# How to get immediate attention from people **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 16, 2011, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-immediate-attention-from-people/606379 "2011-12-16T04:28:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-immediate-attention-from-people/606379/41 "2011-12-23T12:04:41Z")
> [@carlotta](#): > > Hey I haven’t seen the cat in awhile…wonder where she is…“kitty! kitty?” No kitty. > > Guess I’ll read the paper. Ah yes, [works every time](http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/the-location-of-your-cat.jpeg). That, and going into absolutely any room in the house and simply _closing the door_. Bam - there’s a paw stuffed under the door in seconds. Instant kitty! Friends tell me the best way to get pregnant quickly is to plan a huge trip or event about 8 months away. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-immediate-attention-from-people/606379/42 "2011-12-23T16:14:37Z")
Just pointing out that as of this moment, the next thread after **How to get immediate attention from people** is \*\*Farting In Public (Outside) \*\* ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-immediate-attention-from-people/606379/43 "2011-12-23T21:32:04Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Factoid of life: The other lane always moves faster until you get into it. Life’s quandary: it always seems greener on the other side. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-immediate-attention-from-people/606379/44 "2012-01-20T16:35:08Z")
> [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](#): > > **Your SO** > > Go to a remote section of the house and do something that you prefer to do alone. > > **Anyone** > > Rip a big stinky fart. You could be the last person on earth at the Apocalypse, but confine yourself to a small space and rip a paint peeler, and I promise you someone will appear around the corner and stand right in the middle of the storm. Well, I just experienced this combo. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-immediate-attention-from-people/606379/45 "2012-01-20T16:45:21Z")
Firearms have always worked for me. Whenever I set a 9mm automatic on my desk, I immediately have the undivided attention of every student in the room. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-immediate-attention-from-people/606379/46 "2012-01-20T17:55:05Z")
> [@Phnord\_Prephect](#): > > At the risk of giving away my age, I used to refer to the cigarette as a ‘magical stick of food-summoning’, in that when waiting for one’s order in a restaurant, the act of lighting a cigarette inevitably caused one’s waiter to appear with one’s food. ```auto =============================== || || || You must be at least || || this old ___________ || || to get this reference. || || || =============================== | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | \\\\\\\|/////// ``` My dad demonstrated this phenomenon too, when I was a kid. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-immediate-attention-from-people/606379/47 "2012-01-20T18:04:22Z")
A few months ago I was having a hell of a time hailing a cab. There were a few businessmen waiting for one too, but they were in line behind me. After a long while I ignited a stick of cab summoning. It worked immediately. “Aww, right when you lit up!” said one of the businessmen. “Are you kidding?” I replied. “This is what made it come!” I think I turned them into smokers. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-immediate-attention-from-people/606379/48 "2012-01-20T18:31:27Z")
Another way to get a cab to appear, if you are a person of color, is to ask a white guy to hail the cab for you. I was walking down the sidewalk and a black guy asked me to hail a cab because they wouldn’t stop for him. I saw him trying, but the cabs wouldn’t stop. I raised my hand and a cab stopped immediately. He got in and went on his way. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-immediate-attention-from-people/606379/49 "2012-01-20T19:42:24Z")
If I want my wife to call me at home all I have to do is play Legend of Zelda and get to one of the cinematic cut scenes that you can’t pause or rewatch. It never fails. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-immediate-attention-from-people/606379/50 "2012-01-20T21:48:44Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Need a priest, a holy man, or perhaps even the local neighorhood gossip? > > Step One. Make sure the doorbell is broken. > > Step Two. Leave the side fence gate unlocked. > > Step Three. Aquire a goat. > > Step Four. Do something kinky in the backyard with said goat. > > PS. I got this advice from a fellow doper but I am sworn to secrecy as to who it was. Okay. Which of you ex-Mods broke the Oath of Silence about the goat thing? ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-immediate-attention-from-people/606379/51 "2012-01-20T21:57:38Z")
For some reason the term paint peeler sent me into gails of laughter. And want your car to stop making that annoying undiagnosed sound? Take a mechanic with you every where you go. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-immediate-attention-from-people/606379/52 "2012-01-20T22:28:01Z")
Back when I worked in a cube, all I needed to do to get someone to stop by was scratch myself in a personal spot. They never wanted to shake hands, either. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-immediate-attention-from-people/606379/53 "2012-01-25T18:58:40Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > For some reason the term paint peeler sent me into gails of laughter. > > And want your car to stop making that annoying undiagnosed sound? Take a mechanic with you every where you go. Additionally, if you want your computer problem to go away, call over the support person (I have several people here convinced I am magic). ---
**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:** [January 25, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-immediate-attention-from-people/606379/54 "2012-01-25T19:06:50Z")
My sister has a knack for calling just at the climax of whatever movie I happen to be watching. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-immediate-attention-from-people/606379/55 "2012-01-26T16:08:15Z")
If I’m having one of those days when no one seems to be answering my e-mails or picking up the phone when I call; all I have to do is put off going to the bathroom for an extra 45 minutes. Every single one of them will be lining the hallway waiting to shoot the breeze. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-immediate-attention-from-people/606379.md?page=2)