# I think my pet rock is sick. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 24, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-pet-rock-is-sick/679626 "2014-01-24T16:53:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-pet-rock-is-sick/679626/61 "2014-01-28T17:59:06Z")
This thread is awesome. Kudos, OP. ---
**Author:** ![Jungian\_Camisole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@Jungian\_Camisole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jungian_Camisole)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-pet-rock-is-sick/679626/62 "2014-01-28T18:46:02Z")
This thread is making me sedimental for the rocks of yesteryear. Especially my punk rock. ---
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-pet-rock-is-sick/679626/63 "2014-01-29T13:39:07Z")
Well, you might want to know where it came from. If it’s from west Virginia area it might just be a Hillbilly Rock, and if it is, well, you have to beat it with a drum. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-pet-rock-is-sick/679626/64 "2014-01-29T17:39:23Z")
If the rock is flint, it could be just taking a knap. ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-pet-rock-is-sick/679626/65 "2014-01-30T01:37:27Z")
Speaking of schist, as gnoitall did, did you try a laxative? Don’t worry; the solution to this gneiss and silicate situation shale be found. In the meantime, read it some Kafka to counteract any metamorphic tendencies. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-pet-rock-is-sick/679626/66 "2014-01-30T05:18:28Z")
Are you sure there’s no alteration and discoloration? Did you wet the surface before putting it under the lens? Did you take temperature readings 6 hours apart? My advice is to wait for at least 10,000 years. That’s how long it takes an alteration or new mineralization to incubate. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-pet-rock-is-sick/679626/67 "2014-01-30T12:16:13Z")
> [@Esox\_Lucius](#): > > If the rock is flint, it could be just taking a knap. True, in which case you must be very cautious when you wake it, as it can be rather dangerous. Very carefully, one should gently lift the rock to height of no more than 2 1/2 feet, release it, and run away quickly. As most pet rock owners know this poses a very _real risk_; not only to the pet rock, but to the pet rock owner. Thankfully, there are safe places readily available to the responsible pet rock owner [to accomplish such a task.](http://static.emedco.com/media/catalog/product/Mining--Quarrying-Signs---Heavy-Duty-79842-ba.gif) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-pet-rock-is-sick/679626/68 "2014-01-30T15:53:32Z")
Maybe it’s despondent over the way gays and blacks are discriminated against. If it’s one of them there fruity pebbles or cocoa pebbles. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-pet-rock-is-sick/679626/69 "2014-01-30T16:57:47Z")
> [@Tapiotar](#): > > Speaking of schist, as gnoitall did, did you try a laxative? > [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Very carefully, one should gently lift the rock to height of no more than 2 1/2 feet, release it, and run away quickly. Do NOT do either of these if your rock is susceptible to motion sickness. At the very least, you’ll need to give it Gravol. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-pet-rock-is-sick/679626/70 "2014-01-30T17:11:02Z")
Are you sure he’s a gabbro? Some pet stores aren’t very good at species identification and will just slap on whichever plausible category is popular. He could be a fine-grained conglomerate, in which case the behavior that’s worrying you would be completely normal. ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-pet-rock-is-sick/679626/71 "2014-01-30T17:58:40Z")
Whatever you do , keep it away from paper and scissors… 'cuz they’re gonna _fiiii-iiight_! ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-pet-rock-is-sick/679626/72 "2014-01-30T18:42:53Z")
So…how often do you take your pet rock out for a roll? ---
**Author:** ![Roo1117](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Roo1117](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roo1117)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2014, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-pet-rock-is-sick/679626/73 "2014-02-01T02:14:12Z")
I think you need to take your rock to a twelve-hour long party… Rock Around the Clock. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2014, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-pet-rock-is-sick/679626/74 "2014-02-01T05:44:17Z")
Then he’ll be ready for bedrock. ---
**Author:** ![LongJohn46](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@LongJohn46](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LongJohn46)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-pet-rock-is-sick/679626/75 "2014-02-02T17:23:14Z")
If Dwayne is really a gabbro, you are in for a very plutonic relationship, long-term. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-pet-rock-is-sick/679626.md?page=3)