Top 10 Things We Pretend to Understand but Don't
Of course we know what you're talking about! From cars, to the stock market, to the very convoluded definition of irony, these head scratchers pretty much go over everyone's heads…so why won't we admit it?! WatchMojo counts down the Top 10 Things We Pretend to Understand but Don't.
Special thanks to our user drewbrown for suggesting this idea! Check out the voting page at WatchMojo.comsuggest/Top+10+Things+We+Pretend+to+Understand+but+Don%27t.
Top 10 Things We Pretend to Understand but Don’t
Top 20 Things Only '90s Kids Will Understand
Of course we know what you’re talking about! Uh… Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our list for the Top 10 Things We Pretend to Understand but Don’t. For this list, we’re looking at things that are common in modern society, that a lot of people act like they understand, but just don’t get. For the record, we’re not saying we understand any of them either; we just want to point out that it’s better if we all stop pretending.
#10: How Cars Work
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So you’re taking your car in for repairs; we bet you’re acting like you know what’s wrong with it. Whenever we learn terms like “spark plug” or “catalytic converter,” we’re blaming those car parts for every problem that pops up. Unfortunately, for many people, car knowledge ends at gas equals go, brakes make slow. Sure, lots of people know how the internal combustion engine works, but just as many people don’t – not that they’ll admit it. Gender assumptions and stereotyping may play into it a little, but if we’re not expected to understand how a modem or cellphone works, why do we need to understand cars?
#9: The Stock Market
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“Buy low, sell high” is probably the extent of most people’s stock market knowledge. And yet we keep pretending to know what a Dow or a NASDAQ is. Even if you do keep tabs on which is up or down at the moment, do we really understand why they’re up or down, or if it’s a good thing that they are or aren’t? Often, it’s successful people that know about stocks or understand the market, so others become day trading posers to fit in. But then, every once in a while, the whole thing comes to a screeching halt, leaving you to wonder if anyone actually understands what it’s all about.
#8: The Definition of “Irony”
Top 10 Things Only '90s Kids Will Understand
You are not helping, Alanis! It’s like literally no one knows what irony really is, although – ironically – even though many people misuse “literally,” they actually do know what it means for the most part. “Irony,” meanwhile, is a label that people throw at any unlucky or odd situation or outcome. It doesn’t help that there are multiple kinds of irony, including verbal, situational and dramatic irony; a fact that leads to confusion whenever someone attempts to distinguish one type from another. How about we all agree that irony is “an unfortunate coincidence” or “oddly appropriate” instead? No? Well, isn’t that iro-… actually no, no it isn’t.
#7: Debt
From credit cards to student loans to the national debt, it seems like everyone and their mother owes money to somebody. By the time you’re old enough to be in debt, you’re old enough to understand debt. But clearly, if we understood debt, there wouldn’t be so much of it, right? It’s obvious that an alarming number of people have no idea what they’re getting into when they charge the latest console but have no way to pay back the purchase. Bottom line? Educate yourself about debt, because just one misstep, poor choice or high interest rate could haunt you for decades to come.
#6: Social Media
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Considering how widespread it is now, there’s still a surprisingly large number of people who don’t really understand social media – like, what it does or even how to use it. Of course, there are older generations for whom navigating to the right site is an accomplishment. But even if you’re down to share, like and subscribe, not every person uses every single social media site. And, since each site has its own customs, culture and functions, you could be media savvy and still mess up. So, better stick to the sites you do know and stop pretending you use Snapchat for anything other than the filters.
#5: Mortgages
While it’s true that mortgages are a form of debt, they’re a debt loaded with their own unique quirks and pitfalls. Mortgages are among the most misunderstood financial agreements; a fact that can lead to some poor decision-making. You know that economic recession that hit the United States and Europe in 2007-08? It was caused by poor decisions related to subprime mortgages. We need to stop pretending we understand mortgages and start actually understanding them – particularly if we need one – because the people who do are in a position to take advantage of ignorance and profit handsomely at the expense of everyone else.
#4: Bitcoin
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If you’re watching this video, you probably know that Bitcoin is a kind of virtual currency – as the name suggests. However, its name and apparent function are pretty much all you know. How applicable Bitcoin is to everyday life, its exchange rate with real currency and whether it’s worth looking into are all complete mysteries to many people. Bitcoin was meant to be the next big thing, and for a limited few that might be the case. But when it comes to what it does and how to get a hold of some, for most of us that’s a mystery that may never be cracked.
#3: Modern Art
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Art is associated with sophistication and culture, so many feel the need to appear knowledgeable about it. But modern art can be so… “abstract” that it’s sometimes hard to decipher. Should we really feel dumb if we look at a Picasso and think “pfft, I could do that; it doesn’t even look like anything”? Remember: modern art is subjective, so no matter what you think, it’s valid. If you want to learn more, take a class or go on a guided museum tour. Otherwise, if you don’t get art, don’t sweat it. And if you think you do, it couldn’t hurt to be more humble about it – just in case.
#2: Math
We’re not saying people don’t understand basic math; that’d be ridiculous. But it’s a fact that, as technology advances and calculators become more pervasive, most people let their arithmetic and more advanced math skills fall by the wayside. Like, how many of you take out your iPhone to calculate a tip, or actually need to write it down when you’re figuring out how many pieces of pizza everyone's gonna get? Like most areas of science, trigonometry, calculus and even simple geometry are topics that some of us will pretend to grasp for fear of being seen as unintelligent. Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: - Postmodernism - Jazz - Fine Wine
#1: The Opposite Sex
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It all starts on the playground. Sure, now we know there’s no such thing as cooties, but men are still confused about why many women are always cold or have so many shoes, and women wonder why some men are scared of commitment or love strip clubs. Heck, our desire to understand the opposite sex has gotten to the point where many popular magazines base their business models on giving dubious advice about what the opposite sex wants or needs. But here’s a tip: the men or women in your life will definitely give you some insight if you let them, so start a conversation; you’ll be amazed how much you learn!
