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

[wangernum]

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)!

People with type 1 diabetes have to use insulin to process sugar, as their bodies can't do this naturally (true)

People with type 1 diabetes sometimes have hypos (low blood sugar) (true)

Therefore, as seen in numerous medical dramas, if a person with T1D collapses with low blood sugar, you need to find their insulin and give them a good big dose of it ASAP (very false and will potentially actually kill them)

That if a person dies without a will any wealth ‘just goes to the next of kin’.

There is no official "deed poll office" and no need to pay for a Deed for name change
just use the form on gov.uk

It's worth noting the distinction as most countries really do have legal names. English common law * is moderately unusual in this way.

That people don't realise that there are different legal systems in the UK and what goes for England and Wales doesn't necessarily go for Scotland or Northern Ireland.

That you can have a panic attack or anxiety attack and not be hyperventilating

That anxiety and panic can manifest as aggression, "fight" or flight, or even rage and paranoia

That eating disorder doesn't necessarily equal skinny

That guinea pigs are not hamsters. They are a different rodent altogether.

That pet rats can be very intelligent and affectionate. Ditto guinea pigs.

That not all Brexit voters are white or over 55s or working class. Middle class POC voted for Brexit too!

It’s a myth that alcoholics have to drink first thing every morning, every day. An awful lot of alcoholics are out there pretending they haven’t got a problem because of this. And their families.

Hell - a lot of UK spending goes on interest payments. If people really knew where their tax went (and where it didn't go), I think they'd be surprised. We could certainly build a lot more hospitals........

Also, that only approximately 3% of money in circulation is actual money as most people would understand it. The other 97% only exists in the form of theoretical credit and is not backed by any reserves whatsoever. When you borrow money from a bank, that money only comes into existence for the very first time as a direct result of your borrowing it.

I disagree, I think this is something that is quite well researched.

Ok, sorry, but no.

I said formula doesn't invariably make babies sleep through. Since you only need one example to demonstrate that, I can say with confidence you are wrong.

I know formula is harder to digest and tends to make babies sleep for longer, and I am familiar with the research, too. But, if you read what I said, you'll see I didn't claim the contrary.

Everyone has a little bit of autism! FUCK OFF no they don’t!!!!

What idiot said that?

Re: Gallstones. The "fat, fair and forty" thing is a myth. Well, sort of. Obesity and middle age CAN be risk factors. But anyone can get them. As far as being fair haired or fair skinned goes, I have seen no medical research to support this at all.

That Welsh is a living language used everyday by a lot of people for whom it is their first language and their natural mother tongue. They aren't just speaking it as a hobby or to be awkward/show off/get away with making nasty comments about you in front of you.

That people think you can catch a cold from being cold , not wearing a coat or having wet hair etc, you can get hypothermia in vet cold conditions yes but that's not how colds are caught.

Very*

Everyone has a little bit of autism! FUCK OFF no they don’t!!!!

What idiot said that?

I've heard quite a few people claim that "Everybody is on the spectrum somewhere". Autism is also often errantly described as 'having an extreme male brain', which would then give rise to the common misconception that at least 50% of the population would feature on that spectrum.

Just because I use a wheelchair doesn’t mean I’m completely unable to walk. In fact around 90% of us that do can walk some of the time or for some distance.

Agree about doctors and gallstones. I was just about dismissed because I was too young / not overweight. Went through loads of pain before they finally scanned and diagnosed me.

"There is no such thing as "full fat" coke. Yet people say this. They mean "full sugar" but they don't think the difference matters. WTF do they think that?"

It's a figure of speech. You don't really think all these people believe Coke is full of fat do you?

The oft quoted 'fact' on MN that any child who is behaving in a challenging way, has any kind of SEN etc is entitled to "1-1 support". They are not. There is a notional pot of money (note: notional not actual) entitling a child to £6k of support pre EHCP. This does not equate to full time support.

@Sonichu - no, some people definitely believe it! I had this conversation with SIL. I'm sure it started as a figure of speech, but she'd obviously heard it and taken it literally. She was gobsmacked because why would people say it was full fat if there's no fat in it?

The other 97% only exists in the form of theoretical credit and is not backed by any reserves whatsoever

'Money' is fascinating!!

dementedma

I hear ya. Having had the type of OCD manifesting in intrusive thoughts and voices I really wish there was more awareness out there.

That statutory rape isn’t a thing in the UK!

The cold sores are herpes, just on the mouth, the stigmatising of Herpes on the genitals winds me right up, been a few threads on it recently.

That doing x, y, z routine with children will result in x, y, z. Lies all lies!

Well said HopeClearwater.

There is no official "deed poll office" and no need to pay for a Deed for name change - just use the form on gov.uk

I have changed my name by deed poll, it cost £36 to get the official certificate, which has absolutely been needed for new bank accounts, my mortgage, etc.

This thread is about things you learned through life experience so I don't know why people who haven't done this keep arguing with me...

That children who don't sleep, don't sleep because they don't have a routine in place! Utter bullcrap!
I have three children (aged between 2-9) who have exactly the same bedtime routine as a lot of their friends who sleep through from 7pm-7am, yet I am lucky to have any of them asleep by 9/10!