# Mundane Pointless Things that Elude Dopers **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 13, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640 "2014-03-13T20:38:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640/21 "2014-03-14T14:01:28Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I didn’t understand people long before it was a thing. I don’t understand. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640/22 "2014-03-14T14:05:14Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > We _all_ float down here. And when you’re one of us, you’ll float, too. > _insert evil clown smilie_ Location: Derry ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640/23 "2014-03-14T17:10:30Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I didn’t understand people long before it was a thing. I didn’t even understand that I didn’t understand people! It had to be pointed out to me! Am I using too many exclamation points these days? It seems like I use them a lot! ---
**Author:** ![AnthonyElite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@AnthonyElite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnthonyElite)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640/24 "2014-03-14T18:29:07Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I didn’t even understand that I didn’t understand people! It had to be pointed out to me! > > Am I using too many exclamation points these days? It seems like I use them a lot! I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640/25 "2014-03-14T18:55:39Z")
I don’t understand people who don’t understand other people’s lack of understanding. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640/26 "2014-03-14T19:32:16Z")
> [@Esox\_Lucius](#): > > Actually, “Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream.” > > I agree with the sentiment, just correcting the expression of it in the name of absolute, anal accuracy. Actually the real expression is: “Float your mind, relax downstream and turn off.” ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640/27 "2014-03-14T21:18:58Z")
People here try really hard to seem relevant. Obviously this particular section of the board is about Mundane Pointless Things, I get that. But I noticed a lot of threads have this downward slide with each poster trying to out-do each other. Except taken on its own, the stuff they are saying is kind of pathetic. Threads like the Keruig thread have this predictable sequence: -I don’t understand why people are so into [thing] -I don’t understand why fussing over different versions of [thing] matters. I can’t tell the difference! -Why even bother with [thing]? Even though I’ve never tried [thing] but still don’t see the point in anybody else being interested. Its like hipster logic, but incredibly stupid. And the _worst_ part is that in other threads people are fully aware of the situation- in the thread about people not getting what the big deal was about that gay discrimination law in Arizona, posters will meticulously deconstruct and explain the situation. In discussions about ‘woo’, history, urban legends, physics, etc people are also adept at showing self-awareness and worship critical thinking. But that same critical thinking seems to shrivel up and melt out their ears when it comes to other topics. They’re not self aware about these things. There’s bragfests about how outdated their phones, cars, and TV knowlege is. Imagine the pile-on some dopers would/do get if they went into Great Debates using their own logic to insist on woo, trying to debunk scientific theories with religious stuff, etc. They get ridiculed as crackpots and morons. But when the people who are so smug about how logical they are start bragging about mundane things they can’t seem to wrap their heads around, they get hilariously befuddled and defensive when the few self-aware people such as myself call them out on it. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640/28 "2014-03-14T21:35:07Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > I can’t be the first person on this messageboard to notice that there are some things that utterly escape some Dopers. > . . . > Threads like this seem to be phrased more in a “My vulcan mind doesn’t understand the logic in this activity” vs a genuine curiosity. > . . . > The same people who don’t think it should be a big deal to not want/care of kids/sports/dogs/[Insert Conventionally Accepted Hobby] seem to consider it a big deal that they dont drink/like alcohol, drugs, etc. > . . . > Which is fine. But what they don’t get is that nobody gives a shit. You don’t like kids/dogs/whatever? Nobody cares. Somebody razzing you on the Internet? So the fuck what? And that gets to my whole point of this thread: That a lot of people on the SDMB have an embarassing lack of self-awareness. If you’re weird, own it. If you have to trip over yourself rationalizing it, you’re not very confident about who you are. > > And making threads about how you don’t ‘get’ Women/Getting Drunk/Keurig machines isn’t some kind of backhanded bragging. Its just pathetic. Incubus, I think you may have missed the point of message boards – in particular the Straight Dope’s Message Boards, and especially the MPSIMS (Mundane Pointless Stuff I Must Share) board. In fact, the name of this particular board should have given you a clue and the fact that you seem to have missed it is…well… to quote your words above, “just pathetic” or at least “a genuine curiosity.” You see, the activity here isn’t just posting messages but _engaging in conversations_ over time. Yes, the medium and the interaction is slow, but a lot of the people who regularly visit this site and these boards are involved in activities that take a higher priority over responding to posts here (like photographing their cats or going out to get drunk or traveling via mass transit for some reason or another) and the ability to contribute opinions, views, reactions, and arguments – often with some form of an educated foundation and sometimes with a bit of humor (though sometimes hard to detect in text format) – is an enjoyable pastime that many of us consider to be an integral part of our daily routines. So it’s not that the thread-starting topics ‘utterly escape’ the post originators, but couching a matter of (passing) interest in such terms is a well-respected and oft-used manner of inviting discussion (humble opinions) on whatever-the-subject-is. Sometimes the resulting discussions are calm and factual, sometimes they’re heated and emotional, and sometimes a moderator finds it necessary to step in and remind us of the basic rules of civility. And see? You’ve initiated a post that demonstrates my point. A lot of people (me included, obviously) have responded to your original post, discussing and arguing and conversing about your complaint(s). I’ll assume that was your original intention (as opposed to just writing up a set of insults for us all to receive) but, then again, I tend to think people are inclined to be nice to each other, rather than assume everyone is rude without provocation. If this was just a message board, your original post would be there and the subsequent responses (and responses to responses) would either not exist or they would be separate un-linked messages scattered in dozens of their own original posts. We’ve gotten rather accustomed to SDMB as an acronym, but perhaps they should be renamed Straight Dope Conversation Sections. At least it’s easier to type SDCS with one hand.😃 –G! If you’ve never been tapped on the shoulder by a Moderator, then you’re not providing sufficient emotional investment in the conversations.:o ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2014, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640/29 "2014-03-15T01:43:07Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > This is going to sound harsh so early in the morning, **Incubus** , but sometimes I think you’re the one who needs a lesson in self-awareness. > > Ever since you started posting here years ago, you’ve posted from a perch of annoying self-righteousness. You think your commentary on your slacking coworkers, lazy friends, mundane family problems, and stupid Dopers is insightful and interesting. And maybe it is to some Dopers who are into that kind of shit. But frankly, it usually comes across as mean to me. Like you think you’re hot shit. > > But you’re just as much of a dope as the rest of us. > > And by the way, my special plea to you is to stop using"aspie" as a general insult. That seems to be your schtick nowadays. It’s juvenile and makes you look like a bully. I have a feeling that one day you’re going to use “aspie” to poke fun of someone in the real world, and the wrong person is going to be in earshot. Yep. I’ve been around about as long as both of you, and that is my impression as well. It’s what I expect any time I open one of his OPs. ---
**Author:** ![Athabasca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Athabasca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athabasca)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2014, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640/30 "2014-03-15T02:11:08Z")
> [@Grestarian](#): > > –G! > If you’ve never been tapped on the shoulder by a Moderator, then you’re not providing sufficient emotional investment in the conversations.:o Whew, I feel better now about my warning from the mods about a week after I joined. Seriously, not a joke. And I come here for another reason: hilarity. You lot are the funniest, best source of one liners and ongoing giggles. An example, a naïf poster asked, if an older woman dating a younger man is called a cougar, what do you call the younger man? The reply was instant: Ashton Kutcher. I nearly peed myself. Sorry, Incubus, if that is just too mundane, pointless and meaningless for you. ---
**Author:** ![Trick\_Rider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Trick\_Rider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trick_Rider)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2014, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640/31 "2014-03-15T23:18:14Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > People here try really hard to seem relevant. Obviously this particular section of the board is about Mundane Pointless Things, I get that. But I noticed a lot of threads have this downward slide with each poster trying to out-do each other. Except taken on its own, the stuff they are saying is kind of pathetic. > > Threads like the Keruig thread have this predictable sequence: > -I don’t understand why people are so into [thing] > -I don’t understand why fussing over different versions of [thing] matters. I can’t tell the difference! > -Why even bother with [thing]? Even though I’ve never tried [thing] but still don’t see the point in anybody else being interested. > > Its like hipster logic, but incredibly stupid. And the _worst_ part is that in other threads people are fully aware of the situation- in the thread about people not getting what the big deal was about that gay discrimination law in Arizona, posters will meticulously deconstruct and explain the situation. In discussions about ‘woo’, history, urban legends, physics, etc people are also adept at showing self-awareness and worship critical thinking. > > But that same critical thinking seems to shrivel up and melt out their ears when it comes to other topics. They’re not self aware about these things. There’s bragfests about how outdated their phones, cars, and TV knowlege is. > > Imagine the pile-on some dopers would/do get if they went into Great Debates using their own logic to insist on woo, trying to debunk scientific theories with religious stuff, etc. They get ridiculed as crackpots and morons. But when the people who are so smug about how logical they are start bragging about mundane things they can’t seem to wrap their heads around, they get hilariously befuddled and defensive when the few self-aware people such as myself call them out on it. It seems to me that you haven’t considered that some people actually don’t understand these things, but would like to. That’s why they’re starting the threads you’re talking about. You sound like you think people only communicate to build themselves up. ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640/32 "2014-03-16T15:49:44Z")
> [@Trick\_Rider](#): > > It seems to me that you haven’t considered that some people actually don’t understand these things, but would like to. That’s why they’re starting the threads you’re talking about. You sound like you think people only communicate to build themselves up. The tone of their posts is not “I’m unfamiliar with this, could you tell me more about it?”, its “BEEP BEEP BOOP WHAT ARE FEELINGS DOES NOT COMPUTE”. Threads tend to have a downward spiral where people will brag about progressively more pathetic things. Maybe to you it appears they are honestly naive, but this is the internet. I’m not complaining about nonsense posts, I’m pointing out that there are a lot of posts that think people are laughing _with_ them, but really they are laughing _at_ them. Its getting to the point that I’m just waiting for some '99er to come in to IMHO with the thread, “I never learned how to void myself in a toilet, why do people care so much about voiding in a toilet?” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640/33 "2014-03-16T16:08:54Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > The tone of their posts is not “I’m unfamiliar with this, could you tell me more about it?”, its “BEEP BEEP BOOP WHAT ARE FEELINGS DOES NOT COMPUTE”. I find this statement kind of hilarious, in light of [this thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=718334) ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640/34 "2014-03-16T16:30:39Z")
The OP should quit griping about other Dopers, and focus on making more hit records. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640/35 "2014-03-16T22:22:36Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > … self-diagnosed autistic introverted individuals Just out of curiousity, I’ve looked up your recent threads. This one, the “BBW”, and the one linked **Miller** linked to. In each one, you used “autism” or “aspie” as an insult. But there’s more! Here’s you in the [sushi](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17197910&postcount=155) thread doing it. And [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=17175973). And though this appears to be innocent curiosity, given your posting history I am skeptical. Are _you_ autistic? I ask because perserveration is a common symptom of those on the autism spectrum. ---
**Author:** ![Trick\_Rider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Trick\_Rider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trick_Rider)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640/36 "2014-03-17T05:54:33Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > The tone of their posts is not “I’m unfamiliar with this, could you tell me more about it?”, its “BEEP BEEP BOOP WHAT ARE FEELINGS DOES NOT COMPUTE”. > > Threads tend to have a downward spiral where people will brag about progressively more pathetic things. Maybe to you it appears they are honestly naive, but this is the internet. I’m not complaining about nonsense posts, I’m pointing out that there are a lot of posts that think people are laughing _with_ them, but really they are laughing _at_ them. > > Its getting to the point that I’m just waiting for some '99er to come in to IMHO with the thread, “I never learned how to void myself in a toilet, why do people care so much about voiding in a toilet?” :rolleyes: I’ve never seen that tone in any post. You can’t base your opinions off of exaggerations of what people have said. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640/37 "2014-03-17T06:12:54Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > But what they don’t get is that nobody gives a shit. You don’t like kids/dogs/whatever? Nobody cares. Somebody razzing you on the internet? So the fuck what? Apply your own thinking to your own post. If it isn’t yet a stated rule of the internet it ought to be: any post ‘razzing’ on other people’s posts as being unimportant, not worthy of care, sad, pathetic etc is by its very nature even more unimportant/uncareworthy/sad/pathetic etc than the posts it is attacking. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640/38 "2014-03-17T19:29:01Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > But that same critical thinking seems to shrivel up and melt out their ears when it comes to other topics. They’re not self aware about these things. There’s bragfests about how outdated their phones, cars, and TV knowlege is. Dude, why are you so fascinated with what other people do? Have you talked to someone about this? ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640/39 "2014-03-18T00:23:18Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Dude, why are you so fascinated with what other people do? Have you talked to someone about this? He’s probably not going to answer any of us. I asked a similar question of him in another thread he started and he’s studiously ignored everyone. So, I fear another bit of disappearing is in the works. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640/40 "2014-03-18T00:47:48Z")
Look, we all know those people who are proud of the fact that they don’t own a TV or whatever. But, while some people joke about everyone being like that here, it’s not really all that common. You may interpret people’s comments that way, but that rarely is the intent. Are there things that I think most Dopers are ignorant of? Sure. But I’ve not seen any indication they are proud of said ignorance. Mostly, they disagree that said ignorance exists. And, heck, it’s even possible that I’m wrong and they are right. But Dopers being proud of their ignorance is something I usually see others accusing them of, not something I see actually happening. It definitely happens a lot more in real life than it does here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-things-that-elude-dopers/683640.md?page=3)