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What things am I a dumbass about? (lemmy.nz)

submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Had someone contact me because a browser interface was 'down' and it was actually a cert issue. It surprised me that in an IT context, this person didn't have a basic understanding of SSL certs. They didn't even know how to add a cert exception.

It got me thinking, what basic ubiquitous things am I a dumbass about outside of IT?

Ive seen lots of 'fun facts' compilations, but it would be better to get a wide range of subject suggestions that I can spend 30 minutes each or less on, and become a more capable human.

Like what subjects would plumbers consider basic knowledge? Chemical interactions between cleaning products and PVC pipes?

What would an accountant or a landscaper consider to be so basic its shocking people can live their lives without knowing any of it?

For most areas of expertise, its difficult to know even what the basics are to start with.

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[–] [email protected] 43 points 9 months ago (23 children)

I'm constantly amazed at how many people don't understand the concepts of basic finance and how compound interest works.

Years ago, I brought my laptop with me to buy a car so I could plug all the numbers into a quick amortization schedule. The sales person offered me a choice of $1,500 cash back or 1.9% financing instead of the typical rate a few percentage points higher.

I plugged the numbers into my spreadsheet and saw taking the cash back would cost me a couple grand more than the lower finance rate. When I told him I wanted the finance rate instead of the cash back, he mentioned that I was the only person he'd seen not take the cash back.

Maybe he was pulling my chain, but in my experience, the average person doesn't know what compound interest is, let alone what an amortization schedule is.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 9 months ago (4 children)

Have you told this story before, possibly on reddit? I swear I've read this verbatim including the part about the laptop and "I was the only person who took the lower APR."

[–] [email protected] 14 points 9 months ago (3 children)

Maybe, but it would've been years ago.

[–] grabyourmotherskeys 23 points 9 months ago (2 children)

With each year that passes since the re-telling it gets exponentially more interesting.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 9 months ago

The interest in this story is definitely compounding.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 9 months ago

Could just be we're old as fuck to the point that we find amortization schedules and saving money interesting.

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