I was bored at work today so I... - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

SteelBlue · 09-14-2005, 10:42 PM

decided to undertake an experiment. I thought it would be fun to go the entire day using correct proverbs incorrectly. For instance someone would tell me that "Mr. so and so was in a decent mood today and now would be a good time to work with him". I'd then reply with something like "well, you know, a rolling stone gathers no moss".

My experiment showed that in every instance the person I said the proverb to smiled and nodded their head or gave some sort of sign of agreement. Not one person called me on it. My theory is that people (myself included) initially would feel that it was their own fault that what was said did not make sense. So, they agree with me, and spend the next little while trying to make sense of the comment. When they can't, then they either decide I'm an idiot or that the problem is with them. Either way it was tons of unexpected entertainment for me.

MikeWaters · 09-14-2005, 10:59 PM

so you're the weird guy at work.

my favorite one to says is "the shallow brook babbles the loudest." I like asking my patients what that means when I am doing a mental status exam.

creekster · 09-14-2005, 11:51 PM

Mike, isn't it true?

non sequitur · 09-15-2005, 02:36 AM

It just goes to show that even a blind squirrel occasionally finds a nut.

bluegoose · 09-15-2005, 02:48 PM

Grass don't grow on the freeway.

09-14-2005, 10:42 PM	#1
SteelBlue Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Norcal Posts: 5,821	I was bored at work today so I... decided to undertake an experiment. I thought it would be fun to go the entire day using correct proverbs incorrectly. For instance someone would tell me that "Mr. so and so was in a decent mood today and now would be a good time to work with him". I'd then reply with something like "well, you know, a rolling stone gathers no moss". My experiment showed that in every instance the person I said the proverb to smiled and nodded their head or gave some sort of sign of agreement. Not one person called me on it. My theory is that people (myself included) initially would feel that it was their own fault that what was said did not make sense. So, they agree with me, and spend the next little while trying to make sense of the comment. When they can't, then they either decide I'm an idiot or that the problem is with them. Either way it was tons of unexpected entertainment for me.

09-15-2005, 02:36 AM	#4
non sequitur Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,964	It just goes to show. . . It just goes to show that even a blind squirrel occasionally finds a nut.

09-15-2005, 02:48 PM	#5
bluegoose Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,919	You got that right... Grass don't grow on the freeway.

09-14-2005, 10:59 PM	#2
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	so you're the weird guy at work. my favorite one to says is "the shallow brook babbles the loudest." I like asking my patients what that means when I am doing a mental status exam.

09-14-2005, 11:51 PM	#3
creekster Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: the far corner of my mind Posts: 8,711	Mike, isn't it true?