this post was submitted on 11 Oct 2023
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Bonus points if it's usually misused/misunderstood by the people who say it

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[–] Usernameblankface@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

"We only use ten percent of our brains."

People genuinely believe this and never learned where it came from.

[–] TechyDad@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That and the "Alpha Male" garbage. Even the author of the study on wolves has said repeatedly that his study was totally wrong. And yet some people continue to reference it and apply it to humans when even the original study wasn't about people.

[–] postmateDumbass@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

People love excuses for bad behavior, no need to verify them. Sigh.

[–] JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Where did the myth come from?

[–] Usernameblankface@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It came from early on in studying the brain. A scientist said that we only understand what 10 percent of the brain does, and everyone ran with a misunderstanding of that idea.

Neil DeGrasse Tyson explains here. https://youtube.com/shorts/E4EjYfUBEvw?si=LO3GIURgZesHjo85

[–] 6daemonbag@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sidenote, why does everyone hate Neil these days?

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

He thinks he's so smart about everything and there's always this condescending tone.

Like no shit Neil?

[–] reverendsteveii@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)
[–] can@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

Oh god I forgot about that one lol.

[–] jmsy@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

That is not the definition of insanity

[–] blady_blah@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, isn't it like practicing? You're not very good at something so you practice over and over and over and hopefully when you're done you do it better... You know different than when you started.

[–] glibg10b@lemmy.ml 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You know different than when you started.

Try again

[–] CileTheSane@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago

Try again

Are you expecting a different result?

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

OH! I forgot about that one. I have hated it since I was a kid.

[–] Ilovethebomb@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

"think of how stupid the average person is, and then think half of them are dumber than that"

So heavily overused.

[–] PP_BOY_@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This was actually the quote that inspired this thread. I love George Carlin but I hear this all the time online and I hate it

[–] Ilovethebomb@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The people saying it aren't usually in the half they think they are, either.

[–] rikudou@lemmings.world 1 points 1 year ago

95% of people think they belong to the top 5%.

[–] Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

"Sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

An individual, uneducated observer might not be able to tell them apart, but that doesn't mean there isn't a distinction.

One of the avengers movies dropped that line, and I feel like it's spread like wild fire since then, and it's just objectively not correct.

[–] Ilovethebomb@lemmy.ml 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I understand much of the technology we use today isn't magic, but it may as well be with how much I understand about how it works.

I don't think you quite grasp what Arthur C Clarke was going for with this one.

[–] Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I get what he was going for, I just think it was poorly executed.

[–] mathterdark@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

“Literally 1984”… unless I’m asking you what year the Macintosh 128k came out I don’t wanna hear it.

[–] AnalogyAddict@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

"Blood is thicker than water" followed by the equally erroneous "covenant" explanation.

[–] Mkengine@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

English is not my first language, so I don't know every English saying, could you spell out what you mean?

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[–] rikudou@lemmings.world 1 points 1 year ago

Well, maple syrup is thicker than blood, so should I move to Canada?

It's sad that such an answer isn't possible in my language, our version goes "blood is not water".

[–] Donebrach@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

“They’re just one bad apple” in reference to (more often than not) shitty cops, but also for most malcontents in a position of public trust. This a misappropriation of the aphorism “one bad apple spoils the bunch” which is literally saying that if there’s one bad actor in a group, the entire group is comprised.

[–] rob64@startrek.website 1 points 1 year ago

I think autocorrect got your "compromised".

[–] GladiusB@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

"if you can't handle me at my worst you don't deserve me at my best".

You're basically excusing bad behavior. And never taking accountability. People are wrong. Mostly when they are so blindly following some perception of greatness rather than caring for those around you.

[–] mangosloth@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

"Customer is always right" isn't a trump card for customers to win disputes with the staff. When it comes to matters of preference, yes, the customer is always right. Ketchup on ice cream? Great. Down jacket and shorts? Sure thing! If it makes you happy and you're paying for it then you're always right.

In most other matters though, customers are usually wrong. The idea that random people off the street know more about the products and the way a business should be run than the actual people selling said products and running said business is absolutely ridiculous.

[–] jivemasta@reddthat.com 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think the original quote was something along the lines of, "the customer is always right, in mattera of taste". Meaning to accommodate the customers wishes, even if it's ugly or a bad idea or whatever. Like if they want to paint their house pink with green trim, let them

[–] deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz 1 points 1 year ago

I think it's even broader than that.

If customers want green socks, sell green socks.

It would be have been better said as demand is always right (not supply).

[–] Okokimup@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Anything described as "just common sense." No, it's knowledge/awareness that you picked up from your particular environment. Not everyone has had the same exposure as you.

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I've found that "common sense" just means "things that I believe, but I can't explain why".

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[–] SiriusCybernetics@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

“ One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

[–] tigeruppercut@lemmy.zip 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] SiriusCybernetics@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Now that’s interesting. Always thought it didn’t make a whole lot of sense strictly speaking. Never realized he intended the “a”.

[–] XEAL@lemm.ee 0 points 1 year ago

"You must be funny at parties"

Specially if you're not around, bitch

[–] TheInsane42@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

"Survival of the fittest" when used to indicate the stongest should survive. Instead of the one best suited for (fitting) the situation.

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