# Amazingly stupid things overheard **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 28, 2011, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599 "2011-12-28T04:33:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/281 "2012-01-06T16:51:02Z")
> [@grude](#): > > There was a variety of birtherism that claimed Obama was not a citizen because his father wasn’t a USA citizen(despite his mother being a USA citizen and being born in the USA), they somehow believed US citizenship passes through the father only. :smack: This is all academic since he was born in Hawaii. However, this part of the conspiracy theory also confused me until I learned right here on the Straight Dope forum that a truly bizarre law that was in force at the time said citizenship only passed through a parent if the parent had lived in the US “at least 10 years in the U.S., including five years after the age of 14.” Since his mother was 18 at the time should could not, in fact, have passed him citizenship. This is why Obama is a natural US citizen because he was born in Hawaii, not because his mother was a citizen. Until I learned this here on the Straight Dope forum I too couldn’t figure out what difference it made where he was born since his mother was a citizen. Amazing what you can learn here. I do suspect you’re right that most people who believe the conspiracy theory don’t understand these details that make it possible. It’s just something they enjoy believing like UFOs and Bigfoots. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/282 "2012-01-06T17:00:27Z")
> [@TheFaerie](#): > > Friends and family in that state constantly get told that they aren’t part of the USA. My SIL and niece told me that a Santa Fe newspaper had a daily quote from people saying variations of that. ---
**Author:** ![kath94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/67e7ee/32.png) [@kath94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kath94)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/283 "2012-01-06T17:16:50Z")
> [@codgerone](#): > > I’m a taxi driver. Talking to a passenger one day about his job, after a while he says “so what do you do for a living?” > > Cue moments silence as I look at him and he realises what he said… You reminded me of MY moment. I’m working in a call center which is open 365 days each year. I used to work the swing shift, from 4p-ish to midnight-ish. The Lonely People call on New Years Eve close to midnight, just to talk. After some light conversation about airline reservations I was asked, “are you working today?” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/284 "2012-01-06T18:14:07Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > “Excuse me, Captain, but my grandma called and wanted me to tell you that there’s a storm out there.” 😃 > > She really isn’t a stupid woman, but there are times she has major brain farts. This one had my husband and me laughing for days. My husband’s grandma once called him urgently because she’d seen footage of a tree falling in New Hampshire (the state where he was staying) and wanted to make sure he was okay. My contribution: I was flying into New York City at night, so I and a few other passengers were admiring the amazing lightshow out the window (really, folks, this should be on your bucket list.) Behind me, two barely adult British girls were chattering excitedly about how wonderful New York City was and how they could hardly wait to arrive. ‘‘It’s so much better than London!’’ one exclaimed breathlessly. ‘‘No homeless people!’’ ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/285 "2012-01-07T03:15:43Z")
> [@Pixel\_Dent](#): > > This is all academic since he was born in Hawaii. However, this part of the conspiracy theory also confused me until I learned right here on the Straight Dope forum that a truly bizarre law that was in force at the time said citizenship only passed through a parent if the parent had lived in the US “at least 10 years in the U.S., including five years after the age of 14.” Since his mother was 18 at the time should could not, in fact, have passed him citizenship. This is why Obama is a natural US citizen because he was born in Hawaii, not because his mother was a citizen. This is true, but irrelevant, immigration law doesn’t take precedence over the constitution and there is simply little precedence about what the phrase natural born citizen means. I doubt that the Supreme Court would rule that a person with a U.S. citizen parent wasn’t a Natural Born Citizen. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2012, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/286 "2012-01-07T09:31:49Z")
> [@grude](#): > > A very rural liquor store in the USA refused to accept my USA passport as government ID, no they needed STATE issued ID they insisted. > > Then a 50 year old woman at least marvelled at my passport and said it was the first time she had seen one and how long had I been in the USA. URGH > > Americans as a whole are very ignorant of immigration and citizenship stuff comparatively I find. The state of Ohio would not accept a US Passport as proof of citizenship when renewing a driver’s license. They also would not accept just the old license. I needed a Social Security card. Once while touristing in DC, I was south of the Mall, on 15th St. I had been wandering around the Bureau of Engraving and was heading back north. A couple walked up to me, with cameras and bags, looking like tourists same as me. They asked me if I could give them directions to the Washington Monument. I pointed north and said “There.” Big white Obelisk against a clear blue sky. They thanked me and headed that way. ---
**Author:** ![boyhowdy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@boyhowdy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boyhowdy)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2012, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/287 "2012-01-07T11:00:55Z")
A few years ago I was in line at a cash register behind two young twentysomethings. They were initially silent then one, apropos of nothing, said “I had to mail out a money order yesterday. I didn’t have enough stamps so I taped a dime to the envelope. Do you think it will make it there?” I damn near choked. You can’t make this stuff up. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2012, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/288 "2012-01-07T16:38:08Z")
> [@Lok](#): > > The state of Ohio would not accept a US Passport as proof of citizenship when renewing a driver’s license. They also would not accept just the old license. I needed a Social Security card. Same in NY. Its not because the staff doesn’t understand what a passport is. The regulations are written to require a SS card. Me: But… I have my passport and out of state license. Helpful yet regretful DMV Employee: I know, but we have to require a SS card. Me: But… I lost my SS card when I was thirteen and have never needed it since. HYRDMVE: Well I guess you need a new one! There’s an office [gives directions]. Me: Oh. What do I have to show to get a new SS card? HYRDMVE: Your out of state license and passport should do it. Me: :smack: ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2012, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/289 "2012-01-07T17:14:53Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Same in NY. Its not because the staff doesn’t understand what a passport is. The regulations are written to require a SS card. > > Me: But… I have my passport and out of state license. > Helpful yet regretful DMV Employee: I know, but we have to require a SS card. > Me: But… I lost my SS card when I was thirteen and have never needed it since. > HYRDMVE: Well I guess you need a new one! There’s an office [gives directions]. > Me: Oh. What do I have to show to get a new SS card? > HYRDMVE: Your out of state license and passport should do it. > Me: :smack: In NY , at least , you generally only need to show the SS card once- either when initially obtaining a license or if you are renewing a license obtained before SS numbers were collected. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/290 "2012-01-07T18:53:31Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Same in NY. Its not because the staff doesn’t understand what a passport is. The regulations are written to require a SS card. > > Me: But… I have my passport and out of state license. > Helpful yet regretful DMV Employee: I know, but we have to require a SS card. > Me: But… I lost my SS card when I was thirteen and have never needed it since. > HYRDMVE: Well I guess you need a new one! There’s an office [gives directions]. > Me: Oh. What do I have to show to get a new SS card? > HYRDMVE: Your out of state license and passport should do it. > Me: :smack: That is just about the way it went for me, except I had an expiring in state license and I actually still had my SS card from when I got it as a teenager. It was even still legible, because I had laminated it. And the person behind the counter said that they had regulations going into effect in the future that would not allow them to accept it, because laminating it was bad. 😕 > [@doreen](#): > > In NY , at least , you generally only need to show the SS card once- either when initially obtaining a license or if you are renewing a license obtained before SS numbers were collected. Mine was just for a regular renewal, like I had done many times before. I think they had gotten rid of those regulations since, because I didn’t have nearly as many problems when I got my CDL 2 years ago and renewed it last year. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/291 "2012-01-07T19:01:48Z")
> [@boyhowdy](#): > > A few years ago I was in line at a cash register behind two young twentysomethings. They were initially silent then one, apropos of nothing, said “I had to mail out a money order yesterday. I didn’t have enough stamps so I taped a dime to the envelope. Do you think it will make it there?” I damn near choked. You can’t make this stuff up. Hey, I remember when stamps cost 25 cents, if I didn’t have one I could tape a quarter onto the envelope and my mail carrier would take care of it. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/292 "2012-01-08T04:36:30Z")
Between this thread and Not Always Right, I am losing my faith in humanity. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/293 "2012-01-08T04:52:50Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > These people are breathing my air. She’s also practicing your law. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/294 "2012-01-08T05:26:29Z")
It was something done, not said, but it was amazingly stupid. I was at a coffee shop this morning, sitting outside, when a woman came up and tried to open one of the double doors to go in. It was locked. She pushed it several times, just in case it was one of those particularly stubborn doors that just doesn’t open the first few times you push it. No worky. Then she tried to pull it. Nothing happens. She peers into the coffee shop for several seconds, quite confused that she is outside and there are people in there- are they closed? What’s going on? Then she looks at me with a look of “OMG! I can’t get in!!” And so I say, “the other door”, and there she goes, in. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/295 "2012-01-08T17:04:34Z")
I saw a similar confused door situation. I was in a restaurant that had an entrance with two doors that opened out. The left door was not functioning and had a sign that said that. Guy comes up to doors: Pulls non-functioning door. Doesn’t open. Pushes functioning door. Doesn’t open. Looks confused because people are inside. Waitress motions that door swings out. Pulls non-functioning door again. Doesn’t open. Waitress sighs, walks over and pushes open the functioning door. I was watching in utter amazement. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/296 "2012-01-08T17:14:19Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > It was something done, not said, but it was amazingly stupid. I was at a coffee shop this morning, sitting outside, when a woman came up and tried to open one of the double doors to go in. It was locked. She pushed it several times, just in case it was one of those particularly stubborn doors that just doesn’t open the first few times you push it. No worky. Then she tried to pull it. Nothing happens. She peers into the coffee shop for several seconds, quite confused that she is outside and there are people in there- are they closed? What’s going on? Then she looks at me with a look of “OMG! I can’t get in!!” And so I say, “the other door”, and there she goes, in. > :smack: That’s an old psych joke: “Doctor, I keep having this dream, I’m standing at the door to my favorite restaurant. I try to open the door. I push and I push, but nothing happens. My friends are all inside.” “Is there anything else you see in your dream?” “Yes, there’s a sign.” “What does the sign say?” "It says ‘PULL.’ " Ok, I didn’t say it was a GOOD joke. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/297 "2012-01-08T19:26:27Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > My daughter took some convincing that Long Island Sound wasn’t the sea. She does the same with any really big rivers - even at the estuary of the Thames. I don’t think that’s entirely stupid, since she does believe you when you correct her and estuaries do lead right into seas. In what sense is Long Island Sound not (an arm of) “the sea”? I grew up on the Thames estuary, and we always called it “the sea”. It is salty and has tides and beaches and everything. Yes, we could see across to the other side, but so what? Are bays not part of “the sea”? ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/298 "2012-01-08T20:01:58Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > It was something done, not said, but it was amazingly stupid. I was at a coffee shop this morning, sitting outside, when a woman came up and tried to open one of the double doors to go in. It was locked. She pushed it several times, just in case it was one of those particularly stubborn doors that just doesn’t open the first few times you push it. No worky. Then she tried to pull it. Nothing happens. She peers into the coffee shop for several seconds, quite confused that she is outside and there are people in there- are they closed? What’s going on? Then she looks at me with a look of “OMG! I can’t get in!!” And so I say, “the other door”, and there she goes, in. > :smack: Only unlocking one of a pair of double doors is dangerous when I am around in my electric scooter. I’ve accidentally removed the glass from a locked door more than once when I’ve been previously opened the other one of the set, expect the other one to also be unlocked, and am klutzier than usual (if I am not being a klutz I come up slowly against the door and then shove so there isn’t as much impact) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/299 "2012-01-08T20:58:42Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > In what sense is Long Island Sound not (an arm of) “the sea”? > > I grew up on the Thames estuary, and we always called it “the sea”. It is salty and has tides and beaches and everything. Yes, we could see across to the other side, but so what? Are bays not part of “the sea”? I really don’t know anything about Long Island Sound - it was actually the river itself, in NYC, that she thought was the sea. I also grew up on the Thames estuary, and it’s a river; we never called it the sea. It’s saltier than upriver, but it’s still usable as drinking water. Tides don’t mean anything - the Thames has tides right up in Westminster too (lots of rivers are tidal, as are large lakes), and I doubt you’d say it’s the sea there. Beaches obviously don’t mean anything, since lots of rivers and lakes have them. The division between river and sea at Southend isn’t hard and fast, but the bit where you’re looking across to Kent is clearly still river. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/300 "2012-01-08T21:25:37Z")
Some of the other geography ones reminded me: I grew up in northern Ohio, and we had relatives in the southern part of the state. One day, a friend asked me what I was doing that weekend, and I said we were going to Athens (meaning Athens, OH). He got wide-eyed and exclaimed “You’re going to _Rome_!?”. OK, not realizing I meant the one a couple hundred miles away, I can see that. But the other part of it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599.md?page=16)