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What was a fact taught to you in school that has been proven false during your lifetime? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 1 day ago by Kurtagag@lemmy.ca to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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[–] flicker@lemmy.dbzer0.com 134 points 1 day ago (4 children)

"You need to learn this because you won't always have a calculator on you!"

[–] StaticFalconar@lemmy.world 2 points 19 hours ago

I feel have super power by being to calculate accurate tips without needing to crack out my phone.

[–] itsworkthatwedo@sh.itjust.works 24 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Basic mathematical literacy is a prerequisite to being able to use a calculator.

[–] Moobythegoldensock@lemm.ee 41 points 1 day ago (2 children)

That wasn’t so much a “fact” told in school as it was a prediction, and it was true for them. Some people carried pocket calculators, but most people didn’t. Some supermarkets has calculators built into their carts, but most didn’t.

Failing to predict society’s norms in 20 years isn’t the same as teaching a false fact.

[–] LouSlash@sh.itjust.works 10 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Some supermarkets has calculators built into their carts

wat

[–] Moobythegoldensock@lemm.ee 6 points 21 hours ago

Yep, back in the 90s they were in some places. My local supermarket had one like this, except without the annoying ad on the left side.

[–] anomnom@sh.itjust.works 7 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

Tiny photocell powered calculators used to be everywhere. There were “thin” ones to fit in your Costanza sized wallet, Mousepads with them built in, and my wristwatch in 6th grade had one with tiny rubber keys.

It was a magical time till be alive. 5318008

[–] ThoGot@lemm.ee 8 points 1 day ago

The same was told to me even as everybody already had mobile phones with calculators in them or even iPhones

[–] JeremyHuntQW12@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Yeah but its such a hassle to find, so...