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Is Common Sense Important

by JagSEO
16 replies
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From Description: Why saying "Gee, it's so sad that this basic stuff has to be taught on the internet" is a dumb comment. Common sense stuff has always been taught through various mediums and even folks who have been around the block a few times need reminders on the basics from time to time. So please quit saying "It's so sad this has to be taught."

  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    Common sense isn't taught. You either have it or you don't.
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    • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
      Banned
      Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

      Common sense isn't taught. You either have it or you don't.
      It can be an acquired skill. That's why most people only burn their hand on a stove, once. People born with common sense never get burned the first time.

      Would you like to see my scars?

      Cheers. - Frank
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      • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
        Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

        It can be an acquired skill. That's why most people only burn their hand on a stove, once. People born with common sense never get burned the first time.

        Would you like to see my scars?

        Cheers. - Frank
        Yeah, I agree. For some it can be an acquired skill. Still, I've watched some people do the same dumb sh!t over and over and over and not learn a damned thing. Maybe they should be looking for a common sense donor.
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        • Profile picture of the author Karen Blundell
          yes, common sense is very important, I think.
          for me it was an acquired skill - one that I am grateful to finally have -
          I consider myself a "late-bloomer" in more ways than one.

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        • Profile picture of the author seasoned
          Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

          Yeah, I agree. For some it can be an acquired skill. Still, I've watched some people do the same dumb sh!t over and over and over and not learn a damned thing. Maybe they should be looking for a common sense donor.
          It is funny! TODAY, I watched an episode of Law and Order, and a mother was talking about how her son asked all these questions like "Why is the sky blue?". She said he sould have been a doctor. When I was a kid, I thought EVERY kid did such things. You should have seen me. If we had a repair man come by, or someone worked on whatever, I WAS THERE simply watching and, when I could, asking a lot of questions.

          But so many today don't seem to want to learn ANYTHING. Even on "50 first dates", where one of the main protagonists had an injury that prevented her from changing any short term memories to long term memories, she seemed to learn SOMETHING! They end up getting together because the boyfriend had a big hole in his life, and went back to see her. SHE was tired of constantly having to relearn about a love that she was holding back, so she destroyed EVERYTHING! He went back, and found she was SHOCKED! WHY? Because she kept painting pictures of this guy she figured she had never seen, and he was standing in front of her!

          But SOME people....

          AND, as I implied in my last post here, common sense has to be SELF TAUGHT or SELF REASONED to a degree. WHY self taught? Well, common sense for ME includes things like not trying to bend to a certain point, or relying on certain skills to be accurate. I am the ONLY one that can determine that for me. SOME aren't happy, and spend their lives improving things I don't, and become great player in sports, win the olympics, or become contortionists, etc... Just one little example there. WHY self reasoned? Well, trying to learn each little thing will LITERALLY take thousands, perhaps millions of years!

          FOR EXAMPLE, you are either told, or learn, that a power socket has power. OK. so you don't put anything conductive into a socket that can cause the power to flow through you. *****BUT***** they ALSO say that electrolytic capacitors, and certain similar ones, can store a charge for perhaps a century or more! So NOW, you can reason that if you want to look at a device that has some, you should short them out first. And SURE, people said that with TVS, that were like that, you had to short them out. What about COMPUTERS though? Until at least maybe 1990 MOST computers had them. Any with switching power supplies, which is most desk tops, probably still do. And it gets WORSE! BECAUSE they are so touchy, complicated, etc... The capacitors are usually hidden by the metal box around the power supply. Luckily, that means most of the high power is still away from you, but it is something you should still keep in mind.

          So people STILL get shocked by those capacitors. If faraday were here, and he died before TVs even hit the scene, and he knew those things were capacitors, HE wouldn't be shocked!

          BTW about the learned limits deal? When I had that last operation, at least one head of a muscle was removed. It meant I could now move my arm past a limit of comfort. I learned quickly that I had to REASSESS that limit. If I go too far, I could be hurting all day.

          Steve
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          • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
            Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

            It is funny! TODAY, I watched an episode of Law and Order, and a mother was talking about how her son asked all these questions like "Why is the sky blue?". She said he sould have been a doctor. When I was a kid, I thought EVERY kid did such things. You should have seen me. If we had a repair man come by, or someone worked on whatever, I WAS THERE simply watching and, when I could, asking a lot of questions.

            But so many today don't seem to want to learn ANYTHING. Even on "50 first dates", where one of the main protagonists had an injury that prevented her from changing any short term memories to long term memories, she seemed to learn SOMETHING! They end up getting together because the boyfriend had a big hole in his life, and went back to see her. SHE was tired of constantly having to relearn about a love that she was holding back, so she destroyed EVERYTHING! He went back, and found she was SHOCKED! WHY? Because she kept painting pictures of this guy she figured she had never seen, and he was standing in front of her!

            But SOME people....

            AND, as I implied in my last post here, common sense has to be SELF TAUGHT or SELF REASONED to a degree. WHY self taught? Well, common sense for ME includes things like not trying to bend to a certain point, or relying on certain skills to be accurate. I am the ONLY one that can determine that for me. SOME aren't happy, and spend their lives improving things I don't, and become great player in sports, win the olympics, or become contortionists, etc... Just one little example there. WHY self reasoned? Well, trying to learn each little thing will LITERALLY take thousands, perhaps millions of years!

            FOR EXAMPLE, you are either told, or learn, that a power socket has power. OK. so you don't put anything conductive into a socket that can cause the power to flow through you. *****BUT***** they ALSO say that electrolytic capacitors, and certain similar ones, can store a charge for perhaps a century or more! So NOW, you can reason that if you want to look at a device that has some, you should short them out first. And SURE, people said that with TVS, that were like that, you had to short them out. What about COMPUTERS though? Until at least maybe 1990 MOST computers had them. Any with switching power supplies, which is most desk tops, probably still do. And it gets WORSE! BECAUSE they are so touchy, complicated, etc... The capacitors are usually hidden by the metal box around the power supply. Luckily, that means most of the high power is still away from you, but it is something you should still keep in mind.

            So people STILL get shocked by those capacitors. If faraday were here, and he died before TVs even hit the scene, and he knew those things were capacitors, HE wouldn't be shocked!

            BTW about the learned limits deal? When I had that last operation, at least one head of a muscle was removed. It meant I could now move my arm past a limit of comfort. I learned quickly that I had to REASSESS that limit. If I go too far, I could be hurting all day.

            Steve
            Your mention of electricity brought back a weird memory. When I was very young, pre school. My sister came to me all excited. She said she found something that was really fun. We had a light fixture hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the room. She had moved a table under the fixture and stood on it and proceeded to stick her finger into the empty light socket. Then she'd pull her hand away quickly, shudder all over and laugh. She told me it was great fun and that I should try it.

            Echoes of my parents telling me not to ever fool with electricity bounced around in my head. But almost immediately I figured they had been concealing some wonderful adult pleasure or treasure, alternating current, from us. So, I climbed up onto the table and stuck my finger in the socket. I felt current shoot down my arm and I DID NOT like it. My sister called me a sissy and went back for more. I never did it again, once was enough.
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  • Profile picture of the author DWaters
    I find that common sense is not so common.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    There may be STANDARDS, and OUTLIERS! Today, it seems like MOST would have been considered outliers. But even those earlier that knew the stuff may go to standards. A good example today might be silverware.

    I WAS earlier taught the whole standard as to how to lay silverware out, use it, etc... I never paid attention because I thought some stuff too obvious and other stuff too arbitrary! STILL, I am not a real outlier, since many have been the same way or, WORSE, are REAL outliers! When it comes to use, etc... I am correct. If the time comes to set such stuff out in a formal group, or high class, setting, I will certainly consult references. And at least the guys that picked up the references mentioned in the video knew they existed.

    Still, I know such things exist, and where to be concerned. I ALSO don't use cutlery used for other things to select food from group areas, etc.... Heck, I once was trapped in a setting and left with a choice. Break my pattern/policy of over 45 YEARS, or *****STARVE*****! I didn't want to. So I opened an unopened box, and took a piece of pizza in the most polite way I could. Since it is far more complicated, and a person noticed that, he tried ****HIS**** way, to feign being nice.

    You have to wonder what people are thinking if they are not smart enough to realize that you have two hands and use them all over, but don't on food. Maybe you are trying to simply not touch other peoples food? Well, I got my piece, before that cycle started. At least I didn't starve, and I didn't break the way I do things.

    Still, you can't consult a reference for everything, and not all stuff is clearly written down! Stuff like that many hot water heaters can provide water hot enough to scald, so BE CAREFUL, and TEST! Stuff like The afore mentioned is possible, so smaller heaters can obviously be worse, so test things like COFFEE! Cold things can cause problems. ETC.... HECK, I saw a show a couple days ago where a guy was supposedly juggling dry ice. I wonderhow long it will be before people succumb to that.

    You should AVOID trying to hold unknown weights above you, unless you lifted them up. Realize things like you can lose control of a car in an instant. Know and dress to local conventions. In some cultures, it is FORBIDDEN to wear certain colors, wear certain kinds of shoes, show the soles of your feet/shoes, etc...

    It is so extensive, that I can't even rattle off major groups I know about, let alone every little thing under them that I know of. And I don't even know all the specifics for MY culture/area. There is NO book that would even PRETEND to cover them all.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Steve - you're talking social convention, not common sense.

    Common sense is not learned for the most part. Common sense is the ability to draw inferences from your knowledge base, whether learned first hand or via teaching. It's understanding the most likely outcomes of actions or events and being able to function with the most success and ease to either avoid consequences or maneuver through them.

    What I see in today's society is a real lack of ability to draw inferences.

    For instance - I got a new phone yesterday because mine was stolen just before I moved. It wasn't activating so I figured the thief used all the time on it and I'd have to get more. I went back into the store at 7:30 pm and told them it had not activated yet. They said it might take hours and I told them it already had. They told me to wait a few more hours and then come back in if it had not activated yet. So I went in 3 hours later and the guy told me (same one I had talked to) that their office was closed so I'd have to wait until morning to find out. I asked him why he didn't know that the phone's CS wasn't open after 9 when he told me to come back in a few more hours if it hadn't activated. That's a lack of inference - and it's extremely annoying. Common sense would have told him to tell me I would have to deal with it tomorrow if it weren't activated by 9. Ya think?

    Having to deal with people who have no common sense is miserable. They waste your time and waste your money. I believe with our lack of solid education and all the poisons in our water, air, and food that cross the blood/brain barrier, it's gonna get a hell of a lot worse before it gets better.
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Steve - you're talking social convention, not common sense.

      Common sense is not learned for the most part. Common sense is the ability to draw inferences from your knowledge base, whether learned first hand or via teaching. It's understanding the most likely outcomes of actions or events and being able to function with the most success and ease to either avoid consequences or maneuver through them.

      What I see in today's society is a real lack of ability to draw inferences.
      I KNOW all that! That film spoke of "social convention" tying it to common sense! I STARTED with that, and then drifted into more common sense, and said that you should have some concept of BOTH!

      For instance - I got a new phone yesterday because mine was stolen just before I moved. It wasn't activating so I figured the thief used all the time on it and I'd have to get more. I went back into the store at 7:30 pm and told them it had not activated yet. They said it might take hours and I told them it already had. They told me to wait a few more hours and then come back in if it had not activated yet. So I went in 3 hours later and the guy told me (same one I had talked to) that their office was closed so I'd have to wait until morning to find out. I asked him why he didn't know that the phone's CS wasn't open after 9 when he told me to come back in a few more hours if it hadn't activated. That's a lack of inference - and it's extremely annoying. Common sense would have told him to tell me I would have to deal with it tomorrow if it weren't activated by 9. Ya think?
      AGAIN, I AGREE! Then again, YOU should have asked how late they were open, and perhaps for the period they were open the next day, just in case. YEAH, you shouldn't have to, BUT....

      Having to deal with people who have no common sense is miserable. They waste your time and waste your money. I believe with our lack of solid education and all the poisons in our water, air, and food that cross the blood/brain barrier, it's gonna get a hell of a lot worse before it gets better.
      You have THAT right. It is already UNBELIEVABLE! If the people in government, or even at mcdonalds, exposed the ignorance, that they so clearly demonstrate today, in any school I was at, the kids would laugh at them NO END, and they would have little luck surviving! TODAY, it seems that every sitcom has a token idiot, and on some shows it is nearly the entire cast! It has come to be EXPECTED!

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author HeySal
        Originally Posted by seasoned View Post


        AGAIN, I AGREE! Then again, YOU should have asked how late they were open, and perhaps for the period they were open the next day, just in case. YEAH, you shouldn't have to, BUT....

        Steve
        When someone tells me to come back in a few hours (the store itself is open 24/7, it's the office they had to call that closes), I would be correct to infer that business can be done when I come back - otherwise, why tell me to come back? That makes sense to you? If the person hadn't realized that the office closed, that would be one thing - the person did know it and "didn't think to tell me", so I drove the 10 miles for nothing. The woman that helped me today got a commendation given to her manager - and the guy from last night got a complaint.
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        Sal
        When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
        Beyond the Path

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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Look at the recent shark thread! A number of the causes of death are due to a lack of common sense! A good example is the idea of vending machines killing people. Although I can think of a few ways for them to kill you, the most common is likely by pulling the machine forward. ******STUPID******! They USUALLY have a clearance of about 2-5" give or take in the back.

    I have a way to get it to work 80% of the time. It is simple, and I never saw it fail. Push it BACK! If you have over 2" of clearance, the bag hasn't ripped, and is precariously perched, it will fall. Perhaps 8% of the time, something stops you from using that clearance, and the rest is dumb luck, like a jamb of some sort.
    The ONLY way the machine could fall forward is if it is not deep enough, or is on stilts. I haven't seen either of those yet.

    And things like the coconuts? I ALWAYS wonder about such things. KEEP YOUR DISTANCE! If they fall, the force could be HUNDREDS of foot pounds. You do NOT want to be under such a thing.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    The video is more common than common sense.
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  • Profile picture of the author DJL
    Of course, it's important, but not very common.


    This may be related to the apparent deficit in common sense:
    US adults are dumber than the average human | New York Post
    --By Associated Press - October 8, 2013
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by DJL View Post

      Of course, it's important, but not very common.


      This may be related to the apparent deficit in common sense:
      US adults are dumber than the average human | New York Post
      --By Associated Press - October 8, 2013
      Since others may not point it out, but I will. The article said that kids with better educated parents tended to do better. I think that shows that environment and the family meant a lot, though one of the ideas of having all these teachers and schooling is to have all with an equal level of opportunity.

      It would be interesting to see what those tests actually tested. Still, the US should score near the top, for a LOT of reasons. Money spent! Number of teachers! Technical content! Home of a lot of the technology! Etc...! To even come in 5th would be embarassing, but it seems like the US is generally between like 20th and 35th.

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Well, I DID say it tongue in cheek, and even said "you shouldn't HAVE to". BTW can I tell you a secret? Let me give you an EXAMPLE!

    I deal with a company that offers "tech support". Now it IS for their product, but WHAT DO YOU EXPECT? I mean they only support their product for the planet, and are only a 4 or 5 billion dollar company etc.... Well, like most companies, you aren't allowed to talk to TECH SUPPORT, so you have to talk to "tech support". To obfuscate the difference, if you so much as ask them the time of day, they will ask for output from their programs. Outside of delaying things hours or forever, I haven't seen anyone that can explain why they want the other information that, so often, has NOTHING to do with the question!

    So WHY do they do it? In cases where there is a real problem, it COULD be a case of "that's not my job". In other cases, I think it is just to end the call. Sometimes companies even TIME such things!

    Steve
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