The older I get, the more I realize the fundamental truth of the adage, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."

Take the dog in this photo. He knew that latching on to his foe and biting as hard as he can for as long as he can usually does the trick. But he didn't know enough about this particular hazard. I doubt the porcupine survived, but if it did, it had to reload his quill dispenser big time. The dog certainly learned a dramatic lesson. I bet he'd rather have run into a skunk.

You don't want a little knowledge when it comes to hazards. This dog could now be renamed "Pincushion," or (assuming each quill leaves a scar) "Spot." You don't want to be called "Sparky" or "Three-Finger." Read the instructions. Expect the best, but plan on the worst.