Mature In Adulthood
As we mature into adulthood, we acquire essential knowledge that supports us in navigating daily life effectively. Surprisingly, some adults display glaring gaps in basic understanding, leaving others amazed at how they have managed without such fundamental information for so long.
For instance, it's bewildering when adults are unaware that eating raw chicken is unsafe or uncertain about the language a baby will eventually speak. Such oversights are particularly striking given their age and life experience, highlighting how crucial it is to continually learn and grow.
Encountered A Tourist
While working at Banff National Park, I once encountered a tourist who was convinced that the park was extremely unsafe because wild animals roamed freely. She insisted that all animals should be kept in cages, which was frustrating to hear as it showed a misunderstanding of the natural environment. I had to hold back my urge to respond sharply during the bus ride back to the hotel.
Additionally, she claimed she needed to exchange British Columbia money for Alberta currency, not realizing that both provinces use the same Canadian dollar. On a lighter note, at least she didn’t believe the myth that babies can speak multiple languages, unlike some other visitors I’ve met.
Approaching Us
My mom and I were speaking in Spanish when a pregnant woman approached us, curious if learning the language was difficult. It was a memorable moment because she was worried about understanding her baby, whose father was from South America but had returned home permanently.
We reassured her that the baby would naturally learn to speak English, as that is the language she uses daily. Despite our explanation, she seemed unconvinced and still anxious. It reminded me of how, when you send a photo of your money to your bank, you trust they will handle it properly—even if you can’t see the process yourself. Similarly, she needed to trust that her child would adapt and learn from her environment.
Gaining Popularity
When mobile banking first gained popularity, I was working at a bank, and we knew that adapting to new technology would take some people longer than others. One memorable moment was when a customer sent us a photo of their cash, hoping it could be deposited through the image. It was a funny but clear reminder that mobile banking doesn’t work like that.
It’s like being an adult who doesn’t know how to boil water—surprising but understandable. Yet, some customers had even more confusing experiences, making their days more challenging than just a simple misunderstanding. These moments highlighted the learning curve many faced with the shift to digital banking.
Favourite Memories
My favorite memories come from my college days, and one story stands out vividly. One afternoon, my roommate decided to cook spaghetti but mistakenly put the pasta in a pot without adding any water before turning on the stove. It took him about ten minutes to realize something was wrong when the pasta remained uncooked, and he asked me why it wasn’t cooking.
That experience made me appreciate the importance of patience and understanding in shared living spaces. I never regretted moving out afterward, hoping my next roommate would be more considerate. It’s a reminder that everyone is different, much like how every living organism has its unique DNA, and we all learn in our own ways.
Hybrid
One of my coworkers showed me a photo of some sickly, deformed puppies, claiming they were a hybrid between a dog and a rat. He insisted that any animals could interbreed, dismissing the importance of DNA and asserting that all sperm is essentially the same. His reasoning was even more absurd upon further explanation.
It baffles me how some people lack basic biological knowledge or fail to apply common sense. Just as many of us witnessed our parents managing bills while growing up, not everyone truly learns from those experiences—even into adulthood. This highlights how essential it is to cultivate understanding and critical thinking throughout life.
Never Paid Bills
My friend had never paid a bill in her life. She lived with her parents or in a dormitory until she was about 40, only moving into her own place after getting married. After her divorce, she had to live independently for the first time. One day, she called me to ask if my power had been cut off too, only to realize what had happened to her. Her explanation was quite surprising.
She believed that bills were just receipts and assumed rent always covered all expenses. Even when her water was eventually shut off, she still didn’t grasp the situation, and we ended up having the same conversation repeatedly. It’s funny how some people resist learning simple life lessons—like how you shouldn’t breathe through your mouth because some think it’s a sign of posing.
Worried
My ex-brother-in-law once believed that breathing through the mouth could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. I vividly recall how worried he was when my niece had a cold and was breathing through her mouth. He insisted that nasal breathing was the only safe way, viewing mouth breathing as dangerous.
This idea doesn’t make sense, especially since everyone breathes through their mouth at times without harm. Frankly, I’m relieved he’s no longer part of the family. On a different note, most people know how to make a bed properly; it’s a skill learned through trial and error, with no room for excuses.
Pacing
I was organizing my clothes after spending the night at my ex-boyfriend’s place when I noticed him pacing back and forth across the bed without making any effort to fix it. Eventually, he looked at me with a confused expression and asked, “Can you please make the bed? I’ve never done it before and don’t even know where to start.” His request left me speechless, especially since he was 26 years old at the time. It suddenly made sense why his mother visited him so often—to clean up and make the bed for him.
This experience made me think about trust, especially when it comes to professionals like doctors. People generally place great trust in doctors’ words, expecting competence and reliability. However, sometimes, certain individuals don’t meet those expectations, which can be disappointing and concerning.
Regular Pediatrician
Before we could transition to our regular pediatrician, we first had to see the hospital’s pediatrician—an older man from the South. In a small exam room, he began explaining the dos and don’ts for new parents. Assuming our baby would sleep in a crib in the nursery, we mentioned that the bassinet was set up next to our bed for easier nighttime feedings. Suddenly, he interrupted, insisting, “She can’t sleep with you!” We reassured him she wouldn’t share our bed, only the bassinet beside it.
He warned that having the baby sleep in the same room would cause suffocation due to excess carbon dioxide, claiming this was why SIDS occurs. When we questioned if the exam room itself was unsafe, he offered no clear answer. We later filed complaints with both the practice and hospital, as this advice seemed dangerously misguided—especially since parents often trust doctors implicitly. It was baffling that someone so unfamiliar with modern parenting tools could give such outdated counsel.
And That’s The Tea
I asked my husband to make some herbal tea for me the first year we were married. He happily accepts and goes to the kitchen. I waited for ten minutes before realizing I didn’t tell him which tea I wanted. But I couldn’t have known what he was doing in the other room.
I walked into the kitchen to find him standing over the stove with a mug of water sitting directly on the burner. Poor baby. Mathematics isn’t for everyone. That said, parents should know the basics so they can help their children. But this next story is an eye-opener.
Solving For X-Planation
I teach 6th grade. One time a parent came to me after trying to help their child with math homework and asked, what number is x worth? It feels like it changes with every problem! The parent came to me after school without their child because they knew something was wrong and didn’t want to look stupid in front of their kid.
This is filed in my brain of parent reactions I can’t fathom, along with the mom that year who asked if her child could play piano in marching band. Basic body functions seem pretty automatic, right? Well, one woman apparently had no idea how to burp.
Model Citizen
I was tending a bar in LA when one of the cocktail waitresses, an LA model-type, asked me to burp her—like a baby. I’m certain she wasn’t flirting since she was way out of my league, but I’m convinced she was just desperate for attention. She told me she never learned how to burp like that was a normal thing not to know. She must have read the revulsion on my face because as she turned to leave, she let out this deep belly burp that filled the bar.
She turned beet red as I called out, “You’re welcome.” I never saw her in the bar again. Vehicle maintenance is an essential part of owning a car. But one man was shocked to find that his girlfriend at the time had no idea what she was doing.
Spoiling For Oil
My dad is a mechanic, so I’ve been very lucky to have the importance of vehicle maintenance drilled into my head from a young age. When my now fiancée and I had been dating for about six months, I needed to change the oil in my car, so I asked when the last time she had changed her oil was.
She had never changed it, even after owning the car for three years. Luckily, I taught her everything she knows today. Another essential tool to use as an adult or even an adolescent is reading a clock. Most people can tell time, but one can’t.
Time To Go
My friend constantly asked what time it was, so by the sixth time, I said, “Bro, there is a clock right there.” He was a grown man, yet he replied, “I don’t know how to read it.” Except that’s not even the dumb part. A couple of weeks later, he posted something on Facebook making fun of people who couldn’t read cursive. So I came up with a devastating comeback.
I posted a picture of a clock and said, “What time does this say?” He blocked me. It was worth it. Common safety practices should always be followed. But some people really do just put other people’s safety at risk for no reason.
Dumb, High-Risk-Ways To Die
I work in highway safety, and I can no longer count on two hands the number of people I’ve stopped within the middle lane of traffic on a freeway with no bigger problem than a flat tire. When I question them as to why they stopped in the middle of a freeway, the typical answer is either the vehicle wouldn’t go any further or they don’t want to damage their rim.
I swear people will put the well-being of the rim on their car above their own safety and even the safety of their children. Cooking is an essential skill that can be taught or learned. But some people seem to not read instructions well or just never learn.
She’s Come Undone
I had a roommate in university whose “cooking” method was to put baked beans in a Tupperware, seal the lid, turn on the microwave, and when the lid pops and explodes, beans everywhere…they’re cooked. One time, I came home to find the oven on and billowing a bit. I opened the door to find what was an entire lasagna bubbling on the bottom of the oven.
He bought himself a frozen lasagna: Step 1, “remove outer packaging,” Step 2, “place on middle tray of a preheated oven.” He literally thought that “outer packaging” was anything outside the lasagna, so he tore away that shell that the lasagna cooked in and placed it straight on the rack, so as it defrosted, it just fell through the rack and all over the oven. Genius. Wifi is a fairly new concept for the older generation. But now that it’s been installed in almost every modern home, people really should understand how it works.
Where’s The Connection?
When I started working from home, I had a few users submit tickets for “connectivity issues.” These tickets got through two lines of support before landing in my queue. After asking a few questions, it turns out that they thought the corporate Wi-Fi would follow them home.
They genuinely didn’t realize that they’d need home internet in order to connect to their workplaces. Another story about an adult that can’t cook. But when there’s a misconception that eggs can be poisonous, that’s where we draw the line.
Cracked In The Head
A 19-year-old dude asked me: “How do you cook a fried egg?” I gave him instructions and left him with them. Came back a while later to ask how it went. “Fine in the end, but it took a few attempts because the yolk kept breaking.” I stared at him blankly. “What do you mean kept breaking?” “Well, I kept throwing them away because I thought breaking the yolk made it poisonous.”
This next story isn’t about an adult, but it is about an adolescent that did the impossible. They got less than 2 points on their test.
F For Effort
In grade ten, we had a science test, and the teacher gave one point for putting a date on the paper and one point for your name on the paper. And then there were 98 points for the rest of the test. All you had to do to get two automatic points was just write your name and the date.
A guy sitting in front of me got 0.5/100. He didn’t write the date and only wrote his first name. A lot of fruits and nuts are really good for you. But everyone knows that most have to be peeled or shelled, right?
Biting Off More Than He Can Digest
I was dating a 19-year-old guy. I explained that eating raw nuts is healthy, so he bought a bag of peanuts. He complained two days later that he was going to stop eating them because they upset his stomach. That meant I got a free bag of peanuts. Yay!
He was stunned when he saw me shelling them and eating the nut because he had been eating them shell and all for two days. Surprisingly, that relationship did not end well. This next one has to be the most absurd out of all these stories. We don’t have to tell anyone not to drink dangerous chemicals, right? Wrong.
Bleach Brain
I knew a kid who drank bleach to prove it wouldn’t kill him. A week later, he showed up at school after taking a shot. He said he “proved his point” when the teacher asked why he was bragging about it. Mr. Hawk just said, “but you cannot argue that without that medical treatment, you’d have died, though.
You even said you have stomach damage and a burnt esophagus yourself.” This kid was bragging about that. He was not mentally disabled or otherwise. Table manners like using cutlery are something a kid should learn growing up. But it seems that not all kids learn by example.
The Inept Ex
My ex didn’t know how to hold a fork properly. All utensils were used by grasping them in a fist. He also didn’t know how to open up baby wipes. He tore open the bag, even though it has a lid, so they don’t dry out. He ignored the lid. I didn’t know how to merge or change lanes.
Didn’t know to rinse vegetables or fruits before eating. And there were many more problems, and that’s why he’s an ex now. Social events like parades are normally on tight schedules. They can’t be asked to change course because of one mother. But she definitely thought they could.
March Right Back Over Here
Our town was live-streaming a holiday parade in case people weren’t able to make it out in person. This included a live chat feature as well. One mother who lived nearby wrote in the chat that her daughter didn’t get outside in time and asked for them to turn around and come back to her street so she could see.
I don’t know how you can become a mother and not understand basic scheduling and know that a parade won’t follow your orders.
Slip And Slide
My roommate in college was 22, and he had lived in an apartment for three years prior to moving in together. He legitimately did not know how to remove a trash bag from a trash can and had never turned on an oven before.
But my favorite was when he complained one day that his bathroom was always sopping wet every time they showered. I finally realized that he never put up a shower curtain! But at least that was harmless. Our next Redditor witnesses a classmate do something stupid and dangerous.
Well, That Blew Up In My Face
I knew a girl in high school who really wanted to breathe fire. On her first and last attempt, she put the lighter fluid in her mouth. Instead of blowing it onto a flame, she lit it on fire inside her mouth and then tried to blow it out. She came to school the next day with a bandage over half her face.
Let’s just say she never tried fire breathing again. But I’m sure she found some other annoying or dangerous hobby. Speaking of danger. Remembering how to put out different fires in the kitchen is a good idea. Just please don’t get muddled up and grab the wrong thing.
Substitute Ingredient
My ex and I were cooking together. One of the pans got too hot, and we had a minor grease fire. She grabbed a bag of flour. As tempted as I was to slap it out of her hands, I didn’t want to aerate a bunch of flour next to a grease fire, so I grabbed it with both hands and forced it over to the countertop, and then dropped the lid on the pan.
I asked her what her logic was, and she said, “Well, you’re supposed to put baking soda on a grease fire and not water, right?” “Yes. Why did you try to use flour?” “What’s the difference? They’re both white powder.” History is an important part of education. Everyone should learn about the most important parts. But what if someone thought they were all made up?
I Saw It In A Movie
When I was in high school, we were reading a short story about what would have happened if the Japanese had attacked us back with nuclear weapons after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A girl in my class raised her hand and said something along the lines of “why does this matter? None of it is real anyway.”
When the teacher asked her to clarify, the girl (who’s actually half Japanese) told her that the bombings of Japan were just from a movie and didn’t actually happen. Using a kitchen sink is something people learn through their younger years, right? But what about a grown adult that doesn’t even know about the two different knobs?
Because You’re Hot, Then You’re Cold
Our kitchen sink has one tap and two knobs for hot and cold. I walked into the kitchen, and my partner kept switching between hot and cold. I asked him why. His reply was so stupid I was speechless. “Well, the hot gets too hot, so I run the cold instead for a bit.”
He literally didn’t know you could run both the hot and cold water at the same time. But I still love him. The last story is definitely the most dangerous. Never ever point a BB gun at anything, even if you think it isn’t loaded.
You Should’ve Put Your Foot In Your Mouth Instead
My friend had just purchased a new, high-powered BB gun. We had just finished shooting it in the backyard when he pointed the barrel at my face and pulled the trigger several times.
I tell him to stop being dumb, and he just laughs and says, “it’s not loaded!” Then the moron puts the barrel in his mouth, and POP! He shoots a bb right through his tongue and into his uvula. He was okay after a doctor’s visit but should have really been more careful. Thankfully no one was seriously hurt in the end.