# If they knew what you REALLY thought... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 14, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-knew-what-you-really-thought/148580 "2003-01-14T21:07:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-knew-what-you-really-thought/148580/1 "2003-01-14T21:07:10Z")
…how much would people like you? Would everyone think you were a nice lass/lad who generally has nothing but pleasant thoughts about everyone. _Or_ would they be surprised to find what evil thoughts are floating in your head? Smiling in their faces while thinking awful, awful thoughts about them. I figure people would think about the same about me if they knew what I thought. Mainly b/c they do know what I think. Hence, I am not very popular. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-knew-what-you-really-thought/148580/2 "2003-01-14T21:28:00Z")
Many people would be surprised. I constantly have evil thoughts in my head while passing the idiots down the hall at work, pleasantly smiling as if I just sniffed a rose. Only if they knew… Suckers. I wouldn’t care if they liked me or not. Na- na-na-na-na-na **sticking tongue out** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-knew-what-you-really-thought/148580/3 "2003-01-14T21:33:17Z")
There’s a certain female co-worker of mine who would have me beaten by thugs, would wear a parka around me, and then file a sexual harassment suit. She’d be totally justified in it, but man she’s got a nice chest. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-knew-what-you-really-thought/148580/4 "2003-01-14T21:39:13Z")
There’s probably a few people in my office who would suddenly want to keep a safe distance from me. 🙂 There’s probably a lot people who would take a step back and realise i was not the person they assumed i was (i’m a fairly introverted person and don’t talk about myself much). ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-knew-what-you-really-thought/148580/5 "2003-01-14T21:47:25Z")
I’m in the same boat as **Legomancer**. A certain female co-worker would probably slap me everytime she passed me in the hall. Everyone else would realize how much of a pervert I am and not the nice, chaste, wholesome young man I appear to be. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-knew-what-you-really-thought/148580/6 "2003-01-14T21:48:19Z")
I think some people would dislike me or at least have a less positive perception of me if they knew what I really thought of them. Since I am quiet and don’t say much to people a lot of people don’t know much about me as it is, and likewise, I don’t know enough about most of the people around me to formulate an opinion about them. I know a lot of people would probably be surprised to learn what I am really like if they could read my thoughts. And I’d been fired long, long ago if the attractive female workers around me knew what I thought of _them!_ ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-knew-what-you-really-thought/148580/7 "2003-01-14T22:08:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Siemsi \* > \*\*Suckers. > > I wouldn’t care if they liked me or not. Na- na-na-na-na-na > **sticking tongue out** 😃 \*\* Then why do you walk down the hall with that stupid look on your face? [sup] > [@](#): > > pleasantly smiling as if I just sniffed a rose. [/sup] And I believe that “sticking tongue out” is: 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-knew-what-you-really-thought/148580/8 "2003-01-14T22:11:27Z")
Because I play the political bullshit games like everyone else. I mean, I DO care about what the VP’s think…(my bosses) but that’s about it. \*\*thanks for the smilie…forgot about that one. And it’s not really a stupid look, as a sarcastic smile- look. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-knew-what-you-really-thought/148580/9 "2003-01-15T00:34:31Z")
Hmm, if my exes knew what I thought of them and what I was telling people behind their backs. I kid. There’s nothing I haven’t said to their faces. Wonder what they’re saying about me. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-knew-what-you-really-thought/148580/10 "2003-01-15T00:40:55Z")
There’s little that goes through my head that doesn’t come out of my mouth, so people probably wouldn’t think any less of me than they do now. I like to tell the truth, the whole truth and other things not related to the truth and yes, it tends to get me in trouble, but hey, at least I’m telling you what other people are only thinking about you. ---
**Author:** ![Essured](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Essured](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Essured)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-knew-what-you-really-thought/148580/11 "2003-01-15T00:47:34Z")
Some people would like me a lot less, and probably want nothing to do with me. Others would probably like me more. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-knew-what-you-really-thought/148580/12 "2003-01-15T01:28:40Z")
_"And if my thought-dreams could be seen They’d probably put my head in a guillotine But it’s all right, Ma…_ —Bob Dylan ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-knew-what-you-really-thought/148580/13 "2003-01-15T03:26:55Z")
I hate having to smile at a certain college prez every time he nods and smiles to me. He has no idea how many times I’ve wished I could knock his ass down the stairs of the admin. bldg. If he knew about this, he would only have a vague idea as to the reasons. My reasons are more personal and intense than he will ever know. ---
**Author:** ![g8rguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@g8rguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/g8rguy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-knew-what-you-really-thought/148580/14 "2003-01-15T03:47:26Z")
Oh, I think I would have to leave my office about half a step ahead of a lynch mob. On the other hand, since I’m a bit of an arrogant outspoken snot, some of them probably already have at least some idea of what I really think, and I’m still breathing, so… ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-knew-what-you-really-thought/148580/15 "2003-01-15T04:43:14Z")
I have obsessive-compulsive disorder. 'Nuff said. 😉 It’s under control, thank goodness, but I think the residual obtrusive thoughts and imagery would keep most people a fair distance away. Plus, I have really odd combinations of political views, a draconian sense of justice, and a fondness for “dark” humor. Ranchoth (“I think I ranked between ‘hockey player’ and ‘serial killer.’”) ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-knew-what-you-really-thought/148580/16 "2003-01-15T05:11:01Z")
Forget knowing my thoughts, I’d be in a world of trouble if the rest of my office were more fluent in English. I don’t think people would be disturbed by what I think of them so much as the general thoughts floating around my head all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-knew-what-you-really-thought/148580/17 "2003-01-15T05:18:10Z")
Scary though…a lot of people would hate me if they knew what I really thought of them, or be scared at how angry I get at them. My closer friends would probably still be OK with me - not that I have many friends. One I respect, and he’s aware of the faults he has that I see in him, though he doesn’t see them as faults and I haven’t ever said anything to him about it because it’s not a big deal to me. I have another friend that I have a lot of problems with, but I’ve been in enough fights with her that it’s all already come to the surface, no surprises. As to my future ex-wife, sometimes I think she believes I resent her more than I do, sometimes I get the feeling she has no idea how much I resent her. I do know there are things I’ve wanted to say to her that I kept inside because she would probably be extremely upset to hear them, and even when I was my angriest I didn’t want to face the retaliation to my breaking out the big guns. As to the reactions of women I find attractive, I don’t think too many would be surprised. When I find a woman attractive I don’t hide it, I try to let her know in subtle, inoffensive ways, that way if she decides she is attracted to me she knows she has a chance with me.