My little guy had the quote of the weekend with "Dada! I saw a hummingbird on da feeder. He go 'chickadee dee dee dee dee'."

I don't do the magpie thing, and it pisses me off when I notice people doing it. It strikes me as either particularly stupid, or frighteningly twee. Or both.

But I have neuroses - which I think is all these things are, really - which are equally silly. What do I imagine is going to happen if I don't finish on my left foot at the top and bottom of a flight of stairs?

Same thing that will happen to any of us: certain death, or a lifetime of dire misfortune. You want that hanging over your head?

<resumes left hand/right hand tapping sequence>

Do you actually think that, though? I know I don't. I just feel anxious.

Do I really believe it? Of course not. No more than I believe walking under a ladder will cause me bad luck. But given the option, I'd still walk around it. But stuff like that - including the Magpie bit - is just the little junk that makes life a bit more fun. It's like playing the lottery. Do it once in a while for a buck and it's a lark. Turn it into a weekly obsession and you're an idiot. Same with most things.

No I know you don't "really believe it". But I mean does it really come into your mind - some specific consequence?

WornOldMotorbike wrote:

QUOTE:
It's like playing the lottery. Do it once in a while for a buck and it's a lark. Turn it into a weekly obsession and you're an idiot. Same with most things.

Yeah, well, I don't understand that either. A mug's game is a mug's game, whether you're in for a penny or a pound.

TT - some specific consequence, no. Some sense of ''oh...really shouldn't do that", yes. Just silliness really.

WE - true enough, in principal. But it's really the same as the argument about drinking just one pint. If you drink an intoxicating beverage without the intention of getting intoxicated, what's the point?

QUOTE:
But I mean does it really come into your mind - some specific consequence?

Well, I just think you can't be too careful. I don't want to increase the chances of things going wrong(er). Like, if it's not true, no harm done, and if it is, well, then you're OK.

Lyra wrote:

QUOTE:

QUOTE:
But I mean does it really come into your mind - some specific consequence?

Well, I just think you can't be too careful. I don't want to increase the chances of things going wrong(er). Like, if it's not true, no harm done, and if it is, well, then you're OK.

Blaise Pascal rears his ugly head?

How do you distinguish among superstitions? If I said, oh I dunno, that every time I heard the phrase "fried egg" I had to tap my head eight times, would that be equally plausible? In which case, you know, why not start doing that as well?

"Fried egg".

Don't do that, Wyatt. My head hurts.

I think a lot of it comes from crazy shit your mother or grandmother did when you were a kid. You know, 'don't rock an empty rocking chair' or 'don't put new shoes on a kitchen table'. Old wives' tales.

Just this weekend, Mrs WOM barked at our daughter for leaving her cutlery crossed on an empty plate, and I said "You know that's just stupidity right? And you just gave our daughter shit for it." and she paused and said "But she clearly did it just to upset my mom" and I thought (but wisely didn't say) "Well, good for her."

However, just to be sure, I've completed my fried egg tap and am good to go.

QUOTE:
My little guy had the quote of the weekend with "Dada! I saw a hummingbird on da feeder. He go 'chickadee dee dee dee dee'."

Is your son Jimmy Cagney?

You know what I find? When I see a light-hearted thread, I have a overwhelming need to analyse the fuck out of it

QUOTE:
Blaise Pascal rears his ugly head?

I knew someone would say that, and I knew it would be you. x

Lay back. Just relax. Now, how long have you felt this way?

[to Bored]