The Song Fight Bulletin Board

OoooooooooooOOOOOOoooooooo.... it's... TUESDAY the 13th!!!!


Question of the Day: Are you superstitious?

EDIT: I, for one, can't really be that superstitious, seeing as I just got A NEW JOB! YAY!

I try to limit my superstitions to those which are purely practical in origin (don't walk under a ladder which someone is standing on, watch out for flying pigeons or other overhead birds, etc.). I do have a tendency to not talk about things that I hope to happen to avoid "jinxing" it, although in my rationalist mindset, "jinx" really just means "setting oneself up for disappointment in the event that it doesn't work out the way you hope or expect."

QotD: I don't think so... I love breaking mirrors.

Superstitious to a very small degree. I knock on wood knowing it doesn't do anything. Shit, I just jinxed myself. But in general, not really.

qotd: not consciously, but sometimes my mind plays tricks on me and I end up believing that stuff.

No, but I love how buildings often don't label the 13th floor "13", and the people who live there think they live on the 14th floor. Now I'll probably get struck by lightening for saying that.

Congrats Jon Eric! ...now get to work!

QotD: Nope.

Not me, although I find superstitions funny...

except when it's someone that actually makes decisions based on them (and I've known a few).

Yep, I'm stupedstitious. It's bad enough that there are so many traditional superstitions, but I can't help but evolve them into my everyday life.
1. When I'm filling up with gas and I need to go get the squeegee to clean my windshield, I won't go under the hose going from the pump to my gas tank. I walk all the way around my car to get it.

2. When I'm doing a quicky in the microwave, I hit the 1 minute button. But it may only need 47 seconds to do the job. I will never stop the micro on 13 or 3. I'm a FREAK!

3. Rachael Ray taught me a trick on her 30 minute meals. Always open a can upside down. It's great because all the settled stuff is on the bottom and you don't have to get a spoon to dig out the bottom of the can. THEN IT HAPPENED! I was watching the greatest catch. There is a rule on the ship. NEVER open a can upside down because it brings bad luck. They then told story of coming back with no fish, shipmates getting dismembered, deaths, ships sinking, all because a can was opened upside down. OH GREAT! Not only do I have one more superstition to worry about, now I have to break out in a cold sweat every time I open a can just praying that some idiot didn't accidentally put the label on the can upside down!
...and people wonder why I drink so much.

Confirmation bias, much?

"Oh no, I set foot on the boat with my left foot first, and then someone DIED!!!"

You thoughtless careless murdering bastard!

QotD: not really. I do believe in quite a few things that haven't been (and probably can't be) scientifically validated, and I always prefer believing in at least two interpretations of perceptions whenever it's somewhat practical to do so. Makes for great mental flexibility. People tell me I suck for not making up my mind. So what? Virtually every choice of behaviour comes with disadvantages. At least you'll have a very hard time messing up my world view because it includes pretty much everything.

QotD: Not exactly. I don't believe that you can trigger bad events by stepping on a crack or not mailing a chain letter. But, I do believe in the Joseph Campell-esque idea that if you follow your bliss, and things were meant to be, then doors will open for you where you didn't see doors before.... I guess that means I believe there's a kind of unexplained order influencing my everyday life, and whether that's God or Gaia or Shiva or the ghost of John Candy, I have no idea.

Henrietta wrote:not mailing a chain letter

That reminds me. Any superstition that started, comes from or involves the Internet is just ridiculous, as opposed to real ones, like stopping the microwave on 13. Internet superstitions are fake superstitions, so I don't have to worry about them.

QotD: I'm not superstitious in the traditional sense.

I am a polytheist. I also believe that focused intent can change the universe in profound and perverse ways. Not only that, but I believe it is possible to unintentionally shape the universe in ways you did not actually want. This makes me a little careful about what I say.

Billy's Little Trip wrote:

Henrietta wrote:not mailing a chain letter

That reminds me. Any superstition that started, comes from or involves the Internet is just ridiculous, as opposed to real ones, like stopping the microwave on 13. Internet superstitions are fake superstitions, so I don't have to worry about them.

You know, there were physical chain letters before there were e-mail chain letters.


Oh, by the way, my little guys are getting neutered today. For real this time. I believe one or the other of them is under the knife as we speak.

Generic wrote:

Billy's Little Trip wrote:

Henrietta wrote:not mailing a chain letter

That reminds me. Any superstition that started, comes from or involves the Internet is just ridiculous, as opposed to real ones, like stopping the microwave on 13. Internet superstitions are fake superstitions, so I don't have to worry about them.

You know, there were physical chain letters before there were e-mail chain letters.

Yeah, I know. Those are real ones.

QotD: I don't believe in most superstitions. I am very luck oriented though. I'm not a compulsive gambler or anything but I love anything associated with dice or playing cards or things like that. I love gambler characters in movies, shows, video games, etc. I'm just fascinated by luck. You could bet someone a milllion dollars on a simple coin flip and presto, your entire life changes for the better or worse based on one little bit of pure stupid luck. O_O

Reïst wrote:qotd: not consciously, but sometimes my mind plays tricks on me and I end up believing that stuff.

Yup, brains are tricky. Me too. Silly brain!
-bill

HeuristicsInc wrote:Yup, brains are tricky.

That's to be expected because they're pretty powerful. It's also a good thing.

Here.

QOTD: No. [knock wood]

Ross wrote:Here.

QOTD: No. [knock wood]

Always with the jokes, this one.