What common misconceptions would you like people to know-

[bannination]

about?

NO NAME CALLING, stay on topic, post interesting stuff.

Mine:

The size of the Universe; most people are told that it's 13.7 billion light years across, but that's not true. While that is the *age* of the universe the *size* of the *observable* universe is about 47 billion light years across. The total size of the universe is thought to be about 10 to the 23rd power larger than that.

One more: Bulls are not enraged by the color red. It's the threatening attitude and naturally self defense.

[Crock Hunter]

The size of the Universe.

That's a COMMON misconception??



One of mine would be that "Monsterâ„¢" (or any super premium grade) speaker cable or interconnects is audibly superior to generic products.. In fact, in tests of speaker wire.. audiophiles were unable to sonically tell the difference between high end Monsterâ„¢ cables and "coat hangers" ... . Any claims of an audible difference between them is pure nonsense..

That said.. as a long time collector and restorer of vintage high-end audio equipment.. With a few caveats.. I (and others) always recommend that one avoid these boutique products in favor of lower cost generic.. The only reason to spend a little more than the cheapest available on such accessories would be for improved long-term trouble free service.. e.g. Gold Plated terminations are less prone to corrosion.. These features can be found for considerable less than Monsterâ„¢ cables..

Monster's success is a triumph of marketing à la Bose ...

.

[neoplacebo]

If you're driving on a four lane road that has a center turn lane or a separate median, you do not have to stop for a stopped school bus driving the other direction. A lot of people stop anyway, though.

[neoplacebo]

If there are no cops around you never have to stop.

True, and if you have a cop car, you can drive at top speed without worry. That's why I fall in behind every one I happen to see that is violating the law without cause.

[O Really]

It's not a PIN number, or a VIN number. It's a Personal Identification Number or a Vehicle Identification Number. PIN number is redundant.

I wouldn't have found this worthy of mention until recently - I just took it as a common and harmless habit - much like listening for a "dial tone" on phones that haven't had a "dial" for 30 years. But recently I saw the term "Enter PIN number" on a gas pump and realized either there's been a universal change of usage or those designing gas pumps are illiterate. Don't know which, or maybe both.

[O Really]

Although the term "snuck" is found in mainstream dictionaries now as a past tense of "sneak," it was not always so. Up until the late 80's, it was listed as a colloquialism or not standard. But once Dan Rather used the term on the CBS Evening News, it became "socially acceptable" and evolved into common, standard, and accepted use as a past tense and past participle.

[nobody]

That saying or writing something does not make it so. Example most of the post on this board.

[neoplacebo]

That saying or writing something does not make it so. Example most of the post on this board.

Exactly what a lot of us have been trying to make you and Turdybus realize.....and it isn't working so far.

[billy.pilgrim]

If there are no cops around you never have to stop.

True, and if you have a cop car, you can drive at top speed without worry. That's why I fall in behind every one I happen to see that is violating the law without cause.

a bit off topic but interesting fact

fla cops speed constantly and only drive in the left lane

but the trooper responding to an accident, involving a family member, yesterday, told me that the new head trooper kernel will not allow them to break "any" traffic law when responding to a call. he said that after they get an accident call, they will request to be taken off the call to cross interstate mediums or speed and then request to be put back on the call when they get close to the scene

may be bs and the trooper was just dissing a new superior he doesn't like but it has a ring a gubberment truth

[neoplacebo]

If there are no cops around you never have to stop.

True, and if you have a cop car, you can drive at top speed without worry. That's why I fall in behind every one I happen to see that is violating the law without cause.

a bit off topic but interesting fact

fla cops speed constantly and only drive in the left lane

but the trooper responding to an accident, involving a family member, yesterday, told me that the new head trooper kernel will not allow them to break "any" traffic law when responding to a call. he said that after they get an accident call, they will request to be taken off the call to cross interstate mediums or speed and then request to be put back on the call when they get close to the scene

may be bs and the trooper was just dissing a new superior he doesn't like but it has a ring a gubberment truth

Probably is true; I saw a news story (with video) of a FL off duty cop driving his cop car to his off duty security job being pulled over by an on duty cop for "SWR" (a term I just invented meaning "speeding without reason") and I believe the off duty cop was fired. I will always pulll behind a cop car speeding without siren and lights on (especially if it's out of its jurisdiction) and only once has the cop even slowed down; that one time being a situation in which he wanted to get behind me (I suppose to look up my plate info) in which case I obliged, and then he followed me quite a way, but at the speed limit. I slowed him down, he slowed me down. Everybody wins, and he does not get to abuse his authority.

[gongoozler]

It's "Houston, we've had a problem" and not, "Houston, we have a problem".

[scooter]

It's not a PIN number, or a VIN number. It's a Personal Identification Number or a Vehicle Identification Number. PIN number is redundant.

So are you saying that the acronym for Personal Identification Number is not PIN; nor is VIN not an acronym for Vehicle Identification Number?

Our world revolves on acronyms!

[scooter]

Although the term "snuck" is found in mainstream dictionaries now as a past tense of "sneak," it was not always so. Up until the late 80's, it was listed as a colloquialism or not standard. But once Dan Rather used the term on the CBS Evening News, it became "socially acceptable" and evolved into common, standard, and accepted use as a past tense and past participle.

Only in the past few years I have begun hearing this...."I was woken" by a loud noise....woken? What happened to "awakened"? You hear that a lot, on TV by supposedly well-educated people.

Also the word "actually". I called my insurance agent not long ago, and the receptionist said "He's 'actually' out of the office." Now I'm wondering; if I had called the day before, he might have been out of the office; but by calling today, I found he was "actually" out of the office. :-0?>

I had a conversation with a charming fellow on the phone the other day and I believe every fourth word out of his mouth was "actually". Listen to the news and weather on WLOS.

What's "actually" funny is that people who have made "actually" an integral part of their vocabulary honestly believe that they are making others think they're "actually" highly educated.

Saying "PIN number" is really saying "Personal Identification Number number".

I knew there had to be something tricky in O Really's post! Thanks for clueing me in!

[scooter]

If you're driving on a four lane road that has a center turn lane or a separate median, you do not have to stop for a stopped school bus driving the other direction. A lot of people stop anyway, though.

Nor are you required to pull over and stop for an oncoming ambulance, fire truck, or funeral procession.

Pull over, stop if necessary, to let it pass if it's coming up behind you.

[O Really]

Although the term "snuck" is found in mainstream dictionaries now as a past tense of "sneak," it was not always so. Up until the late 80's, it was listed as a colloquialism or not standard. But once Dan Rather used the term on the CBS Evening News, it became "socially acceptable" and evolved into common, standard, and accepted use as a past tense and past participle.

Only in the past few years I have begun hearing this...."I was woken" by a loud noise....woken? What happened to "awakened"? You hear that a lot, on TV by supposedly well-educated people.

"Actually," Scooter, both the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language and the Collins Unabridged English Dictionary include "woke" as a real past participle of "wake." Sounds dumb to me too, but what-everrr.

On the other hand, I've been hearing a lot of supposedly literate people say "I had went" which I doubt is correct by any definition.

[scooter]

On the other hand, I've been hearing a lot of supposedly literate people say "I had went" which I doubt is correct by any definition.

Sam had asked Charlie for a ride into town; according to Charlie, he "carried" Sam to town.

... both the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language and the Collins Unabridged English Dictionary include "woke" as a real past participle of "wake."

As you say...whaateverrrrr!

People used to "sit up with the dead", which they called a "wake".
Why was it called a "wake"? (try to figure it out before you Google it)

[mama]

Irregardless is not a word. :-0?>

[gongoozler]

On the other hand, I've been hearing a lot of supposedly literate people say "I had went" which I doubt is correct by any definition.

Sam had asked Charlie for a ride into town; according to Charlie, he "carried" Sam to town.

... both the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language and the Collins Unabridged English Dictionary include "woke" as a real past participle of "wake."

As you say...whaateverrrrr!

People used to "sit up with the dead", which they called a "wake".
Why was it called a "wake"? (try to figure it out before you Google it)

Scooter, you never looked so good.

[bannination]

Irregardless is not a word. :-0?>

Haha! Good one!

[Stinger]

The size of the Universe.

That's a COMMON misconception??



One of mine would be that "Monsterâ„¢" (or any super premium grade) speaker cable or interconnects is audibly superior to generic products.. In fact, in tests of speaker wire.. audiophiles were unable to sonically tell the difference between high end Monsterâ„¢ cables and "coat hangers" ... . Any claims of an audible difference between them is pure nonsense..

That said.. as a long time collector and restorer of vintage high-end audio equipment.. With a few caveats.. I (and others) always recommend that one avoid these boutique products in favor of lower cost generic.. The only reason to spend a little more than the cheapest available on such accessories would be for improved long-term trouble free service.. e.g. Gold Plated terminations are less prone to corrosion.. These features can be found for considerable less than Monsterâ„¢ cables..

Monster's success is a triumph of marketing à la Bose ...

.

What about the high-end HDMI cables for TV's and game consoles?