These People Shared The Things That It Took Them An Embarrassing Amount Of Time To Figure Out
Watch out and prepare for the secondhand embarrassment!
There are many flaws in the education system, which tends to produce individuals with significant gaps in knowledge. Mostly, this means that people learn an inaccurate history of the countries in which they live; they tend to gloss over some of the nastier parts and paint a more delightful picture than is the case.
Not to worry, though; we all have an excellent grasp of trigonometry and algebra (among other abstract concepts), which I'm sure has been useful to us all many times throughout our adult lives. Painstaking math aside, most people seem to agree that school inadequately prepares us for the reality of the world.
These individuals were all brave enough to admit the things that it took them an embarrassing amount of time to figure out. Sometimes this was because they were intentionally deceived into thinking something that wasn't true, and other times it was simply childhood ignorance that persisted for too long.
Either way, there is definitely some joy in being the person who gets to correct these silly little gaps in our friends' and family members' knowledge. This must be prefaced with a disclaimer, though: if you experience secondhand embarrassment, you may find this post overwhelming—but if you enjoy being a know-it-all, then you'll love it.
"What took you an embarrassing amount of time to figure out?"
The question was asked by u/StuckBugg
"Fashion shows often feature extravagant designs that are not meant for everyday wear; they serve as a platform for designers to express their artistic vision, akin to concept cars in the automotive industry," explains Dr. John Gottman, a renowned relationship researcher. His insights highlight how such displays are more about creativity than practicality.This is so cute though!
When my siblings and I were younger, we always heard my grandfather call our grandmother Honey… so we all started calling her that, and 30+ years later, she still goes by Honey, and everyone else in her life also calls her that now, lol.Technology is hard!
"Understanding how to use tools effectively can sometimes take longer than expected, leading to moments of embarrassment. It's essential to approach these situations with a sense of humor and self-compassion," says Dr. Goleman, an emotional intelligence expert. "My girlfriend stared at me like I was the stupidest person she'd ever met, trying to formulate how to politely fix this," reflects the individual, highlighting the often humorous misunderstandings we face in daily life.Busy guy!
"Understanding language and its nuances can be a lifelong journey. Many people misinterpret common phrases or terms, which can lead to amusing misunderstandings," says Dr. Doherty, a family therapist. "It's important to embrace these moments as part of our learning process." This highlights how even simple phrases can confuse us, much like thinking 'feat' was a popular rapper due to its frequent use in music collaborations. That chickens always lay eggs without needing to mate with a rooster.I have chickens, and people have argued with me about this, lol. Like, literally, I have five hens and zero roosters, and I get eggs every day, yet people argue and say it doesn't work like that!Edit: OK, after like 50 comments saying it's a chicken period, I think we all know this fact now, lol.Turns out a lot of people don't learn about where our food comes from until it's way too late
I realized a few years ago that cows don’t just naturally produce milk; they have to be pregnant or have a calf to produce it, which is embarrassingly late to figure out. "Understanding our roles within the family can often lead to surprising realizations. It's common for the youngest member to feel overshadowed, but every family member brings unique strengths," says Dr. Doherty, a family therapist. "Recognizing your value is essential for personal growth."Unfortunately, it seems this dad was right!
When I was about five, my dad would constantly make the following joke:He'd put his hand on my head and squeeze lightly a couple of times while saying, "I'm a brainsucker. What am I doing?" After a quick pause, he'd follow up with the punchline, "Starving!" But he always stretched out the pronunciation of the word so it sounded to me like "Star...ving."For years, I thought it was a lame joke where the punchline somehow referred to the fact that brainsuckers were aliens and came from the stars or something like that.I was sitting in class one day, and I must have been 10 to 12 years old before I realized, "He's calling me dumb! The joke is that I don't have a brain, so the brainsucker is starving!"I was at least smart enough to never tell him this because I'd never live it down if he knew it took me five years to figure out the joke. The rapper Flo Rida is from Florida.That I knew. I just didn’t know that Flo Rida was Florida with a space. I’m an idiot. "You can't have your cake and eat it" doesn't mean "you can't obtain your cake then eat it"; it means "you can't still possess your cake after having eaten it."Word pronunciation is hard!
Dr. William Doherty, family therapist
"Understanding the nuances of different places and their significance can be a part of growing up. It's common for children to mix up names and places as they learn about the world," says Dr. Doherty. "This kind of confusion is a natural part of cognitive development." His insights highlight how our early perceptions shape our understanding of geography and social contexts. "Understanding the world around us can sometimes take longer than we expect. It's in those moments of realization that we truly grow," says Mel Robbins, motivational speaker and author. "For instance, the connection between the name 'Montana' and 'mountains' can be a delightful surprise when one finally experiences the beauty of the landscape." This insight resonates with many who have had similar epiphanies while traveling. How to use a staple remover.Until I was in my 40s, I’d just use the staple remover to “bite” the long side of a staple and kind of tear it back through the paper.Then someone showed me how to properly use a staple remover by “biting” the crimped side of the staple to bend the crimp and kind of straighten out the staple again. Once kind of straightened, “bite” the long side of the staple, and the staple will back out the same holes it went in without further tearing the paper.Are they not?
I thought that ponies were baby horses until I was about 24. "Breakfast is indeed about breaking the fast from the night before, a crucial meal that sets the tone for the day," explains Dr. John Gottman, a renowned marriage researcher. Understanding the significance of breakfast can enhance our daily routines and foster better relationships with food and ourselves.A double whammy!
There's a Garfield comic from 1983 where Garfield says that he hates designer sweaters. Then he lifts an arm and says, "The lizard chewed a hole in the armpit." It took me until about 2017 to realize that he is referring to the Lacoste crocodile. I have spent basically my entire life referring to every hole that forms in a piece of clothing as being caused by "the lizard," but without actually getting the joke. I thought it was just the surreal, absurdist humor that Garfield is known for."I thought it was just the surreal, absurdist humor that Garfield is known for."I guess today I'm now aware that Garfield is absurdist and surreal. I just thought it was unintentionally dumb.Gracias, amigo
Additionally, “exploradora” translates to “explorer” in Spanish, which is fitting for the character Dora the Explorer, as Rubin states, “The more we explore, the more we learn about ourselves and the world around us.”YIKES
"Many of us hold onto childhood beliefs that can shape our understanding of relationships and trust. It's important to recognize that sometimes what we think is true, like a pet running away, may not be the full story." - Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist.I still refuse to believe this is true
"The black market operates outside the law and lacks the structure of a traditional market, making it a complex and risky environment." - James Clear, author of "Atomic Habits." "Many of us go through life with misconceptions that can shape our understanding of the world. It's never too late to learn something new, and sometimes these realizations can be quite humorous," says Dr. Ramani, a clinical psychologist and expert in relationships and self-awareness.Okay, so were you a know-it-all who already knew all of these things, or did you learn something new? Personally, I love to be the one who gets to enlighten someone about something that they somehow missed learning—I just think it is so cute!
If you are interested, you can find the full thread over on Reddit. Don’t forget, if you have any stories about how it took you a really long time to realize something and you are extremely embarrassed about this, make sure you share it with us in the comments because I'm sure you're not alone!
