Stuff you thought everyone knew, but apparently not

[PuffyPat]

I'm always blown away when there's people who have to remind themselves where left and right are.

Some people just have a hard time with left and right. I myself have a hard time with them sometimes, and there's not much I can do about it. It's just the way that I am.

[jingle.boy]

Back to the thread title, apparently not a lot of people know that ALOT is not a word.

Bugs the crap out of me.  In school these days (at least, the one my kids go to), they teach them not to use it.

[The King in Crimson]

Back to the thread title, apparently not a lot of people know that ALOT is not a word.
Another thing that perplexes me is that people don't use the Oxford comma when they should. However, I am aware it's sort of controversial; although when I don't see it used I notice it.

Personal note: I always used to use the Oxford Comma until I found out that it was such a contentious issue in grammarite circles and that its use was 'generally' on the wane. I still use it because it looks right and I'm so used to it, but I just want to break the habit and it is surprisingly incredibly hard to do so.

And finally, people panic and lose their minds at a 4-way stop. Why is this so damn complicated, and how did they pass their driving test if they don't know what to do?

Four-way stops just reveal way incredibly poor drivers people really are. When you combine the incompetents, the regular people and the folks the need to get to their destination RIGHT NOW AND FUCK EVERYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD, there're bound to be some problems as the fast-and-fuck-you drivers don't give two shits about right-of-way, the incompetents don't know about right-of-way and the regular folks just out to buy milk and condoms are stuck right in the center.

There is a particular four-way stop along the route that I take to work every day and at that particular four-way stop there is a right-turn lane where people making right-hand turns do not have to stop. There is a sign right there saying 'right turns do not have to stop' and yet, invariably, people stop. I understand that the first impulse when seeing traffic is to stop and be cautious but when there is a turn lane, a merging lane and a sign explicitly saying 'hey you fucker, don't stop here' maybe you should innate cautious nature take a brief nap.

[El Barto]

There is a sign right there saying 'right turns do not have to stop' and yet, invariably, people stop. I understand that the first impulse when seeing traffic is to stop and be cautious but when there is a turn lane, a merging lane and a sign explicitly saying 'hey you fucker, don't stop here' maybe you should innate cautious nature take a brief nap.

Do they right turn into their own lane, or do they still have to merge with traffic approaching from the left? The former would be such a foreign concept down here that it'd probably confuse me too for a second, although I'd get used to it quickly enough.


As for the comma, I use them when it's necessary for the reason that JB pointed out, and don't when it's not because honestly I find them unpleasing to the eye.

[The King in Crimson]

There is a sign right there saying 'right turns do not have to stop' and yet, invariably, people stop. I understand that the first impulse when seeing traffic is to stop and be cautious but when there is a turn lane, a merging lane and a sign explicitly saying 'hey you fucker, don't stop here' maybe you should innate cautious nature take a brief nap.

Do they right turn into their own lane, or do they still have to merge with traffic approaching from the left? The former would be such a foreign concept down here that it'd probably confuse me too for a second, although I'd get used to it quickly enough.

You have to merge with traffic approaching from the left but you have at east 100 feet to do so before the right lane becomes no more.

[TheSilentHam]

I'm uptight at 4-way stops.  I know what to do, but have no confidence in the other 3 drivers.  Just like with 4-way...er..nevermind

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Some people apparently don't realize that "no one" is not spelled "noone". I mean, after seeing it, how can you not notice there's an issue there?

[Orbert]

Peter Noone, from Herman's Hermits.  I always think of him when people write "noone".

I'm uptight at 4-way stops.  I know what to do, but have no confidence in the other 3 drivers.  Just like with 4-way...er..nevermind

That's the thing.  I know what I'm supposed to do, but I can't trust the idiots in the other cars.

I drove to the mall the other day, and nearly got hit by some idiot blowing through a Stop sign.  Besides the well-known rule (but apparently not) that incoming traffic doesn't have to stop, he actually had a Stop sign and I didn't.  So I guess I thought he'd, you know, stop.  Nope, just blew right on through.  I took a quick second to check my rear-view mirror, then slammed on my brakes.  Asshole.

It's common sense.  Incoming traffic has to have the right of way, otherwise traffic will back up out onto the main road.  And even if you lack common sense, there's Stop signs for everyone except the road coming in.  What the hell, people?

[TheSilentHam]

Roundabouts are even worse.  Not a bad idea in theory, but I'm convinced less than 40% of drivers get it.  It just doesn't work irl.

[TioJorge]

I just realized with that Oxford comma pic, that I've seen a hundred times, how odd it is to invite both JFK and Stalin to the same apparent party. Why pick those dudes? 

[El Barto]

I'm uptight at 4-way stops.  I know what to do, but have no confidence in the other 3 drivers.  Just like with 4-way...er..nevermind

I've started a thread about this a month or two ago. I decided that the people who think they know what they're doing are exactly the ones who are wrong. Since 4-ways invariably devolve into clusterfucks, it's best just accept that and go whenever the hell you want. Trying to abide by rules in an anarchy is just asking for trouble.

[The King in Crimson]

I think it's silly to blame the people who know the rules as opposed to those that don't or those that don't give a fuck. Tossing out the baby with the bath water just because a few fuckheads don't give a shit about anyone else is just asking for trouble. And this applies not just to traffic laws.

[hefdaddy42]

Roundabouts are even worse.  Not a bad idea in theory, but I'm convinced less than 40% of drivers get it.  It just doesn't work irl.

They put in roundabouts at a local highway exit about a year ago.  They have been awesome with everyone getting it, and they work much better than the old stoplights did.

But last weekend, I saw two different fucktards at the same roundabout who didn't know WTF was going on.  We laughed a lot.

[Kotowboy]

Back to the thread title, apparently not a lot of people know that ALOT is not a word.

Bugs the crap out of me.  In school these days (at least, the one my kids go to), they teach them not to use it.

Ehh I think the bottom one works as well Depends on context.

Perhaps you would write " We invited JFK, Stalin and the strippers " .

[Orbert]

True.  When the presence or absence of a comma will cause ambiguity, there's usually a way to rewrite it.

[black_biff_stadler]

I use the oxford comma since I was taught that way. I won't hold it against someone who was taught the other way since common sense and context clues will usually solve the problem.

[XJDenton]

Back to the thread title, apparently not a lot of people know that ALOT is not a word.

Yes it is. You just used it.

[Neon]

Regarding the OP:  I don't drink coffee and even I know that the different colored handle on the coffee pots (whether orange or green) are indicative of being decaf.
Regarding 4 way stops:  I'm also of the belief that I know what to do, but that I don't trust that everyone else knows what to do.  Just the other day I was in a shopping center and approached a 4 way stop in the parking lot- holy clusterfuck hell. 

Sometimes it baffles me that people don't know certain things (like coffee pot handle colors...come on...) 
But that being said, there are plenty of things along the way that I haven't known that people have been amazed by.
A perfect example of this:  I grew up in NJ and had never pumped my own gas, and didn't know how.  When I was 24 I started seeing a guy who lived in PA and when he found this out, he was dumbfounded (and rightfully so).  He promptly taught me how right after he found this out.  I know it sounds ridiculous that I didn't know something so basic, but it's actually illegal to pump your own gas in NJ and you have to wait for an attendant, so it was just never something I had to do.    And even when I would go to Philly, I always made it a point to fill up before I went over.

[black_biff_stadler]

Some reasons why the coffee handle thing is a moot point:

1. It's seldom discussed. I've been using the internet since 1999 and this is literally the first time I've ever seen this topic mentioned and have never heard it come up in real life.

2. A very good chunk of folks don't work in places that even have free coffee on hand and some only have one machine which is a home model Mr. Coffee setup, not the food service-grade setup with color coding.

3. Even working in a place with free coffee doesn't mean you'll bother to drink it since many people just buy their coffee, get their caffeine from energy dranx or sodie, or just don't consume caffeine in the first place.

I never knew about the color coding until I began waiting tables and would've made it at least this far in life without knowing otherwise.

[Lucien]

I hate coffee, and I haven't really had any caffeinated drinks in... a couple years now? For some reason I find myself LESS tired in the mornings, as long as I get some actual sleep. While I appreciate how intelligent many of my schoolmates are, it saddens me how much they hurt themselves by staying up until 3 in the morning to get their homework done (which is why I don't take AP classes), when they have to get back to school by 7:30. 4 and a half hours of sleep is not good for you, no matter the age.

Though in college I hear music (education for me) majors have it really hard, so I might end up like some of them 

[rumborak]

Back to the thread title, apparently not a lot of people know that ALOT is not a word.

Bugs the crap out of me.  In school these days (at least, the one my kids go to), they teach them not to use it.

Ehh I think the bottom one works as well Depends on context.

Perhaps you would write " We invited JFK, Stalin and the strippers " .

Frankly, the whole Oxford comma is caused by the half-broken way English uses the comma. Every time i see a newspaper headline like "Car runs over woman, toddler" I shudder.

[Kotowboy]

i was taught in school not to put the word "and" after a comma so I never have. Plus it looks wrong to me.

[JayOctavarium]

I was never taught that, and I do it all the time.

[Grizz]

I always use an Oxford comma, because that's what I was taught. To me, omission looks too casual, almost like something you'd expect from a tweet.

[pogoowner]

I'm a big fan of the Oxford comma. I always use it.

[Implode]

i was taught in school not to put the word "and" after a comma

How do you write compound sentences with an and relationship?

[YtseBitsySpider]

Roundabouts are even worse.  Not a bad idea in theory, but I'm convinced less than 40% of drivers get it.  It just doesn't work irl.

They put in roundabouts at a local highway exit about a year ago.  They have been awesome with everyone getting it, and they work much better than the old stoplights did.

But last weekend, I saw two different fucktards at the same roundabout who didn't know WTF was going on.  We laughed a lot.

My civil engineer buddy was telling me tha traffic circles are different than roundabouts. In that one the people INSIDE the circle have the right of way, and the other it's opposite with the people entering the circle having the right of way.

back to the coffee thing, I always thought Denny's coasters were genius. Order de-caf get a coaster differently coloured that says DECAF. Waitress knows what you're drinking as she goes by to top you.

[Kotowboy]

i was taught in school not to put the word "and" after a comma

How do you write compound sentences with an and relationship?

Give me an example.

[rumborak]

I think what Kotow means is, don't write "I like oranges, and apples".

Even though, I find that actually perfectly permissible. It indicates a hesitation, which is subtly different from "I like oranges and apples".

[hefdaddy42]

My civil engineer buddy was telling me tha traffic circles are different than roundabouts. In that one the people INSIDE the circle have the right of way, and the other it's opposite with the people entering the circle having the right of way.

I don't see how it could ever work with people entering having the right of way.  The circle would never move.  Except, of course, without massive casualties.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

What should everybody know?  When the big light goes from red to green, you step on the pedal on the right.

I simply cannot tell you how much more of my life I have spent sitting at traffic lights because of people who clearly aren't paying attention.  Just this morning, I'm at a light.  Second in line.  Light turns green.  it took about 5-6 seconds for the lady to realize "Oh, it's green, I suppose I should go."  Sure, 5-6 seconds isn't a lot when you're the second car.  It IS a lot, when you're WAY back in a line of cars.  Because of the other thing that happens - when the person finally engages their brain and hits the gas, they eeeeeaaase on out into the intersection, as does everybody behind them who can't just GO.  Because of this, left turning vehicles from the opposing side of the road, who get a green arrow that reverts to a green light are enabled to get another 4-5 cars through their now green light, since it's still clear and all.

So when I'm the LEAD car at a red light, I try to think of those behind me.  As soon as the light turns green, I'm making freakin' tracks.  I'm well into the intersection in 2 seconds.  If opposing turners keep trying to strongarm their way throught the now green light, I lay on the horn and keep coming.  This allows everybody backed up behind me to move ass and get through the intersection.  More people through means that the guy in the back doesn't wait as long.

[Prog Snob]

What should everybody know?  When the big light goes from red to green, you step on the pedal on the right.

I simply cannot tell you how much more of my life I have spent sitting at traffic lights because of people who clearly aren't paying attention.  Just this morning, I'm at a light.  Second in line.  Light turns green.  it took about 5-6 seconds for the lady to realize "Oh, it's green, I suppose I should go."  Sure, 5-6 seconds isn't a lot when you're the second car.  It IS a lot, when you're WAY back in a line of cars.  Because of the other thing that happens - when the person finally engages their brain and hits the gas, they eeeeeaaase on out into the intersection, as does everybody behind them who can't just GO.  Because of this, left turning vehicles from the opposing side of the road, who get a green arrow that reverts to a green light are enabled to get another 4-5 cars through their now green light, since it's still clear and all.

So when I'm the LEAD car at a red light, I try to think of those behind me.  As soon as the light turns green, I'm making freakin' tracks.  I'm well into the intersection in 2 seconds.  If opposing turners keep trying to strongarm their way throught the now green light, I lay on the horn and keep coming.  This allows everybody backed up behind me to move ass and get through the intersection.  More people through means that the guy in the back doesn't wait as long.

We get that a lot here.  It gets worse and worse because people are at a traffic light texting.

[sueño]

^^^THIS!!!  All day, every stinkin' day!!   

[Orbert]

The big intersection by my house always has a line of left turns each way, and people seem to think it's okay to just keep going even after it turns red for them.  Not just the one person who might've argued that it was still yellow, but two, three, sometimes four people.  They'll just keep going, long after it's red for them.  What are you gonna do?

I'll tell you what.  I was first at the green to go straight, so after the person in the intersection cleared, I started going.  I'm calling your bluff, old man.  I made eye contact with him and I was coming.  He knew he was blowing the red and I stared him down.  Then what does he do?  He stops right there in the intersection!  The line behind him was still coming and all of them had to slam on their brakes.  Now he's in the middle of the intersection, can't back up, I swerve around him and keep going, and the line behind me follows me.

Behind me, I can hear horns honking.  Okay yeah, a traffic jam, and I caused it.  But I had green, he had red, I went, he stopped, so sue me.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

You are my fucking hero.  THAT is the spirit.  If I see opposing cars continuing to proceed, I immediately lay on the horn and stay on it all the way through the intersection.