The extent of bullshit spouted by teachers and parents to unsuspecting children is astounding. Here are six of the dumbest sayings I remember from that 13-year brainwashing session we call public school.
6. Everything in moderation
How about cancer? This is based on the observation that many things that are good for you in small amounts are bad for you in large amounts (like alcohol). But lots of things are all risk, no benefits in any amount. Things like drinking and driving, cigarettes and trans fats.
5. Forgive and forget
Forgiving people does not rehabilitate them. If someone screwed you before, forgetting about it only gives them a chance to screw you again
4. It’s never too late to correct a mistake
Tell that to the families of the soldiers killed in Georgia, Iraq, Afghanistan and the rest of the stupid wars in living memory.
3. Violence doesn’t solve anything
If some guy breaks into my house to hurt me or my family, we’ll just see whether violence solves the problem.
2. It takes two to fight
But it only takes one to lay a one-sided beating.
1. What you don’t know can’t hurt you
Unless, perhaps, it’s an oncoming bus.
Know a another dumb saying? Post it in the comments.
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>>> Some of the best things in life are free.
So are most of the bad things like cancer and murder and rape.
>>> Embrace Diversity
Hire people who look different because that’s where diversity really comes from.
>>> Universal healthcare is bad. The American way is right and everyone else is wrong.
Yeah, especially when your insurance finds some bullshit reason to not pay up and you lose everything you own and your daughter dies from the disease they could have stopped had you been rich … or in Canada.
>>> If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain!
George Carlin put it nicely: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u6lCBnRoHQ
>>> Voting matters!
There is more evidence to support a fraudulent election that there is to support the WMDs in Iraq.
What a load of crap. Guess you forgot to learn in school that these sayings rarely (if ever) apply in every situation. Apparently you are just figuring it out. So sad for you.
… there’s an exception to every rule…
I agree with Jimmy.
why so bitter people???
Jimmy/Carmen:
“Only a fool calls another person a fool”
oh, sorry . . . made that one up
“Sticks and stones may break by bones but names will never hurt me.”
What genius thought this one up? Words hurt people a lot more frequently than stick or stones do. I propose an outright ban on words!
@poop,
Good additions, but what kind of screen name is that? I have to admit though, I never thought of “Universal healthcare is bad” as an old saying
@Jimmy and Carmen, many people don’t learn good critical thinking skills, and so they start using these silly old sayings in their reasoning. Yes of course most rules have exceptions, but the particular sayings I’m pulling out aren’t just imperfect, they represent logical fallacies. Furthermore, I remember being taught that “violence never solves anything” as a lesson in grade school. Emphasis on NEVER. This, of course, is bullshit, and in case you haven’t noticed, Jimmy, this blog is about pointing out bullshit, both the obvious and the subtle.
@sheridan flynn, I can’t believe I didn’t think of that, but I’m not sure what your satirizing by the suggestion of a ban on words.
@ Kavan Wolfe
Well it’s a new American saying. :p
“Tell us in your own words…”
Do you have your own words? No. You use the same words everyone else uses! Otherwise they won’t understand you.
“fighting for peace” – as useful as fucking for viginity
@poop, fair enough
@dsgjksgd, I believe the great George Carlin beat you to that one…
@JH, another good one
Ooooh, another one:
“Practice makes perfect.”
What bullshit is this? In most things, practice will make you better, but perfection is unattainable. Even being the best in the world at something is often unattainable because others may have more resources, greater genetic potential, or other things beyond your control.