# Ever have someone completely misunderstand what you said? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 17, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726 "2009-08-17T15:11:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726/21 "2009-08-18T05:04:29Z")
Several years ago, when my mom was still alive . . . I was upstairs on the computer, she was in the living room watching TV. Then she called up to me to come down and see who’s on TV. So I went down. MOM: “Oh, you just missed Carter’s grandmother.” (Now, I remember when Carter was President, and his mother lived with them in the White House.) ME: “You mean his mother. And she can’t still be alive after all these years.” MOM: “No, his grandmother. she was just on TV.” ME: “You mean an old photograph of her?” MOM: “No, I think it was live.” ME: “That’s not possible. His mother was already pretty old when he was President.” (Then, she just looked at me for a few seconds.) MOM: “Not \*THAT \*Carter, the one on ER. The actress who played his grandmother was just on TV.” ME: :smack::smack::smack: ---
**Author:** ![silvermist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@silvermist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silvermist)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726/22 "2009-08-18T13:31:50Z")
I agree, it is amazing and most times irritating to me. I like to talk to people who are on the same wavelength so you can actually have a conversation. More and more I am realizing that many people have hearing problems but others are just not listening. They live in their own little worlds and are shutting you out. What you have to say isn’t important to them, but they want to talk plenty. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726/23 "2009-08-18T13:51:21Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > When I read your OP I figured she misinterpreted your sentence as “Ever notice how quiet it gets in the summer?” Her response makes sense that way, and it would only require her to have misunderstood a few words rather than the complete sentence. “Elevator” still doesn’t sound very much like “summer”, though. Ah, that must have been what happened! I wonder if she heard the first part of my sentence and started formulating her answer before I could finish. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726/24 "2009-08-18T14:05:47Z")
> [@MrSquishy](#): > > This is also not quite what the OP was looking for, but there have been many times where at the end of a sales transaction, I am expecting the cashier to say something like “have a nice day” to which I am prepared to reply “you too”. > > Sometimes they mix it up on me and say something like “enjoy your meal/drink/purchase”, to which my brain cannot adjust quickly enough, and still commands my mouth to say “you too”. I often reply quickly to “How are you?” with the answer, “Hi.” I wonder if everyone thinks I’m a drug addict. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726/25 "2009-08-18T16:42:28Z")
When I could count the length of my marriage in months, I was at the mall with my pregnant wife Christmas shopping. We had a long list of crap to buy, and both of us were mildly bitching in generalities about the lines and the overall waiting. I turned to her and asked, “You want to split up?” VWife burst into immediate tears. 😕 :dubious:😕 “Why do you want a DIVORCE?” :bawls some more: “I meant dividing the shopping list to save time.” :dubious: :grumble: “Oh.” I think the preggo hormones stoked that particular fire. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726/26 "2009-08-18T20:15:09Z")
When I first saw the thread title I thought this was going to be about being misunderstood but the OP seems more keen on being misheard. I am rarely misheard, but I am misunderstood all the time. Even happens quite a bit on the SDMB. Happens a lot to us computer folk, who tend to say things in a clear and unambiguous way. So people “interpolate” meaning and go weird. (Eating dinner) “Is this a new recipe?” “What’s wrong with it?” ??? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726/27 "2009-08-18T20:25:30Z")
I think it’s more about being misunderstood. Actually, it’s really about people hearing what they want to hear and filtering out anything that doesn’t fit. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had this conversation: Him: So are you into sports? Me: No, not at all. Him: _tries to process information_ Great, how do you think the Sox will do this year? ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726/28 "2009-08-18T20:52:25Z")
My co-worker Rob had just had one of those little arguments with his wife, and they were driving along the interstate in an uncomfortable, pissed-off silence. Rob’s wife has the car’s vent system going full blast, and Rob is feeling a bit chilly. Of course, as driver, she has control over the car’s heating system, so, a bit grumpily, he says: “I’ve had enough air.” There’s a looooooonnnnnng silence, and then his wife says in a little tiny voice, “Do you want a divorce, then?” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726/29 "2009-08-18T21:22:05Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > When I could count the length of my marriage in months, I was at the mall with my pregnant wife Christmas shopping. We had a long list of crap to buy, and both of us were mildly bitching in generalities about the lines and the overall waiting. > > I turned to her and asked, “You want to split up?” VWife burst into immediate tears. 😕 :dubious:😕 > > “Why do you want a DIVORCE?” :bawls some more: > > “I meant dividing the shopping list to save time.” :dubious: :grumble: > > “Oh.” > > I think the preggo hormones stoked that particular fire. Oh lordy, something like that happened to me years ago, before my wife and I were married. But I was the one who misunderstood, so I can’t even blame it on hormones. We were at her house, playing Hand and Foot, which is played with multiple decks of cards. At one point, she’d left to do something or other, came back, and offhandedly remarked, “I think we should separate.” I’m stunned. What the hell did I do wrong? And then she finished her thought. “…the cards.” And I started breathing again. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726/30 "2009-08-18T21:51:01Z")
When I was a kid, a neighborhood boy came to my door and asked if I’d seen Rambo. I told him I’d seen part of one, and was explaining that I didn’t remember if it was the original or the sequel or…when he interrupted me and asked if I’d seen his dog. Named Rambo. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726/31 "2009-08-18T22:17:18Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > You know, like when you say “Hi” to someone and they respond with “Good”? Share some examples. I don’t think that is an example of misunderstanding. That is an example of an automatic response so ingrained that you haven’t paid attention to the greeting, or just made an assumption before your brain actually processed it. It’s like when a server says “enjoy your meal” or an airport worker says “enjoy your flight” and you say “you too!”. Just an automatic response without thinking. ---
**Author:** ![wierdaaron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eada6e/32.png) [@wierdaaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdaaron)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726/32 "2009-08-18T22:24:02Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Ever have someone completely misunderstand what you said? No thanks, I’d prefer the soup. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726/33 "2009-08-18T22:59:22Z")
Well, I was the one doing the misunderstanding, but there’s [the tale of the bacon-filled cake](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=315108). ---
**Author:** ![imfloating](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bc79bd/32.png) [@imfloating](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imfloating)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726/34 "2009-08-19T01:52:31Z")
I worked in a warehouse in the early 70s. My very classy Italian boss spoke in broken english. One day he asked me Whatsa dat ashit over there ? My reply What size shoes do I wear ? ---
**Author:** ![Ferd\_Burfel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@Ferd\_Burfel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferd_Burfel)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726/35 "2009-08-19T02:25:25Z")
Many moons ago when I was in college, there was a girl in my biology lab that I was interested in. One day I asked her if she was attached. She said no and asked me if I was attached. I replied that no, I wasn’t and my hopes began to rise. Then she looked at the side of my head, touched one of my earlobs and said that yes I was. :smack: Turns out she thought we were talking about inherited traits involving dangling/non-dangling earlobes. ---
**Author:** ![wierdaaron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eada6e/32.png) [@wierdaaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdaaron)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726/36 "2009-08-19T02:55:39Z")
My above non-sequitor reminded me of a joke that applies to the topic. For his 70th birthday, a man’s wife decides to treat him. “When we go to bed tonight,” she says to him, “I’m going to give you some super sex.” After considering it, the man says, “I’ll go with the soup.” ---
**Author:** ![T.Slothrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@T.Slothrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.Slothrop)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726/37 "2009-08-19T03:09:09Z")
Cartographers. Part of my job is asking people what their occupation is. When they say “Cartographer”, I reply: “I actually know what a cartographer is.” Their immediate response is always to start to explain to me what a cartographer is. ---
**Author:** ![wierdaaron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eada6e/32.png) [@wierdaaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdaaron)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726/38 "2009-08-19T03:14:38Z")
They make and chart maps. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726/39 "2009-08-19T12:49:24Z")
> [@wierdaaron](#): > > They make and chart maps. Please don’t char my bacon. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726/40 "2009-08-19T12:52:35Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > I don’t think that is an example of misunderstanding. That is an example of an automatic response so ingrained that you haven’t paid attention to the greeting, or just made an assumption before your brain actually processed it. It’s like when a server says “enjoy your meal” or an airport worker says “enjoy your flight” and you say “you too!”. Just an automatic response without thinking. True enough. And some phrases, like “How are you?” or “What’s up?” really translate to “Hello.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-someone-completely-misunderstand-what-you-said/506726.md?page=3)