What Are Things You've Heard That Made You Facepalm?

[EuSouONumero345]

When the referee gave a penalty for nothing.

[hugix]

Wayyyy back in school, when I first started with chemistry / physics in school we also got points on our homework. These points could give you extra credits on test scores. We did the assignments in small groups, the teacher would come over to the group. Check the answers and note your points.

the very first week was a couple of very simple assignments to familiarize our self with this idea of doing homework. They where very simple questions with very simple answers. Then for a couple of questions every second answer was the opposite of the answer before. If the answer to #10 was "it gets bigger", the answer to #11 would be "it gets smaller". Except for the last two questions.

# 19 : "What happens when you turn the gas valve on the bunsen burner to the right"

"The flame gets hotter".

#20 : "You are holding the burner from the bottom and slide your hand slowly up. What happens to your hand".

Well Obviously, your hand would get hotter, as it moves closer to the flame...

But my group totally rejected that answer. It was simply not possible since "we already gave that answer". I complained that the assignments nowhere mentioned that we could give the same answer twice. But alas.. "You don't understand how it all works hugo!" Luckily I wrote my answer in my book, hoping that my book would be checked by the teacher next week... It did . One girl of the group even noted she had written something else, thus got a point reduction.

[kStrout]

Not a really big facepalm, but I am subscribed to AIAA notifications, so you would expect them to be very professional, and usually they are. But the other day there was one talking about a student that invented a highly efficient ion engine and a quote from they article they said that it works, "by hurling particles backwards so that a spacecraft can be propelled forwards". I mean they're not wrong...

[Technical Ben]

When I saw someone post that the latest car MPG tests cheat, because they make the car more aerodynamic and lighter. Like taking off wing mirrors and spare tires.

... and then put them on rolling roads to test them. But they found a solution, use a wind tunnel or large fan to simulate the air resistance. :/

(So either they just leave off the mirrors to save time testing, or it makes no difference minus a tiny amount of tire friction).

[Columbia]

When people refer to anything Germany-related as.. "German-Ideology-Against-Jews". (You know what I mean? Naht-zie.)

Although I'm not a German, it's very insulting to the country, stereotypical and crude.

I hope that post wasn't too political.

[Endersmens]

Not sure that I've ever heard it put that way... Usually, people just refer to Nazis directly, whenever arguing a social issue of any kind.

I've heard it before, and I hate it too. Some people think German = that. It's pretty... for lack of better word, depressing.

[Bill Phil]

I've heard it before, and I hate it too. Some people think German = that. It's pretty... for lack of better word, depressing.

I know, right? Germans are awesome. Especially Bavarians. Oktoberfest is where it's at!

[GDJ]

this: http://blogs.microsoft.com/next/2014/09/24/microsoft-cube-decibel-dance-music/

Oh great. They're gonna add that to Minecraft next.

[Mad Rocket Scientist]

Not sure that I've ever heard it put that way... Usually, people just refer to Nazis directly, whenever arguing a social issue of any kind.

Since when isn't that word censored? Odd.

[Bill Phil]

Since when isn't that word censored? Odd.

I think it only recognizes the singular form of .....

[Mad Rocket Scientist]

Why on earth would it be censored? It forms the core of every ignorant thesis on government.

I think when the forum was set up, the admins decided that the chances of it being used as a insult was higher than it being used normally.

I think it only recognizes the singular form of .....

Strange. .... Nazis

[monstah]

Not sure that I've ever heard it put that way... Usually, people just refer to Nazis directly, whenever arguing a social issue of any kind.

I've heard it before, and I hate it too. Some people think German = that. It's pretty... for lack of better word, depressing.

Unfortunately, still true. I'm not german either, but my nationality has its share of bad stereotypes, too, and I find it sad in either case. Granted, too many of us work hard too keep that stereotype, and as with almost anything, it's the loud minority that gets noticed, right?

Edited October 2, 2015 by Red Iron Crown
We won't be facepalming at other community members, thank you.

[Endersmens]

-snip-

I would take away the second paragraph. Rules say not to target users on the forum, named or unnamed. (plus we ALL know who you're referring to so it takes away the point of not naming)

[Hcube]

This is going all over the place. Please keep some self-moderation guys. This thread is a ton of fun and i really don't want it closed.

To stay on topic : i'm in medschool (hard selection, much work, no KSP, :/ ) and there is a test every week with a classment in order to let you know how good (or bad) you're doing. It's all about filling small spaces "true or false".

It works with an anonymity number that you must generate online, know and write. If one person forgets it or writes it wrong, then the correctors have to spend hours manually checking every single copy because the optical reader won't cut it.. Hence the tutors reapeating a good dozens times " don't forget your number !" and writing it everywhere.

The test starts, and at the end, the girl next to me ask me :

"hey, what's that number thing everyone is filling ?"

Me : "very funny".

Until i understood it wasn't a joke.

" it's your anonymity number"

"What's that ?"

"You must generate it online, on medschools' website"

"There's a website?". (Urgh)

Turns out she had skipped most tests and most courses. In a cursus where selection is about 8% admitted.

Skip-ping. U_U. (Her classment probably is a 4-digit number^^ )

Then she proceeded to ask me wether deoxyribonucleotides were found in RNA or DNA. I must precise that we have had about 15 hours of intensive genome class, studying complex modifications and different types of DNA-polymerase activities. Furthermore the D in DNA literally means deoxy. WHAT IS SHE DOING IN HERE ?

Edited October 2, 2015 by Hcube
Forgot a part of the story !

[Vanamonde]

Yes, please keep it on-topic, folks.

[Rath]

This is going all over the place. Please keep some self-moderation guys. This thread is a ton of fun and i really don't want it closed.

To stay on topic : i'm in medschool (hard selection, much work, no KSP, :/ ) and there is a test every week with a classment in order to let you know how good (or bad) you're doing. It's all about filling small spaces "true or false".

It works with an anonymity number that you must generate online, know and write. If one person forgets it or writes it wrong, then the correctors have to spend hours manually checking every single copy because the optical reader won't cut it.. Hence the tutors reapeating a good dozens times " don't forget your number !" and writing it everywhere.

The test starts, and at the end, the girl next to me ask me :

"hey, what's that number thing everyone is filling ?"

Me : "very funny".

Until i understood it wasn't a joke.

" it's your anonymity number"

"What's that ?"

"You must generate it online, on medschools' website"

"There's a website?". (Urgh)

Turns out she had skipped most tests and most courses. In a cursus where selection is about 8% admitted.

Skip-ping. U_U. (Her classment probably is a 4-digit number^^ )

Then she proceeded to ask me wether deoxyribonucleotides were found in RNA or DNA. I must precise that we have had about 15 hours of intensive genome class, studying complex modifications and different types of DNA-polymerase activities. Furthermore the D in DNA literally means deoxy. WHAT IS SHE DOING IN HERE ?

One word: Money

Edited October 3, 2015 by Rath

[Hcube]

One work: Money

No, it's basically open to everyone for free (well, you have to pay university wich is about 160€) and then only 80 students are allowed to continue. Anyone can register and follow the first year course (900 in the comptetition!) But if you skip... That's just stupid, you are guaranteed to lose 1 year

[Rath]

For most of my high school years, and with my father being career military, we were stationed in West Germany (before the wall came down). Yes, I went to an American high school ran by the Department of Defense - and let me tell you, I am so thankful for what DoDDS had for a high school curriculum. Besides the normal four years of English classes, basic maths and basic sciences, and physical education we ALL had to take, there was also Band, Jazz Band Ensemble, Choir, Calculus II, Physics II, Basic Astronomy, Chemistry II, Trigonometry II, Latin (up to four years worth), German (up to four years worth), Spanish (up to four years worth), and French (up to four years worth). You also had the option of taking classes during the summer, which I did because I LOVED school. During the summer I took basic electronics, advanced electronics (I can fix my own small electrical appliances, thank you! ) along with academics.

My father retired from the Army after 27 years of service in 1987; we moved back to his hometown, and in January 1988, I transferred to the high school where he graduated. That school was the physical anomaly that Bart Simpson talked about - it both sucked and blowed. No Physics II, No Basic Astronomy, no French above French II, no Spanish above II, no Latin, no German and certainly no vocational classes beyond auto mechanics or farming. So, the last semester of my senior year consisted of band and six study halls - I already had exceeded the requirements for graduation. What really sucked is the narrow mindedness of most of the student body, not understanding that one can live in Germany as a military depended and NOT be a German citizen, would call me a "Kraut" or make other derogatory comments about me. I was often told that I, as a German citizen, had no rights in the United States. Even had an argument with one of the high school zombies teachers who insisted that I could not be an American if I went to German schools... At first, I would argue with them, but after the first six weeks, it just became so much easier to ignore them. So, needless to say, I didn't go to the prom, or any of that other stuff normal folks did their senior year. Instead, I began taking college courses.

About ten years ago, in 2008, for some reason, I had the desire to go to my 20th year high school reunion - and may I add I will never attend another one. One of the girls that I had band with walked up to me and introduced me to her husband as "the Kraut from Germany" Her husband, shocked, looked at me and said, "where was your dad stationed?" Well, after ten minutes of conversation, we discovered that we both had gone to Hanau American High School, and he was a freshman my senior year. He and his wife met in college, so she was unaware he had graduated high school in Germany. She simply had assumed that Hanau was a small town back east, where his parents were from. As she listened to our conversation, all she could say was "Let me get this straight. You're not a German? -- why didn't you say something then?"

- - - Updated - - -

Wow, a facepalm from the facepalm thread... Somehow, monstah, I can actually imagine you doing that. For the sake of the kiddies that read this forum, I will keep all questions about these incidents to myself!

I am half german, and definitely aryan. When my class of [REDACTED FOR THE CHILDREN] learned about the naz* 'Ideal Aryan' they thought that I was a naz*......................... (I though international schools were supposed to be good)

Edited October 5, 2015 by Rath

[ChrisSpace]

Many Americans are ashamed when they hear that the United States of America is ranked 182nd alphabetically. Source:

Embarrassing: The U.S. Is Ranked 182nd In The World Alphabetically http://t.co/J3ueIdEtx5 pic.twitter.com/o3zLsvNCK9

— ClickHole (@ClickHole)

February 5, 2015

[insert_name]

In my first year of high school physics I was the only one in that class who knew rockets worked in space, in my second year I had to convince the teacher that you can't have an elliptical orbit with a planet at the center. On an unrelated note my younger brother once nearly jumped off an 80ft cliff to avoid our friend's extremely well tamed dogs

[Hcube]

In my first year of high school physics I was the only one in that class who knew rockets worked in space, in my second year I had to convince the teacher that you can't have an elliptical orbit with a planet at the center. On an unrelated note my younger brother once nearly jumped off an 80ft cliff to avoid our friend's extremely well tamed dogs

.........the... The teacher ? How can you be a highschool physics teacher if you don't know about ellipses ? What country allows this ?

[Kinglet]

Many Americans are ashamed when they hear that the United States of America is ranked 182nd alphabetically. Source:

Embarrassing: The U.S. Is Ranked 182nd In The World Alphabetically http://t.co/J3ueIdEtx5 pic.twitter.com/o3zLsvNCK9

— ClickHole (@ClickHole)

February 5, 2015

Let's rename it "A1".

[RainDreamer]

OK, found several things that made me face palm, but some are a bit political for this forum. So...I will just mention that there is a certain guy who believe that the news of water found on Mars is a conspiracy from NASA.

[Columbia]

OK, found several things that made me face palm, but some are a bit political for this forum. So...I will just mention that there is a certain guy who believe that the news of water found on Mars is a conspiracy from NASA.

Every popular event or trend or discovery is shunned by conspirators--- This is not an exception. As annoying as it may be, it's rather.. expected of them.

[Ethanadams]

I know I guy who uses tor he thinks he is completely untrackible and refuses to listen to me telling him otherwise