In the 21st century, the real issue isn’t “How do you find information?” but “How do you sift through the oceans of data out there?” As a result, it can be hard to actually know what is “common knowledge” and what is some obscure factoid you have randomly memorized.
Someone asked “What’s something you thought was common knowledge but found out most people didn’t know” and netizens shared their best examples. From intricate traffic rules to observations about human behavior, hopefully, you will learn something new. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorite examples, and comment your ideas below.
#1
If you flick the bar sticking out of your steering wheel up, it causes the lights on the right side of your vehicle to flash. And if you flick it down, the left side flashes, so people know you are going to make a turn or change lanes. It even works in pickup trucks!
#2
Queer people existed in the “olden times”. And they exist in countries where it’s banned. And they exist in ultra-conservative families.
#3
Social media is NOT for you, it’s for advertisers. You’re the product.
#4
You let people out before entering
#5
Being nice and patient will give you a bigger chance of getting a refund or a new of whatever is broken, than being angry and blaming the random worker
#6
You have to empty the lint trap on your dryer after each load.
#7
If you are driving and it is raining – turn your lights on.
#8
That you should wash your hands every time you use the toilet. Yes, even if you “got nothing on them”.
#9
HR is there to protect the employer, NOT you.
Grenadine is made from pomegranate, not cherry.
#10
Gambling at a casino will most likely result in losing money.
#11
The older I get, the more I’m realizing basic history is not known at all.
#12
RSVP means Please Respond. Not respond if you’re coming, or respond if you’re not coming. Respond whether you’re coming or not.
#13
Vehicles entering a freeway/merging with traffic do not have the right-of-way and YIELD signs are not merely suggestions.
#14
Ammonia + Bleach = Poison Gas. Don’t combine the two, and pay attention to the active ingredients on cleaning products. Glass cleaner is often ammonia-based while “bathroom cleaners” usually contain bleach, for example.
#15
95% of getting what you want, is in HOW YOU ASK.
Don’t be a d**k/karen, and you will likely get whatever you need.
#16
Cows have to give birth first before they can produce milk
Just like any other mammal
#17
Lefty loosy, righty tighty
#18
Mayonnaise does not have any dairy in it. Just because eggs are sold in the ‘dairy’ section of the grocery store does not mean eggs are dairy products. They will not trigger your lactose intolerance because they have no lactose in them.
#19
If the traffic lights are out at an intersection, treat it as a 4 way stop.
If interrogated by the police for a crime ask for a lawyer and say nothing. You can be incredibly guilty but without your testimony you have a chance to get off. You have rights.
#21
I have an inner monologue which I thought everyone had
#22
You wash out blood with cold water
#23
It’s YIN and Yang, not YING!
#24
Some eggs aren’t fertilized and will never become a baby/chicken/penquin. It baffles me how many folks Ive had to explain that to this month alone.
#25
Blue light on your dash means your brights are on
#26
I’m always surprised by the number of people who think that ponies are *baby* horses rather than *small* horses.
#27
A lot of media online. It’s easy to see something being really popular online and forget that it’s only popular amongst people of a certain demographic or audience.
#28
Roman Numerals.
Not sure why I thought it was common knowledge.
#29
If you want to drink beer all night long, drink a glass of water between each beer. You will be the last one standing.
#30
The arrow next to your gas pump symbol on your dashboard indicates what side of the car your tank is on. ⛽️🚗