Holy shit! Me four or whatever the unexpectedly common number is up to now. I had no idea that anyone else did that I don’t know why I started. I have never missed a good feel on the side of any of the countless flights I have ever taken. I will reposition around people to do it too and would be distressed if I somehow couldn’t.
I don’t have hardly any other quirks of that nature. I wonder why commercial air travel induces that specific compulsion?
I’m absolutely stunned that this is so common. I can’t seem to remember when I started doing it. But I’m the (probably annoying) type of person that always poo-poos any type of superstition, including religion. But I still tap the side of the plane. This must be explained.
I do this too, and get quite neurotic if I make a boast about good fortune without some wood around to knock on. Just saying “knock wood” doesn’t do it for me.
I touch the side of the plane, too, but not really for any reason. It wouldn’t bother me at all if I wasn’t able to. I just like the thought of planes–despite physics, the whole concept just seems impossible. I like to touch things in general (not people, though. Only my husband). When I’m shopping, I tend to touch or pick up the item’s I’m looking at.
As to the OP, my husband and I often are thinking the same thing at the same time, more than would seem likely, but that’s all I can think of.
I really, really don’t like Jo. She’s too much like Dean and she’s just redundant, she doesn’t add anything to the show and she’s not interesting, and–
–oh. That’s what you mean.
I always think, completely irrationally, that the pictures are alive (I tend to turn the book spines and DVD covers with faces on them into the wall) but I’m just nuts.
The streetlight thing happens to me too. They just turn off when I go by. Maybe that’s a GQ.
I also have this thing when it’s windy that I’ll insist (usually just in my head) that the wind should get even faster RIGHT NOW, and sometimes it does. Hooray for selection bias making me feel powerful!
I believe that one is addressed in one of the Straightdope books. I will check the archive, perhaps it is also online.
I love to find pennies. I keep some in the car at all times, and every time I stop somewhere with a fountain, like the local mall or cineplex, I toss them all in. It’s free entertainment. I’m not worried about gods and universes keeping score though. Just the sense of childish fun beats concerns for karma any day.
I do that! I don’t want Phil Collins to see me getting dressed etc. So, any CDs, DVDs etc are face down.
So, of course the whole Harry Potter thing just feeds it…
I hate planes and bridges, and whenever I get one one I have a habit of starting to graphically imagine a crash or engineering failure. That’s the normal part-- less normal is that I stop myself quickly because on some level I fear that I might have some power, like Carrie or something, to CAUSE it if I imagine it vividly enough-- like will the accident to happen.
I throw a pinch of salt over my shoulder if I spill any.
I try not to step on sidewalk cracks (don’t want to break my mother’s back)
I don’t ever set a hat on a bed.
I ALWAYS do this!! As I board I let my right hand touch the fuselage. No one would notice it at all. As I do it I think…“there’s a good girl…” like its a horse or something…
Thought I was the only one.
Hell, if that counts, then I claim theatre traditions–I don’t mention by name or quote from that Scottish play backstage, nor will I whistle. If I am involved with a show and someone transgresses, I’ll force them to leave the greenroom and do the ritual for readmittance. Also insist that the theatre maintain a fully functional Ghost Light. So mote it be.
I don’t look in the mirror in the dark.
I frequently invoke the traffic gods to give me a good AM commute, and don’t say thank you until AFTER I’ve gotten to work.
I swear, I thought I was the only one!
I have seven dicks.
I think superstitions are just hopes of invoking the supernatural, so let’s call it a wash.
I expand the fabric of my personal energy to fill my home. I sometimes surround people I love with it too.
Tris
Hah, well if I ever invent a time machine, first thing I’m going to do is pose in a bunch of photographs with anachronistic objects. Maybe even hold up a sign that says “Hello, Dr. PoopyPants. I know you’re watching.” in one.
But no, I don’t have any superstitions.