My dad always used them around the house and on the boat, so I knew what they were and how to use them.
However, as Brandi said, be carefuL! While in college, I was loading my car up at the end of the year, and one of the bungees I had strapped on a trunk came undone and hit me in the face. Barely missed my eye, and left a nice hook mark shaped welt on my face (that was cute). It HURT very badly.
I hadn't really used them since then, until last year. Had to get one to secure my garbage can lid in preparation for a hurricane.