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Original poster

Things you assumed and were astonished to find out you were completely wrong

1000 replies

Cattery · 04/09/2024 21:27

For example: The Elgin Marbles. Heard these mentioned from time to time over the years. Always pictured marbles; kids’ marbles. Then I heard they were something to do with Greece and I’ve always thought Elgin was there. Got it all completely wrong

OP posts:
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19
ThatBusyPanda · 04/09/2024 23:39

This is embarrassing but when I was little my mum said that when you choke on food it’s going down the wrong hole, and I assumed there was a separate hole for drinks and one for food, and didn’t even consider she meant windpipe. Had no reason to ever question this until I mentioned it to someone aged 19… 😅

Kokomjolk · 04/09/2024 23:39

I also assumed Carlisle was in Scotland. It really sounds like it should be.

IVbumble · 04/09/2024 23:40

Cattery · 04/09/2024 22:02

No way… do they not?

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and every time you see the back of an actor/actress it's not usually them it's their body double.

MaidOfAle · 04/09/2024 23:40

Pudmyboy · 04/09/2024 23:28

This thread has educated me and blown my mind, in equal measure!
I do note a lot of confusion comes from people trusting that other people are telling them the truth (brothers mentioned a few times).
When I was very young I was told by an adult that thunder was caused by clouds bumping into each other. It made sense to me because if I bashed two cushions together, they made a slight sound and clouds are so much bigger so the sound would be so much louder. Like a previous poster I proudly answered a question about thunder in class, with my 'explanation'. I can still hear the laughter😳. Mind you I think the adult who told me genuinely thought they were right!

I suspect that the adult in question didn't actually know how thunder happens or couldn't fully remember the real reason§ and didn't have the courage to say "Pudmy, I don't know, shall we go the library and see if there's a book about weather that might tell us?" to a child.

§: I'm sitting here thinking "electrical discharge, air gets hot, mumblemumblemumble something about sonic booms I think? FSM I'm going to have to look this up."

IVbumble · 04/09/2024 23:41

I thought Suzi Quatro was a man.

CharlotteBog · 04/09/2024 23:41

Morwenscapacioussleeves · 04/09/2024 21:56

😂 did the penguins not surprise you?!

(in your defence much of the Falkland Islands do resemble Scotland)

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...penguins and puffins look quite similar! 🐧

Pillowbiter · 04/09/2024 23:41

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sangriaandsunshineplease · 04/09/2024 23:41

@ifIwerenotanandroid it was only when that attacked happened that I realised narwhals were real. I work just by London Bridge so my emotions on hearing about the attack keep swerving from horror and concern to wondering why the BBC was talking about the tusk as though it might actually be from a narwhal and how embarassing it was going to be for the journalist when they realised that narwhals didn't exist. I ended up googling it and realised I was the one who should have been embarrassed.

UnctuousUnicorns · 04/09/2024 23:42

When I was a child we used to tell each other thunder was God moving the furniture around in Heaven to hoover underneath. 😅

We also used to joke that when looked at it from outside, you could see all the chairs stacked up inside the central "crown" part of the Catholic Cathedral in Liverpool, as that's where they stored them after Mass. 😅

https://www.purcelluk.com/projects/liverpool-metropolitan-cathedral/

Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral | Purcell

Purcell prepared a comprehensive programme of research into the significance, history, and construction of the Cathedral’s lantern in addition to developing a Conservation Management Plan and repairing the significant glass structure.

https://www.purcelluk.com/projects/liverpool-metropolitan-cathedral

OIlive · 04/09/2024 23:43

LunaNorth · 04/09/2024 21:38

I thought the lead singer of KC and the Sunshine Band was black until I saw an old episode of TOTP this year.

I think I was conflating him with Kid Creole.

What?? No way

MorrisZapp · 04/09/2024 23:43

My mind was blown when I learned that Al Capone wasn't called Alan.

Frith2013 · 04/09/2024 23:43

Pontefract is not in Wales.

Even though it means something in Welsh.

Putting · 04/09/2024 23:43

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It’s also a word used without irony in cryptography. Which always makes me snigger when I’m reading extremely dull text about that topic.

Oceangreyscale · 04/09/2024 23:44

HeyPrestoAlakazam · 04/09/2024 22:57

Was anyone else, as a child, scared of the "Doomsday Book"?

I believed it was some sort of "Neverending Story" book that was cursed and if anyone found it and opened it, the world would end as it would set off the Doomsday Clock and we'd only have as many seconds left to live as the clock was currently pointing to.

When I'd try and talk about my fears of the "Doomsday Book" ever being found. My Mum, who had a very poor education and had no idea what I was going on about, told me that "it's all a superstitious load of nonsense".

The week we covered the Domesday Book in History in Year 8, I asked to be excused as I had "very bad anxiety about the end of the world". My Mum agreed I should be excused and called to discuss it with my form tutor. My Dad insisted I attend and "put these fears to rest". My History teacher, naturally, thought we were all batshit and, luckily, educated me.

I'm starting to realise I'm so much thicker than I ever realised.

This is my favourite.

But you aren't thick you just didn't know!

I realised recently that segue is not pronounced 'seeg'. I'm in my 30s and went to Oxbridge. I hope I've never said it out loud professionally.

HeyPrestoAlakazam · 04/09/2024 23:44

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Me again.

Yep. I called a class of six year olds, "you silly nonces". My TA had to take me aside. "Well, just thank God it's me that was with you and not OFSTED!"

Lavendersquare · 04/09/2024 23:45

Nomdejeur · 04/09/2024 22:04

I thought Freddie Flintoff and Andrew Flintoff were brothers, told my OH how proud their parents must be, to have them both play cricket for England. He has never let me forget it.

Are they really not related? Flintoff's hardly a common name so i think most people would think the same - I did.

BestZebbie · 04/09/2024 23:45

OrinocoFlew · 04/09/2024 21:43

When football scores are announced on being “on aggregate” I thought some weighting / adjustment was being made due to the surface they were playing on, eg “Arsenal beat Man City 2-1 - that’s 5-2 on aggregate”

i didn’t actually think they were playing ON AGGREGATE (ie gravel) but I somehow did think something along those lines.

Tbf, it wasn’t a complete surprise when I discovered the truth!

To be fair, in both tennis and horse racing the specific surface being used is mentioned and makes a difference, so this seems a pretty logical assumption to me.

Arlanymor · 04/09/2024 23:45

CharlotteBog · 04/09/2024 23:41

...penguins and puffins look quite similar! 🐧

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Only penguins beaks don’t fall off after mating season! Did you know that about puffins? It’s quite amazing, their big bills fall away and leave only this little brown-black stubby version behind.

Overheater · 04/09/2024 23:45

Screamingabdabz · 04/09/2024 21:39

I thought the Falkland Islands were just off the coast of Scotland.

My mum thought this too. Famously panicked when she thought Argentina was invading Scotland.

Frith2013 · 04/09/2024 23:46

When my son was in year 11, his teacher and told me someone had been nasty to him and called him a "See You Next Tuesday". I had no clue what he was talking about and said, "Oh, do we have a meeting on Tuesday?"

He had to explain that he was spelling it out and it was C.U.N.T.

I had never heard it before.

Putting · 04/09/2024 23:46

Lavendersquare · 04/09/2024 23:45

Are they really not related? Flintoff's hardly a common name so i think most people would think the same - I did.

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They’re the same person - Andrew Flintoff’s nickname is Freddie

GrannyRose15 · 04/09/2024 23:46

merrymaryquitecontrary · 04/09/2024 22:59

Also when I was growing up my Dm told me that GP's were only for people with cancer and other very serious illnesses, and if you made an appointment with the GP and your reason wasn't justified they'd strike you off the NHS forever. Until now I find it really hard to make an appointment, feeling like I am taking the appointment off a cancer patient. When I do get an appointment I'm always thanking them for agreeing to see me and apologizing for wasting their time!

Quite appropriate in the present climate. Did your Mum make other predictions about the future too?

Arlanymor · 04/09/2024 23:47

Oceangreyscale · 04/09/2024 23:44

This is my favourite.

But you aren't thick you just didn't know!

I realised recently that segue is not pronounced 'seeg'. I'm in my 30s and went to Oxbridge. I hope I've never said it out loud professionally.

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I used to say ‘Archie Pelago’ instead of archipelago until I lived on one.

My best friend still teases me about to this day… I was 38 when realised! But as you say, had never heard or said it out loud!

UrsulaBelle · 04/09/2024 23:47

Lavendersquare · 04/09/2024 23:45

Are they really not related? Flintoff's hardly a common name so i think most people would think the same - I did.

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They’re the same person. Freddie is just a nickname.

ToWhitToWhoo · 04/09/2024 23:47

ScottBakula · 04/09/2024 23:23

Oh good lord I am only ever going to hear "life's a custard cream " from now on .
That's proper made me laugh

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I know someone who thought it was 'life is down the drain'. She's always been a bit of a pessimist!

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