Those stupid things we do

[Fazor]

I just caught myself doing something stupid, and thought it would make a good topic for a thread.

I've been trying to contact my g/f all day, and despite the dozen calls she hasn't answered or called me back. I know she's at work, but I needed to get ahold of her before the end of my shift, and she doesn't get off work until after I do.

Anyway, the last time I tried her cell phone, I dialed the numbers extra hard and held each down for a little longer than I normall do; as if dialling more forcefully would make her answer. Of course it didn't.

Anyway, what are some of the "stupid" things you guys do, even though you know they make no sense what-so-ever?

[NEOWatcher]

I dialed the numbers extra hard and held each down for a little longer than I normall do; as if dialling more forcefully would make her answer. Of course it didn't.
Yeah; all that does is make it ring a little harder. You don't want that, it makes you sound mad.
You need to wait until it starts ringing, then quickly state "pickupickupickupickup" between each ring so she can hear it.

[cosmocrazy]

Only the other day i rang a friend of mine called Rich, i just started talking as soon as i thought i heard him pickup the phone. I babbled on for about five minutes then waited for his reply. The reply came "This is Rachel, but at least now i know how you feel about me!" :(
I had searched through the names on my phone and must have scrolled up one just before i pressed to connect! :o oops

[Fazor]

cosmo, it could be worse. Our city's HS Girl's Basketball coach just resigned over a snafu where he accidnetly text messaged a ... "questionable" message (included the phrase "I don't see any tan-lines in that pic") to his girl's on the team, even though it was meant for someone else.

...it really didn't help his case that the "someone else" was a girl who played for him and graduated last year. Investigation into whether any criminal charges will be filed is pending (she's 18+ and not a student now, but they're investigating the possibility of involvement while she was still a stundent/minor).

[cosmocrazy]

cosmo, it could be worse. Our city's HS Girl's Basketball coach just resigned over a snafu where he accidentally text messaged a ... "questionable" message (included the phrase "I don't see any tan-lines in that pic") to his girl's on the team, even though it was meant for someone else.

...it really didn't help his case that the "someone else" was a girl who played for him and graduated last year. Investigation into whether any criminal charges will be filed is pending (she's 18+ and not a student now, but they're investigating the possibility of involvement while she was still a student/minor).

oooh dear tricky! very tricky, and possibly sad.:(

[Nicolas]

The strange thing is, sometimes when internet won't cooperate, pressing a button extra clear with your mouse will make it work.

The stupid things I do generally are not on purpose. And involve women. For example asking "who is this" when the woman who just decided to form a couple with me is calling me and saying hello with her sweetest voice. Yes darling, you are the first thing on my mind...woops.

[davidlpf]

cosmo, it could be worse. Our city's HS Girl's Basketball coach just resigned over a snafu where he accidnetly text messaged a ... "questionable" message (included the phrase "I don't see any tan-lines in that pic") to his girl's on the team, even though it was meant for someone else.

...it really didn't help his case that the "someone else" was a girl who played for him and graduated last year. Investigation into whether any criminal charges will be filed is pending (she's 18+ and not a student now, but they're investigating the possibility of involvement while she was still a stundent/minor).
Some time back a member of Parliment got some pictures from his wife over the internet. He viewed them on the floor while another MP was looking and she thought he was looking at porn.

[sabianq]

the only time i can get anybody to pick up the phone is when i am absolutely, positivity, 100% certian that i will be chatting with an answering machine.

[Sam5]

Only the other day i rang a friend of mine called Rich, i just started talking as soon as i thought i heard him pickup the phone. I babbled on for about five minutes then waited for his reply. The reply came "This is Rachel, but at least now i know how you feel about me!" :(
I had searched through the names on my phone and must have scrolled up one just before i pressed to connect! :o oops

Well, when I was much younger, I had not learned my “lesson” yet about such calls, and sometimes I would make the fatal mistake of answering the phone, hearing some sweet voice say “hello”, and I would say something like, “Who is this? Cindy is that you?” or “Shirley, is that you?” And the reply would be “NO! WHO IS CINDY?”

[closetgeek]

the only time i can get anybody to pick up the phone is when i am absolutely, positivity, 100% certian that i will be chatting with an answering machine.

You can also take a bit out of food or allow yourself to be distracted from the reason you are calling, while it's ringing. Those two are guarantees for me.

[mugaliens]

Anyway, what are some of the "stupid" things you guys do, even though you know they make no sense what-so-ever?

You mean like asking an employer for a raise?

Sam5, in college, I would sometimes answer the phone with, "Hi, is Dave there?" After the inevitable "eh, up, deh," I would ask, "Who is this?" Regardless of who it was, I'd use their name and repeated, "Well, Betty, would you put Dave on? I need to speak with him."

About half the time I'd get, "Well, uh, he's not here right now... Can I take a message?"

I only list it because it's just one of those stupid things I used to do....

[Nicolas]

That's silly, not stupid. :)

[mugaliens]

That's silly, not stupid. :)

Ah...

[Nicolas]

I'm sure there are people on this board who'd happily fill a 37 page thread about the differences between silly and stupid behaviour, but I for one won't go there. That would be silly. Or...

[mugaliens]

I'm sure there are people on this board who'd happily fill a 37 page thread about the differences between silly and stupid behaviour, but I for one won't go there. That would be silly. Or...

Well, at least you took a stab at it by contributing your post - thanks!

Who's next?

[HenrikOlsen]

Shouldn't this be in Fun'n'games?

[redshifter]

Stupid thing I do? I have yet to learn that things in the process of breaking down rarely work better after hitting, kicking, or throwing them (aside from objects designed for such actions).

[toothdust]

Sometimes I push the elevator button at work multiple times when I am in a hurry, as if it will arrive quicker. It really is stupid, as I say to myself every time I do it. :doh:

[redshifter]

Sometimes I push the elevator button at work multiple times when I am in a hurry, as if it will arrive quicker. It really is stupid, as I say to myself every time I do it. :doh:

Kinda like rapidly hitting the walk signal button multiple times, as if to make the 'walk' signal appear sooner. Yes, I have done this. No, the walk signal does not appear any sooner than it would with a single press.

[Chuck]

Pressing buttons on things extra hard multiple times might be an instinct evolved in primitive times when using extra power would be more effective most of the time, such as when a piece of fruit won't come loose from a tree or a rock won't come out of the ground.

I've also see people gesturing when talking on the phone and caught myself doing it once.

[HenrikOlsen]

Looking at the wristwatch before answering a question about time, even if it's about sometime next week.

[mugaliens]

Social psychologists have been saying for years that if you want more productive work from your employees you need to allow them to play at their work.

This thread is fun, as we're exploring... What? What are we exploring, here?

Oh, yeah - stupid things, like forgetting what we were talking about.

[LaurelHS]

This past summer, I was wandering around my apartment during a power outage and I tried to turn on the light in my bedroom. I think it was a reflex or something.

[chrissy]

Making hand signals while on the phone as if the person on the other end of the phone can see me doing it!!!

[Salty]

Sometimes, telling jokes gets me into trouble.

Back in the '70's, I worked at a snack bar between the 9th and 10th holes at a country club. These three men came in and asked for some type of hot sandwhich (hot dogs?). While the sandwhiches were heating up, and the men were quietly waiting, I decided to tell a golf joke. It went...

This guy comes home from a day at the golf course. He slams the car door. Comes in the house and slams that door. Throws his bag of clubs into the hall closet, and slams that door.

His wife says sympathetically, "Bad day at the golf course, dear?"

He answers, "I'll say! On the fourteenth hole, George had a heart attack."

"Oh, no" says his wife.

"Yeah", he says, "ruined my game. After that, it was hit the ball and drag George."

The two older men looked at me, somberly. The younger man in the center was obviously steaming hotter and hotter. Finally, he bursts out, "I'm a cardiologist and these men are my patients and you had to tell that joke?"

As I shrank into the floor, I abjectly apologized. As quick as I could, I prepared and served their sandwhiches. To get them out of there.

[Whirlpool]

Called somebody on the phone without looking what name I choose in my cellphonebook list and talk to him about a lot of things and turned out it was a different person. :doh:

[closetgeek]

Stupid thing I do? I have yet to learn that things in the process of breaking down rarely work better after hitting, kicking, or throwing them (aside from objects designed for such actions).

But for those rare circumstances where it actually has worked, it's always a good last ditch effort, right before you stare at it and make horse noises.
Just the other day I was cleaning out my garage and I must have done something to the laser on the garage door opener. For what ever reason, it would only shut all the way, if I held the button for the entire process. My car controller wouldn't even work at all. After attempting to realign the boxes on either side of the door, shaking the wires, and even unplugging the system, I kicked one of the little boxes and low and behold, it works again. When the portible phone isn't coming in clearly, slamming it against your palm often does the trick, in my experience. Never underestimate the power of a tantrum.

[MAPNUT]

I phoned a colleague and left him a message, asking a technical question. He returned my call while I was away and left a detailed technical answer. After I listened to his answer, I asked him another question, forgetting that he wasn't really there!

[HenrikOlsen]

But for those rare circumstances where it actually has worked, it's always a good last ditch effort, right before you stare at it and make horse noises.

low and behold
That's not horse noises, that's cow noises.

Why anyone would want to go moo on seeing something interesting is beyond me.

[redshifter]

Never underestimate the power of a tantrum.

A signature line is born... :)

[Whirlpool]

When the portible phone isn't coming in clearly, slamming it against your palm often does the trick, in my experience. Never underestimate the power of a tantrum.

So is other electronic stuff. Very , very true.

[Spyke]

Talking to a good friend from High school one day at the bank where she works. I hadn't seen her for a while so we started catching up.
I knew her husband "Dougie" even longer than I knew her.

So I'm standing there talking to her and I ask "So how IS Dougie doing"?
She looks at me for a good 5 seconds then says in a small voice "Dougie died of Cancer about a month ago" .
So what do I come up with to ease her suffering... I say "Really"??
Brilliant!! Like the poor girl was joking or something.

Now for the really stupid part, I knew that. I knew Dougie died, I was at his funeral. I somehow blocked that out when I was talking to her.

Thank god she was understanding.