the sun still exists even when the night comes and you can’t see it, and that the moon is also always there, so it’s not surprising to sometimes see it during the day.

You learn these kinds of facts by experiencing them, reading about them or talking about them with someone else. But sometimes they just don’t come up and you end up not knowing what is obvious for everybody else. It is never too late to learn, but you can’t help but feel embarrassed when you’re the last one to find out something.

Reddit user PralineStriking wanted people to remember that embarrassment and asked what things they learnt at an age that seemed too late for them and the thread got over 18k answers. We collected some of the best ones and we would like to know if you found anything that you experienced as well. If not, share your own facts you learnt at a late age that you should have known about earlier in life in the comments!

More info: Reddit

#1

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) That narwhals are real. I thought they were cute mythological creatures, until I saw a brooch a friend had and asked if it was part of the companies mythological line. She asked me if I thought narwhals were myths, like unicorns. I laughed and said of course they are.

I was 35.

katikaboom , Jessica Simpson Report

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Kitty Kat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They're marketed as the unicorns of the sea, so I can see why people would think this.

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#2

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) That I needed glasses. At age 21 my friends were hassling me about being dyslexic because I kept getting words mixed up (second year at Uni). Until then, I had just been reading by looking at the shape of words and guessing the words based on the context and wider story. I had been reading this way for years and survived Uni before finding out my prescription was +1.50. The optometrist said it was amazing I hadn’t noticed. When I put the glasses on, everything was in 4K Ultra. I can now see individual letters.

CasualPhilosopher25 , Nate Steiner Report

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DUN DUN (she/her)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"When I put the glasses on, everything was in 4K Ultra" We all who wear glasses felt that

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#3

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) That the more work you get done at work, the more they will pile it on. I could have saved a lot of my mental health in my 20’s

Miserable-Penalty188 , Christmas w/a K Report

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#4

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) “Paradigm” is pronounced “pear-uh-dime”. It is definitely NOT pronounced “pear-uh-dig-um”.

…I learned this at age 19. In college. While delivering an oral report.

I try not to think about.

ItsPaulKerseysCar , Helder da Rocha Report

#5

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) That Abuela and Abuelo were not my Cuban grandparents actual names

MarzipanJoy-Joys , Hugo Chisholm Report

#6

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) I thought everyone’s mouth got itchy when eating bananas. Almost 40 years old and find out I’m somewhat allergic to them.

tbr6742 , Amaury Laporte Report

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's called oral allergy syndrome. It really sucks, at least it's only bananas for you. My list of fruit and veg that affects me gets longer every year.

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#7

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) The Lion King is basically Hamlet. That was Monday. I'm 41.

west_end_squirrel , Loren JavierFollow Report

#8

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) The the longest time I always heard of sports teams “Drafting” people. And I am tall, so as a kid I was constantly afraid I’d get drafted for the state basketball team just out of the blue, I thought it worked like a military draft.

I learned this wasn’t the case when I was like 10-12.

Asone2004 , cruisedotco Report

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#9

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) That if you wear a white bra, you can see it through a l white shirt, but if you wear a nude colored bra, you can’t. I was 40 when a coworker shared this with me.

midwesternvalues73 , Gabriel White Report

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Valerie G.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The same thing holds for wearing white panties under white slacks. You need to wear nude coloured ones under those.

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#10

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) That sodas were called soft drinks because they had no alcohol lol

zejus_christ , supcece Report

#11

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) That you can flush used toilet paper. Parents taught us as kids to throw away the paper in the trash can for fear of backing up the toilet. Wasn’t until college that I realized my parents were accustomed to that method because they had s***ty plumbing where they grew up in Central America

f**kintacos , Carlos ZGZ Report

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M
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These days you can buy toilet paper that is designed for sensitive plumbing systems. That's why in USA most public bathrooms has very thin toilet paper. (Not because the systems are sensitive, but because of the amount of people that uses it makes it much heavier load to break it down)

Nicole A
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A lot of countries is not just the septic, it's also a difficulty in obtaining water to flush. So by putting tp in trash, the bowl doesn't have to be flushed unless it's #2 or a lot of #1 had been collected. Most of the Caribbean, Central, and South America does this especially away from city areas because they collect the water from rain water so water isn't always a guarantee and must be used sparingly and reused when you can. Lots of places the sinks, washers, and showers would then collect into "grey water" tanks that was then used in toilets or to water plants. I grew up in the Caribbean in a territory and that's what we all did. Even when visiting someone else's house or public bathroom.

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Shelby Jackson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't even want to imagine what their bathroom smelled like.

Nicole A
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is standard in a lot of countries in the world. Pretty much the entire Caribbean and Central America. Especially with septic tanks and not public city plumbing. It doesn't smell like anything. Tp with poo on it would be the only tp to go in the bowl and be flushed, everything else goes in the trash. Even more "drastic" -- in places with limited fresh water sources you wouldn't flush for #1 either until it got really yellow (so basically once or twice a day total). "If it's yellow, let it mellow. If it's brown, flush it down." As long as the toilet is cleaned frequently, it doesn't smell any different than a USA bathroom. This is the way I grew up doing it and continue it in my household in USA to this day. Just because people don't flush or put the tp down the bowl with every use doesn't mean they're being dirty and smearing things on the walls. You still wash hands and stuff. It's no different than not removing your kitchen trash every time you put something in it.

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GoddessOdd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is usually the practice for poorly working septic tanks. I am in FL where there are a lot of those, but they're slowly being replaced. I have a new system, and I still buy the special quick dissolving TP they make for boats and RVs.

Hot Hall
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was today years old when I learned there was quick dissolving tissue for RVs!!

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Nicole A
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where I grew up this was standard practice for the whole island. Plus it was standard to ONLY flush when it was #2. So it was very common to go in and find yellow (or green because of those blue tablets mixed with yellow pee) water in the bowl. You add your pee and leave it there and put the tp in the trash. It's a cultural thing - everyone did it so it was understood. Hotels and restaurants would leave up signs that said "if it's yellow, let it mellow and if it's brown flush it down."

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Charlie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yesssss this!! My mom is from South America and so i grew up the same way op did, and in grade school my teacher (1st grade) pulled me aside and asked me if it was me who kept putting tp in the class's restroom trashcan. In front of the whole class. I know it wasn't ill-intentioned, she was genuinely confused and asking because i think the custodian had mentioned it to her. But goddamn was that humiliating, especially as i realized my eight-year-old self didn't actually know why my family did that 😅

Tina B
Community Member
2 years ago

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Pulled you aside or in front of the whole class? Gotta pick one...

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CA3
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, I'm shocked by these comments! Having visited a few of the countries mentioned, I'm sooo happy I stayed in hotels where this wasn't an issue. My OCD wouldn't have mixed well with putting used toilet paper in the trashcan.

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Marty Graw
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And in Texas. But to be fair it's just common sense when you have a septic tank, you don't flush your paper cause it just fills up the tank faster.

Jen Howard
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is true in many rural areas where the tree roots bust through the pipes underground and clog them up.

Nicole A
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Especially in an older home where there are giant trees and older weak pipes. Even cast iron pipes can be damaged by an old oak tree.

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Firefly
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My friend invited friends who were originally from rural Mexico to her house in the U.S. She understood that they threw the toilet paper in the garbage can and why, but she didn't want them to do it in her house. So she hid the garbage can in the shower and closed the shower curtain. She went back later and found they had hunted down the can to use it anyway.

Nicole A
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How about just being mature and asking them politely to flush it down? I'm sure if things were discussed instead of hiding bins, it wouldn't be a big deal. I'm from the Caribbean and we would never flush for #1, plus we would throw tp in the trash, but if someone asked me to please flush I'll go ahead and do it. Since I've moved to USA mainland, I'll follow the customs of my host, which is to flush it. In my own home (especially since it's 100 years old and rural), I still follow what I learned growing up because my pipes can't handle much and I try to conserve water.

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Abby Harrison
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

thos is standard at my f1 riends house. her pipes r really old, and jer parents cant afford to replace them.

Jo Gue
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tht can still happen. Not all toilet paper is biodegradable friendly.

Deborah Barron Brown
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I traveled to non-touristy part of Mexico and they didn't flush toilet paper either. I honestly had never heard of it. I gather it is quite common around the world.

Phillip Shepard
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I lived in SE Asia. A lot of toilets there don't even have toilet paper. The have a hose with a hand held held squirter (like the kind on some kitchen sinks). If there's no running water for a flush type toilet there's a cistern and scoop and a floor level toilet that you squat over.

Nicole A
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A friend grew up in Japan with a military father. When he came back to USA as a teen it weirded him out to have an actual bowl to sit on. He also was surprised to learn in USA, bath houses were more kinky. Growing up it was just a cultural thing to do to go to a public place for a bath. The squatting toilet though is actually very good for our colons - apparently it makes everything line up inside for easy exit.

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TJay
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's the worse when someone leaves really soiled paper in the bin :(

José Vitor Lobo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, in South America it's also a no no to through the paper in the toilet

Curry on...
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some countries don't have sewer systems to handle toilet paper, so toss it.

jk nbt
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if you have a house septic tank, the paper will be blocked by the filter. It's a shitty job to have to open up the cover & clean out the filter. Yuck. Lots of incentive to throw the dirty paper into a trash can...

Upstaged75
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have had a septic tank for over 40 years and always flush toilet paper without any issues. We do maintenance on the tank every year, but it works just fine. Same with all the neighbors. I'd rather not have s**t remnants in my trashcan.....

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Verena Abt
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are signs in Vietnam, too. Go easy on the toilet paper.

Cookie
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is still this way in many countries, and if you don't know the local customs, you will jam up the toilet.

EEF🤓
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's so horrible 🤢 but understandable if the plumbing isn't up for the job

Celtic Pirate Queen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My son in law's family came from Mexico. He literally grew up in a hut with a dirt floor & it took my daughter FOREVER to get him to understand that you could flush TP here. I was thoroughly grossed out when I went to their house and saw "shitty" TP in the garbage can.

Yasmin Janette
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most of Egypt either use water jets to clean and not paper. You cannot put paper into the toilet the sewage system cannot cope with it.

Deborah Dupont
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or maybe they had a septic tank? I wouldn't want people to flush paper, in a house with a septic tank.

Imurkittie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Still happens in horrible housing in Los Angeles. This house isn't even this old and we get scolded (cuz we are female) when a toilet backs up... not because their son uses half a roll to sh*t... so my daughter grew up learning this too

Brooke Clifford
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know some people will take this wrong, but I just think it's gross and unsanitary to put used tissue in a can...

Jaclyn Minzell
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My Turkish ex-roommate demanded all of us do this. I tried to explain to him that if poop goes down fine, toilet paper will, too. He looked confused. Not sure if he didn't get it or if he didn't realize girls poop, too

Luis Gomez
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And because of that shitty plumbing, they became accustomed to shitty trashcans as well. Gross.

Venturing Outdoors, GMarin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

South Korea is the same and I've seen some places here not to flush tp down the toilet due to old sewer.

Kris 4184
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What about the poop ones though? Doesn't it make the bathroom stinky? Or is everyone just accustomed to this?

Hoshi Reed
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The garbage is collected daily or ever other day in most countries. It isn't a weekly occurrence like in most areas in the US.

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Kris 4184
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What about the poop ones? Doesn't it make the bathroom stinky or is everyone just accustomed to this?

zoponex
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hmmm. Maybe this explains all the s***t covered toilet paper that blew into my yard in a recent wind storm. 😭

Madison Arthur
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As the wife of a licensed plumber you should not flush it or sanitary napkins(it says on the package not to but we get sooo many calls to cable lines because woman don't listen your ignorance is my paycheck) it is best for you to throw it in trashcan even if your plumbing is new and NEVER use draino

Katy the Bag Lady
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Standard in Costa Rica, if memory serves. They had some of the purest water coming out of the tap because they didn't have chemicals that dissolve paper in them.

Hoshi Reed
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, and the trash is collected ever day except Sunday. It isn't a weekly thing like in the US. - I think this fact is what is catching people. They see their trash collected weekly and the trash sits in the bins or garage until it is picked up. So they see that TP sitting in the house all week. That mind image however is incongruent with a society where the trash it taken to the curb daily.

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Ben
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've seen bathrooms with shitblenders attached to the thin pipes, but I never imagined throwing used paper in the trash...

Nicole A
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can see the privilege and elitism coming out HARD with this one. OP didn't even mention that a lot of these places you don't flush for #1 either because of difficulty obtaining fresh water. A HUGE amount of the WORLD does it this way. No it does NOT smell if you keep your bathroom clean. Just like you can have a smelly bathroom in USA - it depends on the owner. Most places the really poo covered tp WOULD go in the bowl but any #1 or subsequent wipes for #2 go in the trash. That's what you use your grocery bags for - that way you can take it out every day or 2 days. I still do it this way once I moved to USA mainland and you wouldn't know it. It's no different than not bringing every piece of kitchen trash straight to the outside trash bins - your kitchen doesn't smell and people don't get freaked out. Please be respectful of other cultures and broaden your mind instead of insulting these places and people.

Hoshi Reed
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the biggest failure is that in the US, trash "sits" in their garage/house/community bin and is picked up weekly. In many countries that have this problem, trash is picked up daily. It is an employment tradeoff. Plumber are skilled tradesmen. Garbagemen aren't. It helps the country have more employed people.

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Pinkie is
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you have septic tank you generally don't throw it in the toilet. Otherwise it can clog up the septic tank.

Shiroppi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now they have sceptic safe paper and even flushable wipes!

Nicole A
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Flushable wipes do not break down. Cities spend millions of dollars fixing massive clogs every year. Cottonelle and those places know they're lying and they've admitted things don't break down as quickly as they've made people think. Ask any reliable plumber and they'll tell you how much money they make snaking drains that are clogged by so called flushable wipes.

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Sean Stimson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm almost afraid to ask, but what were you doing with the used toilet paper?

Nicole A
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Put it in a trash bin lined with a bag. Just like a normal bathroom where you would throw your q tips and Kleenexes. Usually the very poo covered paper would be flushed but any #1 paper or #2 wipes that looked clean would go in the trash. That's what we would use our grocery store bags for - they were small enough and you just recycled them by using them to collect the bathroom trash. Then tie it up and put it outside every day or few days, depending on how many people used the bathroom. It's not as gross as people are picturing. A HUGE amount of the world still does it this way. Heck a huge amount doesn't even use tp and uses just water and their hand - that's why in certain countries you never do things with your left hand because that's the poo wiping hand.

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FreeBird *
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I guy I dated from Mexico took me to meet his parents at their house. They threw away soiled tissue as well. I was so grossed out by the garbage can I didn't stay for dinner.

Amy Pontious
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I worked with a chick that didn't flush tp either Its just gross and it smells up the bathroom!😫

Mary Jeffries
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I grew up with a septic tank in the United States and we hardly ever flush toilet paper.

Susana Hoffstaedter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Brazil we throw it in the trash can too, and I assume it's the same reason

Hobby Hopper
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

TP isn't good for water treatment plants though, even in the US. We'd save a lot of costs and headaches if we all threw it away instead of flushing it.

Nicole A
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Especially since coming out with those so called flushable wipes. That's big business boost for plumbers because those flushable wipes clog up house lines and need to be snaked. Plus cities have to send people down into the septic systems to remove wipe clogs because they do NOT degrade and and up in knotted up clumps (the size of SUVs) that block off septic. I don't know why people are down voting you for speaking the truth.

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Donna Stapleton
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

.... Here u only trash can it when u have septic tanks or whatever & even then i wouldnt id just have my swpric cleaned often. Yuck! My sisters kids trash it & everytime theyre over we have to tell them "where does tp go?" IN THE TOILET! Ya nasty. Lol not u.

Hoshi Reed
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As long as you can afford to clean it often... Kudos to you. The reality is that most can do so only every 5 years and not ever single year. So the trash is how they avoid making septic cleanup a yearly expense.

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Keisha
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't even imagine the smell in the bathroom then with a trashcan of used toilet paper.

•Blanqui _Playz•
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I grew up in Central America(El Salvador) too for the 1st 5years of my life before immigrating to the shitty USA :D

•Blanqui _Playz•
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I grew up in Central America too, for 5 years of the start of my life, but then immigrated to the shitty USA :D

Rale
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a better option to wash your bum after taking a dump.

Celeste
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know of a place in the states where this happens today, in 2022. The United States!

Ken Eidinger
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've lived in the US for 55 years, and in Germany for 2. Never been anywhere you did not flush it.

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#12

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) Wasn't until I was 21 when I drank Lactose Free milk and DIDN'T go sit on a toilet for an hour that I realized I am lactose intolerant. I thought it was normal to s**t constantly after drinking milk.

xeredge , Neil Turner Report

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Jo Choto
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In 21 years, you never met anybody who didn't rush to the toilet after dairy products?

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#13

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) It’s “for all intents and purposes” not “for all intensive purposes”

charlessturgeon , Trevor Pritchard Report

#14

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) That our next door neighbors were lesbians and not just “good friends”. Lovely people. Didn’t figure it out until I was in college

secretbaldspot , Les Chatfield Report

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Jo Choto
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hopefully nobody told you they were good friends to avoid talking about same-sex couples with you.

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#15

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) Ponies are NOT baby horses

phrygN , Rigothamus Report

#16

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) Womens pads stick to their underwear and not themselves like a band-aid.

brettrknowlton , pikulkeaw_333 Report

#17

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) I learned how to ride a bike at the ripe age of 24

newhvac Report

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DUN DUN (she/her)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's okay...we all learn something new everyday, it's not mandatory for you to learn this when you're a kid.

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#18

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) Baby carrots are just shaved down big carrots. I was devastated a few years ago.

Txflood3 , dee m Report

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#19

At roughly 37, I learned pineapples grew from the ground. Not from a tree.

Human_Watch4506 Report

#20

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) Corned beef wasn’t made by cattle that were strictly fed corn. My mom couldn’t stop laughing.

Ilikestarwarstoo , Frank Hebbert Report

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Scagsy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it just me or is corned beef a lot less affordable these days than it used to be? It seems very expensive for what it is.

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#21

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) That sea horses are not roughly the size of penguins. In fact, they are incredibly tiny. Stupid Saturday morning cartoons!

ninjaskooldropout , Krishna Santhanam Report

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg, you should see the pygmy seahorse, it is super duper teeny tiny, it's just so damn cute.

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#22

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) That puffer fish don't use air to inflate.

skewed-perceptions , Bernard Spragg. NZ Report

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Jo Johannsen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was today years old.... Actually, it's obvious (cause where would they get the air), but who stops to think about it? At least I didn't.

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#23

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) That puffins are in fact NOT extinct. I had a 3rd grade teacher misinform me. I found the truth as a teenager in an embarrassing group setting where I was quite confidently wrong.

shofawnda , Matthew Britton Report

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DUN DUN (she/her)
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For a moment I was like "Where are the legs of that bird in the picture!?" Then I put my glasses on :)

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#24

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) Washington state and Washington DC are two different places.

PotatoesPancakes , SounderBruce Report

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DrBronxx
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think that's a fair enough misunderstanding to have, especially if you're not from the US.

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#25

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) That cows are female and bulls are male. I thought they are two different species

Mary99t , John McIntyre Report

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Eat Dirt Crow
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Technically, a cow is a female that has given birth. Before birth they're called heifers.

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#26

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) At 42 years-old, I realized there is no donkey in Donkey Kong.

Shelsb , SobControllers Report

#27

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) That Flo Rida spells Florida. Also will I am was William. Realized this last year. I’ll be 42 in a month lol

boring_prairedude , Eva Rinaldi Report

#28

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) I was 20 years old when I learned that salt lamps are indeed made of salt.

I always thought that it was plastic carved into a rock-like shape

CapaxInfini , Tony Cecala Report

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Jo Johannsen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of a recent post about putting the salt lamp in the dishwasher to clean it...

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#29

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) That roadrunners are not the size of an emu.

PURKITTY , Josh McGinn Report

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glowworm2
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We all know Looney Tunes are to blame for this one. They also don't go "Beep! Beep!" aren't colorful and a coyote could easily outrun and catch one without needing an Acme rocket.

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#30

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) I was almost 30 when I realized that travelling uphill does not always mean you're travelling north. And similarly rivers can run north because they aren't going "uphill".

I'm not normally that stupid.

Dianacolada , Jeff Report

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Nathaniel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

However long it takes you to travel to a location down south, it will take twice as long on the return journey because you are travelling uphill.

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#31

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) That when i deposit cash in the bank, there isn’t a specific money locker just for me.

Financial-Corgi1067 , Steven Depolo Report

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Lisa Shaw
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was kid I thought all my money went into "my' drawer at the bank, so I made sure to write my name on all my dollar bills!

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#32

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) That menstrual fluid isn’t blue. The tampon and pad commercials had me fooled.

Unoriginal920 , ▓▒░ TORLEY ░▒▓ Report

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We started getting ads where the fluid they use was red. Apparently they got a lot of complaints saying its disgusting and not suitable for TV. F**k that noise, we need to stop periods being a taboo subject and something we need to hide.

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#33

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) I thought women get pregnant at a random moment in their life until my friend told me you have to have intercourse in 7th grade.

Ero-2005 , Britt-knee Report

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Nathaniel
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You have to have intercourse in the 7th grade? That cannot be right....

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#34

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) I thought the D is Disney was just some random symbol, kinda like a backwards G. It took me until like 7th grade to realize it and even as an adult I still can’t unsee the backwards G.

Death-By-Lasagna , Mike Mozart Report

#35

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) "TP" stood for Toilet Paper. I thought to "TP someone's house" you just put toilet paper over it to look like a teepee.

crusoestudio , Justin Baeder Report

#36

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) I was 16 when I found out you're meant to spit toothpaste out after brushing your teeth, I had always just swallowed it and thought that's just what you do... Idk how tf I don't have flouride poisoning

Charlie483 , Kenneth Lu Report

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User# 6
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, you wont have fluoride poisoning. Safety assessments of toothpaste assume 100% consumption.

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#37

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) I thought an armadillo was a reptile rather than a mammal

failurebeatssuccess , David Shane Report

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#38

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) Those containers Chinese food come in unfold into plates.

Brother_Farside , Brad.K Report

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Jihana
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not everywhere. Chinese food containers in Austria do not do that.

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#39

Up until 15 I believed If I swallow a seed and then drinks water a tree is going to grow inside me.

SuvenPan Report

#40

“What Did You Learn At An Embarrassingly Late Age?” (40 New Answers) That the game show Wheel of Fortune is named after the tarot card

CurvyNB , morebyless Report

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sofacushionfort
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They did a pilot for “Wheel of Suffering and Desire,” but it didn’t test well with non-Buddhist audiences.

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