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50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life

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We tend to have an idea of the various things we should know about, taxes, death, and simple math, but we are burdened with the knowledge that we are supposed to know it by a certain age. Out of embarrassment, we just don’t let on that we aren’t sure about something, as at that point we are too afraid to ask.

One internet user wanted to learn what others only realized way too late in life. The lessons ranged from practical to juvenile to poignant, so make sure to upvote your favorites and comment your own experiences as you scroll through. And take notes in case some of these are relevant to your own life.

More info: Reddit

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#1

50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life Hr is there to protect the company, not you. Hr is not your friend.

Puzzleheaded-Mood689 , Amy Hirschi Report

Final score:

368points

Tee Rat 1 year ago

Most definitely. HR and management would rather you quit than firing you.

72points

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#2

50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life There's no such thing as "feeling like an adult" I'm 34 and still forget I'm an adult sometimes lol

scelestai , Erik Mclean Report

Final score:

337points

Tee Rat 1 year ago

Eating Cap'n Crunch and watching Looney Toons on YouTube while the grandkids are asleep in the other room. Yep, I'm the adult.

153points

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#3

50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life That my height shapes how people perceive what I say. I'm a 6'4 male with a deep voice. I learned it at 40 when I had a boss who was 6'6. I was suddenly aware of my own height and the power position, looking up to him. I realized pretty much everyone is looking up at me, and I began smiling more and asking people questions about themselves to reduce the power implications of my height.

ClydePincusp , Hunters Race Report

Final score:

337points

Dorothy Stovall 1 year ago

Being tall is SUCH AN ASSET. You're always imbued with authority and "power." I'm 5'11" and didn't realize this completely until I was in my mid-30s.

111points

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Not knowing something can be embarrassing. Particularly when we know that we are sort of supposed to know it already. Depending on your age, you have perhaps had that feeling of still being a child “faking it” in an adult world, despite being in your mid-twenties. It’s simultaneously relieving and unnerving that most people in the developed world do not actually feel like adults until they are 29. It’s almost like we become adults at 18 and then need a decade testing it to decide if it’s a good fit.

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So even if all of one's peers still feel like overgrown children, people still suspect that most are just well-adjusted, and competent and know that pickles are just cucumbers. Or that doves are just white pigeons, which is so deeply shocking that those city trash birds and the symbol of peace are one and the same. But the bottom line is that we tend to project competence to others while overestimating it in them.

#4

50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life That we should shake the CEO's hand with the exact same enthusiasm and firmness as the janitors hand.

tfresh2death , Chris Liverani Report

Final score:

336points

TonyTee 1 year ago (edited)

The janitor deserves a handshake of any kind more than the CEO does because the janitor actually busts their a*s WORKING compared to a suit sitting behind a desk all day counting money they got up their wazoo

159points

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#5

50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life That I don't have to become a mother if I don't want to.

detective_kiara , Bethany Beck Report

Final score:

333points

DarthSadie 1 year ago

"I don't have to become a mother if I don't want to" odd choice of picture... So that woman must be going to release her kid into the woods after coming to that conclusion

186points

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#6

My grandmother had a clock that would break if anyone touched or tried to move it.

I always found that curious. Then some time in my 30s my wife and I were talking and it came up. I was wondering how they moved it out of their house after they passed. As I was explaining “… I think it must have had some delicately balanced mechanism or something that would be disrupted if moved…” my wife’s face made me quickly realize it was just a lie told to young me to keep my dirty clumsy hands off of it.

Also, I’m an engineer.

P-eh-triot Report

Final score:

332points

freakingbee (they/them) 1 year ago

that's a smart lie though

95points

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Many of the examples are simply the age-old issue of hearing a word or phrase before reading it or vice versa. "Piqued my interest," for example, is correct, not "peaked." One would be forgiven for thinking it’s peaked, because in what other circumstances is someone saying piqued? Like many of the annoying parts of the English language, French is to blame. Piqued is simply a rendition of “pique,” meaning irritate or prick in French. From the outside, it seems silly to be judgmental towards a person for confusing a common word for a rare, foreign construction in an idiom.

#7

50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life 1. Everyone is just f*cking winging it.
2. “The rules” do not apply evenly.
3. Everyone around you will always prioritize their needs first, regardless of any verbal assurance to the contrary.

ohhappyday88 , Jacek Dylag Report

Final score:

315points

9 animals and counting 1 year ago

I have to disagree about number three. Parents put their children's needs first almost 100% of the time.

72points

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#8

That just because two people are in love doesn't mean they should be together

JetBrink Report

Final score:

274points

Moo 1 year ago

Love isn't enough. Trust and respect are equally important

94points

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#9

50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life Trying to treat myself as I would others.

The ol' reverse golden-rule

kageroshajima , Christian Battaglia Report

Final score:

264points

Cherokee Jimenez 1 year ago

This! I'm so hard on myself, but encouraging to everyone else

80points

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Others shared deeper, more personal experiences. From relationships to self-worth, life is the only effective teacher. Many people end up staying in bad, toxic relationships, whether with a partner or just a bad friend group, for longer than they should, even when they recognize the toxicity of the situation. People only know what they know, which is endlessly circular logic and redundant, but remains ultimately true. If a person doesn’t know any better, they will continue to be around people who are just bad for them, since self-worth isn’t really a class one can take at school.

#10

you know metal? that genre of music that's loud and yelly?

it's called metal because it's harder than rock

fuckjustpickwhatever Report

Final score:

247points

freakingbee (they/them) 1 year ago

OH

96points

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#11

That I'm an introvert and shouldn't try to replicate the lives of the extroverts around me.

Also, I'm nowhere near as booksmart as I thought I was.

Final score:

244points

James P 1 year ago

I struggle with that first part too. Not so much the second part as the mistakes I have made in my life have taught me that I'm not that smart.

35points

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#12

I learned that other people's opinions of me don't matter. MY opinion of me matters, and since I hold myself to an exceptionally high standard....I'M AWESOME!!

sllysam45 Report

Final score:

244points

AtMostTheFabulist Premium 1 year ago

You ARE awesome!!!

58points

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Similar to the ignorance about pickles or thinking that one has to buy shoes and clothes to grow into as an adult, many people also feel embarrassed to admit that they are in a toxic relationship or friendship. We see our social circle as a reflection of ourselves, so admitting that they might be bad feels like telling everyone how dumb we are. Embarrassment is a particularly bad teacher since studies show that it doesn’t even create a drive to avoid similar behavior in the future. So it’s mostly your brain making you feel bad but refusing to build something useful out of it. The one upside is that embarrassment means you are more or less mentally normal, as a lack of embarrassment is a sign of psychopathy.

#13

50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life That treating people with respect and being honest are not mutually exclusive

Seannaboy0923 , Priscilla Du Preez Report

Final score:

234points

Tan Artt 1 year ago

Yes. Those 'brutally honest' people are just plain rude. There's no justifying being an a*****e.

86points

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#14

50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life Who I am is more important than how I look.

Lazy-Thanks8244 , piotr szulawski Report

Final score:

228points

Tan Artt 1 year ago

Let's preach body neutrality. It's a vessel to carry who you are as a person. Take care of it, but the way it looks doesn't define you as a person. You shouldn't have to be beautiful to recieve respect and kindness

107points

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#15

I got a good one! I grew up and Brooklyn, New York. Believe it or not I never knew j walking was a thing. So when I was in my 20’s I ended up in Hawaii thanks to the military. I was crossing Kalākaua Ave in the middle of the street and two cops started yelling at me. They were yelling at me about j walking and I thought they were messing with me. I started laughing and told them that not real. One of them got real mad and wanted to detain me but his partner was like “ where you from? “ I told them Brooklyn and they both started laughing and explained to me that the rest of the U.S. has this thing called j walking. 😂😂 I felt pretty silly afterwards not knowing a pretty common law.

kazeno95 Report

Final score:

220points

ScarletRos 1 year ago

I used to think jaywalking was actually walking in the shape of a J when you crossed the street.

87points

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You can also take heart in the knowledge that, well, knowledge is growing a lot faster than any of us can actually process it. In the English language alone, there are between 500’000 and 1’000’000 books published every year. Even at the lowest estimate, you would need to read 1369.86 books a day to keep up. This equals roughly 57 books an hour. Even the most prolific Goodreads liars are not likely to think that is possible. More importantly, no one around you is reading 57 books an hour, much less just one. And if you want to read what embarrassingly obvious things others learned late in life, check out our other articles here and here.

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#16

The adults in my life never had it figured out either, they just made it seem like that to a kid.

palinsafterbirth Report

Final score:

220points

TonyTee 1 year ago

You could live to be 100 and you’ll still have more to learn, more to experience, and more to figure out. It’s a never ending process. It’s only to help us though, that’s how I see it. 🤷🏻‍♂️

40points

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#17

Stop expecting things to be fair

thelastpies Report

Final score:

215points

Da Dragon Queen 1 year ago

I’m black had this taught to me when I was little by my parents

64points

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#18

If you come from a poor family, you have to work x3 as hard to get ahead.

Illustrious-Study237 Report

Final score:

212points

S Mi 1 year ago

At least

52points

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#19

That the housework can wait awhile. To sit and enjoy the dinner I just cooked with my family. The dishes will still be there when I get to them, they ain't going anywhere lol

Expensive-Royal471 Report

Final score:

202points

Joroches 1 year ago

Hold on, why the hell are you doing the dishes if you cooked the dinner. What kind of 1950s dystopia are you living in?

7points

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#20

That there are no guarantees, you may never find love, tragedy may befall you, you may not win, you may die alone.

beepo7654 Report

Final score:

189points

Cat Furr 1 year ago

This is sad because I absolutely always have hope.

41points

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#21

On a more serious note. I learned way too late that sometimes I was the bad guy.

I was raised in a house where everyone was so defensive. Nothing was ever anyone’s fault. I still jump on the defense with my husband now.

After some bad decisions and burned bridges I realized that not everyone is willing to overlook you doing something wrong if all you do is say it’s not your fault. You are sometimes the bad guy in someone’s story.

I find it really difficult to deal with my family after realizing this. But hey ho.

Walawala-bingbang Report

Final score:

167points

Lauren S 1 year ago

I had to learn to argue properly in relationships as an adult. I had to switch the mindset from trying to win the argument and make them agree with me to trying to resolve the conflict and move forward together.

89points

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#22

50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life Insurance and credit cards. Trying to figure out basic adult finance stuff without any guidance or help will force you to feel like an idiot for a long time.

Cheetodude625 , rupixen.com Report

Final score:

167points

Shane S 1 year ago

We NEED financial literacy education in schools. How to get a credit card. How to use it. How NOT to use it. What’s a deductible? What’s a copay? What’s in-network? .. And yes, we know our US healthcare system is horrible but it’s governmentally impossible to change it in at least the next two years, so we need to learn to work within the system we’ve got.

106points

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#23

50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life That cows had to have had a calf to make milk. They don’t just make milk. I had to be a mom myself and nurse my kid when it dawned on me.

ababyalady , Ryan Song Report

Final score:

165points

Eric C. 1 year ago

This is true of all milk producing mammals

54points

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#24

The hole women pee out of isn’t the same hole they stick the tampon in

Royal-Orchid-2494 Report

Final score:

157points

Kise Miarse 1 year ago

A lot of people (females included) don't figure this out right away. Definite failure in education.

127points

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#25

50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life 4% of 25 is the same as 25% of 4

cdn_gooner , Vaskar Sam Report

Final score:

156points

Tik Tarro 1 year ago

I'm not joking this just resolved 50 things in my mind

61points

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#26

50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life It never made sense to me that we would go under tables during an earthquake, because wouldnt the ground crack open? The table wouldnt do anything then?

Wasnt until last year I realised that it was to stop debris from falling on us. Smh

whats_yesterday , Nadiia Ganzhyi Report

Final score:

153points

Karl Baxter 1 year ago

My old man told me that during WW2 the whole family hid underneath his grandma’s dining table during German air raids for the same reason

45points

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#27

Life is too short. Take the time to stop and smell the roses. RIP Myles grandpa loves and misses you

deadjedi70 Report

Final score:

152points

Lakota Wolf 1 year ago (edited)

Oh. EDIT: From OP on Reddit: "Watching my grandson die and unable to help. He passed at 29 days from heart issues and had multiple open heart surgeries."

83points

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#28

That not everyone has a storyline ongoing inside their heads.
I used to be inside my own and would laugh at things happening in my story, and everyone would look at me funny; so glad that I wear a mask now.

___young___ Report

Final score:

146points

Stephanie Did It 1 year ago

I'm still trying to understand people who say they have no inner dialogue. Do they not realize that ideas, questions, opinions and even worries ARE the inner dialogue? No one's head is empty of thoughts. Or maybe I'm totally wrong.

16points

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#29

50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life Why girls in high school often didn't participate during sports class.

"You don't feel well? Why don't you go home if your sick?"

10 years later: aaaaaaahhh...

_Steven_Seagal_ , Steven Lelham Report

Final score:

138points

Abigail Hill 1 year ago

In high school sports classes I always felt like I had to work extra hard when I was going through that or I'd be "weak"... for all of you still in that age, don't feel like that. It's not weak to need to rest when you're in pain. It's taking care of yourself. My mindset was not healthy. Please rest when you need to :)

87points

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#30

That my parents are human beings who make mistakes and not perfect divine beings

ripMyTime0192 Report

Final score:

138points

Magdalena 1 year ago

I remember how shocked I was at 15 to discover that my parents were less intelligent than I was. I mean they were taking all the decisions!

35points

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#31

That my happiness and feelings matter too. I have always felt that I was there to support others and being the best person I can, and all it lead to was people taking advantage of me or making me feel like I did something wrong if I wasn’t what they wanted. I don’t feel that way anymore. I am not going to apologize to people treating me like c**p anymore. I only put my energy into people that actually deserve it now.

MSWitch2015 Report

Final score:

138points

XenoMurph 1 year ago

Yes it's a brutal realisation. But it became who I am, and I'm happy to help out people who deserve it.

19points

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#32

You can't ever rely entirely on any family or friends for life.

Final score:

121points

SCamp 1 year ago

Depends on your family and friends. You’ve probably been burnt by both. I haven’t .

4points

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#33

50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life “Queue” is not pronounced like “kwee wee”. I learned this in a meeting at work when I mispronounced it.

blastocladiomycota , Adrien Delforge Report

Final score:

120points

Kaye Nicole (Nikki) 1 year ago

It’s pronounced … Q 😭

93points

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#34

That sex is nothing to be ashamed of. I grew up in a strict, repressive household. Became sexually active at 18 but felt a lot of guilt over it which didn't go away for a couple years. Those feelings negatively impacted my relationship at that time.

Exotic-Ferret-3452 Report

Final score:

120points

James P 1 year ago

Similar.

12points

Rachel Smith 1 year ago

Sex is the most natural thing. I don't like it when anyone is shaming anyone when it comes to sex and the many things it can entail. As long as both or all people are consenting adults, go for whatever you like.

4points

Sarel Seerower 1 year ago

Also masturbation

4points

Nayla Kanaan 1 year ago

Thank you for saying that so many people don’t realize that it’s normal to not do it or to do it they are both normal and natural just don’t do it in public

9points

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Holly Benedict 1 year ago

Used to be embarrassed by it, til I met a guy that showed me it was an opportunity to bond with each other. He showed me it was just as much about trust and respect as it was about lust. The rules were so simple, we both give equally, we talk about what we like and don't like openly, we listen with no judgement, and respect the boundaries the other sets even if they change. I never felt more free or secure than the time I had with him.

2points

Kim Lorton 1 year ago

When I turned 18, i had an older boyfriend. We set about losing my virginity like we were full of bunny rabbit energy. Except it wasn't like all the romance novels !! That freaking hurt like a mother! Did not enjoy it for a couple of months!

2points

Kimberly Thomason 1 year ago

Same.

1point

Paul Richards 1 year ago

That's religion and poor education for ya

1point

lemsip 1 year ago (edited)

Religion is at the bottom of it all. Religion taught in all schools in the country I was born in and grew up in. Religious parents stopping teachers from teaching about sex adequately through the parent-teacher associations and becoming school governors as they are selected from councillors, teachers and parents of children in school. Some teachers are religious themselves. School education was very much devolved to local authorities when I was at school as there was no national curriculum then. Head teachers had more control over the curriculum then. I filled in the gaps later by reading books about it.

0points

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Temporary Dork 1 year ago

To be fair, all your childhood shït negatively impacts any romantic relationship you have at 18.

1point

Ralph Watkins 9 months ago

The Puritans did so much damage to us Americans. Ten & the Jesuits were the ones who came up with the notion of sex being sinful. Go to Europe where sex & nudity are just seen as normal. It's not stigmatized like here. Lay out nude in the sun or have sex in public there it's nothing. Do it here in the US & it's a major crime.

0points

Dawnieangel76 1 year ago

I was in my early forties when I learned about Asexuality, and was relieved that while I was different, I wasn't broken because of how I was raised.

0points

lemsip 1 year ago (edited)

I used to blame my parents for laughing about it as they were embarassed and the TV for making jokey sit coms about it. But the real blame should lie with the schools I attended for forcing religion on us. I grew up in a non religious family but my parents attended church when young. Most of the children in my street were sent to Sunday schools. That meant while most refused to take it in some became very religious as a result In my country the Silent Generation and those born a few years before were the first to leave religion.

0points

Camber Hollywood 1 year ago

Guilt-643c...41d1ec.jpg

-1point

Janet Weston 1 year ago

Walk around naked, it’s only a body, most people have one !

-3points

Michael Largey 1 year ago

Some of us have enough for two!

2points

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#35

That there are tons of people out there who engage in sexual intercourse with other people not for the purpose of reproduction, but rather for enjoyment reasons, and that I am a part of a minority group of people called "asexuals".

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this, but it has gone a long way to explain why I see so many people in relationships with terrible people who don't want to leave, or why something as unfathomable as cheating to me can seem like something valid to many others.

ChosenSCIM Report

Final score:

101points

freakingbee (they/them) 1 year ago

we need more asexual representation everywhere

73points

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#36

Actual hygiene. It wasn’t until I was 12 and went to summer camp for the first time that I realized when you shower you’re suppose to wash yourself with soap. I would just wash my hair and hangout for while because I liked the hot water, THANK GOD I DIDN’T SWEAT A LOT.

Leafy_Lyndsey Report

Final score:

99points

Shane S 1 year ago

Men, wash your booty holes! Wash with soap and water. Your butt should be as clean as your face when you come out of the shower.

94points

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#37

I have ADHD, penny dropped at 43 years old.

Ilostmypassword43 Report

Final score:

98points

Poppy 1 year ago

I was 47. To be fair, if OP is female, it is harder to diagnose in ladies than men. We mask it more.

62points

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#38

Boundaries.

Jinx_BuyMeSomeCoke Report

Final score:

97points

PunnyPanda 1 year ago

For real. Nobody modeled or taught me that s**t growing up. When I finally got it, it was like a bolt of lightning. Recently realized that most of the challenges in my life are related to poor boundaries and it definitely threw me through a loop.

27points

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#39

50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life I learnt that we're supposed to brush both sides of our teeth . The inner side needs to be brushed as well.
I saw all of the commercials just showing them brushing the outer portion so i assumed that this is the way

FaTes-EnD , Superkitina Report

Final score:

96points

Kise Miarse 1 year ago

That's a bit of an oversight on the parent/guardian's part I would say

112points

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#40

It was some point in high school, probably around 10th grade, that it was made clear to me that two non-infected gay men engaging in monogamous non-protected intercourse didn’t magically produce the hiv/aids. To be clear I literally thought the simple act of gay sex resulted in hiv/aids.

SharkWeekJunkie Report

Final score:

96points

Did I say that out loud? 1 year ago

If OP was around in the early 80s like I was then, unfortunately, their beliefs are understandable. The hysteria and misinformation surrounding hiv/aids is difficult to comprehend now. In the UK, terms like "gay plague" were routinely used in the media.

60points

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#41

That I belonged to a cult

MormonEscapee Report

Final score:

94points

Strings 1 year ago

That had to be a scary revelation

43points

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#42

50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life Pickles are brined cucumbers. Only found out a few years ago. I'm about to turn 42.

Goose1981 , Eric Prouzet Report

Final score:

93points

Kaye Nicole (Nikki) 1 year ago

I learned this from Magic Schoolbus as a kid!

27points

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#43

50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life Martha Stewart does not own Martha's Vineyard....

valhalla-at-your-grl , David Shankbone Report

Final score:

91points

Shane S 1 year ago

I think she now has a wine by that name though. I think I’ve seen it at Walmart. Obviously, the wine came after the city.

13points

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#44

That paprika is just crushed red pepper

sklurpington Report

Final score:

84points

James P 1 year ago

There really are a lot of types of paprika. The type of red pepper that is crushed depends on the place it comes from, often times.

44points

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#45

That male circumcision is not just a Jewish thing and that I'm circumcised

polardbear48 Report

Final score:

81points

Shane S 1 year ago

It’s a Jewish, Muslim, and largely American thing. I respect all opinions but mine is that I wish we’d keep boys natural unless medically necessary. But to each their own.

79points

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#46

50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life Parents have names too, learned at like 9 or 10

Rooster_Keystone , Klara Kulikova Report

Final score:

81points

Francesca Annoni 1 year ago

i have been teaching my kids their first and last names since they were 2...and my and my husbands names, and i have been teaching them our home address, you never know how important this information is when a child gets lost!

5points

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#47

My whole life is an embarrassment if that counts. I'm in my thirties and I still struggle with basics.

Dark_Vengence Report

Final score:

76points

James P 1 year ago

Me too.

21points

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#48

How to say the last name Nguyen.

TD-Eagles Report

Final score:

75points

freakingbee (they/them) 1 year ago

how do you say it i still don't know

25points

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#49

How to brush my teeth.

I was super neglected as a child so that is something I've always struggled with and even after going to a dentist for 2 years and having exams every 4 months I only learned last month that you need to brush your gums 🤷🏻

HersheySquirtz2014 Report

Final score:

74points

Sorry 1 year ago

Product idea: A pill that you put on your tongue ..close your mouth and it fizzes up completely cleaning your teeth..gums..tongue ..spit it out and rinse ..job done.

50points

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#50

50 Pieces Of Common Knowledge People Admit To Learning Embarrassingly Late In Life Riding a bike at 15

Graehaus , lee Hans Report

Final score:

73points

The_Nicest_Misanthrope 1 year ago (edited)

As a fellow late-to learner (14), I saute you!

24points

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#51

That skunks weren't only a French thing. Pepe le Pew had me thinking all skunks live in France

Local-Put3060 Report

Final score:

28points

Karen Startz Richardson 1 year ago

This....is seriously a bit of innocence that it is 100% ok to have. Matters not that skunks are scattered across the globe. 🦨

7points

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#52

Teachers lie when they say “there are no such things as stupid questions”. I’ve asked so many stupid questions LOL

c0nc3ptsz Report

Final score:

26points

Nonna_SoF 1 year ago

There are no stupid questions, just a lot of stupid people... but seriously it's better to just admit when you don't know something and ask than act like you already know.

11points

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#53

How to dry myself off with a towel, I didn’t have parents who taught me basic things, they had too many kids. I saw in movies they would just wrap themselves in a towel and leave the shower. That’s what I would do and I remember always being told I got water everywhere but never understood why until a few years ago…..I’m 30.

ENEFFTITTIES Report

Final score:

26points

Sarel Seerower 1 year ago

I want to know how many kids they had

3points

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

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

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#54

This "Itsy Bitsy Spider" song is not in fact about a spider in a bathtub.

I always though the "water spout" in the song was the water spigot in a tub and the rain washing the spider out was someone turning the tub water on.

I was well into my 20s and looking for parts to repair my house when I realized that a "water spout" is actually a rain gutter. So the spider was in a gutter and the rain that washed it out was literally just rain.

stitchmidda2 Report

Final score:

25points

Karl Baxter 1 year ago

I learned it as “Incey wincey spider”

18points

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#55

Hot showers. I was 31 when I figured them out. I know it sounds stupid but hear me out.

I showered with the same temperature water I’d wash my hands with, it was warm-ish but it wasn’t hot. I always thought it was weird they advised against washing face in shower since water was the same temperature. Id use the Vick’s shower tablets when I felt congested only to have to squat to be able to get any of the steam. I laugh back at it now

2 years ago I was having shoulder pain and was told to run hot water on it. I did my usual hot water for a few days and nothing happened then one day I turned the hot water up and bam! I felt something release after a few minutes. I had some of the vicks laying around and threw a tablet down. I had to turn it down because the smell was too strong, didn’t even need to squat.

I was 🤯

Final score:

24points

Dorothy Stovall 1 year ago

You know what fixes almost everything? A hot soaking bubble bath. I'm glad I figured that out as a young teen.

19points

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

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

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#56

French toast can be made with other breads besides raisin bread

Final score:

24points

SCamp 1 year ago

I have never made it with raisin bread and don’t know anybody who has. This is a thing?

17points

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#57

I used to say "f**k it I'll be dead by 20 and if not I guess I'll regret this s**t later". Almost 30 and still alive, should have died multiple times, but got lucky and now I do regret a lot of s**t. So basically I learned it's cool to live for the day, but do expect tomorrow just in case.

KingOfTheLifeNewbs Report

Final score:

23points

Ace 1 year ago

And remember that "that which doesn't kill you" does not usually makes you stronger, if makes you suffer the rest of your life from injuries sustained...

4points

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#58

That I know nothing

Heavens10000whores Report

Final score:

23points

Dani M 1 year ago

Poor John Snow

11points

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#59

Gas stations weren't built over natural refined gas reserves below ground, and that gasoline was shipped to gas stations

SenhorSus Report

Final score:

23points

#60

I thought people said “Florida ceiling” when referring to floor to ceiling windows til I was like 25 lmaooo made sense to me 🤷🏼‍♀️

cleoterra Report

Final score:

22points

Deson 1 year ago

When I was a child when a waitress would ask if you wanted "Soup or Salad"? I thought she was asking if you wanted a "Super Salad" and wondered why no one ever ordered it. This went on until my early 20's when it finally dawned on me what was going on.

5points

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

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

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#61

Women can be just as cruel as men.

HumanShark560 Report

Final score:

21points

Vix Spiderthrust 1 year ago (edited)

This is what gets me when people say "If women were in charge there'd be no more war". No; women are very capable of being vindictive, petty and spiteful.

4points

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#62

That being a fat guy my whole life was not the best choice.

PolarAnarchy Report

Final score:

21points

Joseph Grimmett 1 year ago

For some it's not a choice. There are glandular issues that cause excessive weight gain, and there isn't a lot that can be done.

3points

#63

Didn't know about the arrow that points to the side the gas tank is on until I was about 40.

VegasLife84 Report

Final score:

20points

Monte Cheney 1 year ago

Perhaps because this is a relatively new feature on automobiles,like post 2000.

2points

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#64

How to tie my shoes did not till 19. My parents brother and cousins all tried. I just couldn't understand it when I was 6, so I just stopped trying to learn and tucked my laces in my socks.

HooterEnthusiast Report

Final score:

20points

Kaye Nicole (Nikki) 1 year ago

I didn’t even learn it from my parents. I was 6, and the recess supervisor taught me.

8points

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#65

How to navigate the academic landscape effectively.

idenaeus Report

Final score:

19points

Michael Largey 1 year ago

Mainly stay beneath the surface, but keep your periscope up at all times.

2points

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"I Didn't Start The Dryer": Karen Gets Taught A Lesson After Throwing Out Neighbor's Wet Clothes

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Guy Divorced 3 Years Ago Drops Off 3 Y.O. With His Ex-Wife Completely Out Of The Blue

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#66

That you don’t have to put your knife *through the tines of the fork to cut stuff

eggplant_wizard12 Report

Final score:

18points

freakingbee (they/them) 1 year ago

oh thank god the sound makes me want to rip my eardrums out

16points

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#67

That bob seger was not singing about a night moose. I never really bothered to listen to the lyrics and that was the only part of the song that stuck out to me.

Mangos_for_sale Report

Final score:

18points

Kise Miarse 1 year ago

My dad grew up thinking "Only the Lonely" was "Phony Baloney" and "I only have eyes for you" was "I only have ICE for you."

6points

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#68

How to pronounce "salmon"

Goshawk898 Report

Final score:

18points

Bill Tinsley 1 year ago

Some people go their entire lives convinced that's a hard "l"

10points

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#69

There is no common sense.

wallofchaos Report

Final score:

18points

Nonna_SoF 1 year ago

Common sense is the things that seem obvious to me. Common knowledge is things I already know. /s

6points

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#70

The importance of saving money or buying property early

wetpickle_antichrist Report

Final score:

17points

XenoMurph 1 year ago

How privileged of you to have spare money

11points

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#71

I was late to the Santa party. I don't remember how old but old enough to feel like an idiot.

itsamemichele Report

Final score:

17points

Samyan Elrod 1 year ago

I always knew it but I like to believe anyway, I think it's cute that this old man just gives kids free stuff to be nice for no reason ♥

4points

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College Student Does Exactly As Told After Roommates Demand They Keep Their Stuff In Their Room

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College Student Does Exactly As Told After Roommates Demand They Keep Their Stuff In Their Room

#72

Envision a future you can enjoy even if if seems impossible

Final score:

17points

Feathered Dinosaur 1 year ago

Me, doing a regular trip to Mars for vacation that takes only a day or so and Mars having nice livable vacation homes, activities and stuff and of course it's all on a budget. I really would like to safely and cheaply go to space *sigh*

3points

#73

Tibet is *not* pronounced "Ti-bay", as if it were french

4MELwave Report

Final score:

16points

Kise Miarse 1 year ago

No. But it *is* fancier that way.

4points

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#74

That elephants aren't as big as 2 story buildings :(((. Still very dissapointed about that one

Final score:

16points

Sans Serif 1 year ago

But... Mumakil Oliphaunts image_2023...40d47a.png

2points

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#75

Social skills. Thank you hallucinogens.

oddlybaby Report

Final score:

14points

Lauren S 1 year ago

How did we get from social skills to hallucinogens?

13points

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#76

That your parents don't know what's the best for you, only you do

BossKitchen4053 Report

Final score:

14points

XenoMurph 1 year ago

There's a particular age to decide this, 3 years old crossing the road is not that age. For many things 25 is not either. But you have to make your own mistakes so... don't let them tell you what to do, but do ask advice.

9points

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#77

I have too many... um when I learned that digimon literally means digital monsters 😳

TiredBluePanda Report

Final score:

12points

Death’s Entropy 1 year ago

Isn’t it in the theme song?

5points

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#78

Don’t be a naive b***h, sadly I just learned this lesson

getdrawnnsfw Report

Final score:

9points

TotallyNOTaFox 1 year ago

Questioning everything and thinking for yourself about things is a good way to avoid trouble

1point

#79

That you can turn light switches on and off in og half life

Dune_Asmr Report

Final score:

7points

SCamp 1 year ago

What does this mean?

5points

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#80

Investing is super easy. Wish I would of started when I was 18.

Final score:

7points

XenoMurph 1 year ago

Someone with spare money again, who are these people??

15points

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Justin Sandberg

I am a writer at Bored Panda. Despite being born in the US, I ended up spending most of my life in Europe, from Latvia, Austria, and Georgia to finally settling in Lithuania. At Bored Panda, you’ll find me covering topics ranging from the cat meme of the day to red flags in the workplace and really anything else. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, beating other people at board games, cooking, good books, and bad films.

I am a writer at Bored Panda. Despite being born in the US, I ended up spending most of my life in Europe, from Latvia, Austria, and Georgia to finally settling in Lithuania. At Bored Panda, you’ll find me covering topics ranging from the cat meme of the day to red flags in the workplace and really anything else. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, beating other people at board games, cooking, good books, and bad films.

Vėja Elkimavičiūtė

I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. Looking at pets and memes is the best part of my work. I love to travel and want to see the world. Still looking and exploring stuff I like and want to do so thats exciting... and sometimes not

I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. Looking at pets and memes is the best part of my work. I love to travel and want to see the world. Still looking and exploring stuff I like and want to do so thats exciting... and sometimes not

What do you think ?

Suzy Creamcheese 1 year ago

Reading lists like this one always makes me feel a lot smarter.

9points

Ranidae 1 year ago

About 2 years ago I saw the phrase "for all intents and purposes" in a book I read and thought it was a mistake... until I saw it again about a week later in a different book. I'd always thought it was "for all intensive purposes." I guess I had only heard it, not seen it written out before. I'm in my 40's. I still feel 🤦

7points

Agfox 1 year ago

Technically known as a mondegreen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondegreen

4points

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StrangeOne 1 year ago

I learned this just now from you lol.

1point

Ole Peder Amrud Hagen 1 year ago

How would that make sense, though?

0points

Joe Publique 1 year ago

The former makes perfect sense and the latter is gibberish. Don't you think about the words you say?

0points

leendadll 1 year ago

Miss Muffet was eating cottage cheese ("curds & whey"). I was 58.

5points

John Harrison 1 year ago

TIL (50)

1point

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Where’s The Shovel? 1 year ago

I knew the word awry and how to use it in speech, however I didn't realise it was spelt as awry.

3points

Ginger Grumpybunny 1 year ago

I was the other way around: I knew it in writing, and was later surprised to learn that the way I pronounced it in my head was wrong.

1point

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Bobby 1 year ago

That I can respect something I don't understand. I was raised in a pretty accepting home compared to most I know, but if you couldn't make somebody understand your perspective you were wrong. I guess for example: my extended family couldn't care less if you were gay straight or bi. They get those. But asexual? Cant wrap their heads around that, so you must have not met the right person yet. They also don't really get gender vs sex assigned at birth either

3points

crowspectre (he/they) 1 year ago

Good job being better than your family! Too many people decide that they need to hate something just because they don't understand it, and it sucks

2points

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Benita Valdez 1 year ago

I'm almost 40 and I only learned maybe 2-3 years ago that there is a chance that eyebrows won't grow back. Had I known that as a teen in the late 90's I would definitely had been more careful and not done the super thin brows. Fortunately, I never had an issue with hair growth but man would I look silly now if they didn't grow back; accidentally overlooked and had half an eyebrow at one point

2points

Sara Anderson 1 year ago

"Bridge ices before road" I always for some reason thought that meant the part of the road right before the bridge got icy first. I think I was 40 when I finally realized what it meant. To be fair, I live in Florida so an icy road isn't really much of a concern most years.

1point

Ronnie Cutshall 1 year ago

When a person smile bat you. They're just being polite guys. You know what I am talking about

1point

crowspectre (he/they) 1 year ago

I realized that I was a guy (and also gay) less than a year ago. Very fun

1point

AuntieDreDre 1 year ago

Loved this list. Hope it keeps going!

0points

Ole Peder Amrud Hagen 1 year ago (edited)

The sheer amount of stupid people out there... wow.

0points

Michael H 1 year ago

That people often speak and act in ways that come more from wanting to be perceived a certain way than actual belief. I could never figure out why the people who happen to be pro-gun were also pro-capital punishment and anti-abortion and liked football, and that the ones that were pro-weed were also pro-abortion and liked to hike. Why should any of the ideas have to pair together? Obviously it's tire to ideology and there are centuries of history to explain it, but it's not necessary. It wasn't until I was a little older and realized I could support or reject individual ideas without voting the straight party ticket that I 1. Learned myself better and 2. Seperated myself from politics in general, both of which make me happier.

0points

John Harrison 1 year ago

"Why should any of the ideas have to pair together?" Some seemingly disparate ideas absolutely SHOULD be grouped together, and their unifying factor is that one group is the way the world appears to be when you simply look at it and take it face value, judging it only with the simple values you learned as a child, and the other is how you come to understand things when you've been educated on the matter and taken some time to think about them. Capital punishment is a perfect example. People who support capital punishment are often folks who simply apply the "eye for an eye" values that they learned as a child, and/or who have never learned any of the counter arguments to capital punishment.

1point

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Lori w 1 year ago

I stirred Mac and cheese with a metal spoon in the pot for years.

0points

Adnew 1 year ago

You're not supposed to?

4points

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Suzy Creamcheese 1 year ago

Reading lists like this one always makes me feel a lot smarter.

9points

Ranidae 1 year ago

About 2 years ago I saw the phrase "for all intents and purposes" in a book I read and thought it was a mistake... until I saw it again about a week later in a different book. I'd always thought it was "for all intensive purposes." I guess I had only heard it, not seen it written out before. I'm in my 40's. I still feel 🤦

7points

Agfox 1 year ago

Technically known as a mondegreen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondegreen

4points

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StrangeOne 1 year ago

I learned this just now from you lol.

1point

Ole Peder Amrud Hagen 1 year ago

How would that make sense, though?

0points

Joe Publique 1 year ago

The former makes perfect sense and the latter is gibberish. Don't you think about the words you say?

0points

leendadll 1 year ago

Miss Muffet was eating cottage cheese ("curds & whey"). I was 58.

5points

John Harrison 1 year ago

TIL (50)

1point

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Where’s The Shovel? 1 year ago

I knew the word awry and how to use it in speech, however I didn't realise it was spelt as awry.

3points

Ginger Grumpybunny 1 year ago

I was the other way around: I knew it in writing, and was later surprised to learn that the way I pronounced it in my head was wrong.

1point

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Bobby 1 year ago

That I can respect something I don't understand. I was raised in a pretty accepting home compared to most I know, but if you couldn't make somebody understand your perspective you were wrong. I guess for example: my extended family couldn't care less if you were gay straight or bi. They get those. But asexual? Cant wrap their heads around that, so you must have not met the right person yet. They also don't really get gender vs sex assigned at birth either

3points

crowspectre (he/they) 1 year ago

Good job being better than your family! Too many people decide that they need to hate something just because they don't understand it, and it sucks

2points

Load More Replies...

Benita Valdez 1 year ago

I'm almost 40 and I only learned maybe 2-3 years ago that there is a chance that eyebrows won't grow back. Had I known that as a teen in the late 90's I would definitely had been more careful and not done the super thin brows. Fortunately, I never had an issue with hair growth but man would I look silly now if they didn't grow back; accidentally overlooked and had half an eyebrow at one point

2points

Sara Anderson 1 year ago

"Bridge ices before road" I always for some reason thought that meant the part of the road right before the bridge got icy first. I think I was 40 when I finally realized what it meant. To be fair, I live in Florida so an icy road isn't really much of a concern most years.

1point

Ronnie Cutshall 1 year ago

When a person smile bat you. They're just being polite guys. You know what I am talking about

1point

crowspectre (he/they) 1 year ago

I realized that I was a guy (and also gay) less than a year ago. Very fun

1point

AuntieDreDre 1 year ago

Loved this list. Hope it keeps going!

0points

Ole Peder Amrud Hagen 1 year ago (edited)

The sheer amount of stupid people out there... wow.

0points

Michael H 1 year ago

That people often speak and act in ways that come more from wanting to be perceived a certain way than actual belief. I could never figure out why the people who happen to be pro-gun were also pro-capital punishment and anti-abortion and liked football, and that the ones that were pro-weed were also pro-abortion and liked to hike. Why should any of the ideas have to pair together? Obviously it's tire to ideology and there are centuries of history to explain it, but it's not necessary. It wasn't until I was a little older and realized I could support or reject individual ideas without voting the straight party ticket that I 1. Learned myself better and 2. Seperated myself from politics in general, both of which make me happier.

0points

John Harrison 1 year ago

"Why should any of the ideas have to pair together?" Some seemingly disparate ideas absolutely SHOULD be grouped together, and their unifying factor is that one group is the way the world appears to be when you simply look at it and take it face value, judging it only with the simple values you learned as a child, and the other is how you come to understand things when you've been educated on the matter and taken some time to think about them. Capital punishment is a perfect example. People who support capital punishment are often folks who simply apply the "eye for an eye" values that they learned as a child, and/or who have never learned any of the counter arguments to capital punishment.

1point

Load More Replies...

Lori w 1 year ago

I stirred Mac and cheese with a metal spoon in the pot for years.

0points

Adnew 1 year ago

You're not supposed to?

4points

Load More Replies...

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