Stupid Things People Say

[Goliath]

I swear to you that in OKC, Channel 4 meteorologist Mike Morgan has stated in his forecast that ice would "unfreeze" and make roads slick.

I looked at my then-wife and asked, "Does he not know the word "thaw"?

She gave me a dirty look

Oldthinkers unbellyfeel ingsoc.

 

[Australis]

This is a true story.

When I was at college in the early-mid 90s, one guy was always losing marks on his assignments.

"He marked me down for spelling again."

"Didn't you run it through a spellchecker?"

A frown and a sigh, then in a puzzled voice:

"Yeah, but it always spells the words wrong."

You can't make up stuff like that.

 

[bluedana]

I called up my primary doctor's office a couple of days ago to get a referral to a oncology specialist. What followed was an enormously frustrating conversation with the very thick receptionist. Example:

Me: I need a referral to a gynecological oncologist.
Her: Why do you need an oncologist?
Me: (long pause) Um, ... because I ... have cancer?

 

[Kestra]

I'm with you on this.

We had a thread like this a few months ago ( I remember you posting in it) and I seem to recall Astro Smurf having some things that he found obvious being quite esoteric, in my opinion.
Try to be a little objective people. If you work tech support...not everyone knows what kind of thingamajig goes with which whatchamacallit.

I think a thread like this has the potential to be funny (and some of the posts have been) but I don't like when it turns into someone taking a remark that was probably said in haste or confusion and using it to belittle them on a message board. We all say stupid things sometimes. Saying something stupid does not equal being an idiot at everything in life, a distinction which seems to be lost here. It's when things turn into the "everyone is stupid except for me" theme that it ceases to be funny for me.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Talk over the movie to someone else about something totally unrelated?

Don't tell me you're one of those who "shh" people during movies? If my mom were still alive, she'd be slapping you about now.

Actually, I don't entirely disagree with you, I just hate "shushers" myself.

You would hate me then. I shush people with reckless abandon. And would you like to know why? Because I can. Because it's necessary. Talking disrupts others' enjoyment of the movie. You want to talk, go outside. The theater is not for talking.

I once shushed a pair of kids so forcefully that they actually ran IN FEAR from me. The movie was Star Trek: First Contact, so I was motivated.

Some of the stupid things I've heard people say:

- "The proof is in the pudding." No, genius, the phrase goes like this: The proof OF the pudding IS IN THE EATING. Get. It. Right.

- "Stand clear of the closing doors." (I just spent a week in New York City.) Note that in this case it's not a stupid thing TO say, just a stupid thing to HAVE to say. Dumb shits who stand in the way of the subway car door should, IMHO, be given some kind of penalty such as death.

- "Yes We Can". That got old after the first 1,048,576,239 times.

 

[Finn]

I called up my primary doctor's office a couple of days ago to get a referral to a oncology specialist. What followed was an enormously frustrating conversation with the very thick receptionist. Example:

Me: I need a referral to a gynecological oncologist.
Her: Why do you need an oncologist?
Me: (long pause) Um, ... because I ... have cancer?

I realize you included only a part of your conversation, but the example you gave seemed a bit innocous since I've noticed those receptionists always ask for the purpose for a refeeral or appointment no matter how "obvious" it might seem. For all she knows, you were looking for info for a loved one. Sorry if this offends you.

 

[MetalPants]

It's when things turn into the "everyone is stupid except for me" theme that it ceases to be funny for me.

That was not my intention when I started this thread. The good Lord knows I say and do plenty of stupid things.

 

[Kestra]

It's when things turn into the "everyone is stupid except for me" theme that it ceases to be funny for me.

That was not my intention when I started this thread. The good Lord knows I say and do plenty of stupid things.

Oh I know, and I'm sorry to get so grumpy in your thread! It's one of those things that set me off.

 

[RandyS]

Talk over the movie to someone else about something totally unrelated?

Don't tell me you're one of those who "shh" people during movies? If my mom were still alive, she'd be slapping you about now.

Actually, I don't entirely disagree with you, I just hate "shushers" myself.

You would hate me then. I shush people with reckless abandon. And would you like to know why? Because I can. Because it's necessary. Talking disrupts others' enjoyment of the movie. You want to talk, go outside. The theater is not for talking.

I once shushed a pair of kids so forcefully that they actually ran IN FEAR from me. The movie was Star Trek: First Contact, so I was motivated.

Actually, in a theater setting, I feel the same way. My friend and I had a similar experience when we saw Star Trek last year, there were two women who kept talking all through the movie, "That's Kirk". "That's Spock!". "Is that supposed to be Scotty?". Yeah, in that case, I felt the same way you would. It was the first time I saw that movie after all. But, in my house, when my friends and I are watching my Star Trek DVD's, which we've all seen 178 thousand million times anyway, talking during the show doesn't bother me.

Of course, it helps that when the talking starts, I can pause the disk.

 

[Goliath]

But, in my house, when my friends and I are watching my Star Trek DVD's, which we've all seen 178 thousand million times anyway, talking during the show doesn't bother me.

Of course, it helps that when the talking starts, I can pause the disk.

IMO, that's a big part of the problem.

A lot of people nowadays don't seem to understand that a movie theatre is not their living room, and that behaviour that would be appropriate in their living room is not appropriate in an auditorium.

 

[Lookingglassman]

"You know?"

No I dont know if I did I wouldnt be here listening to your ignorant butt telling me about it because I knew it already.

 

[John200]

Don't all you perfect people think that some people have alot on their minds and get a little distracted?

I forgot your all androids like Data.

 

[Mark de Vries]

I forgot your all androids like Data.

Dammit, the secret's out...

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

"In my opinion..."

Well of course, dumbass, it's your opinion! Why would you be SAYING it if it wasn't?

 

[John200]

Would explain alot about this place

 

[Gepard]

A lot of people nowadays don't seem to understand that a movie theatre is not their living room, and that behaviour that would be appropriate in their living room is not appropriate in an auditorium.

So I should quit bringing lube to the theater?

 

[Zulu Romeo]

"In my opinion..."

Well of course, dumbass, it's your opinion! Why would you be SAYING it if it wasn't?

Well, the person could be establishing that what they are expressing is their own opinion, and not a citation of someone else's opinion or some other precedent or established fact.

It's when people confuse personal opinion and established facts that much trouble starts.



Incidentally, I agree with what has been said previously, that much of these "stupid" things that people find fault in are of a highly specialist and esoteric subject that, unless it involved a more common knowledge, really appears to the observer as being akin to splitting metaphorical hairs on picked nits.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

"In my opinion..."

Well of course, dumbass, it's your opinion! Why would you be SAYING it if it wasn't?

Well, the person could be establishing that what they are expressing is their own opinion, and not a citation of someone else's opinion or some other precedent or established fact.

Anything you say is, by default, your opinion. It's only when you say that somebody else said it that it becomes someone else's. If I just say a thing, such as "The Baltimore Orioles suck", then obviously that's my opinion, BECAUSE I SAID IT. If, however, I want to relate someone else's opinion, then I'll credit them first. If I credit no one, then it's assumed that it's mine.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

"In my opinion..."

Well of course, dumbass, it's your opinion! Why would you be SAYING it if it wasn't?

Well, the person could be establishing that what they are expressing is their own opinion, and not a citation of someone else's opinion or some other precedent or established fact.

Anything you say is, by default, your opinion. It's only when you say that somebody else said it that it becomes someone else's. If I just say a thing, such as "The Baltimore Orioles suck", then obviously that's my opinion, BECAUSE I SAID IT. If, however, I want to relate someone else's opinion, then I'll credit them first. If I credit no one, then it's assumed that it's mine.

I feel that there is no default option. You need to establish whether what you are saying is something that has been proven, or is a belief of yours based on experience, or a gut feeling, etc.

Nothing should be assumed.

The aim of the exercise is clarity of communication. If you can minimise ambiguity when you are trying to be fully co-operative, then the chance of conflict is minimised.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ In general, people talk too much. Pare it down to a minimum. It should be obvious whether or not something you're saying is opinion or fact.