Forum search & shortcuts

Things you do out o...
 

Things you do out of habit which are utterly pointless

Posts: 2559
Free Member
 

"Apparently there is a percentage of people who, when getting dressed of a morning, will put on one sock and one shoe then repeat for the other side."

This is the way to go when dressing a baby or infant. Once you have got hold of a limb, dress it in everything, then move on to the next.


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 4:48 pm
nickc and nickc reacted
Posts: 5830
Full Member
 

“any more and she would have started*” after any suitable fart.

Pointless.

But still makes me laugh.

(*Other phrases too. I just have to comment)

'More choke and it would have started' ISTR.  See also

'More tea Vicar'?

'Keep shouting sir we'll find you' (as a young squaddie).


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 4:57 pm
susepic, matt_outandabout, susepic and 1 people reacted
Posts: 13554
Free Member
 

Running the cold tap for a bit before filling a cup of water/kettle/whatever

When getting water from a tap I empty and refill glasses, etc three times. No idea why.


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 5:01 pm
TedC and TedC reacted
Posts: 78638
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Try to be helpful.  You'd think I'd learn by now.


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 5:09 pm
 10
Posts: 1506
Full Member
 

Apparently, there is a percentage of people who, when getting dressed in the morning, will put on one sock and one shoe and then repeat for the other side.

Wearing shoes in the bedroom? Dirty gits.


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 5:11 pm
Posts: 105
Free Member
 

If I have a drink which leaves a wet ring when moved, generally in a pub, I find myself putting down next to the previous ring after every sip, Building a shape of 'rings', that musn't overlap. I've been doing it for many years and only notice I'm doing it when someone asks what it means or why. I've yet to come up with a credible reason other that 'it's nice'.

I also do the 0 and 7 strikethrough thing, and Zs too.


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 5:28 pm
jimmy and jimmy reacted
Posts: 35189
Full Member
 

Oh no, the rings have to be in exactly the same place (otherwise my family will die etc etc) I also do inverted V when doing a one, but I don't cross my sevens.

You people on the other hand; are all weirdos...


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 5:37 pm
Posts: 44843
Full Member
 

I count every repetitive motion.  From climbing stairs to putting cutlery away.


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 5:47 pm
Posts: 3068
Free Member
 

Same tj, climbing hills - count pedal strokes etc


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 5:54 pm
Posts: 4593
Free Member
 

some of this, while pointless, is verging on OCD, which I'd venture is a rather different thing?

I've got a colleague who is similarly afflicted.  Every morning she leaves the house, locks the door, gets into the car, starts the engine, and then - simply has to do it - gets back out of the car, leaves the engine running and the door open, while she nips 20 yards back down the street to double check the front door was locked. She fully acknowledges how ridiculous this is, and that she's asking to have her car stolen, but just can't not do it


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 6:07 pm
Ambrose and Ambrose reacted
Posts: 13041
Free Member
 

As a failed mathematician with. 7s get the line because between 1, 2, 7 and various Greek letters there is a lot of scope for getting very very confused.

Let's pretend that's the main reason I am a failed mathematician.


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 6:11 pm
nickc and nickc reacted
 bens
Posts: 757
Free Member
 

Every morning, I get up. I go downstairs, after visiting the throne room, I make a coffee for me and a tea for my other half. I deposit tea at her side of the bed and take my coffee into the bathroom. I have a shower then carry my coffee downstairs so I can drink it while I iron my clothes.

Every day.

Why don't I just leave the coffee in the kitchen? Literally one of my hobbies is carrying a cup of coffee around the house for no good reason.


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 6:11 pm
 hels
Posts: 971
Free Member
 

I am not sure if it counts as a habit but I like things to be straight on tables etc and am obsessed with coasters under drinks. The best thing I did was buy a round ish coffee table. So much more relaxing when nothing is off centre!

There can be a fine line between safety first and obsession.  I have to take a picture of the stove when I leave the house but I did go to work once and leave the Bialetti on the gas flame so that's just a sensible and rational safety precaution.


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 6:19 pm
nt80085, matt_outandabout, nt80085 and 1 people reacted
Posts: 21661
Full Member
 

Say something suggestive to the wife 🥺


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 6:23 pm
leffeboy, 10, matt_outandabout and 5 people reacted
 feed
Posts: 934
Full Member
 

My wife used to always refil and boil the Kettle after using it. Took me ages to get her out of the habit. Refilling fine, turning it on so it boils, complete waste of electricity. Her Dad used to do it. I figure it's a Country tradition where every house had an Aga type hob that took ages for the kettle to boil and would be hot anyway so no waste of energy.


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 6:30 pm
Posts: 1029
Free Member
 

Not me but Mrs C not only turns plugs off at the wall but unplugs them as well, it's a habit she picked up from her mother who would always unplug everything at night before bed and I mean everything.

It can take quite a while to leave the house at times.

Although a friend of hers flat did burn down due to an electrical fire caused by a faulty hifi left on standby, so I let her away with it.


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 6:40 pm
Posts: 33290
Full Member
 

I go to work. Seems pointless.


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 6:42 pm
J-R, Fat-boy-fat, 10 and 5 people reacted
Posts: 338
Free Member
 

Give a damn about doing my job properly and with a level of conscience


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 7:04 pm
Posts: 10637
Full Member
 

Cleaning and tidying.  I’m 1/4 of the house population and generate less than a 1/10th of the mess, so why am I the one that’s  continually tidying up only to find more mess?!


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 7:24 pm
Posts: 177
Free Member
 

Drinking alcohol. Pointless, but a hard habit to break sadly


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 7:25 pm
el_boufador, smokey_jo, Ambrose and 3 people reacted
Posts: 46172
Full Member
 

Look in the mirror.

I'm never more attractive, only ever older looking. 🤷


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 7:31 pm
Posts: 24876
Free Member
 

just saw one on the way home. It's not specifically something I do (I don't think, I haven't been for a road run in ages) but a group all came up to a pelican crossing and then did  stupid half jogging on the spot waiting for the lights. It looks silly, and in my mind is pointless.

Await someone to tell me there's an actual reason.

I think in reality I could have filed this in the 'stuff that irritates you' thread as well.


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 7:32 pm
Posts: 227
Full Member
 

Closing of:

Drawers

Wardrobes

Cupboards

etc

Every. Single. Time. After the girlfriend leaves a room


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 7:59 pm
el_boufador, smokey_jo, Ambrose and 3 people reacted
Posts: 3125
Full Member
 

Things you do out of habit which are utterly pointless

Procrastinate.


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 8:03 pm
Posts: 1361
Full Member
 

Nooooo...Wednesday is Green!


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 8:37 pm
Posts: 3336
Full Member
 

Every morning she leaves the house, locks the door, gets into the car, starts the engine, and then – simply has to do it – gets back out of the car, leaves the engine running and the door open, while she nips 20 yards back down the street to double check the front door was locked.

I do a lower grade version of this, when either going for a ride or going for a long trip away from the house. I have to check we've got everything, and that everything is switched off or locked up 2 or 3 times over.

Drives my family mad, however my justification is that a few wasted minutes is well invested  compared to getting to the far away destination only to have forgotten key things or have the house burgled or burn down or whatever.

Also, the family's approach to preparation generally tends to be to half think about, rush around  last minute and forget a load of stuff.


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 9:03 pm
Posts: 857
Free Member
 

Two curves touching for an x in an equation - triggers a few classes who want to know why I do the funny "x". I like that!

Line through a z to prevent similarity with 2, ditto line through a 7.

I also sometimes need to use the symbol for zero which is pointless.


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 9:08 pm
Posts: 493
Full Member
 

Occasionally I will still double de-clutch dropping from 3rd to second totally subconsciously.  I had to do that in my first car when the synchromesh was on its way out. I think I got rid of that car in 1991 or 1992 😳


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 11:30 pm
Posts: 66129
Full Member
 

I obsess about wasting stuff to the point of it being completely wasteful. Like, I'm rustproofing a car right now, and that's something worth spending time over, that part's fine. But... The epoxy mastic topcoat I'm using came in a 3.5 litre tin, and yet I won't leave a drop in the mix cup once it's done, every bit has to go on the car. I hate having even a tiny drip, I can't stand having the paint run down the side of the tin, or having much left on the stirrer, every millimetre drives me crazy.

So I'm exchanging time, which doesn't come in a massive tin, for pennies worth of paint.


 
Posted : 08/04/2024 11:40 pm
ChrisL and ChrisL reacted
Posts: 2020
Free Member
 

Reply to STW threads with pointless comments


 
Posted : 09/04/2024 12:32 am
Posts: 2005
Full Member
 

Give up alcohol (does 3 months count as a "habit"?). Completely pointless as neither waistline nor fitness improved...

Im still crossing sevens 45 years after one of my maths teachers got me into that habit (to differentiate between 1 and 7) and, as a bonus, it used to annoy my geography teacher who complained about "kraut sevens" not being the proper British way...


 
Posted : 09/04/2024 4:45 am
Posts: 7634
Full Member
 

I find the focus of so many of these examples impressive. I forget too quickly. As for counting pedal strokes I wander off track on a technical climb if i'm not careful.

I've always done 7s. But i'm a habitual serif writer so it comes with the territory.

Flicking my big toes against the next toe.

Muscle flexing/twitching (not overtly like a body builder) is something i've always done. Hamstrings, glutes, pecs, biceps. Don't even realise i'm doing it. One of my kids noticed the other day and i think it's the first person that ever has.


 
Posted : 09/04/2024 5:23 am
Posts: 44843
Full Member
 

Arguing on politics thread on here🤣😜🙄😮


 
Posted : 09/04/2024 5:56 am
Posts: 18232
Full Member
 

Whenever in the passenger seat with my mum driving, if she ever needs to brake at anything over casual pressure, she would reach over holding you back at the chest.

This came from an early car way, way back in the day where the seats would just tilt forwards(presumably to let people in the back) under heavy braking.

Still does it.


 
Posted : 09/04/2024 8:04 am
Posts: 12399
Full Member
 

Respond to threads about PC problems before Cougar does. I should learn to just let him answer and then agree.


 
Posted : 09/04/2024 8:12 am
 DrJ
Posts: 14092
Full Member
 

Two curves touching for an x in an equation – triggers a few classes who want to know why I do the funny “x”. I like that!

Cos otherwise it looks like a “times” sign.
But I noticed that in the US they don’t do that, and it didn’t seem to hold them back.


 
Posted : 09/04/2024 8:23 am
Posts: 33290
Full Member
 

I flick my fingers if I fold my arms. Drives MrsMC mad, to the point that she can't bear to sit with me.

Totally subconscious and only done it the last 6-12 months. It makes things challenging at times.


 
Posted : 09/04/2024 8:24 am
Posts: 24876
Free Member
 

Cos otherwise it looks like a “times” sign.

This.

But rather than do the two mirrored c's, try doing a backwards elongated s and then a straight line through it. Far more satisfying, it'll change your life.


 
Posted : 09/04/2024 8:31 am
Posts: 1009
Full Member
 

Now don't laugh as this is admittedly daft. Stairs at home I will almost always go up on all fours, just feels right. Obviously don't do it in public cos that would be dead awkward.


 
Posted : 09/04/2024 8:51 am
Posts: 9302
Full Member
 

I'm another one who feels the urge to count everything.

Group of people, i feel i need to know how many.  Especially if its in a vid or something i have control over, where i can pause the vid and happily count whatever.

At least I now know im not the only oddity doing that.

What a bunch of weirdos


 
Posted : 09/04/2024 8:54 am
J-R and J-R reacted
Posts: 5830
Full Member
 

Now don’t laugh as this is admittedly daft.

You reckon? 😂

This thread is great! It's a cathartic STW weirdness confessional with Father Cougar in the confessional stall. "Bless me Father, I've been smearing onion chutney on my bollocks every Friday for the last 6 months".


 
Posted : 09/04/2024 9:04 am
dyna-ti and dyna-ti reacted
Posts: 2115
Full Member
 

Shake the gear lever to make sure it's not in gear before I start the engine.

One car is an automatic and thev other can't be started unless the clutch is dipped anyway.


 
Posted : 09/04/2024 9:19 am
Posts: 8870
Full Member
 

Whenever in the passenger seat with my mum driving, if she ever needs to brake at anything over casual pressure, she would reach over holding you back at the chest.

My ex did this but it was from her habit to stop her handbag falling off the seat when I wasn't in it. Not me or my safety, but of course I'd rather she kept her hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

I'm glad for the magpie chat, it's a dedicated thread I've nearly started before. Ever since someone told me you had to salute a solitary magpie 20+ years ago, I can't not do it. But what happens if you salute one then see another - is that two singles (double sorrow) or a pair (joy)? I salute the second just in case.


 
Posted : 09/04/2024 10:38 am
Posts: 13291
Free Member
 

Talk to the cat.

It does not care


 
Posted : 09/04/2024 11:01 am
davros, Murray, Murray and 1 people reacted
Posts: 33290
Full Member
 

Bless me Father, I’ve been smearing onion chutney on my bollocks every Friday for the last 6 months

And that's utterly pointless because......?


 
Posted : 09/04/2024 11:16 am
Page 2 / 3