Sometimes when I'm annoyed
Sep. 13th, 2017 12:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
conulythe strangest things pop out of my mouth. I just get caught up on the moment, and say whatever springs to mind. Well, no, if it came to mind I'd review it first before saying it. But I'm sure this happens to everyone. (Please tell me it happens to everyone!)
The other day I was on the bus with my mother, and the jerk behind me was playing music (loudly) and singing along (badly), and I asked him to stop. So he starts off with "Well, I would've if you hadn't been so rude", which is bullshit. He should never have started in the first place and he knows it, which is what I told him. Nobody on the bus wants to listen to him. "Oh, can you read minds?"
This right there. That's the moment where I was possessed.
"Yes, I can, thanks for bringing it up."
"No you can't, nobody can read minds!"
"I knew you'd say that, but you're still wrong."
The funny thing about this conversation is that it worked. He lowered the volume. He didn't turn it off, and he bitched and moaned like a toddler, but he lowered the volume. Which is good, because I had no more idea where to go in this conversation than he did. Once you say something completely bizarre, there's just nothing left to say.
Seriously, though, I need to invest in some dollar store headphones, hand them out with a smile. Aggressive niceness, that works even better than aggressive nonsense. (Maybe it's more passive-aggressive, the headphones? Whatever. The alternative is to invest in a cell phone blocker, and I'm reliably informed that those are technically illegal.)
*********************************
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The other day I was on the bus with my mother, and the jerk behind me was playing music (loudly) and singing along (badly), and I asked him to stop. So he starts off with "Well, I would've if you hadn't been so rude", which is bullshit. He should never have started in the first place and he knows it, which is what I told him. Nobody on the bus wants to listen to him. "Oh, can you read minds?"
This right there. That's the moment where I was possessed.
"Yes, I can, thanks for bringing it up."
"No you can't, nobody can read minds!"
"I knew you'd say that, but you're still wrong."
The funny thing about this conversation is that it worked. He lowered the volume. He didn't turn it off, and he bitched and moaned like a toddler, but he lowered the volume. Which is good, because I had no more idea where to go in this conversation than he did. Once you say something completely bizarre, there's just nothing left to say.
Seriously, though, I need to invest in some dollar store headphones, hand them out with a smile. Aggressive niceness, that works even better than aggressive nonsense. (Maybe it's more passive-aggressive, the headphones? Whatever. The alternative is to invest in a cell phone blocker, and I'm reliably informed that those are technically illegal.)
Navajo solar plant breaks new ground
The sniff test of self-recognition confirmed: Dogs have self-awareness
3, 2, 1 ... Beeeep! Your Microwave's 50th Anniversary Is Ready
The Hidden Memories of Plants (Not sure how much of this I buy, but I'm definitely planting a new mimosa in the spring, probably where the old one was years ago. And before I do - I'll drop it a lot!)
Life in the fast lane—how plants avoid traffic jams
Outlawing War? It Actually Worked
Was the primordial soup a hearty pre-protein stew?
How a 17th-Century Naval Engineer Revolutionized Set Design
A refrigerator that works by stretching rubber bands (Video)
Humans learn complex grammatical patterns even in extremely challenging circumstances
Americans Have Given Up on Public Schools. That’s a Mistake.
Fewer Harvey victims at shelters doesn't end housing needs
How Transit Can Speed Houston's Recovery
Looting rumors and fear of crime often exaggerated after natural disasters
Harvey racial optics much different than Katrina
Why the Republican Party Will Come to Regret Rolling Back DACA
The Rollback of Pro-Worker Policies Since Trump Took Office Is Staggering
Philly Police Union President Calls Black Lives Matter Activists ‘A Pack Of Rabid Animals’
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The corporate war against unions
Food banks fight against food stamp cuts
The First Count of Fentanyl Deaths in 2016: Up 540% in Three Years
The North Korean chessboard: What next for the main players?
Analysis: US options on North Korea narrow further after test
South Korea Is Right
Why Giving Birth Is Safer In Britain Than In The US
A boost for Assad as the Syrian army makes gains against ISIS in eastern Syria
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At least 30,000 Rohingya trapped in Myanmar mountains without food
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no subject
Date: 2017-09-06 08:54 am (UTC)"No you can't, nobody can read minds!"
"I knew you'd say that, but you're still wrong."
That's not a strange thing to say, though, that's inspired! No wonder it worked; he must have felt that he had no way of winning that conversation.
Whatever springs to my mind in situations like that makes little to no sense, and genuinely doesn't come out properly (if at all). But yes, of course I say the weirdest things when I'm upset. Nothing brilliant like that, though.
That treaty to outlaw war thing reads a bit like the Paris resolution to stop climate change; obviously, climate change isn't going to stop because a bunch of important-looking people sign a piece of important-looking paper, but the important thing is that they resolve to do that, and if they forget it, you can rub it in their face. (Or not, as it turned out. But still.)
no subject
Date: 2017-09-06 03:00 pm (UTC)Yeah, I was just going to keep talking at him - loudly - until he complied.
God, I wish bus drivers would enforce that rule. They enforce the one about smoking. It's easy to do - just threaten to stop the bus until they knock it off.
no subject
Date: 2017-09-06 12:27 pm (UTC)I find the loud music, mostly stored on people's devices, more annoying than the one-sided discussions of people's family arguments and medical issues, which them using headphones wouldn't help with. (On the other hand, that may also be that the music turns up more often.)
no subject
Date: 2017-09-06 02:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-09-07 03:48 am (UTC)*makes a note*
I also think that Convenient Telepathy is inspired and awesome.
(I have inconvenient telepathy. I have to be mostly-asleep for it, and it's hardly reliable. -_- )
no subject
Date: 2017-09-06 04:57 pm (UTC)Please don't even think about it. Pleasant to fantasize about, but the consequences are as far from pleasant as they can be, because the risks are very serious: you can be interfering with emergency services, which can have some very bad consequences.
no subject
Date: 2017-09-06 03:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-09-06 04:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-09-06 10:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-09-06 07:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-09-06 07:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-09-08 12:37 pm (UTC)Though now I am picturing the other sounds they could make? Ribbits?
no subject
Date: 2017-09-08 02:24 pm (UTC)shrieked like a dinosaur
Date: 2017-09-06 09:56 pm (UTC)I'm a big fan of just asking, though it's almost too easy. So points for that, PLUS coming out as a mindreader. Awesome.
Re: shrieked like a dinosaur
Date: 2017-09-08 12:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-09-07 12:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-09-08 01:30 am (UTC)Can't speak for everyone...but yes, it happens to me on occasion. Although I don't think I've ever said anything quite as inspired as your comment to the guy playing his music too loud.
I don't think handing out head-phones would make much of a difference. I say this, because I've sat next to or near one too many people who were using headphones, and you could still hear the music -- but instead of music, it's this irritating electronic buzzing noise. (The only consolation is if it is that loud -- they are probably slowly destroying their hearing.)
Lately people, trucks and buses have been trying to run me over. Which brings to mind a classic moment, an old woman is pushing herself across a street at the light, when a truck tries to turn into her. She pauses for a second, just a second, stares at the trucker and flips him off or gives him the bird. Then continues. It was hilarious. His expression alone...
no subject
Date: 2017-09-06 11:20 pm (UTC)Haha, Uncanny Valley Girl for the WIN!
no subject
Date: 2017-09-06 11:32 pm (UTC)