Things you once thought you knew but didn't!

[JonnyMacx86]

I just gave advice to someone that I thought was airtight and sound until someone else gently pointed out that I was incorrect. Marking up PDFs in Preview does not alter the original document - something I had "known" it did for well over a decade now. Thanks and kudos to fellow forum member Gilby101 for setting me straight and not being a jerk about it.

When has this ever happened to you? Have you ever been so sure of something that you stood your ground, maybe even doubled down on your infinite wisdom even after having been corrected?

 

[KaliYoni]

I just gave advice to someone that I thought was airtight and sound until someone else gently pointed out that I was incorrect. Marking up PDFs in Preview does not alter the original document - something I had "known" it did for well over a decade now. Thanks and kudos to fellow forum member Gilby101 for setting me straight and not being a jerk about it.

When has this ever happened to you? Have you ever been so sure of something that you stood your ground, maybe even doubled down on your infinite wisdom even after having been corrected?

I'd say that is something all humans do, throughout their lives.

(even Henrietta Collins, who is part animal, part machine, ha ha)

 

[rm5]

When has this ever happened to you? Have you ever been so sure of something that you stood your ground, maybe even doubled down on your infinite wisdom even after having been corrected?

It's happened to me on this very forum before (along with many other places). Here's the thing: different people have different experiences, so it's not your fault - and you're technically not wrong - if you say, "In my experience, [this thing has been this way] or [this thing happened]. It might not be like that for you, but that's how it was for me." Nothing wrong with that IMO. As long as you're telling the truth, I see no harm in that.

 

[JonnyMacx86]

I'd say that is something all humans do, throughout their lives.

(even Henrietta Collins, who is part animal, part machine, ha ha)Yes, I appreciate your kind reassurance. I asked hoping some other forum members might share their experiences.

It's happened to me on this very forum before (along with many other places). Here's the thing: different people have different experiences, so it's not your fault - and you're technically not wrong - if you say, "In my experience, [this thing has been this way] or [this thing happened]. It might not be like that for you, but that's how it was for me." Nothing wrong with that IMO. As long as you're telling the truth, I see no harm in that.

Thank you, thank you, you’re both very kind in your responses. I should have phrased my question better:

What are some examples of things you thought you knew but later learned were incorrect?

I thought it might be a fun discussion topic. I hope we’ll see!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Thank you, thank you, you’re both very kind in your responses. I should have phrased my question better:

What are some examples of things you thought you knew but later learned were incorrect?

I thought it might be a fun discussion topic. I hope we’ll see!

Once upon a time, when I was a child, I thought that Pluto was a planet.

At that time, the (our) Solar System was thought to be home to nine planets.

However, as events have since transpired, (and most regrettably, to my mind), with Pluto's subsequent demotion to planetoid status, that, alas, is now no longer the case.

 

[rm5]

Thank you, thank you, you’re both very kind in your responses.

Yeah, of course!!

What are some examples of things you thought you knew but later learned were incorrect?

Ahh... honestly a hard question! One I can think of off the top of my head (I'm sure I'll think of others) is that I thought "locrian" as in the seventh mode of the major scale was spelled "lochrian." I'd been spelling it that way since I was a kid. It wasn't until Applied Musicianship II this year in college that I learned the correct spelling. That's one!

 

[JonnyMacx86]

Yeah, of course!!

Ahh... honestly a hard question! One I can think of off the top of my head (I'm sure I'll think of others) is that I thought "locrian" as in the seventh mode of the major scale was spelled "lochrian." I'd been spelling it that way since I was a kid. It wasn't until Applied Musicianship II this year in college that I learned the correct spelling. That's one!

That's a good one! Also totally understandable. I mean, how often do you use locrian, really? 🎸

 

[Mousse]

Once upon a time, when I was a child, I thought that Pluto was a planet.

At that time, the (our) Solar System was thought to be home to nine planets.

However, as events have since transpired, (and most regrettably, to my mind), with Pluto's subsequent demotion to planetoid status, alas, that is now no longer the case.

Pluto will always be a planet in my book. I will die on this hill.🤨⚔️

Once upon a time I believed that 2 + 2 = 4.😬

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Pluto will always be a planet in my book. I will die on this hill.🤨⚔️

Once upon a time I believed that 2 + 2 = 4.😬

Bravo, and well said.

Actually, for what it is worth, this is also a hill that I will choose to die on.

 

[KaliYoni]

What are some examples of things you thought you knew but later learned were incorrect?

Recently, on this very message board, I learned that woodwinds include reed instruments made from metal!

 

[Chuckeee]

Once upon a time I believed that 2 + 2 = 4.😬

But 2=1

 

[chown33]

Step 3 is equivalent to: 0 = 0, because a^2 - b^2 = 0. After that, it's pointless.

 

[jedimasterkyle]

Once upon a time, when I was a child, I thought that Pluto was a planet.

At that time, the (our) Solar System was thought to be home to nine planets.

However, as events have since transpired, (and most regrettably, to my mind), with Pluto's subsequent demotion to planetoid status, alas, that is now no longer the case.

IYKYK...

 

[Mousse]

But 2=1
View attachment 2371194

If this is true, then there is a being more evil than Satan. Whoever said, "Let's put the Greek alphabet in Math" makes Satan look like a choir boy.😉

This reminds me of the college days. Those that understood Physics proofs smiled at one another and shook their heads; but, for mine own part, it was Greek to me.

 

[Chuckeee]

Step 3 is equivalent to: 0 = 0, because a^2 - b^2 = 0. After that, it's pointless.

Actually step 5 is the problem. Since a=b, a-b = 0, so dividing both sides by a-b is actually dividing by 0 and dividing by 0 is undefined

 

[chown33]

Actually step 5 is the problem. Since a=b, a-b = 0, so dividing both sides by a-b is actually dividing by 0 and dividing by 0 is undefined

Something else I thought I knew, but didn't.

 

[Huntn]

I just gave advice to someone that I thought was airtight and sound until someone else gently pointed out that I was incorrect. Marking up PDFs in Preview does not alter the original document - something I had "known" it did for well over a decade now. Thanks and kudos to fellow forum member Gilby101 for setting me straight and not being a jerk about it.

When has this ever happened to you? Have you ever been so sure of something that you stood your ground, maybe even doubled down on your infinite wisdom even after having been corrected?

Yes, especially as I get older. 😳 🙃

 

[Huntn]

Pluto will always be a planet in my book. I will die on this hill.🤨⚔️

Once upon a time I believed that 2 + 2 = 4.😬

It doesn’t? 🤔😬🔥🙃

I wonder if this is related: Recently on Mastodon, it was posted that if you take any number x2 and subtract 4 = 7…I countered with 8x2-4=12. Something about “base” was mentioned afterwards as a justification. The key in my mind was that no qualifier was mentioned in the original statement. Standing by to hear what I missed… 😬

 

[ducknalddon]

Once upon a time, when I was a child, I thought that Pluto was a planet.

I remember a NASA astronomer being interviewed after the New Horizons fly by. She had been studying Pluto for her whole career. She said everything she thought she knew about Pluto was wrong.

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

The only thing I can think of is that I was always told bumblebees don’t have a stinger and therefore knew they didn’t. I didn’t bother looking it up because, well, I knew the facts. Then recently, a friend explained that, yes, bumblebees have stingers.
That’s when I did look it up to have my knowledge confirmed.

Turns out the friend was right.

🐝

 

[rm5]

Just remembered another one! When I was younger, I thought Minneapolis was in California...

 

[BotchQue]

Recently, on this very message board, I learned that woodwinds include reed instruments made from metal!

Did you also know the piano is officially in the Percussion group?

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

Did you also know the piano is officially in the Percussion group?

I once argued with someone that it could just as well be counted as a stringed instrument because the hammers hit strings.