While common sense often gets mocked (perhaps, unjustly) as not being common enough, as every now and then, we have encounters where someone has made a decision so astoundingly strange that you almost feel like taking them aside and learning exactly what makes them tick.
Someone asked “What do you consider to be basic knowledge everyone should know (but they don’t)?” and netizens listed all the things some folks are simply ignorant of. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your own examples in the comments below.
#1
When you’re about to enter an elevator, WAIT FOR THE PEOPLE IN IT TO GET OUT!!!!!!!!!!
Image source: Mr_Picklesworth, freepik
#2
There’s a profound difference between knowledge and belief.
Image source: Lordica, freepik
#3
If somebody is helping you, even if it’s their job to, say thank you, you p***k!
#4
The difference between “lose” and “loose”
Drives me nuts…
Image source: I_are_facepalm, freepik
#5
Africa is not a country.
You get better customer service if you’re polite.
The sun is a star.
Saltwater fish go in saltwater.
Image source: stigaz, James Wiseman
#6
That to one degree or another, evolution exists.
Edit: Just thought I’d add… I’m a Christian, and I know this to be true. There’s a difference in faith and ignorance.
Image source: anon, Eugene Zhyvchik
#7
How to read analog clocks. It’s not rocket science.
Image source: anon, Hamid Tajik
#8
If you’re married/in a relationship, don’t have affairs/cheat on them. No matter what the situation is, don’t do it.
Image source: remjob61, drobotdean
#9
Don’t randomly stop walking when you’re in front of someone.
MOVE when you’re in someones way (like while shopping, or in public in general).
Image source: monsterette, Wavebreak Media
#10
Turn Signal 101.
#11
Eat with you mouth closed and breathe through your nose whilst chewing. Seriously.
Image source: anon, Taryn Elliott
#12
In almost 99.9% of the situations you’re in, the person you are yelling at isn’t to blame. I see it happen on tech support phone calls, restaurants, shops, towards police, teachers, etc.
Image source: TheThirdBlackGuy, kuprevich
#13
An understanding of economics. You would think that most people (in the US anyway) vote with their pocketbooks. But at least half of the people consistently vote against their own self-interest because they apparently do not understand economics.
Image source: Donner_party, mindandi
#14
The amount of wasted gasoline caused by people who are constantly braking and accelerating as opposed to coasting as much as possible. If there is a red light/wall of traffic 50 yards ahead, what’s the point in accelerating when you know you’re just going to brake immediately after? Such a waste of expensive energy.
Image source: anon, Malcolm Choong 鍾声耀
#15
Common courtesy in public areas. How to be considerate in navigating through a store. Being mindful of your place in an aisle and trying to least obstruct others’ way.
Image source: future_advocate, EyeEm
#16
Current and past political events in your country. So many politicians would not get elected if people knew what they have done and what they are planning on doing.
#17
Just because you can’t disprove it, that does not mean it is true.
Image source: nicholmikey, wayhomestudio
#18
How to sew a button back on. It often seems like almost no one still has this skill.
Image source: NoApollonia, freepik
#19
F*****g let me off the bus before you try to get on. God d**n it.
Image source: solublemarker, freepik
#20
Basic math skills. I’m constantly shocked when people can’t understand simple mathematics. For example, I used to work at a restaurant that often had X% off your next meal coupons. So many times I had people complain because the percentage was taken off the total “and all the items should have X% off”. It’s the same f*****g thing. This should not be a new concept.
Image source: Pommesdor, iSawRed
#21
Et cetera becomes etc. not ect.
Image source: AllyGambit, EyeEm
#22
Other people have feelings too.
Image source: percygreen, freepik
#23
The Chinese and Japanese are not the same. They are two distinct groups with different cultures and idea that also happen to hate each other’s guts.
#24
Screaming and freaking out during a bad situation doesn’t help a thing. Breathe, calm the hell down. And think about possible solutions with a clear head. Staying calm is the key.
#25
They’re, there and their.
Image source: Alext162, freepik
#26
Climate change is caused by humans.
Image source: way_fairer, freepik
#27
New Mexico IS a part of the United States.
Image source: pengooin, Sawyer Sutton
#28
That Indian isn’t a f*****g language! I get asked this on a regular basis and it pisses me off. There’s over 20 languages in India and none of them are called Indian.
Image source: AshiqueTheIndian, rawpixel.com
#29
That the President of the United States does not have the power that people think he does.
He can’t just fix every problem with the snap of his fingers people.
#30
When people choose to be gluten free for weight loss yet don’t know what gluten is.
Image source: anon
#31
How to merge into traffic properly. Another word for merge is “blend”, as in “Blend into existing traffic”, not going half the speed and slowing everyone down around you. It’s ignorant, really.
Image source: Shawanabear, Connor Williams
#32
“Righty tighty, lefty loosey.”.
Image source: TheDyed
#33
Semi trucks take very wide turns and you need to give them room. My girlfriend was about to stop at an intersection and a semi was turning our way. She kept moving forward and I warned her you need to stop so we don’t get hit. She didn’t listen and luckily backed up in time and she claimed she had no idea of trucks taking such wide turns. It scares me to think that she got her license and knew nothing of such simple rules of the road.
Image source: Toffeepelican
#34
Don’t stand and talk with people in doorways. Somehow people always meet eachother for the first time in years and are then glued by their shoes to the floor in a doorway.
Image source: SirEriim, freepik
#35
That you can use the address bar as the search engine…
It annoys me every time I see someone type google into the address bar and click google then search whatever they are looking for.
Image source: ItJustRampage
#36
Basic Googling skills, i.e. if you don’t know Google it!
If you ask me and I don’t know, that’s what I’ll do anyways…
Image source: SuperPup, Solen Feyissa
#37
If you’re an adult and hit someone you can have criminal charges pressed against you. its not like the movies where you can get into a bar fight and walk away like nothing happened.
Image source: anon, Pavel Danilyuk
#38
Now that winter is coming up, i would say that the cold itself doesnt make you sick, but the germs that build up in your home because you neglect to ventilate it
not that the cold doesnt make it worse though.
#39
Hot political issues, like what the Affordable Care act is. This way people can correctly support or disapprove of policies.
Image source: Boshiwukins_of_Dyno
#40
What the passing lane is for.
Image source: jdpatric
#41
Basic cooking skills.
1) Your stove has different temperature settings for a reason. Not everything should be cooked on full heat.
2) Salt is not evil – flavor your food as it is cooking. And as Chef Symon says, “Cook with Kosher, finish with Sea.”
3) Fresh herbs and vegetables add flavor without excess salt.
4) If you burned food onto the bottom of a pan / pot, boil water in it for a while to loosen it up.
5) Rest any meat for several minutes after cooking, before cutting.
6) Don’t dump water on a grease fire. Drop a lid or towel over it.
Image source: seattleque, Anna Tolipova
#42
How to whisper. seriously don’t get mad when some people start to “eavesdrop”.
Image source: anon
#43
PEE AFTER S*X. It prevents UTIs. How do some girls not know this?
Image source: feowns
#44
Hallways are like roads, stay on the right side.
Image source: SteadyOperative, wirestock
#45
How to eat right. So many behavioral, mental, emotional, and physical problems stem simply from an improper diet.
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