I don't want to call it a "stupid" question, because most people just don't know this. But when I was serving in the US Air Force, if my service ever came up around civilians, it was almost guaranteed that the next words out of their mouth were, "What planes do you fly?" It was such a common occurrence, it was a running joke amongst us Air Force members.
Only 5% of the Air Force are pilots. The other 95% work in career fields that either directly or indirectly support those pilots. We have doctors, lawyers, electricians, police, accountants, cooks... You name it, we likely have a similar career for it.
I personally worked in IT. I fixed computers for 20 years, usually in some cold, dark server room deep in the bowels of a facility. (Sometimes underground even!) I was about as far removed from the airplanes as one could get. So despite my 20 years working for the Air Force, I know absolutely nothing about planes.
Also, it kind of bothers me when people thank me for my service because I didn't do anything. I'm no hero. Anyone could've done my job. Heck, I deployed with Marines once and they told me, if shit hits the fan, to just duck under my desk and let them take care of it. Even in the Air Force, we're told that Security Forces (our version of military police) are the ones trained to handle combat with enemy forces and to get out of their way if anything happens.
When I was deployed with the Marines, my Marine boss told me once that she hopes to god that she never sees an Air Force person with a rifle in their arms. That means the planes are down, the Marines are dead, and the base is overrun. She said we are the absolute last resort to defend against enemy forces. So if we come under fire, she asked that I hand my weapon to the nearest Marine and then go take cover.
Also, it kind of bothers me when people thank me for my service because I didn’t do anything. I’m no hero. Anyone could’ve done my job. Heck, I deployed with Marines once and they told me, if shit hits the fan, to just duck under my desk and let them take care of it. Even in the Air Force, we’re told that Security Forces (our version of military police) are the ones trained to handle combat with enemy forces and to get out of their way if anything happens.
::: spoiler spoiler
Don't know if it is the case for America, but where I live, people don't even touch the army with a pole unless they are raised in army families or particularly patriotic families. Even though it is a great employer - both for civilians and soldiers roles - it is regarded as a place people "fail into," a job we apply for when we fail to secure training or work in the civilian world.
If any of this rings true for the culture where you live, you do deserve the respect. You looked into a profession that most people are too scared to even consider, and found your way to make a contribution. You did skilled work that many of the soldiers were either not smart enough, too busy to do, or just unwilling to train for. Every time you clocked in and sat down in front of a keyboard you were doing valuable work that helps to keep your army functional, and presenting as a formidable force.
And, you actually said in your comment, they asked you to "just sit under your desk if things got heated" - this means there legitimately was some risk of your workplace coming under fire, even if it's probably super small. That's exactly what people are so afraid of when they think about working in the army.
The way I see it, working for the army is putting yourself forward and saying "I'm willing to do things to defend my country," to varying degrees, but you did that before any of those other civilians did. I just think it's important you appreciate that. It's in the same vein that people who work in really essential roles like teaching should be proud of themselves and be celebrated more.
:::
it is regarded as a place people "fail into," a job we apply for when we fail to secure training or work in the civilian world.
That was also the case in America pre 9/11, its also when thanking people for their service become very common. Bumper sticker magnets with the phrase were a huge fad.
I have a coworker that did IT in (I think) the air force. He had some superior that was blasting him because his password wasn't working trying to login. My coworker reset the password, remoted in, logged in and the the guy know it's working and have him the PW.
He gets a call and the dude is again freaking out on him saying it's not working. My CW drives across base to assist. He gets there and asks the guy to login. First thing he did is hits caps lock and starts typing. CW tells him what's wrong, does it himself and it works. And to have him do it again, and the guy hits caps lock... CW says something and the superior snaps on him. He snapped back.
When he got back to his station, he gets the call that he fucked up, and that he just volunteered for a deployment to Alaska, where he sent the next few months.
Not really related, but I thought it was a funny story.
When I was a young lad, I thought to join the Air Force. My dad was in the Air Force and he was happy to hear it. I rode an hour on a bus to the place, went through all the tests, etc. and near the end learned that I'd be a helicopter mechanic. I didn't want to be a mechanic I wanted to be a pilot, that's why I wanted to join. I didn't bother saying that to anyone, but that's what I wanted.
When it came time to take the pledge I remained seated. The Air Force folks who ran the place were pissed. They kicked me out the front door and didn't offer a ride home. I had to call my dad to pick me up. My dad was a reasonable man, and kind, so he didn't lay into me but I could tell he was very disappointed.
Looking back on it, helicopter mechanic would have been a good fit for me, I'd probably have been very good at it, and it would have been an interesting career. Had I been better prepared, I would have done it. And, my life would have been much different I'm sure. Maybe even better, I'll never know.
(This was over 40 years ago, I don't remember the details too well.)
"Thank you for your service" is recruitment propaganda (not sure if propaganda is the exact right word here). Somehow that phrase was popularized to get Americans to say it and make those who enlisted feel special. It's not special. Its just a job.
It's actually an extreme counter-response to the Vietnam War. Americans didn't believe we should be involved in that awful war, and they blamed military members for it. They assumed military members could just quit and walk away if they didn't agree with the war, so anyone who was still serving was assumed to be pro-war. And thus, they were treated like shit by the public.
The truth is, a lot of people were drafted against their will for that war. Most didn't want to be there, but were threatened with prison if they refused to go. Then the war itself was a terrible and traumatizing experience for most of them, if they even survived it. THEN they come home to ungrateful Americans who blame them for the war and treat them like garbage for serving. It led to a ton of PTSD, homelessness, and suicides amongst veterans.
When the Iraq War kicked off in 2003, even though Americans didn't want us going to Iraq and had no idea why we were going there in the first place, they had learned from history that the service members themselves had nothing to do with it. They were stuck in their enlistment, forced to go wherever the government told them to go. And there's no quitting; you either finish your 4-6 year enlistment, or you break a law and go to jail. That's pretty much the only way out.
So Americans started treating military members (and veterans) with extreme respect, to counter the terrible behavior towards them during the last ugly conflict we didn't want to be involved in. And it kind of took on a life of its own. And yes, the government did encourage the behavior too.
I appreciate not being spit on, cursed at, or attacked by the citizens I served. But at the same time, I don't need to be on a pedestal. Most military members don't see conflict in their careers and are pretty much indistinguishable from office workers. We show up to work, do whatever the job entails, then go home. If someone earns the Medal of Honor or a Purple Heart, then by all means, raise that pedestal! They earned some accolades! But the rest of us? We're pretty much just normal people doing normal jobs. You'd be better off praising Janice for her TPS reports.
As someone too young to know what it was like in the time of the Vietnam War, that's very interesting. I was alive in '03, but probably too young to comprehend any of that. Thanks for the insight.
I feel like in past few years the number of easily searched factual questions I see posted to forums has exploded. Questions like, how do I make pancakes? What is the tallest mountain? Can chickens fly?
It really seems like a ton of people have lost the ability (or never had it) to find answers for themselves.
There seem to be a large number of people who evade income taxes, then get shocked and panicky several years later when they 'suddenly' owe their taxes; complete with fees and interest.
Cash discounts aren't about it being 'off the books', however. That is because cash doesn't incur a credit card fee, and they pass the savings to you. A good number of businesses will do that, I make sure to take advantage of it.
My honest response to that is, I have a limited amount of social energy, and I will absolutely bend over backwards for someone who cares about me just a little. The company will post my job tomorrow if I keel over and die, so no, I don't spare a thought for them. You get what you give. Next. Question.
I don't fucking know, what's it like not being one??
I'd guess it's like having a sibling, only different! I only have the twin though, no other siblings.
Also also, yes your grandmother's way of canning sucks ass wax is not valid, turning them upside down is not valid, using non canning jars to can is not valid, using the oven and not a water or pressure canner is not valid. Two piece rings and glass jars! Or whatever, I'm not your mom and not eating your food.
I get asked at least 5 times a day how much something is. Turns out, it's the big, bold number next to the dollar sign. And, no, you don't get a fucking discount because you asked what the price is. If anything I should charge you more for wasting my fucking time.
My parent's generation did that a lot more. For them, it was just a standard meaningless expression for when you don't know what to say, obviously to start small talk, whereas younger people take it more literally and get annoyed for asking such a dumb question
I was today years old. I just didn't think about it enough before. Whenever I'm in the garden they seem to completely sideline some flowers and flock to other ones like lavender
The second thing you want to know about my language is how to insult someone? Baffling, but happened more than once.
I don't think it's that baffling - you mentioned being a younger immigrant, right, so presumably these are questions that teenagers or young adults have asked you? They're very into "immature" stuff like that
However, I think people ask for swear words also because
It sticks in their head more, so the person can say "i know some words in Spanish!" without forgetting it. (Spanish is just an example)
They tend to be one of the most unique parts of a language, and also don't require learning grammar rules
It means they have something they can use to swear with without other people noticing they are swearing. So conflict is avoided.
"How's it going?" I'm at work. You're at work. Both of us can name five places we'd rather be without a second thought. The fuck you think it's going? Same as you, so let's quit lying to ourselves.
Ironically, the best way to answer a Christian (or, I suppose, any member of any Abrahamic religion), works here. "He woke me up today," and they say something like "yeah any day above ground is a blessing". Like yeah, that is literally the best thing I can say about my day. I woke up. I had coffee. Good coffee. I had a good breakfast. I am "blessed" in the kitchen. That was the best part of my day. THEN I CAME HERE.
I don't. I just don't trust private entities any more than the state. I don't trust government, private corporations, churches, non-profits, sales/marketing/public relations/propaganda/advertisements, shibboleths/dog whistles/virtue signals, or anything else I can't independently verify. I believe people generally believe what they say (although there are plenty of active liars too), but also everyone, myself included, is wrong. About what? I have no idea, but I don't take anything on faith. I believe in well supported arguments, historical observations and that people will continue to do and be what they have historically done and been (barring a significant outside influence or incentive), that who people are on the inside is not always going to be reflected in their actions (we are creatures of habit that do not always live our values and will rationalize away any internal contradiction), and that the only thing that can't be taken from you is your own integrity, it can only be given away, so do your best to be worthy of the misguided trust others put in you. You will fail sometimes, but that doesn't mean the effort isn't worth it.
I have a QR code on my fridge that says "Scan for WiFi". I'll give you one guess what YouTube video it opens.
If you ask me, I'll show you a QR code on my phone. Different code. For some reason. only Android can make the QR code natively. iPhones can scan them and they work. So, I generated the QR code on my old Android phone (which is WiFi only) and sent it to my iPhone. I can show you the code on either phone. It will connect you to my WiFi. Scan the one on the fridge and we're all going to be hearing a popular 1980s song...
Customers at the place I work asking where the parts department is (at least 10 times a day on a slow day) when they missed the TWO large signs at the entrance saying it's up the stairs. The stairs are are literally five steps beyond the entrance, directly in front of you when you enter the doors. Only surpassed by the bigger idiots who ask after I tell them it's upstairs, "How do I get up there?"
No one is fully present 100% of the time. We've all missed things that were right in front of us. Give people some grace - you've gotten it yourself many times without realizing.
I don't do this regularly, but I have been that guy that's asked where something is 2 get from a big sign. Usually right after the person points me in the direction and I see the sign, I make a half hearted self deprecating comment about how if I just looked 2 inches to the left...
The worst is when it's a big, human sized sign, with a map and an arrow, and they have to walk around the sign to find a person to ask. And they will walk around it. And it will take every ounce of self control not to violently use the sign to correct their behaviour. Sideways.
I see this recurring attitude among several different people essentially showing off how bad they are at maths. Like they really really want me to know how crap they are at basic mental addition or multiplication.
"3 times 9, so that's, uh... 67??"
Then they quickly go "no, that isn't it!" to themselves and derail the conversation to talk about how hard maths is for them like it's some cute trait. Le sigh.
I think this feeds in to the fact that the most common types of stupid question i observe are where people try to show off how much they know about a topic by asking a clarifying question, but they get it completely wrong. "Liechtenstein, so that's next to Russia, right?"
Maybe it doesn’t come through in text, but that Liechtenstein question gives me zero impression that they’re trying to show off. It just seems like how someone would ask if they think they might know something but aren’t sure. What am I missing here?
You're right, its all stuff i would express through voice and action when explaining it in person.
Basically i just mean active dunning-kruger effect; there are people i talk to who will interrupt my discussions (regardless of topic) to interject some "fun fact" or demonstrate that they know at-least-as-much-as-me about the topic; so if i was talking about a historical event in a foreign country, e/g poland, they'll interject or say at the end of my piece "and poland is next to france, right?"
But this makes it sound like it's just a geographically curious person seeking tutelage. I also experience people doing this to boastfully show off that they know some science concept, "mansplain" it to everyone around, but usually explain it really badly and it really irks me because i'd seem like a fusspot for correcting them and explaining it properly, they'll probably go. *"Uh, that doesn't sound any different to how I explained it! haha." *
The liectenstein equivalent of this would be:
"Liectenstein - that's next to Hungary, right?"
"No it's actually between switzerland and austria"
"...and Austria used to be unified with Hungary, so I'm right."
at risk of sounding too bitchy, the people i have experienced this the most with are my sibling when we meet with our mom, and in my ex-friend-group from 2 years ago.
Questions with my BOFH answers when I'm annoyed. And I'm often annoyed.
Q. I downloaded [whatever]. Where is it?
A. Wherever you told that dialog box to put it. I wasn't there.
Q. What's "any key"?
A. It's any key on the keyboard. Pick at random, or pick your favorite letter if you have one. [note: this isn't exactly true but I've never seen anyone pick CapsLock or some other key that might not result in continuance.]
Q. Why isn't my computer working?
A. It's not turned on.
Q. Why can't I run a microwave, air conditioner, and blowdryer off a walmart marine battery in my campervan?
A. It's a unit of measurement, so a millimeter is exactly 1mm. You can see them as small hashmarks on most rulers. One inch is roughly 25mm, if that helps. (narrator voice: "It didn't help.")
Q. What time is it?
A. [/me, the 8-12 substitute teacher, turns to look at the classroom's wall clock. I point to it.] The clock is right.
Q. What does it say?
A. Well, you might remember that [/me visualizing the sweet nothingness of death or at least a tequila & NyQuil blackout] the short hand shows the hour and the long hand shows minutes.
Q. [dead teen eyes staring at clock, jaw slackening, brain melting] So.... what does it say?
57 Comments
cobysev@lemmy.world · 27 pts · 2d
I don't want to call it a "stupid" question, because most people just don't know this. But when I was serving in the US Air Force, if my service ever came up around civilians, it was almost guaranteed that the next words out of their mouth were, "What planes do you fly?" It was such a common occurrence, it was a running joke amongst us Air Force members.
Only 5% of the Air Force are pilots. The other 95% work in career fields that either directly or indirectly support those pilots. We have doctors, lawyers, electricians, police, accountants, cooks... You name it, we likely have a similar career for it.
I personally worked in IT. I fixed computers for 20 years, usually in some cold, dark server room deep in the bowels of a facility. (Sometimes underground even!) I was about as far removed from the airplanes as one could get. So despite my 20 years working for the Air Force, I know absolutely nothing about planes.
Also, it kind of bothers me when people thank me for my service because I didn't do anything. I'm no hero. Anyone could've done my job. Heck, I deployed with Marines once and they told me, if shit hits the fan, to just duck under my desk and let them take care of it. Even in the Air Force, we're told that Security Forces (our version of military police) are the ones trained to handle combat with enemy forces and to get out of their way if anything happens.
When I was deployed with the Marines, my Marine boss told me once that she hopes to god that she never sees an Air Force person with a rifle in their arms. That means the planes are down, the Marines are dead, and the base is overrun. She said we are the absolute last resort to defend against enemy forces. So if we come under fire, she asked that I hand my weapon to the nearest Marine and then go take cover.
FinjaminPoach@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 1d
::: spoiler spoiler Don't know if it is the case for America, but where I live, people don't even touch the army with a pole unless they are raised in army families or particularly patriotic families. Even though it is a great employer - both for civilians and soldiers roles - it is regarded as a place people "fail into," a job we apply for when we fail to secure training or work in the civilian world.
If any of this rings true for the culture where you live, you do deserve the respect. You looked into a profession that most people are too scared to even consider, and found your way to make a contribution. You did skilled work that many of the soldiers were either not smart enough, too busy to do, or just unwilling to train for. Every time you clocked in and sat down in front of a keyboard you were doing valuable work that helps to keep your army functional, and presenting as a formidable force.
And, you actually said in your comment, they asked you to "just sit under your desk if things got heated" - this means there legitimately was some risk of your workplace coming under fire, even if it's probably super small. That's exactly what people are so afraid of when they think about working in the army.
The way I see it, working for the army is putting yourself forward and saying "I'm willing to do things to defend my country," to varying degrees, but you did that before any of those other civilians did. I just think it's important you appreciate that. It's in the same vein that people who work in really essential roles like teaching should be proud of themselves and be celebrated more. :::
Clent@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 6 pts · 1d
That was also the case in America pre 9/11, its also when thanking people for their service become very common. Bumper sticker magnets with the phrase were a huge fad.
BassTurd@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 1d
I have a coworker that did IT in (I think) the air force. He had some superior that was blasting him because his password wasn't working trying to login. My coworker reset the password, remoted in, logged in and the the guy know it's working and have him the PW.
He gets a call and the dude is again freaking out on him saying it's not working. My CW drives across base to assist. He gets there and asks the guy to login. First thing he did is hits caps lock and starts typing. CW tells him what's wrong, does it himself and it works. And to have him do it again, and the guy hits caps lock... CW says something and the superior snaps on him. He snapped back.
When he got back to his station, he gets the call that he fucked up, and that he just volunteered for a deployment to Alaska, where he sent the next few months.
Not really related, but I thought it was a funny story.
DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1d
When I was a young lad, I thought to join the Air Force. My dad was in the Air Force and he was happy to hear it. I rode an hour on a bus to the place, went through all the tests, etc. and near the end learned that I'd be a helicopter mechanic. I didn't want to be a mechanic I wanted to be a pilot, that's why I wanted to join. I didn't bother saying that to anyone, but that's what I wanted.
When it came time to take the pledge I remained seated. The Air Force folks who ran the place were pissed. They kicked me out the front door and didn't offer a ride home. I had to call my dad to pick me up. My dad was a reasonable man, and kind, so he didn't lay into me but I could tell he was very disappointed.
Looking back on it, helicopter mechanic would have been a good fit for me, I'd probably have been very good at it, and it would have been an interesting career. Had I been better prepared, I would have done it. And, my life would have been much different I'm sure. Maybe even better, I'll never know.
(This was over 40 years ago, I don't remember the details too well.)
modus@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 5h
"Thank you for your service" is recruitment propaganda (not sure if propaganda is the exact right word here). Somehow that phrase was popularized to get Americans to say it and make those who enlisted feel special. It's not special. Its just a job.
cobysev@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2h
It's actually an extreme counter-response to the Vietnam War. Americans didn't believe we should be involved in that awful war, and they blamed military members for it. They assumed military members could just quit and walk away if they didn't agree with the war, so anyone who was still serving was assumed to be pro-war. And thus, they were treated like shit by the public.
The truth is, a lot of people were drafted against their will for that war. Most didn't want to be there, but were threatened with prison if they refused to go. Then the war itself was a terrible and traumatizing experience for most of them, if they even survived it. THEN they come home to ungrateful Americans who blame them for the war and treat them like garbage for serving. It led to a ton of PTSD, homelessness, and suicides amongst veterans.
When the Iraq War kicked off in 2003, even though Americans didn't want us going to Iraq and had no idea why we were going there in the first place, they had learned from history that the service members themselves had nothing to do with it. They were stuck in their enlistment, forced to go wherever the government told them to go. And there's no quitting; you either finish your 4-6 year enlistment, or you break a law and go to jail. That's pretty much the only way out.
So Americans started treating military members (and veterans) with extreme respect, to counter the terrible behavior towards them during the last ugly conflict we didn't want to be involved in. And it kind of took on a life of its own. And yes, the government did encourage the behavior too.
I appreciate not being spit on, cursed at, or attacked by the citizens I served. But at the same time, I don't need to be on a pedestal. Most military members don't see conflict in their careers and are pretty much indistinguishable from office workers. We show up to work, do whatever the job entails, then go home. If someone earns the Medal of Honor or a Purple Heart, then by all means, raise that pedestal! They earned some accolades! But the rest of us? We're pretty much just normal people doing normal jobs. You'd be better off praising Janice for her TPS reports.
modus@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1h
As someone too young to know what it was like in the time of the Vietnam War, that's very interesting. I was alive in '03, but probably too young to comprehend any of that. Thanks for the insight.
CallMeAl@piefed.world · 23 pts · 2d
I feel like in past few years the number of easily searched factual questions I see posted to forums has exploded. Questions like, how do I make pancakes? What is the tallest mountain? Can chickens fly?
It really seems like a ton of people have lost the ability (or never had it) to find answers for themselves.
kibblebits@quokk.au · 10 pts · 2d
Found the American school teacher
Maven@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 1d
My conspiracy is that these were added on purpose to add more data for AI to train on.
Noodle07@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 7h
Do you understand why we have AI answering your browser search by default now ?
deegeese@sopuli.xyz · 22 pts · 2d
“Can we do it with AI?”
GreenBeard@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 1d
Translation: Thinking is HARD and humans are GROSS. Can't I just be Scrooge McDuck and have a machine print money for me?
Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world · 20 pts · 2d
I heard this one today. Not the first time, and won't be the last:
Why was I charged for taxes?
RamRabbit@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 2d
There seem to be a large number of people who evade income taxes, then get shocked and panicky several years later when they 'suddenly' owe their taxes; complete with fees and interest.
Iconoclast@feddit.uk · 15 pts · 2d
"Can I get a discount if I pay off the books"
Or another way to ask the same thing: "Do you mind taking all the legal risk so that I could save some money?"
RobotToaster@mander.xyz · 8 pts · 1d
I've met more than a few businesses that will give a discount for cash.
RamRabbit@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 1d
Cash discounts aren't about it being 'off the books', however. That is because cash doesn't incur a credit card fee, and they pass the savings to you. A good number of businesses will do that, I make sure to take advantage of it.
kibblebits@quokk.au · 11 pts · 2d
“Don’t you care about the company?”
GreenBeard@lemmy.ca · 13 pts · 2d
Oh I hate that one.
"The company" doesn't give two flying f***s about me, I'm here to do a job and get paid for it, not join a cult."
cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 1d
My honest response to that is, I have a limited amount of social energy, and I will absolutely bend over backwards for someone who cares about me just a little. The company will post my job tomorrow if I keel over and die, so no, I don't spare a thought for them. You get what you give. Next. Question.
RebekahWSD@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 1d
What's it like being an identical twin?
I don't fucking know, what's it like not being one??
I'd guess it's like having a sibling, only different! I only have the twin though, no other siblings.
Also also, yes your grandmother's way of canning sucks ass wax is not valid, turning them upside down is not valid, using non canning jars to can is not valid, using the oven and not a water or pressure canner is not valid. Two piece rings and glass jars! Or whatever, I'm not your mom and not eating your food.
DigDoug@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 2d
I work in esales.
I get asked at least 5 times a day how much something is. Turns out, it's the big, bold number next to the dollar sign. And, no, you don't get a fucking discount because you asked what the price is. If anything I should charge you more for wasting my fucking time.
Tikiporch@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1d
What is esales?
DigDoug@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1d
Online sales
Treczoks@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 1d
Can you fix my (Windows) computer problem?
Nope. I design computer chips, and don't use Windows that much.
anon_8675309@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 1d
The obvious question. Example: someone is eating soup. Someone else walks up, “so you’re eating soup, huh?”
Fleppensteijn@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 1d
My parent's generation did that a lot more. For them, it was just a standard meaningless expression for when you don't know what to say, obviously to start small talk, whereas younger people take it more literally and get annoyed for asking such a dumb question
Missmuffet@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 2d
Does this flower attract bees? (Yes, it is a flower)
FinjaminPoach@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1d
I was today years old. I just didn't think about it enough before. Whenever I'm in the garden they seem to completely sideline some flowers and flock to other ones like lavender
Missmuffet@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1d
Some flowers are more popular than others but generally flowers attract pollinators
ekky@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 2d
What? Outrageous! I want my flowers pollen- and parechyma-free!
Almacca@aussie.zone · 6 pts · 1d
After riding my bike to work in the rain: "Did you get wet?"
"Only on the outside."
HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club · 4 pts · 1d
The inside is usually wet.
Yaky@slrpnk.net · 6 pts · 1d
If you are a (younger?) immigrant in the US, you will be asked by a curious American:
The second thing you want to know about my language is how to insult someone? Baffling, but happened more than once.
FinjaminPoach@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 1d
I don't think it's that baffling - you mentioned being a younger immigrant, right, so presumably these are questions that teenagers or young adults have asked you? They're very into "immature" stuff like that
However, I think people ask for swear words also because
GreenBeard@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 1d
It's true, in fact I curse in way more languages than I can speak fluently. You should hear me when I pinch my finger while working.
Vandals_handle@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1d
I hope pinche cabron is in the string of expletives
cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 6 pts · 1d
"How's it going?" I'm at work. You're at work. Both of us can name five places we'd rather be without a second thought. The fuck you think it's going? Same as you, so let's quit lying to ourselves.
Ironically, the best way to answer a Christian (or, I suppose, any member of any Abrahamic religion), works here. "He woke me up today," and they say something like "yeah any day above ground is a blessing". Like yeah, that is literally the best thing I can say about my day. I woke up. I had coffee. Good coffee. I had a good breakfast. I am "blessed" in the kitchen. That was the best part of my day. THEN I CAME HERE.
GreenBeard@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 2d
"Why do you trust the government so much?"
I don't. I just don't trust private entities any more than the state. I don't trust government, private corporations, churches, non-profits, sales/marketing/public relations/propaganda/advertisements, shibboleths/dog whistles/virtue signals, or anything else I can't independently verify. I believe people generally believe what they say (although there are plenty of active liars too), but also everyone, myself included, is wrong. About what? I have no idea, but I don't take anything on faith. I believe in well supported arguments, historical observations and that people will continue to do and be what they have historically done and been (barring a significant outside influence or incentive), that who people are on the inside is not always going to be reflected in their actions (we are creatures of habit that do not always live our values and will rationalize away any internal contradiction), and that the only thing that can't be taken from you is your own integrity, it can only be given away, so do your best to be worthy of the misguided trust others put in you. You will fail sometimes, but that doesn't mean the effort isn't worth it.
blimthepixie@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 2d
"What's the WiFi password?"
Our WiFi was unprotected
GreenBeard@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 1d
starts typing in U-N-P-... hey are there any capitals in that?
cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 1d
I have a QR code on my fridge that says "Scan for WiFi". I'll give you one guess what YouTube video it opens.
If you ask me, I'll show you a QR code on my phone. Different code. For some reason. only Android can make the QR code natively. iPhones can scan them and they work. So, I generated the QR code on my old Android phone (which is WiFi only) and sent it to my iPhone. I can show you the code on either phone. It will connect you to my WiFi. Scan the one on the fridge and we're all going to be hearing a popular 1980s song...
Toes@ani.social · 4 pts · 2d
Somehow no one ever knows their password.
Nastybutler@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1d
Customers at the place I work asking where the parts department is (at least 10 times a day on a slow day) when they missed the TWO large signs at the entrance saying it's up the stairs. The stairs are are literally five steps beyond the entrance, directly in front of you when you enter the doors. Only surpassed by the bigger idiots who ask after I tell them it's upstairs, "How do I get up there?"
boudica@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1d
No one is fully present 100% of the time. We've all missed things that were right in front of us. Give people some grace - you've gotten it yourself many times without realizing.
BassTurd@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1d
I don't do this regularly, but I have been that guy that's asked where something is 2 get from a big sign. Usually right after the person points me in the direction and I see the sign, I make a half hearted self deprecating comment about how if I just looked 2 inches to the left...
Nastybutler@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1d
It takes a lot of willpower on my part not to answer that follow up question with a sarcastic "By walking up the stairs"
GreenBeard@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 1d
The worst is when it's a big, human sized sign, with a map and an arrow, and they have to walk around the sign to find a person to ask. And they will walk around it. And it will take every ounce of self control not to violently use the sign to correct their behaviour. Sideways.
FinjaminPoach@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1d
I see this recurring attitude among several different people essentially showing off how bad they are at maths. Like they really really want me to know how crap they are at basic mental addition or multiplication.
"3 times 9, so that's, uh... 67??"
Then they quickly go "no, that isn't it!" to themselves and derail the conversation to talk about how hard maths is for them like it's some cute trait. Le sigh.
I think this feeds in to the fact that the most common types of stupid question i observe are where people try to show off how much they know about a topic by asking a clarifying question, but they get it completely wrong. "Liechtenstein, so that's next to Russia, right?"
jaycifer@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1d
Maybe it doesn’t come through in text, but that Liechtenstein question gives me zero impression that they’re trying to show off. It just seems like how someone would ask if they think they might know something but aren’t sure. What am I missing here?
FinjaminPoach@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1d
You're right, its all stuff i would express through voice and action when explaining it in person.
Basically i just mean active dunning-kruger effect; there are people i talk to who will interrupt my discussions (regardless of topic) to interject some "fun fact" or demonstrate that they know at-least-as-much-as-me about the topic; so if i was talking about a historical event in a foreign country, e/g poland, they'll interject or say at the end of my piece "and poland is next to france, right?"
But this makes it sound like it's just a geographically curious person seeking tutelage. I also experience people doing this to boastfully show off that they know some science concept, "mansplain" it to everyone around, but usually explain it really badly and it really irks me because i'd seem like a fusspot for correcting them and explaining it properly, they'll probably go. *"Uh, that doesn't sound any different to how I explained it! haha." *
The liectenstein equivalent of this would be:
at risk of sounding too bitchy, the people i have experienced this the most with are my sibling when we meet with our mom, and in my ex-friend-group from 2 years ago.
NABDad@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2d
How could it be not working when it was working before?
fratermus@piefed.social · 2 pts · 23h
Questions with my BOFH answers when I'm annoyed. And I'm often annoyed.
{edited for formatting}
ModernRisk@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 1d
Life in general;
Tikiporch@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1d
Can I touch it?