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Things you're amazed aren't more widely known/ common misconceptions perpetuated by popular culture etc

299 replies

wangernum · 19/01/2020 15:16

This isn't about how the young people at work don't know what the capital of Spain is, or that the petrol indicator on the car dashboard tells you what side your petrol cap is on, etc. More things that you didn't know at one point, but having learned about it (or more likely - experienced it yourself) can't see why it isn't more widely known.

My examples:
Diagnosing of gallstones. My GP failed to diagnose my dreadful gallstone pain, in the end (after suffering for years) I asked a forum like this about my symptoms and loads of people said it's probably gallstones. I went to a different GP and said 'I think it could be gallstones' and it was - got the gallbladder removed and not had a problem since.
Anyway, since then I realise the symptoms are fairly obvious (I know it's hard to describe pain but from my own experience I know what sort of questions to ask) yet there are always threads on here about how gallstones didn't get suggested by a doctor/got missed, a friend of mine also had similar experience just not knowing what this indescribable pain was. How on earth do doctors not know to suggest/check for gallstones? It seems really common?

Other misconceptions:
Waters going just before you're about to give birth (most people who've had children probably know this isn't accurate! My waters had to be broken when I was in labour!) This still happens on TV all the time!

Schizophrenia = multiple personality disorder. It's not.

Breastfeeding - so much I had no idea about! How painful it can be to start with. That babies need feeding all the time! I did an NCT breastfeeding class and I still felt that it was based on a lot of assumed knowledge (that I didn't have!). Even calling formula feeding 'bottle-feeding' but it not actually being about feeding from a bottle but the fact it's formula not breastmilk.

Colic - that it's a medical problem or indigestion, reflux etc. It's hard to tell from a lot of the stuff that's written about it but it just means lots of unexplained crying (usually at certain times etc, well it was in my experience). I actually found that 'purple crying' was a better explanation: purplecrying.info/what-is-the-period-of-purple-crying.php

Bit more obscure but d-mer.org/ - D-MER - very specific feeling of sadness when breastfeeding. I wish I'd known about this with my first baby!

Another example might be anyone that still thinks 'common-law wife' is a thing. Although I don't see many people using that phrase apart from to point out it's not a thing (legally etc)!

OP posts:
tectonicplates · 19/01/2020 16:05

There's still a popular belief that if you squat in a building for twelve years, you automatically become the owner. This does still occasionally happen in rare cases but you have to go through a shedload of expensive, time-consuming legal processes to get there. People seem to think that after a certain number of years, you automatically get a letter in the post saying it's all yours. Erm, no.

formerbabe · 19/01/2020 16:06

I think a lot of people don't realise that people who live in council flats/houses pay rent.

FunnyInjury · 19/01/2020 16:10

The obvious one for is the popular misconception of common law spouse.

People (usually) women believe they have the same rights over property etc after an unknown period of being or living together as if they were married.
Unless there are specific contracts or shared properties agreements in place this is just a weird myth.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

ShowOfHands · 19/01/2020 16:11

Lemmings don't leap off cliffs as part of a weird mass suicide but the misconception continues.

BeyondFlubeInclusionaryRF · 19/01/2020 16:12

Waters going is one that bugs me - I don't even know when they went with my first, and only know with my second cause it was ARM! Grin

Also yes to schizophrenia =/= MPD (or DID, technically)

I'm sure I can think of loads, but my minds gone blank...

PorpentinaScamander · 19/01/2020 16:15

Yes to the Schizophrenia one. Sadly a lot of mental health conditions are massively misunderstood.

Depression doesn't mean you sit around crying all the time Hmm Yes I have depression. Yes I went to a party recently. Yes I laughed at a joke. Doesn't mean I'm not depressed!

LivingDeadGirlUK · 19/01/2020 16:15

All the sprinklers in a building don't go off if the fire alarm is activated. If there is a fire near a sprinkler head the heat will set off that sprinkler on its own. Doesn't make for quite as good fight scenes in the movies though!

ShowOfHands · 19/01/2020 16:16

Waters breaking first does at least happen in 10% of pregnancies and it of course makes for dramatic television. Most tropes in TV land are nonsense, exaggerated or unbelievable when examined.

2monstermash · 19/01/2020 16:19

Lots of people don't realise that you actually have to actively change your name when you get married (and therefore it could be anything), it doesn't just happen when you have a marriage certificate

PlushPlush · 19/01/2020 16:20

Most cats are lactose intolerant, despite kids cartoons showing them lapping up milk and cream

BeyondFlubeInclusionaryRF · 19/01/2020 16:21

Oo I have one - using a wheelchair doesn't automatically mean the person is paralysed.

And for the harder of thinking - using a wheelchair doesn't automatically mean the person needs looking after and you have to speak to their carer rather than them... Angry

wangernum · 19/01/2020 16:22

Good examples! I didn't know that about cats at all...?!

OP posts:
quirkychick · 19/01/2020 16:24

Being rushed to hospital in an ambulance if in labour or having a miscarriage. Everyone waiting in the waiting room for news of the birth. I think these are perpetuated by american TV.

KTyoupigeon · 19/01/2020 16:26

Oh yes the wheelchair misconception - when I go out with my DD (18) shopping I purposely look around at anything other than the cashier so they talk to my DD rather than me!

quirkychick · 19/01/2020 16:27

Some people in wheelchairs can walk, just not necessarily that far.

We bought special milk when we had kittens, as ordinary milk is not good for them. Some cats can't eat fish either, it causes kidney problems, I think.

mnahmnah · 19/01/2020 16:28

That you shouldn’t feed bread to ducks. It makes them very ill, swelling in their stomach. Porridge oats, grains etc are better.

KeepCookingWithGas · 19/01/2020 16:29

That living together and building a successful relationship doesn't just happen.

My mum said the first year of marriage (essentially cohabitation nowadays!) is the hardest and I kind of agree with this now.

eminencegrise · 19/01/2020 16:30

My waters went at or near birth with all my children. It's an almighty mess, not a little trickle. With my last I really didn't fancy that horrible pain (not pressure as the bullshit term midwives use) you get as the baby burns through the cervix, making it feel like you're being disemboweled with a red-hot kitchen fork so stuck in one position. The midwives sat me up and the waters just gushed everywhere and the baby was born about 5 minutes later.

'Blue lights'. People always use this to add drama to their journey to hospital.

'I died'. Correction. Death is a permanent state. When you die, you do not come back to type a hyper dramatic thread on MN.

53rdWay · 19/01/2020 16:34

I had a TV-style labour with one of mine! Waters breaking in a massive way out of the blue and then right into strong contractions within about ten minutes. Don't know anyone else it happened to though.

Definitely agree with 'colic'. I was into horses pre-DC and so thought colic was the same thing, painful digestive issue. Did not realise it just meant "your baby's crying a lot and we don't know why."

I do have a horse one though. Horses don't shout "NEIIIGGGHHHH" all the time when they turn up somewhere, that's dubbed in for TV in case people need reminding it's not a sheep. They don't neigh that often at all.

53rdWay · 19/01/2020 16:35

Oh, and when you phone 999 they keep you on the phone. You don't just shout "Ambulance, Albert Square, NOW!" and slam the phone down.

ShowOfHands · 19/01/2020 16:36

I had the dramatic waters breaking, immediate contractions thing twice.

eminencegrise · 19/01/2020 16:38

That all solicitors give you a free half-hour of their time during which they will give you detailed and sound legal advice.

ItsGoingTibiaK · 19/01/2020 16:43

@mnahmnah

Not sure if you’re saying this is or isn’t a misconception, but bread doesn’t make ducks ill. It’s not great on that it’s quite nutritionally sparce but doesn’t do any specific harm. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-50081386

iklboo · 19/01/2020 16:45

Ye olde - only people in wheelchairs are disabled. If you walk away from your car in a disabled parking space your are evil scum of the earth.

Also people in wheelchairs exist in a fourth dimension which means even if you can see them they aren't actually there and you MUST speak to the person with them. If nobody is with them you must ignore them or you'll get sucked into a vortex to another realm.

eminencegrise · 19/01/2020 16:45

That any time you divorce both parties are entitled to 50% of everything (even worse when people believe this of unmarried relationships).

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