The "This Might Be A Stupid Question, But...." Thread

[jpcher]

Before, as recommended by my dentist.

Hmmm, interesting. I always brush first and then floss because that's the order that my dentist does it . . . after the cleaning, they do the polishing (brushing) then the final step is flossing.

But it makes sense to do it the other way around.

[hobish]

hobhish wrote:

"Oh, please please do you have the source for that? Not that i doubt you; i definitely don't. Gish always says he is a better driver than most people on the road, and i always say Everyone thinks that. I would love to have actual numbers from a qualified source."

The problem is that this study is just apocryphal, as no such study was ever done so nobody can cite it.  I just tell them it comes from the Institute where they figured out (in a different study, of course) that 84.7% of Internet statistics are made up on the spot.

Virg

The 97% (or 93% as I've heard it) statistic seems to be apocryphal, but the phenomenon is real. The cognitive bias in which the vast majority of people tend to rate themselves as above average in any number of domains is called illusory superiority, the Dunning-Kruger Effect, or the Lake Woebegone Effect. Some studies have looked specifically at driving and found that anywhere from 60-90% of people consider themselves above average drivers, either in certain ways (e.g., speed, number of violations) or overall. Here are a few references:

Svenson, O. (1981). Are we all less risky and more skillful than our fellow drivers?. Acta Psychologica, 47(2), 143–148.

McCormick, I. A., Walkey, F. H., & Green, D. E. (1986). Comparative perceptions of driver ability— A confirmation and expansion. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 18(3), 205–208.

Delhomme, P. (1991). Comparing one's driving with others': Assessment of ability and frequency of offenses. Evidence for a superior conformity of self-bias? Accident Analysis & Prevention, 23(6), 493-508.

Bathurst, J., & Walton, D. (1998). An Exploration of the Perceptions of the Average Driver’s Speed Compared to Perceived Driver Safety and Driving Skill. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 30, 821-830.

It seems like counting people who consider themselves above average only in "certain ways" in that statistic kind of makes it worthless. While I have no idea what the actual percentage would be, it seems quite possible for the majority of a population to be above average in at least one aspect of a complex task. Say you have a task that can be divided into parts A, B, and C. If 30% of the population are really good at A (but poor at B and/or C), 30% are really good at B (but poor at A and/or C), and 30% are really good at C (but poor at A and/or B), then you could legitimately have 90% of the population who are above average "in certain ways," even if those 90% are lousy at the overall, combined task. Consistently appropriate use of your headlights doesn't make you an above average driver overall, but it might legitimately make you above average in safe headlight operation. Lumping the two statistics together (above average driver overall vs. above average driver in "certain ways" seems absurd).

I was trying to be succint while not implying that all the research actually asked about overall driving skill. Different studies ask different questions. The overall trend is that people rate themselves above average on any driving skill they're asked to rate, whether it's headlight use, adherence to the speed limit, or whatever -- not only general ability.

I'm a little late chiming in here, but thanks. You are THE WOMAN. There is some really interesting stuff here.

[Iris]

Before, as recommended by my dentist.

Funny, because my answer was going to be "After, as recommended by my dentist". It wasn't my dentist though, but my periodontist, so maybe one is better for teeth and the other better for gums (?)

[Tea Drinker]

After, and I took that for granted until two minutes ago. But now that I think about it, the reasoning seems to have nothing to do with what would work best. It's just that people say "brush and floss your teeth," which implies that brushing goes first.

And does anyone here put on their shoes and socks in that order? 

Yes, I was mostly noticing that my "reasoning" wasn't.

[Thipu1]

After, and I took that for granted until two minutes ago. But now that I think about it, the reasoning seems to have nothing to do with what would work best. It's just that people say "brush and floss your teeth," which implies that brushing goes first.

And does anyone here put on their shoes and socks in that order? 

I've never heard that order...I've always heard, "Put on your socks and shoes."

There was a hilarious scene in the old 'All in the Family' TV show.  Archie and Mike are having an argument on this very topic.  Archie maintains that the proper order is a 'sock and a sock then a shoe and a shoe' while Mike is in the 'sock and a shoe then a sock and a shoe' camp. 

[Dazi]

After, and I took that for granted until two minutes ago. But now that I think about it, the reasoning seems to have nothing to do with what would work best. It's just that people say "brush and floss your teeth," which implies that brushing goes first.

And does anyone here put on their shoes and socks in that order? 

I've never heard that order...I've always heard, "Put on your socks and shoes."

There was a hilarious scene in the old 'All in the Family' TV show.  Archie and Mike are having an argument on this very topic.  Archie maintains that the proper order is a 'sock and a sock then a shoe and a shoe' while Mike is in the 'sock and a shoe then a sock and a shoe' camp.

I'm firmly in a" put on a sock and put on a shoe, put on the other sock and the other shoe" camp.  I find it more efficient. 

I'm also a floss before you brush person.

[emwithme]

Now I'm even more confused! 

I think I shall have a mini-brush before, to dislodge any big particles, then floss, then proper brush afterwards - until I can make an appointment with my dentist, and I shall ask her then. 

[Redsoil]

The brushing and flossing is an easy one!

Brush first, then floss, THEN swish thoroughly with mouthwash! 

...and as for socks/shoes, I'm a sock/sock/shoe/shoe person. 

Quite possibly, someone could make a rap version of that!

[lady_disdain]

The brushing and flossing is an easy one!

Brush first, then floss, THEN swish thoroughly with mouthwash! 

...and as for socks/shoes, I'm a sock/sock/shoe/shoe person. 

Quite possibly, someone could make a rap version of that!

Not that easy - my dentist, as well as those of several other posters, have recommended flossing first, then brushing. I am just about to search for some technical literature on the subject, as it is starting to bug me.

[Luci]

The brushing and flossing is an easy one!

Brush first, then floss, THEN swish thoroughly with mouthwash! 

...and as for socks/shoes, I'm a sock/sock/shoe/shoe person. 

Quite possibly, someone could make a rap version of that!

Not that easy - my dentist, as well as those of several other posters, have recommended flossing first, then brushing. I am just about to search for some technical literature on the subject, as it is starting to bug me.

I just looked online - I can't believe I didn't do it before.

Both the American Dental Association and Askadentist.com say it doesn't matter!

(I said before to floss the brush to get the flouride in between the teeth.)

[wheeitsme]

It depends on the mouthwash.

I have one that is supposed to be used before (it loosens gunk), and one that is supposed to be used after (it kills germs n stuff).

[Mental Magpie]

Am I shaving my armpits wrong?  Is there something I'm missing?  It never looks like I shaved, more like it's been a day or two.  I can never get that smooth, hairless look.  Am I doing something wrong or is it just my skin/hair pigment?

[Outdoor Girl]

I think it might depend on your hair/skin pigment.  If your hair is dark and your skin is very pale, even if the hair is cut a short as it can be, you'll still see it.  If your pits are quite concave, it is hard to get a close shave.

When I shave my pits, I shave down, then up, then sideways to the left then sideways to the right.  In other words, in all four directions.  I find it gives me the closest shave.

[Bexx27]

Am I shaving my armpits wrong?  Is there something I'm missing?  It never looks like I shaved, more like it's been a day or two.  I can never get that smooth, hairless look.  Am I doing something wrong or is it just my skin/hair pigment?

The tip I got was to shave in all 4 directions, since the hair grows in different directions. It works pretty well, but doesn't look completely perfect. I think perfection requires waxing.

[Outdoor Girl]

Dark hair and pale skin makes you a really good candidate for laser treatment, too, for hair removal.