JFF - Those "Duh" Moments...

Updated on August 31, 2015
D.B. asks from Hopkins, MN
7 answers

Have you ever been embarrassed or shocked by something you learned, surprised that you'd never heard of it, thought of it, or been taught about it? What prompted this is a recent meme floating around Facebook showing the small gas pump icon on most people's car dashboards. It has a small arrow next to it, and the post points out that the arrow is designed to show the driver which side of the car the gas tank is on! Most drivers has no idea what this symbol was for! Now you'd think that most people would know where their gas tank is, but if you switch cars a lot in a family, it can take a minute to remember which one is where. And with rental cars, it's probably very valuable! But only if you know what it means!

I remember when my husband got the first car with a keyless entry system - he just had to click to unlock the door rather than use a key. Then he would open the door, flip the switch on the door armrest, and unlock the door on the other side for me to get in. I'd often be standing in the rain waiting for him to find the button (especially in the dark). Finally, someone told him to double-click the button to unlock all the doors. "Duh" moment!

I got out a dustpan and brush the other day, and remembered an occasion a few years ago when my son gave me a "Duh" moment. The dust pan, brush and a few brooms hang on one of those wall racks. There's a sort of a cradle for the dust pan and a hook for the small brush. He swept up, dumped the debris, and then snapped the brush handle against the dust pan handle - I had never noticed that they fit together so the 2-piece set could by hunt up on one hook or nail. Duh!

So what's your most memorable moment when you realized something dumb or obvious that just wasn't so obvious?

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So What Happened?

Since the whole "gas tank" thing seems to have touched a nerve, you might want to watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vupgBykQnko. If you don't want to click on my link, go to YouTube and search "woman at gas station" or "gas cap on wrong side". The clip is British so you can find it by putting the word "petrol" in your search as well! Have a good time - she makes us all feel much smarter!
@ Doc7287 - I hate to break it to you, but I don't think you need to actually put the fob anywhere! My Prius works if the fob is anywhere in the front or back seats (not in the way back part of my hatchback though). I keep mine just clipped to my purse! Most of the cars with the keyless fob don't require you to insert it anywhere. And FYI you can usually separate the fob and pull our a real, auxiliary key (as a back-up in case the fob battery fails)! Fun fun fun!!

More Answers

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M.K.

answers from Columbus on

I've got way too many to list and usually I can't remember them - must be subconscious!! lol!! Although, I do have one that's absolutely ridiculous - I'm working in a humane society for about two months now. After about six weeks, it came up in conversation about the kittens having blue and pink collars. Well, duh, I never even realized why the different colors. Any time someone would ask me about a kitten, I'd go to their folders to look up the information. (Trust me, it's difficult to tell on a small kitten.) Anyways, I started laughing so hard at myself, I was almost in tears.

I've had so many "duh" moments over the years; and it's usually something really small and stupid - just ask my kids. I'm usually somewhat of an intelligent person!! Seriously!! lol!!

Great question!!

5 moms found this helpful

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

i'm having one right now with your gas tank icon! doh!!!!!
honestly, it happens to me so frequently that i can't at the moment think of one<G>. my dh, who is very logical and practical, is amazed sometimes at how elliptically i approach the world.
:) khairete
S.

4 moms found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Boston on

I think I may be having one right now...
I had rented a car for a couple of days last week and had no idea what that thing was... When i needed to gas up, I just went and took a look on both sides of the car (and yes it was on the latter)

2 moms found this helpful
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G.L.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Both my kids do computer coding for fun. "Duh" moments have become a part of my daily life. "Mom, you really didn't know how to do this?!" My usual comeback is something along the lines of, "Have some respect. I may not know how to do what you do, but I'm the one who taught you how to use a spoon." :-)

1 mom found this helpful
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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

Oh yeah, with 3 teens, lots of them though cannot think of them now--of course. And my kids have had a bunch too. Score one for mom!

For the gas tank--my car does not have an arrow--don't remember any of them having one. The gas icon is on the side of the panel that the tank is on. For a previous car, it was on the passenger side and the icon was on the right of the odometer etc.

I saw a duh moment the other day when a woman was apparently teaching her daughter to drive and get gas. The woman daughter pulled up to pump and the woman got out, tried to pull the gas line to the other side of the car.

1 mom found this helpful
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G.D.

answers from Detroit on

We recently decided to (finally!!) get a new car. I was leaning towards gently used, but was dragged to the dealership to test drive 2015 models. Our minivan was owned, but a 2000!!!
So, the guy hands me this big, chunky, plastic key and parks a brand new van in front of the dealership for me to drive.
I got in and turned to my SO and confessed that I had no idea where to put the fob. We looked for 2-3 minutes and just when he got out to ask the 11year old spotted the corresponding fob hole on the dash! Duhhhhh!!!
Felt slightly better when a friend noticed my fob in the dash and confessed she didn't know she could take the "start" button out and actually use the fob.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.P.

answers from Grand Forks on

I'm like everyone else on here lol, I've had so many I can't even think of one!
My recent one, which isn't that funny, I asked my friend if the saying was, "I've said my piece" or "I've said my peace"....lol I really didn't know! I thought both made sense!
I have several/wk but can't think of anything funny!

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