# Good grief. How old are you, anyway? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 2, 2007, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344 "2007-03-02T20:02:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344/1 "2007-03-02T20:02:53Z")
There’s this guy I know who’s about 40 or 41 years old. He ALWAYS does this trick where he stands on a guy’s right-hand side, then discreetly reaches behind him and taps him on the left shoulder. The intent is to catch the other person by surprise, making him think that there’s someone on his left-hand side… and he does it repeatedly. Now, I can understand someone doing this once or twice… but over, and over, and over again? I can imagine how a nine-year-old might think this is gut-bustingly funny, but a forty-year-old man? Good grief. Maybe I’m off base here, but it seems to me that there are certain jokes that just cease to be funny once you’re past your teens. The whole “Pull my finger” or “Look, there’s a spot on your shirt” routine might be mildly amusing once or twice, and a callow teen might think that they’re endlessly entertaining. For the life of me though, I can’t understand how a grown man would continue to think of them as endless sources of entertainment. Feel free to disagree with me, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344/2 "2007-03-02T20:08:10Z")
I love that trick! At one point, all of my friends knew to watch out for me, so when it happened, it was just like my saying “hi.” Nowadays, I do it less, but it can be fun when I’m in a playful mood. That said, it gets annoying when it happens more than, oh, once every couple of weeks. And that’s too frequent if it’s the same person, or even the same social group. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344/3 "2007-03-02T20:10:18Z")
[QUOTE=JThunder] There’s this guy I know who’s about 40 or 41 years old. He ALWAYS does this trick where he stands on a guy’s right-hand side, then discreetly reaches behind him and taps him on the left shoulder. The intent is to catch the other person by surprise, making him think that there’s someone on his left-hand side… and he does it repeatedly. Now, I can understand someone doing this once or twice… but over, and over, and over again? I can imagine how a nine-year-old might think this is gut-bustingly funny, but a forty-year-old man? Good grief. Maybe I’m off base here, but it seems to me that there are certain jokes that just cease to be funny once you’re past your teens. The whole “Pull my finger” or “Look, there’s a spot on your shirt” routine might be mildly amusing once or twice, and a callow teen might think that they’re endlessly entertaining. For the life of me though, I can’t understand how a grown man would continue to think of them as endless sources of entertainment. [/QUOTE] There’s something on your shirt. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344/4 "2007-03-02T20:11:35Z")
I have a friend who just got himself a MySpace page. He’s 28. His older sister, who’s maybe 35 or something and has 4 kids, leave 2-3 comments on his page a day that are poop or fart jokes. Sometimes they’re pictures or worse, animations. Every time I look at his page, all I can think of is “How old ARE you?!” ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344/5 "2007-03-02T20:12:15Z")
In my new cubicle farm there are guys who wear ball caps to work 'Nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344/6 "2007-03-02T20:13:35Z")
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ] I have a friend who just got himself a MySpace page. He’s 28. His older sister, who’s maybe 35 or something and has 4 kids, leave 2-3 comments on his page a day that are poop or fart jokes. Sometimes they’re pictures or worse, animations. Every time I look at his page, all I can think of is “How old ARE you?!” [/QUOTE] I have to agree with that. I know some guys who just LOVE poop and fart jokes. My response is exactly the same as yours: “How old ARE you?!” ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344/7 "2007-03-02T20:17:28Z")
[QUOTE=Speaker for the Dead] That said, it gets annoying when it happens more than, oh, once every couple of weeks. And that’s too frequent if it’s the same person, or even the same social group. [/QUOTE] That’s part of the problem. He only does it once every one or two months, but it’s always him doing it. And after he fools someone, he has this big grin on his face. He continues to do it, even though (on two occasions), I asked, “Good grief, man. How old are you?” This is the same guy who tried to discreetly pull my chair out from under me when I tried to sit down once. Mind you, this was at a rather large gathering on a rather serious occasion – and I was in full view of the entire crowd. I pointed straight at him and said, “Don’t EVER do that again!” And yet the childish antics continue. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344/8 "2007-03-02T20:21:13Z")
Consider yourself lucky. I once worked with a creepy guy who thought it was great fun to come up behind a woman and grab her in a big bear hug. The first time he did it to me I told him he was never to do it again. “Oh, it’s fun. You have no sense of humorl” I told him I didn’t care and don’t do it to me. The next time he did it to me I ran backwards and smashed him into a wall. He complained, but he never touched me again. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2007, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344/9 "2007-03-02T20:29:11Z")
Yeah, once you reach a certain age, you really should switch over to feces and flatuence jokes. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344/10 "2007-03-02T20:30:13Z")
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ] I have a friend who just got himself a MySpace page. He’s 28. His older sister, who’s maybe 35 or something and has 4 kids, leave 2-3 comments on his page a day that are poop or fart jokes. Sometimes they’re pictures or worse, animations. Every time I look at his page, all I can think of is “How old ARE you?!” [/QUOTE] I’m 31, and poop and fart jokes transcend age. Myspace pages, on the other hand, are the stuff of teenagers and college students. ---
**Author:** ![ShiefferSaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@ShiefferSaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShiefferSaw)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344/11 "2007-03-02T21:23:58Z")
I’m a firm believer that age is a mental thing. I know I’ll be as immature when im 50 as I am now. … well hopefully a little more mature 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344/12 "2007-03-02T21:48:54Z")
[QUOTE=JThunder] There’s this guy I know who’s about 40 or 41 years old. He ALWAYS does this trick where he stands on a guy’s right-hand side, then discreetly reaches behind him and taps him on the left shoulder. The intent is to catch the other person by surprise, making him think that there’s someone on his left-hand side… and he does it repeatedly. [/QUOTE] Next time he does it, punch him hard in his unprotected left flank. That’ll teach him. ---
**Author:** ![Emeria](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@Emeria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emeria)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344/13 "2007-03-02T22:43:52Z")
> [@](#): > > This is the same guy who tried to discreetly pull my chair out from under me when I tried to sit down once. Mind you, this was at a rather large gathering on a rather serious occasion – and I was in full view of the entire crowd. I think that’s just mean-spirited. The tapping on the shoulder thing is annoying, but at least you won’t get physically hurt by it. I agree it’s childish, but he probably just thinks it’s really clever. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344/14 "2007-03-02T22:57:06Z")
[QUOTE=saoirse] There’s something on your shirt. [/QUOTE] My ex did this to me every day for three years. I got the sound effect too. Blblblblblblbp! ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344/15 "2007-03-02T23:04:26Z")
[QUOTE=Hal Briston] Yeah, once you reach a certain age, you really should switch over to feces and flatuence jokes. [/QUOTE] And sheep fucking jokes. Ok, sorry Hal, I know it’s gotten old. But it seemed apropo. A lot of childishness running rampant around here. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344/16 "2007-03-03T03:51:31Z")
You don’t socialize with this person by _choice_, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344/17 "2007-03-03T03:54:53Z")
accidental double post, nothing to see here folks, scroll down \>\< ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344/18 "2007-03-03T03:55:11Z")
:: taps you on the shoulder :: and I’m 23! thanks for asking 😃 ---
**Author:** ![enigm4tic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@enigm4tic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enigm4tic)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344/19 "2007-03-03T04:11:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Nowadays, I do it less, but it can be fun when I’m in a playful mood. That’s what she said. :😃 & R:: ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344/20 "2007-03-03T04:14:32Z")
[QUOTE=JThunder] There’s this guy I know who’s about 40 or 41 years old. He ALWAYS does this trick where he stands on a guy’s right-hand side, then discreetly reaches behind him and taps him on the left shoulder. The intent is to catch the other person by surprise, making him think that there’s someone on his left-hand side… and he does it repeatedly. [/quote] Yeah, but it’s funnier’n’hell if the same person falls for it time and again. I knew someone who continually fell for the ‘something on your shirt’ one. Everyone would do it to him and he fell for it over and over; the more often he did, the harder we laughed. I think it took him a couple years to finally quit looking down - and he’s not a stupid man. In this case ‘fool me once - shame on you; fool me over and over again - I’m an endless source of entertainment’. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-grief-how-old-are-you-anyway/394344.md?page=2)