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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have reached the age of 38 without knowing

443 replies

lougle · 08/01/2018 15:57

That pineapples don't grow on trees, but grow in the ground? I'm well educated, went to university (twice), but I had never thought about where my pineapple had come from, and it never occurred to me that the 'chopped' end was on the bottom and not the top!

What didn't you know until recently?

OP posts:
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Ignoranceandapathy · 09/01/2018 05:20

When I was about 7, after reading about doing this in a book, my dad and I planted the foliage/crown of a fresh, locally grown pineapple, and after a fair while (a year? can't really remember) we had a rather stunted baby pineapple about the size of a grapefruit. We ate it - let's just say it didn't provide a feast - but I've got no memory of how it tasted.

I vaguely remember that the plant just looked like a rather coarse bromeliad.

Weedsnseeds1 · 09/01/2018 07:02

Pigs have corkscrew penises too ( and sows corkscrew vaginas).
The penis of the echidna has four heads.

Soubriquet · 09/01/2018 07:12

I'm always amazed when I see the size of tuna.

I keep expecting them to be teeny tiny fish like sardines...despite the fact you can buy tuna steaks!

I think it's because you can buy tins of tuna

Appuskidu · 09/01/2018 07:16

For years I would read "epitome" as epy-tome whilst knowing and using the word correctly. Same with antithesis which I would read as "anti-thesis"

I think hyperbole should go on this list as well!

Has anyone mentioned the Elgin marbles yet? I was convinced I’d seen photos of these large Easter egg shaped marble
Stones (that could be stolen quite easily). Or was I thinking of the stones in Indiana Jones Grin!

I also always thought that the Falklands islands were in Scotland and Andover was somewhere in mainland Europe-near Amsterdam maybe!

ShowOfHands · 09/01/2018 07:21

I too am surprised that you haven't seen this thread before. I've seen it at least ten times. Always pineapples, Portsmouth, Gibtraltar, penises and Holland. I think there may even be one in classics.

Nobody's mentioned the channel tunnel yet however. Apparently people think it's a tube on the sea bed.

ShowOfHands · 09/01/2018 07:23

We haven't had Pontefract, Durham or Edinburgh in relation to Liverpool yet either.

Thermostatpolice · 09/01/2018 07:44

Where does red food dye come from? Powdered insects. Also used in lipstick.

Google 'carmine', 'cochineal' or E120 after breakfast.

AccidentallyRunToWindsor · 09/01/2018 07:48

What's the mystery about portsmouth and Gibraltar?

DadDadDad · 09/01/2018 07:52

Portsmouth is on its own island off the mainland.

Gibraltar is not on an island.

Thermostatpolice · 09/01/2018 07:52

Portsmouth = island
Gibraltar = not an island

DadDadDad · 09/01/2018 07:52

(and some people have assumed the opposite, so been surprised by these)

Thermostatpolice · 09/01/2018 07:53

Cross posted Dadadad

AccidentallyRunToWindsor · 09/01/2018 07:56

Ah I see! I thought Gibraltar was an island.

Portsmouth isn't all on an island, some of its on the mainland.

Trills · 09/01/2018 07:59

Gilbraltar has already been mentioned - people think it's an island. It's not.

Portsmouth - possibly that it is (mainly) on an island? Not a very islandy island though. You could easily drive onto it without noticing.

AccidentallyRunToWindsor · 09/01/2018 08:01

I think that's what's confusing- you wouldn't know you're left the mainland- the creek is only about 20M wide!

DadDadDad · 09/01/2018 08:06

The dark side of the Moon is not completely dark (and during a new Moon, it's totally illuminated by the Sun).

This is because "dark side of the Moon" is an old phrase meaning "unknown side", ie the far side that permanently faces away from Earth.

BarbaraofSevillle · 09/01/2018 08:12

I've walked from Gibraltar to Spain on dry solid land with no bridges on several occasions so can categorically confirm that they are firmly attached to each other.

What's the deal with Pontefract, Durham, Edinburgh and Liverpool?

BarbaraofSevillle · 09/01/2018 08:13

Are people confusing Gibraltar with Guernsey perhaps?

Trills · 09/01/2018 08:14

Edinburgh is further West than Bristol - not sure about Liverpool, because Britain is tilted.

Original poster
lougle · 09/01/2018 08:15

Whoa whoa whoa, people! Chipping in and Showofhands, in my defence, I have only been on MN 11 years, give me a break! I've never seen a thread about pineapples, how did I miss it? It would clearly have been awesome Grin

Now wait, Portsmouth is an island?? I live 10 miles away and have gone there regularly for years since a child. Are you sure? Do we actually drive over a bridge to get there then? I always just drive on the motorway....There is water, but it's never occurred to me that it is completely off mainland. I'll have to investigate this claim.

'People think that the Channel Tunnel is a tube on the sea bed' - well isn't it? Blush Ahh, no, googling reveals its 40m underneath the sea bed!

OP posts:
Trills · 09/01/2018 08:16

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portsea_Island#/media/File:SpitheadCloseup.png

Also Centerparcs is not ll under a big giant dome.

StUmbrageinSkelt · 09/01/2018 08:27

I googled banana walking and got nothing? My banana plant is in the same place it always has been although there seems to be a new shoot about a foot away from the main clump. Is that the walking?

My pineapples are bastards and have never fruited.

AccidentallyRunToWindsor · 09/01/2018 08:32

@lougle yep! M275 and Eastern Road both go over water that is the gap between the mainland and portsea island, promise!

Thermostatpolice · 09/01/2018 08:33

BarbaraofSeville I think it's because pictures of Gibraltar usually depict the rock from the sea, which makes it look like an island. And I vaguely assumed that there were apes on Gibraltar because they'd been imported by ship at some point and thrived in isolation.

I'm bracing myself for the news that Gibraltar apes are actually mutant stray cats or something Grin

DreamyMcDreamy · 09/01/2018 08:36

What the hell do you people do all day long? The ignorance is astounding.

Oh wow, quick everyone, bow down to the Font Of All Knowledge!!! Be us graced with your mere presence. Hmm
Did no-one ever tell you that the way to learn is to ask, and find things out?
See,something you actually didn't know!