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Common knowledge things you learned late

Jan 13, 2017#1

fade

Just for funsies, are there any tidbits you consider common knowledge that you didn't learn until later in life?

I can say I didn't realize the first number in an office number represented the floor until at least I went to college. Hadn't spent much time in multi-story buildings before that.

Jan 13, 2017#2

Ravenpoe

There is no sex in the champagne room, no matter what she says.

Jan 13, 2017#3

ThatNickGuy

I used to have an awful time figuring out which side of the car the gas goes into. Sometimes, I'd get out before driving up to the pumps to check both sides.

I had no idea the little arrow on the gas gauge tells you which side it's on.

Jan 13, 2017#4

Cog

ThatNickGuy said:
I used to have an awful time figuring out which side of the car the gas goes into. Sometimes, I'd get out before driving up to the pumps to check both sides.

I had no idea the little arrow on the gas gauge tells you which side it's on.

There is an arrow on the gas gauge?

Jan 13, 2017#5

Tinwhistler

Cog said:
There is an arrow on the gas gauge?

Jan 13, 2017#6

Gruebeard

Tin ninja'd me

[DOUBLEPOST=1484334210,1484334019][/DOUBLEPOST]Anyway, on topic. I was around 20 when I learned that you hearing unimpaired people can hear where sounds come from, that stereo speakers mimic that.

Jan 13, 2017#7

Anonymous

Ravenpoe said:
There is no sex in the champagne room, no matter what she says.

wrong

Jan 13, 2017#8

Gruebeard

Anonymous said:
wrong

I'm betting this is @Ravenpoe, who has just this moment learned the truth.

Jan 13, 2017#9

Anonymous

Gruebeard said:
I'm betting this is @Ravenpoe, who has just this moment learned the truth.

wrong

admitting to prostitution can follow a one around

Jan 13, 2017#10

Celt Z

ThatNickGuy said:
I used to have an awful time figuring out which side of the car the gas goes into...I had no idea the little arrow on the gas gauge tells you which side it's on.

Tinwhistler said:

Aaaaaaand TIL.

(I'll come up with something later. Right now my mind is blown.)

Jan 13, 2017#11

PatrThom

I assume the little arrow was added to make it easier for people who rent various cars over business trips and such.

--Patrick

Jan 13, 2017#12

HCGLNS

The abbreviation NE does not mean New England. Learned that from Halforums.

Jan 13, 2017#13

GasBandit

It was, like, 2002 when I learned that "mauve" wasn't pronounced "mwahv."

Jan 13, 2017#14

Telephius

GasBandit said:
It was, like, 2002 when I learned that "mauve" wasn't pronounced "mwahv."

Depends if it is US English or British English.

Jan 13, 2017#15

Ravenpoe

GasBandit said:
It was, like, 2002 when I learned that "mauve" wasn't pronounced "mwahv."

... it's not?

Jan 13, 2017#16

Bubble181

Ravenpoe said:
... it's not?

m- ohh-vv.

Jan 14, 2017#17

GasBandit

Ravenpoe said:
... it's not?

Like Bubble said. It rimes with "trove" or "clove."

Jan 14, 2017#18

Grytpipe-Thynne

If in doubt pronounce it lilac!!

Jan 14, 2017#19

Gruebeard

Oh, I only learned later in life that anybody cares how toilet paper is placed on the roll.

I still do it wrong, and I don't care.

Jan 14, 2017#20

mikerc

As long as there's paper there when I need it I don't care how the paper is on the roll. Hell, sometimes when I finish the old one I'll just place the new one on top of the cistern bypassing the roll altogether.

Jan 16, 2017#21

evilmike

Grytpipe-Thynne said:
If in doubt pronounce it lilac!!

Out of curiosity, how do you pronounce 'Raymond Luxury Yacht'?

Jan 16, 2017#22

PatrThom

GasBandit said:
Like Bubble said. It rimes with "trove" or "clove."

I thought it was pronounced like "@bhamv3"
...actually that's not true, I always thought it was pronounced like "saw" or "thought."

--Patrick

Jan 17, 2017#23

General Specific

evilmike said:
Out of curiosity, how do you pronounce 'Raymond Luxury Yacht'?

Like "Throatwarbler Mangrove"

Jan 17, 2017#24

drawn_inward

This is completely regional, but near where I grew up there is a honky-tonk called JC Cowboys (http://www.jccowboys.com/). Until I was at least 22, I thought it was a JC Penny's for cowboy clothes. Even while talking to other undergrads about their weekend and they said they went JC Cowboys, I just assumed they went shopping. I think I was in sculpting class when I over heard a couple of folks talking about getting shitfaced at JCC. Then, OIC.

Jan 17, 2017#25

GasBandit

drawn_inward said:
This is completely regional, but near where I grew up there is a honky-tonk called JC Cowboys (http://www.jccowboys.com/). Until I was at least 22, I thought it was a JC Penny's for cowboy clothes. Even while talking to other undergrads about their weekend and they said they went JC Cowboys, I just assumed they went shopping. I think I was in sculpting class when I over heard a couple of folks talking about getting shitfaced at JCC. Then, OIC.

It took me a little while here, too, to figure out that the Texas Hall of Fame (which has since closed down) was a bar/concert venue, not a museum.

Jan 17, 2017#26

sixpackshaker

I did not learn it, I had to tell it to another person. Seeing the Big Johnson pic from Gas, reminded me of the time I had to tell a 50+ year old teacher what a Big Johnson was.

Jan 17, 2017#27

Eriol

I'll admit to the fact that I was well into my teens (and possibly 20, though I'm not sure) before I knew what a "Mrs. Robinson" reference was all about. Obviously the song didn't make much sense either until I figured that out. Still haven't seen The Graduate either, though again, I now know more what that's about.

Jan 17, 2017#28

Mathias

metal music is called that because it's harder than rock.

Jan 17, 2017#29

Bubble181

Mathias said:
metal music is called that because it's harder than rock.

....Really?

Jan 17, 2017#30

PatrThom

sixpackshaker said:
I did not learn it, I had to tell it to another person. Seeing the Big Johnson pic from Gas, reminded me of the time I had to tell a 50+ year old teacher what a Big Johnson was.

I remember the t-shirts. Ah, the 90's.

--Patrick

Jan 17, 2017#31

Eriol

Mathias said:
metal music is called that because it's harder than rock.

Bubble181 said:
....Really?

Not according to wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_metal_music#Etymology

But that doesn't mean Mathias is wrong either. Basically it's "uncertain" but Mathias' explanation isn't listed there.

Jan 17, 2017#32

Grytpipe-Thynne

evilmike said:
Out of curiosity, how do you pronounce 'Raymond Luxury Yacht'?

I try not to!

Actually you have stumped me. This may be some sort of pun, but it is lost on me.

Jan 17, 2017#33

evilmike

Grytpipe-Thynne said:
I try not to!

Actually you have stumped me. This may be some sort of pun, but it is lost on me.

Jan 17, 2017#34

Grytpipe-Thynne

Ach Soo!

Jan 17, 2017#35

Dave

GasBandit said:
It took me a little while here, too, to figure out that the Texas Hall of Fame (which has since closed down) was a bar/concert venue, not a museum.

There's a bar/restaurant near here called Quaker Steak & Lube. I always thought it was an auto parts store.

Jan 17, 2017#36

GasBandit

Dave said:
There's a bar/restaurant near here called Quaker Steak & Lube. I always thought it was an auto parts store.

I'm pretty sure they did that on purpose, it's a chain, and the inside is usually mocked up to look like an oil change garage.

There's another place around here called Harvey Washbangers. That's confusing on a number of levels, because it sounds like a bar because of the Harvey Wallbanger pun, but it's not a bar, it's a Restaurant that serves really good non-standard burgers. Oh, and yes, double whiplash from "that must be a laundromat" "well, it's a restaurant" "Oh" "and it's also a laundromat." "Wha?"

So yeah, it's a combined restaurant/laundromat.

Jan 17, 2017#37

Dave

Well that's just stupid. There's no way I'd see the name and think, "Huh. Guess I want to EAT there."

Jan 17, 2017#38

GasBandit

Dave said:
Well that's just stupid. There's no way I'd see the name and think, "Huh. Guess I want to EAT there."

Which, Quaker Steak and Lube or Harvey Washbangers?

Heh, as for the latter, well, you're not a dorm-dwelling college student with a huge sack of dirty clothes and an empty belly

They must be doing SOMETHING right because it's outlasted a dozen other restaurants in the area over the last 15 years or so.

Jan 17, 2017#39

ThatNickGuy

This probably doesn't fall under common knowledge, but two things blew my mind when I first moved to Toronto.

For one, I didn't feel like cooking for the first few days after I'd arrived. Too much shit to unpack. So I figured I'd order my usual from a local pizza place: a medium pizza and medium garlic fingers. I called over half a dozen different pizza joints. None of them had a clue what I was talking about. They thought I confused garlic fingers with garlic bread or garlic sticks. After some short googling, I discovered garlic fingers, like donairs, is strictly an east coast thing. I was a little heartbroken.

Then, I experienced my first major Toronto snowstorm. But while I watched the snow fall from my window, I suddenly see a flash of...lightning?! And a clap of thunder?! Since when the hell does a thunderstorm happen during a snowstorm!? I learned later that that was indeed a thing that occurs in weather. I had no idea.

Jan 17, 2017#40

GasBandit

ThatNickGuy said:
For one, I didn't feel like cooking for the first few days after I'd arrived. Too much shit to unpack. So I figured I'd order my usual from a local pizza place: a medium pizza and medium garlic fingers. I called over half a dozen different pizza joints. None of them had a clue what I was talking about. They thought I confused garlic fingers with garlic bread or garlic sticks. After some short googling, I discovered garlic fingers, like donairs, is strictly an east coast thing. I was a little heartbroken.

TIL Garlic fingers. And that I want some.

But I also had a similar experience to this, too! Apparently the term for what you get when you deep fry mozzarella varies from place to place. What the Red Robin in Colorado Springs called "Fried Cheese" apparently is called "Mozzarella sticks" at restaurants here in Texas, even though they are both this:

And asking for the former here just gets you dumbfounded looks.

Jan 17, 2017#41

ThatNickGuy

GasBandit said:
TIL Garlic fingers. And that I want some.

Well, if you don't mind making them from scratch...

http://halifaxbloggers.ca/isaynomato/east-coast-garlic-fingers-with-donair-sauce/

Jan 17, 2017#42

sixpackshaker

I didn't know garlic had fingers.

Same goes for chickens.

Jan 17, 2017#43

PatrThom

ThatNickGuy said:
while I watched the snow fall from my window, I suddenly see a flash of...lightning?! And a clap of thunder?! Since when the hell does a thunderstorm happen during a snowstorm!? I learned later that that was indeed a thing that occurs in weather. I had no idea.

Yep. It even has a name that could belong to a superhero.

--Patrick

Jan 17, 2017#44

Emrys

I found out yesterday that "green cheese" (as in "the moon is made of...") refers to the age of the cheese, not the colour.

Jan 17, 2017#45

Dei

GasBandit said:
TIL Garlic fingers. And that I want some.

But I also had a similar experience to this, too! Apparently the term for what you get when you deep fry mozzarella varies from place to place. What the Red Robin in Colorado Springs called "Fried Cheese" apparently is called "Mozzarella sticks" at restaurants here in Texas, even though they are both this:

And asking for the former here just gets you dumbfounded looks.

Um, I have never seen them called anything but Mozzarella sticks. :confused:

Jan 17, 2017#46

GasBandit

Dei said:
Um, I have never seen them called anything but Mozzarella sticks.

I dunno what to tell you. My buds and I always ordered "fried cheese."

Jan 17, 2017#47

Dei

GasBandit said:
I dunno what to tell you. My buds and I always ordered "fried cheese."

Clearly Colorado Springs is more backwards than I thought.

Jan 17, 2017#48

fade

Can't say I've ever heard anything but mozzarella sticks either.

Jan 17, 2017#49

GasBandit

Dei said:
Clearly Colorado Springs is more backwards than I thought.

I won't argue against that, heh.

Jan 17, 2017#50

Sparhawk

ThatNickGuy said:
Well, if you don't mind making them from scratch...

http://halifaxbloggers.ca/isaynomato/east-coast-garlic-fingers-with-donair-sauce/

Huh. Several local places serve stuff like that, jut call it Cheezy Bread.

Jan 17, 2017#51

klew

Local-ish pizza place toasts their sub sandwich bread for their cheesy garlic bread.

Jan 18, 2017#52

drawn_inward

DarkAudit said:
@drawn_inward, "one word, plastics" was a famous line early in the movie that became a meme of it's day.

I don't think I have seen Mrs. Robinson. That explains why I didn't get the ref.

Jan 18, 2017#53

jwhouk

@drawn_inward - second thing you've learned today: the title is "The Graduate".

Jan 18, 2017#54

PatrThom

Third thing you'll learn if you watch it is that Dustin Hoffman used to be young.
(And no, I haven't seen it)

--Patrick

Jan 18, 2017#55

Chad Sexington

Probably within the last five years: the correct pronunciation of "caulk" - I always pronounced the L, which now sounds quite awkward to my ears. People thought I was being a prude, afraid to say "cock." Nope. Just didn't know.

Jan 18, 2017#56

GasBandit

Chad Sexington said:
Probably within the last five years: the correct pronunciation of "caulk" - I always pronounced the L, which now sounds quite awkward to my ears. People thought I was being a prude, afraid to say "cock." Nope. Just didn't know.

Hrm, I've always pronounced it "kawlk" and nobody's ever corrected me...

Jan 18, 2017#57

Chad Sexington

GasBandit said:
Hrm, I've always pronounced it "kawlk" and nobody's ever corrected me...

Yeah, it's "cock" and "cocking" gun, etc. At least around here.

Jan 18, 2017#58

Dei

I never pronounce the L, but with more of a cawk than a cock. Or is that the same pronunciation to some people? :O

Jan 18, 2017#59

GasBandit

Dei said:
I never pronounce the L, but with more of a cawk than a cock. Or is that the same pronunciation to some people? :O

It is for some. Depends on the regional dialect, in my experience.

And thank you all for getting me to sit here at my desk at work practicing the various ways of saying "cock" out loud.

Jan 18, 2017#60

Dei

Regional dialects are fun, my husband and I still argue about the right way to pronounce aunt.

Jan 18, 2017#61

GasBandit

Dei said:
Regional dialects are fun, my husband and I still argue about the right way to pronounce aunt.

And then there are those of us who just drift between saying it one way and then the other with no rhyme or reason.

Jan 18, 2017#62

drifter

I only recently (as in the last year or two) learned what fitful actually meant. Growing up I never bothered to look up the definition, assuming its meaning from context. Turns out it means pretty much the opposite of what I thought. :/

Jan 18, 2017#63

bhamv3

drifter said:
I only recently (as in the last year or two) learned what fitful actually meant. Growing up I never bothered to look up the definition, assuming its meaning from context. Turns out it means pretty much the opposite of what I thought. :/

I exercise fitfully.

Jan 19, 2017#64

Bubble181

Dei said:
Regional dialects are fun, my husband and I still argue about the right way to pronounce aunt.

"Not like the insect".

Jan 19, 2017#65

PatrThom

I pronounce "caulk" like "chalk" or "talk." I also try to pronounce "aunt" like "awning" mainly so that there is no confusing what I mean, though I will inconsistently pronounce "auntie" like "anti-" or "on tea" with no rhyme nor reason because I don't feel there's confusion there.

--Patrick

Jan 19, 2017#66

fade

I don't think I've ever heard anyone drop the "L" in caulk.

Jan 19, 2017#67

GasBandit

fade said:
I don't think I've ever heard anyone drop the "L" in caulk.

I mean, I think I sort of have?

Because Caulk rhymes with Chalk which rhymes with Chock which has no L.

And what's really wierd is that the chocks you put around the wheels of a plane to stop it from rolling seem to be pronounced differently than something being chock full of whatever.

Jan 19, 2017#68

Bubble181

Caulk and Chalk don't rhyme at all. the middle of "Caulk" is like "all around the world" - the middle of "Chalk" is like "Alphabet". Well, ok, not really, but I can't think of anything that has the "chalk" pronunciation readily and doesn't have a differently-pronounced homonym. Hmm.

Jan 19, 2017#69

fade

You lost me on that one. Chalk and caulk rhyme 'round these parts, son.

Jan 19, 2017#70

GasBandit

Bubble181 said:
Caulk and Chalk don't rhyme at all. the middle of "Caulk" is like "all around the world" - the middle of "Chalk" is like "Alphabet". Well, ok, not really, but I can't think of anything that has the "chalk" pronunciation readily and doesn't have a differently-pronounced homonym. Hmm.

Maybe in belgium, but almost everywhere I've lived, they rhyme.

Jan 19, 2017#71

Denbrought

Fairly sure chalk and caulk rhyme in standard English, because /t͡ʃɔːk/ and /kɔːk/.

Jan 19, 2017#72

GasBandit

Denbrought said:
Fairly sure chalk and caulk rhyme in standard English, because /t͡ʃɔːk/ and /kɔːk/.

But hey, I look forward to correcting Bubble's dutch pronunciation, going forward

Jan 19, 2017#73

Eriol

Denbrought said:
Fairly sure chalk and caulk rhyme in standard English, because /t͡ʃɔːk/ and /kɔːk/.

The main thing wrong with that post IMO is your idea that "Standard English" exists at all.

Jan 19, 2017#74

fade

GasBandit said:
But hey, I look forward to correcting Bubble's dutch pronunciation, going forward

Jan 19, 2017#75

GasBandit

fade said:

Heh, Pauline was completely and utterly nonplussed by Goldmember.

Jan 19, 2017#76

Denbrought

Eriol said:
The main thing wrong with that post IMO is your idea that "Standard English" exists at all.

Eh, fair enough. It's what you get for not having an official language academy ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Jan 19, 2017#77

PatrThom

GasBandit said:
Caulk rhymes with Chalk which rhymes with Chock which has no L.

No, "chock" is pronounced like "shock," "mock," and "flock," unlike caulk/walk/chalk/balk/talk/stalk.

--Patrick

Jan 19, 2017#78

Chad Sexington

Chock, caulk, talk, mock, sock all rhyme, everyone else is wrong MY ACCENT IS THE TRUE ACCENT

Jan 19, 2017#79

sixpackshaker

I was 14 when I realized that the wire you make cattle fences from was not Bob Wire.

Jan 19, 2017#80

GasBandit

[DOUBLEPOST=1484870456,1484870396][/DOUBLEPOST]

sixpackshaker said:
I was 14 when I realized that the wire you make cattle fences from was not Bob Wire.

Yeah, it's bob war.

Many a bob war fence round here, I reckon.

Jan 19, 2017#81

LittleKagsin

My first car ran on propane, so I didn't know how to fill up a car at a gas station until I was into my 20's.

Jan 19, 2017#82

GasBandit

LittleKagsin said:
My first car ran on propane, so I didn't know how to fill up a car at a gas station until I was into my 20's.

Heh, When I was 19 I had to teach one a buddy's girlfriend how to remove ice from an ice cube tray. She had never lived without an ice cube maker built into her fridge. She didn't believe me at first that you just "grab both ends and twist until you hear cracking noises."

Jan 19, 2017#83

PatrThom

GasBandit said:

That is still one of my most favorite C&H strips.

GasBandit said:
Heh, When I was 19 I had to teach one a buddy's girlfriend how to remove ice from an ice cube tray. She had never lived without an ice cube maker built into her fridge. She didn't believe me at first that you just "grab both ends and twist until you hear cracking noises."

Hah ha! Silly person. No, you grab the lever in the center and pull upwards until you hear cracking noises.

--Patrick

Jan 19, 2017#84

GasBandit

PatrThom said:
That is still one of my most favorite C&H strips.

Hah ha! Silly person. No, you grab the lever in the center and pull upwards until you hear cracking noises.

--Patrick

I actually had one of those too, but as it was made of metal I didn't trust her with it

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