# Intimidation: the MMP **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [February 4, 2013, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296 "2013-02-04T11:31:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296/1 "2013-02-04T11:31:58Z")
As part of a weight loss challenge at my local Y I received a new plan for working out. Today I start weight training in the circuit room. I find this intimidating because I don’t know where the circuit room is! Anything dumb that you find intimidating? 🙂 Hijack away! ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296/2 "2013-02-04T11:35:28Z")
The circuit room is where all the electrical circuits are. It’s a trap!! :eek: Dumb things I’m afraid of… well, _dumb things_ (and dumb people) for starters. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296/3 "2013-02-04T11:43:29Z")
Sometimes I find talking on the phone intimidating. It makes no sense - I’m generally in the safety of my space when I’m on the phone - either in my house or in my car. The person I’m talking to can’t do anything to me. Even if I come across as an idiot, so what? But sometimes it freaks me out. I’m sure it’s linked to some long-forgotten childhood trauma. 😛 Good morning! I gave up on the stoopit football game just before 10 when I was sure Baltimore was going to give it away. Instead, I was watching a show about the first 5 years of Saturday Night Live. OK, I did flip back a few times and saw the Ravens did win, but it was almost 11 when I turned off the TV and I’m now exhausted. Stoopit Monday. It’s cold and we’re promised more snow today, but no accumulation, so there’s that. I’ve already decided that supper is clean-out-the-fridge tonight. Other than that, another day at the office. Happy Monday! ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296/4 "2013-02-04T11:47:08Z")
Talking in the phone can definitely be intimidating to me, too. Conflict. Ugh, I’m majorly conflict adverse. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296/5 "2013-02-04T11:50:39Z")
2nd! I am only intimidated by [her](http://www.lindacraft.com/?gclid=CJmJ19HJnLUCFUOK4AodUgIAEQ):eek: Up, caffeinated, off to irk ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296/6 "2013-02-04T12:03:45Z")
Usually it’s me doing the intimidating, or so I’m told! It’s extremely windy but sunny here today, there are some very tall and very bare trees across the road from my second-floor office and I have been watching one with a bird’s nest in it. How those poor birds don’t get motion sickness and fall out of the next is a mystery to me. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296/7 "2013-02-04T12:39:01Z")
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up, caffienated and at irk. 'Tis a chilly 34 Amurrkin out with a predicted high of 60. Another Winter’s day in south Jawja. I guess the phone kinda does intimidate me as well as I hate talkin’ on the phone at irk or at da cave. The shear volume of “paperless” paperirk at irk is somewhat intimidatin’ as well. There is just sooooooooo much of it! A lot of it is also very repititious CYA stuff which makes me stabby as well. I got rid of most of the leftovers from the bday celebration to the point that I have just enough for **N.O.L.** today and dindin tonight. This makes me happy as I did not want a whole bunch of turkey ‘n dressin’ to consume this week. YAY! Today I have an appointment with the doc at 8:45 A.M., an appointment to get somebody started in trainin’ and as usual a sea of paperirk. Rah. Happy Monday Y’all! ---
**Author:** ![sangfroid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@sangfroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sangfroid)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296/8 "2013-02-04T12:58:45Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > _[snip]_ The shear volume of “paperless” paperirk at irk is somewhat intimidatin’ as well. There is just sooooooooo much of it! **A lot of it is also very repititious CYA stuff which makes me stabby as well.** _[snip]_ And here I thought I was the only one… That CYA crapolla makes me even more than stabby sometimes, **swampy**. Almost seems like some work folk these days just gotta justify their existence (and paycheck). Hope y’all don’t mind a stranger joining in! also, a Big Hello to **dogbutler**! Long time, no see. 🙂 Dang if that realtor ain’t straight outta the [uncanny valley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley) d/b - kinda creeepy… ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296/9 "2013-02-04T13:00:58Z")
> [@sangfroid](#): > > Hope y’all don’t mind a stranger joining in! Now that you’ve joined in… you’re not a stranger! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296/10 "2013-02-04T13:13:48Z")
When I was a teacher, the most intimidating thing I faced was talking to parents. Go figure. In five years, I think I had maybe three unpleasant interactions with parents, and on each of them, I was completely in the right and had the backing of my principal. Nowadays, I get intimidated by my voicemail. I see that red light on my phone, and I want to put black tape over it. Of course, there was a voicemail waiting for me when I got in. _sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296/11 "2013-02-04T13:17:18Z")
> [@Noone\_Special](#): > > Now that you’ve joined in… you’re not a stranger! 🙂 Actually, you have to be pretty strange to run with this crowd… Except for me, because I’m nice, dammit! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jynxster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jynxster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jynxster)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296/12 "2013-02-04T13:26:32Z")
[quote=“phouka, post:10, topic:649296”] Nowadays, I get intimidated by my voicemail. QUOTE] Phouka, did you send the ebil voicemail pixie over to my desk this morning? 'Cause I had that scary red light too. Of course it turned out that someone but-dialed me and I had a two minute recording that sounded like the teaher from Charlie Brown. I am officially sick of hearing about the “blackout superbowl conspiracy” from my husband. According to him the whole NFL thing is rigged by the folks in Las Vegas. What ever dude! ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296/13 "2013-02-04T13:38:28Z")
Perhaps I did, **Jynx**. Perhaps I did. Mine turned out to be a departmental voicemail on a sev ticket. I had to check with my boss that it had been taken care of. (_ah-HEM_, oh, on-call tech person, it’s considered right and proper to follow up with an email saying the problem is being dealt with. Otherwise the rest of us fret.) Yesterday was my father’s 85th birthday. Physically, he’s getting frail - showing some spinal curvature, not getting around as fast. Mentally, he can hold a conversation, but it’s pretty clear that he doesn’t track for longer than about ten minutes. My whole life, he’s joked that he’s only 39 years old. So now I’m joking back that he’s started his third set of 39. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296/14 "2013-02-04T13:43:45Z")
I am intimidated by the thought of packing and moving blurf ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296/15 "2013-02-04T14:00:10Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > I am intimidated by the thought of packing and moving > > blurf That is not a dumb thing to be intimidated by. I HATE moving and packing. You can do it, though. You’ve made quite a bit of progress so far. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296/16 "2013-02-04T14:19:34Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > I am intimidated by the thought of packing and moving > > blurf I have moved enough times that the next time I have to move, I am going to set fire to my apartment, and the only stuff I can take with me is the stuff I rescue before the place is completely engulfed in flames. That’s how much I hate moving. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296/17 "2013-02-04T14:25:38Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > When I was a teacher, the most intimidating thing I faced was talking to parents. Of course. Parents believe their child is the most intelligent, beautiful, kindest, etc., etc., etc. that ever lived. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296/18 "2013-02-04T14:26:45Z")
Morning. I didn’t have to watch the game to see who won, all the fireworks outside at 10:30 something let me know. I was so hoping the Ravens would lose just because I’m mean like that. I don’t even want to look at Facebook today because it’s going to be all Ravens and religion. I don’t get the love for football I’m intimidated by confrontation. I avoid it forever, until I can’t take it anymore and blow up. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296/19 "2013-02-04T14:36:32Z")
I’m intimidated by phoning or going to see people about jobs. I’m fine sending letters or emails, but going and dealing with a real live person directly? Eep! It’s silly, I used to give talks and stuff for a job, and I’m fine dealing with bosses and co-workers once I’m there (and I’ve been told I don’t seem nervous in interviews at all), it’s just the whole first contact thing. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to hide under the bed for a bit after thinking about that. ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296/20 "2013-02-04T14:37:48Z")
mean people intimidate me. I seem to make certain people hate me, and damned if I know why. Most people genuinely like me, but occasionally I meet someone who just can’t stand me, and I get easily intimidated by them. And the rub is, if I apologize to them they usually see it as a sign of weakness and submission and continue to intimate me even more. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intimidation-the-mmp/649296.md?page=2)