# GOBLINS! Cause for concern?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [November 29, 2006, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212 "2006-11-29T17:22:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 19
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2006, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212/1 "2006-11-29T17:22:11Z")
[http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1550511.ece](http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1550511.ece)
Norweigan man fears the wrath of the Goblins & the Little People if he tears down old barn.
> [@](#):
>
> Will sue to avoid goblins
> Håkon Robertsen has refused to tear down a condemned barn for fear of reprisals from ‘little people’ and is ready to sue local authorities to protect the building.
> Robertsen continues to resist a local order to tear down the derelict structure, and is currently being fined NOK 300 (USD 47.50) a day until he flattens the barn. Local authorities first ordered the barn demolished in February 2005 after complaints from Robertsen’s neighbors and a new order was passed this autumn.
>
> Robertsen fears the consequences of tearing the building down.
>
> “I don’t believe in ghosts, but underworld creatures have taken up residence in the building,” Robertsen told newspaper Nordlys, referring to a term used for the fairies and goblins of Norwegian folklore.
So, what supernatural beings are stopping _your_ home repair projects, & does your SO buy the excuse? 🙂
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### Author:  [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2006, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212/2 "2006-11-29T17:29:44Z")
I understand that [smurfs](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=321539&page=2&pp=50&highlight=smurfs) are right nasty to deal with.
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### Author:  [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2006, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212/3 "2006-11-29T17:31:01Z")
I’m terrified that the Patron Saint of Grimy Floors would be pissed if I scrub my kitchen floor. He doesn’t mind a brief Swiffer now and then but I don’t want to “stir things up”, as it were.
So far, me and my roommates Myself and I are content with the arrangement.
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### Author:  [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212/4 "2006-11-29T17:49:00Z")
Hey, man, don’t even joke about stuff like that. I had a friend once who didn’t heed the warnings of his family about the Latex Gnomes and decided to paint the walls of his home. He was found the next day face down in the paint tray with the paint roller … well, let’s just say he could have had fun painting the floor.
I am therefore loathe to paint my walls.
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### Author:  [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2006, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212/5 "2006-11-29T17:52:05Z")
The carpet gremlins were so angry the last time that I tried to vacuum that they broke a fan belt inside of it and caused it to smoke and smell like it was on fire. I haven’t bought another vacuum yet for fear of upsetting the gremlins.
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### Author:  [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2006, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212/6 "2006-11-29T18:06:41Z")
[QUOTE=pbbth]
The carpet gremlins were so angry the last time that I tried to vacuum that they broke a fan belt inside of it and caused it to smoke and smell like it was on fire. I haven’t bought another vacuum yet for fear of upsetting the gremlins.
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, carpet gremlins can be nasty too. That’s why I have hardwood flooring and no carpets.
I do have one heck of a problem with dust bunnies, though. The dust bunnies keep the mice down, but this comes at quite a cost. :: shudder ::
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### Author:  [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212/7 "2006-11-29T18:25:28Z")
People, please.
This man isn’t lazy. He’s just a wimp. Any one with half a brain can get rid of Tomthte and the like.
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### Author:  [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2006, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212/8 "2006-11-29T19:17:57Z")
My dustbunnies are cute and cuddly and they play with the cat, that’s why I can’t bring myself to get rid of them.
I agree with **DocCathode** ; if this guy REALLY wanted to tear down his barn, all he would need to do is invite a few Asatruar over, supply them with lots of mead, and leave them alone. They’ll either get rid of the wights or get drunk, pillage the farm, and burn down every building on it. Either way, problem solved.
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### Author:  [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2006, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212/9 "2006-11-29T19:39:48Z")
We have a lot of trouble with our housecleaning gnomes. They’re supposed to take care of chores while we’re gone at work, but we keep coming home to unwashed dishes and clothes. Maybe they require some sort of offering?
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### Author:  [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2006, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212/10 "2006-11-29T20:13:21Z")
[QUOTE=Marlitharn]
I agree with **DocCathode** ; if this guy REALLY wanted to tear down his barn, all he would need to do is invite a few Asatruar over, supply them with lots of mead, and leave them alone. They’ll either get rid of the wights or get drunk, pillage the farm, and burn down every building on it. Either way, problem solved.
[/QUOTE]
One wonders what would happen if the Asatruar met some of the Wee Free Men…
Incidentally, the dust bunnies under my bed are conspiring.
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### Author:  [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2006, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212/11 "2006-11-29T20:17:55Z")
I asked my Domoyev if he was conspiring against me. He said nyet. He does however insist that he will kill me if I ever again give him American vodka.
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### Author:  [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2006, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212/12 "2006-11-29T20:31:57Z")
I learned the hard way that land wights don’t like Boone’s Farm. I like to never got my car out of that sinkhole.
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### Author:  [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2006, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212/13 "2006-11-29T23:08:38Z")
The Underwear Gnomes won’t let me clean the catbox… does that count?
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### Author:  [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2006, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212/14 "2006-11-30T00:21:01Z")
Goblins? Aren’t they the puniest humanoids around? It’s not like they’re _Hob_goblins. One good hit with a +2 mace ought to do it.
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### Author:  [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2006, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212/15 "2006-11-30T00:27:47Z")
No, kobolds are the wimpiest.
But, he never said goblins. He probably said tomte, or something else from the Viking campaign book.
OTTOMH
not huldefolk, or dvirge, or mahaset.
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### Author:  [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2006, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212/16 "2006-11-30T06:33:34Z")
\
Saved by An Angel, feh. Where the !^¢# does this crap come from? I’ll tell you where . . . all the drugs, snorted, smoked, injected, and absorbed _rectally_ over the years will get you some !^¢#in’ angels, my friend.
What about goblins, huh? Why doesn’t anybody ever see goblins?
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### Author:  [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2006, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212/17 "2006-11-30T12:12:37Z")
The **taniwha** in the central heating system gurgles and bubbles now and then. My wife says that it is air in the radiator, but I know better.
I’m not opening any air valves without checking first - the taniwha could suck me back in to the radiator, like that. I’ll get one of the kids to listen to the downstair radiator; when they hear the taniwha, I’ll do the upstairs - that way, I’ll be safe. But I’ll have to be quick.
Si
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### Author:  [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2006, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212/18 "2006-11-30T14:09:19Z")
A Clurichaun keep stealing all my beer and wine … I’m sure that’s why my house is always such a mess and my dog is so tired. But I don’t dare confront him because he’s a mean wee drunk.
But goblins, yeah, those should be easy to get rid of. Let’s see … I think you cut a hole in the ice and then leave some peas by the hole. When the goblin comes to take a pea you kick him in the icehole!
.
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.
.
.
.
.
:smack: Or is that how you get rid of polar bears?
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### Author:  [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2006, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goblins-cause-for-concern/382212/19 "2006-11-30T14:12:08Z")
It doesn’t stop with goblins. Several people were scared to death by fairies in the 17th century
[BBC link](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/6157611.stm)
It’s about time someone did something about these folklorific pests!