# 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:** 16
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/301 "2012-01-08T21:28:49Z")
Not _over_heard, but heard: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7560441&postcount=177](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7560441&postcount=177) I was around tourists a bunch this week & somehow avoided picking up any fresh gems. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/302 "2012-01-08T21:34:08Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > 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? Heh. When I moved from my newlywed apartment to our first house about 20 years ago, my mom enjoyed telling people that my husband and I were relocating from Athens to Rome. She didn’t specify that she meant cities in the state of Georgia. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/303 "2012-01-08T22:33:03Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > 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) 😃 I should think the Fire Department would frown upon having only one open. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/304 "2012-01-09T03:11:15Z")
> [@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. > [@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 remember another thread that dealt solely with this. IIRC, it was sparked by a British game show host asking a question about US states bordering the ocean, and Connecticut was not included. I believe the conclusion in the thread was that the state is not seaside. Ah, found it [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=608395&highlight=connecticut+long+island). > [@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. > [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > 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. I actually can still recall the days when you could leave a few cents in your mailbox for the mailman to pick up a letter if you don’t have the stamp. At that time, I was very small child but recall my mother doing that. That stopped a long time ago though. ---
**Author:** ![Cojones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Cojones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cojones)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/305 "2012-01-09T07:19:41Z")
Theres a couple of funny ones at [http://www.overheardwhat.com](http://www.overheardwhat.com) my favourite has to be: Guy 1 to Guy2: “Have you seen How I Met Your Mother?” Guy2: “Have you seen how i met your sister?” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/306 "2012-01-09T18:30:11Z")
Last April, my boss was clicking away at her computer and apparently persuing gossip sites instead of working, because I overheard this gem between her and another person here: Grandboss: Oh. My. GAWD. Did you know 50 Cent is going to be the new Fred Rogers?!? Co-worker: Did you know today is April Fool’s Day? Grandboss: Dangit!!! Another one from my crazy-ass grandboss (my boss’s boss), when she was re-decorating her office and proudly brought in a painted ceramic container for candy: “Thate jar is so pretty, you could put a dead person’s ashes in it.” Then there was this exchange when grandboss brought back some pastries from La Madeline: Grandboss: There are some chocolate croissants on the table if you want one. Purplehorseshoe: Ooo! Thank y- Grandboss: … and a piece of chocolate croissant in my bra. Male Co-worker: I don’t want that one. I mean, dude didn’t skip _a beat_. We were in tears laughing so hard. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/307 "2012-01-09T18:37:10Z")
> [@TheFaerie](#): > > Friends and family in [New Mexico] constantly get told that they aren’t part of the USA. Well, it’s only been a state for 100 years anyway. It’s not like, y’know, New York or New Jersey or anything, which are an ocean apart from York and Jersey to begin with, whereas New Mexico is right next to the real thing. About the only way to tell them apart is the slogan on this [t-shirt](http://www.bustedtees.com/newmexico). ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/308 "2012-01-09T20:17:33Z")
Many years ago (approximately 1980+/-a year or two) I was at a computer conference in Seattle. Mentioned to some American (no idea from what part) that I was studying at the University of Alberta. He asked me if that was in British Columbia. :eek:😕:smack: ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/309 "2012-01-09T20:24:00Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > Many years ago (approximately 1980+/-a year or two) I was at a computer conference in Seattle. Mentioned to some American (no idea from what part) that I was studying at the University of Alberta. He asked me if that was in British Columbia. :eek:😕:smack: Well, is it? ---
**Author:** ![aerodave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f08c70/32.png) [@aerodave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aerodave)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/310 "2012-01-09T20:56:06Z")
This one was overheard by millions: Last week during the Sugar Bowl broadcast, Brad Nessler referred to West Virginia University as being “another school from the state of Virginia”. Pretty ignorant, especially (even?) for a professional broadcaster. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Fn5cWohgB2U/hqdefault.jpg "Brad Nessler's WVU Fail (2012)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn5cWohgB2U) ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/311 "2012-01-09T22:42:43Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Well, is it? I sincerely hope that was a whoosh. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/312 "2012-01-10T00:03:09Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > I sincerely hope that was a whoosh. Nope. Do you know what county Conway, Arkansas is in? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/313 "2012-01-10T02:25:28Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Nope. > Do you know what county Conway, Arkansas is in? Is Arkansas in South Carolina? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/314 "2012-01-10T02:36:59Z")
Topeka is in Arkansas, innit? ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/315 "2012-01-10T02:41:34Z")
> [@aerodave](#): > > This one was overheard by millions: > > Last week during the Sugar Bowl broadcast, Brad Nessler referred to West Virginia University as being “another school from the state of Virginia”. Pretty ignorant, especially (even?) for a professional broadcaster. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn5cWohgB2U](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn5cWohgB2U) Well hey. What states have the Universities of South Florida, North Texas, Western Michigan, Central Oklahoma, etc.? Sure, West Virginia seceded from Virginia in 1863. But what’s that got to do with football? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/316 "2012-01-10T02:47:42Z")
Missouri has Washington University, while Pittsburg State (no H) is in Kansas. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/317 "2012-01-10T02:48:29Z")
“My e-mail isn’t working. It keeps saying ‘Outlook is requesting data from the microwave.’” ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/318 "2012-01-10T03:46:50Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Is Arkansas in South Carolina? Nah, they were “The First to Go”, but we waited until the Feds asked us for a draft of men to go kill our neighbors before we made a rude gesture. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/319 "2012-01-10T03:47:51Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Topeka is in Arkansas, innit? You nailed it, Dude. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599/320 "2012-01-10T11:47:00Z")
Autumn in Detroit. A woman checking into a hotel gives her home address as somewhere in Massachusetts. One of the two desk clerks says she’d grown up in New Hampshire, but she’d moved to Detroit several years earlier. Hotel Guest: Do you like it here? Desk Clerk #1: Oh yes. But sometimes I miss New England. Especially at this time of year. Desk Clerk #2: What’s so special about this time of year? Desk Clerk #1: It’s when all the leaves turn colors. Desk Clerk #2: (dubiously) What, like blue? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-stupid-things-overheard/607599.md?page=17)