Bits of "common sense" that need to die

[Bottle]

Today, I sat next to somebody on the train who was lecturing his friend about weight loss, and he kept repeating that oft-used mantra "Calories in, calories out!" It took all my will power to resist springing into Creepy Random Science Lecturer Mode and explaining to the guy why the only real weight-loss benefit of that phrase is the small number of calories that one burns whilst uttering it.

This got me thinking about all the little bits of "common sense" out there which are complete horseshit, and how very much I would like for these depressingly-common misconceptions to die out.

So, what charming nugget of bullshit "common sense" would you most like to stick in a blender and liquefy?

[Laerod]

That trickle down economics work or that people act in their economic self interest.

[Conserative Morality]

That trickle down economics work or that people act in their economic self interest.

^This

[New Octopucta]

Everyone around me seems to think that: Right handed= smart/Left handed= creative.

[Bottle]

Everyone around me seems to think that: Right handed= smart/Left handed= creative.

Oh god yeah, this too.

I'm a neuroscientist and it absolutely drives me up the wall the way people use "left brained" and "right brained" and make these hideously inaccurate generalizations based on crappy popularizations of research. "See, the right hemisphere is where your artistic sense is found, and the left hemisphere is where your logic is found..." Eeeeeerrrrrgh.

[The Left-Libertarian Hippies]

Universal healthcare means that granny will have to wait in a long line to see a doctor.

[Copiosa Scotia]

The existence of "clutch" players in competitive sports.

[JuNii]

Today, I sat next to somebody on the train who was lecturing his friend about weight loss, and he kept repeating that oft-used mantra "Calories in, calories out!" It took all my will power to resist springing into Creepy Random Science Lecturer Mode and explaining to the guy why the only real weight-loss benefit of that phrase is the small number of calories that one burns whilst uttering it.

This got me thinking about all the little bits of "common sense" out there which are complete horseshit, and how very much I would like for these depressingly-common misconceptions to die out.

So, what charming nugget of bullshit "common sense" would you most like to stick in a blender and liquefy?

not voting for one of the two major US political parties is 'throwing your vote away'.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

That trickle down economics work or that people act in their economic self interest.

This.

[Yootwopia]

"Have no fear, the stock markets will be fine in a couple of years".

[United Dependencies]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_co ... onceptions

[Norstal]

The misuse of the word "theory" in science.

[Greater Cabinda]

"You have to respect your elders, even if they shout mean things at you."

[Buffett and Colbert]

"You have to respect your elders, even if they shout mean things at you."

"You're allowed to shout mean things at your elders if you disagree with them."

Seriously, a guy in my class brought a teacher to tears over some points on a test, when he already had an A. Afterwards he kept parroting "Respect is mutual" to justify that.

[Sremski okrug]

Trickle down economics works
Universal healthcare = communism.

[Arkinesia]

The existence of "clutch" players in competitive sports.

…what do you mean that's a misconception?

Some people just do better under pressure, and when they play sports they're clutch players because they do well under the clutches of outside pressure.

[Coccygia]

"The exception proves the rule." A TOTALLY stupid phrase, as well as completely and nearly universally misunderstood. It does not mean, "The exception tests the rule" as is often said, though at least that makes perfect sense. It was originally a legal principle in Roman law: if the law contains an exception to a rule, it proves that there exists a rule, even if the rule is not explicitly stated. The rule is perhaps debatable IMHO, but it certainly isn't absurd. The way it's usually used is a perfect example of people just repeating something endlessly without understanding it at all.

[Conserative Morality]

"The exception proves the rule." A TOTALLY stupid phrase, as well as completely and nearly universally misunderstood. It does not mean, "The exception tests the rule" as is often said, though at least that makes perfect sense. It was originally a legal principle in Roman law: if the law contains an exception to a rule, it proves that there exists a rule, even if the rule is not explicitly stated. The rule is perhaps debatable IMHO, but it certainly isn't absurd. The way it's usually used is a perfect example of people just repeating something endlessly without understanding it at all.

^this as well.

[Meryuma]

State ownership is socialism
Capitalism = markets
Young people are "innocent"

[Hydesland]

That trickle down economics work or that people act in their economic self interest.

That people don't respond to incentives and that everyone is irrational.

[Jinos]

China is 'Communist'

Marijuana use leads to Heroin/Meth/Cocaine

Speeding causes more car accidents then any other reason

You need to wait 30 mins after eating before you swim or you'll cramp up

[New Octopucta]

That "irrational fear of x" means that the fear is stupid and certainly not anything serious that might require therapy.

[Xsyne]

The concept of common sense.

[New Manvir]

That intolerant and bigoted statements are somehow okay if you're a rabbi, imam, reverend etc.

[Soufrika]

not voting for one of the two major US political parties is 'throwing your vote away'.

Hear, hear. I intend to "throw my vote away" for the rest of my life. It's not voting at all that's throwing it away!