# Mundane Things that Make you Feel irrationally Embarrassed **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 13, 2019, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595 "2019-08-13T11:28:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595/21 "2019-08-14T16:29:16Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Then I feel like an idiot, yelling at a phone with no person on the other end. I had an even more embarrassing experience along these lines. I called my investment company with a question about a CD ladder. My conversation with the machine went like this: Machine: \ Me: I have a question about a CD ladder. Machine: \ Me: No. Machine: \ Me: I have a question about a CD ladder. Machine: \ Me: No! After something like 4 rounds of this, I just wanted to say something just to get me to a human, so I yelled “Just give me an agent you stupid machine!”. It then said “Transferring you to an agent about _just give me a agent you stupid machine_”, the last part being a recording of my outburst. Then I realized that the system was probably going to play that recording for the agent too before I talked to him. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595/22 "2019-08-14T17:32:23Z")
Even at age 48, I still get a little nervous buying alcohol and sexual products. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595/23 "2019-08-14T18:11:19Z")
I don’t like saying the names of songs. As in, if someone asked me what my favorite song is, I would feel dumb saying _Old Town Road_(it’s not, it’s just the first thing that came to mind)and would first try saying “that new one by Billy Ray Cyrus”. Some songs titles sound more foolish than others, of course, but I feel self conscious about it in almost any case. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595/24 "2019-08-14T18:31:37Z")
My shoes never cease to amuse. The lil’wrekker is mortified by them. She takes incessant pix of my feet when we’re out together. I have now turned it into a game of how much can I embarrass her! I just purchased a pair of tie-dyed crocs. She’s gonna die when I wear them with my cat socks.😃 ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595/25 "2019-08-14T18:40:13Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > When I go to meetings at work, I bring my laptop with my mouse still attached, because I hate touchpads. I try to look cool and professional while walking to the meeting, but sometimes the mouse will slide out of my hand and hit the floor. If I detach the mouse and carry it separately, I still have the same issue. It will somehow work its way out of my hand or pocket and hit the floor. It’s most distressing. Have you tried a wireless mouse? They work great. Just as good as a wired one and the batteries last a long time. You can easily slip it in your pocket when you go to your meeting. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595/26 "2019-08-14T19:14:16Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > If that’s the thing that bugs you the most, you can buy little plastic shims for next to nothing at any hardware store in the plumbing aisle. Stick a few under the toilet, snap them off and it’ll stop rocking. Great, I’ll carry them around forever until I find an unlevel toilet. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595/27 "2019-08-14T19:17:34Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Have you tried a wireless mouse? They work great. Just as good as a wired one and the batteries last a long time. You can easily slip it in your pocket when you go to your meeting. Wireless mouses are the devil. Batteries give out at the most inconvenient time, and the supply lady is sometimes out of replacements. At least this way, I only have one power supply to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595/28 "2019-08-14T21:01:32Z")
I have a quiet little voice that goes about thisfar from my mouth and then dies. So I go to the counter to order something… “Hi, I’d like a sesame bagel with veggie cream cheese, and an everything bagel with…” 😕 Deli counter person turns their back to me and starts making what I’ve ordered to far. I don’t know whether to keep speaking or not. I don’t know whether he can still hear me. I don’t know whether or not it would be rude to raise my voice. :o ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595/29 "2019-08-14T22:13:28Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Wireless mouses are the devil. Batteries give out at the most inconvenient time, and the **supply lady** is sometimes out of replacements. At least this way, I only have one power supply to worry about. What my life needs is a “supply lady”. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595/30 "2019-08-14T22:17:09Z")
I hate the necessity of making small talk at the barber, but I’m pretty much used to it. But when I’m still waiting for my haircut and there’s a conversation between the barber and the current customer, I feel uncomfortable joining in, like it’s their own private conversation and I’m caught eavesdropping. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595/31 "2019-08-14T22:24:01Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > (Trying to make an appointment) > “If you’re calling about an appointment, press 1.” > (I press 1.) > “If you’re calling to make, cancel or reschedule an appointment, press 1” > (As I press 1) _ **“DIDN’T I JUST TELL YOU THAT?”** _ > > Then I feel like an idiot, yelling at a phone with no person on the other end. I feel like an idiot talking on the phone at all. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595/32 "2019-08-14T22:38:28Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > She takes incessant pix of my feet when we’re out together. Hey. Pix, or it didn’t happen. You know the drill. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595/33 "2019-08-15T02:41:48Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > I had an even more embarrassing experience along these lines. I called my investment company with a question about a CD ladder. My conversation with the machine went like this: > > Machine: \ > Me: I have a question about a CD ladder. > Machine: \ > Me: No. > Machine: \ > Me: I have a question about a CD ladder. > Machine: \ > Me: No! > > After something like 4 rounds of this, I just wanted to say something just to get me to a human, so I yelled “Just give me an agent you stupid machine!”. It then said “Transferring you to an agent about _just give me a agent you stupid machine_”, the last part being a recording of my outburst. Then I realized that the system was probably going to play that recording for the agent too before I talked to him. The following is a very useful website for preventing, or at least reducing, this kind of thing. > **[GetHuman: Call Companies and Fix Customer Service Issues Faster](https://gethuman.com/)** > > Phone numbers for companies and tools for avoiding waiting on hold, other contact information like live chat, tips, secrets, and ways to solve customer service problems faster and easier than ever. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595/34 "2019-08-15T09:50:37Z")
Calling someone I don’t know, to make an appointment to get something fixed. In German, which is not my native language. And the person I am talking to probably speaks mostly a dialect of German which does not match the “proper” German I use. And I tend to miss the person’s name, so I’m not able to repeat it back, unless I ask them their name again. Add to all this, I’ll do this at my desk where there are native speakers around me, and at least one of them will be happy\* to tell me my mistakes after I get off the phone. - I have actually asked my coworkers to correct me, but to limit it to once per person, per day, so neither of us get overwhelmed. It’s helpful to me, but sometimes demoralizing. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595/35 "2019-08-15T11:43:55Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I hate the necessity of making small talk at the barber… This is part of why I stopped going to barber shops about 20 years ago (I just cut my own hair at home now with an electric trimmer and guards of various lengths). The other part is when they always started by asking “OK, how do you want it cut?” I don’t fuckin’ know, I just want it shorter! I always ended up feeling like a dumbass about hair and a dumbass about smalltalk between me and a total stranger with whom I have absolutely nothing in common and whom I’m unlikely to ever see again. Happy to leave all that nonsense behind. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595/36 "2019-08-15T12:25:47Z")
I am a little hard of hearing, or understanding, or something. If we’re talking in a loud environment, or the person has a thick accent, I have to as them to repeat themselves a thousand times. Also I have trouble listening to people if they talk for more than 10 seconds at a time. My brain registers it as likely being a boring monologue, and tunes it out. But I have some autistic co-workers who talk like that all the time, so I struggle to keep up. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595/37 "2019-08-15T12:30:13Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > TThe other part is when they always started by asking “OK, how do you want it cut?” I don’t fuckin’ know, I just want it shorter! I hate going to Subway for this reason. They have a picture menu of sandwiches. \*Me: \* “#7 looks tasty, I’ll have one of those.” _Sandwich Artist:_ “What do you want on it?” _Me:_ “I dunno, whatever goes on #7? You’re the one who went to Sandwich Art School, not me.” So then I have to tell them exactly what I think goes in a #7, which I find annoying because they should call themselves sandwich craftsmen or sandwich enthusiasts if they’re going to be like that. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595/38 "2019-08-15T14:45:57Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I hate the necessity of making small talk at the barber, but I’m pretty much used to it. But when I’m still waiting for my haircut and there’s a conversation between the barber and the current customer, I feel uncomfortable joining in, like it’s their own private conversation and I’m caught eavesdropping. I make a big show of removing my hearing aid and placing it in its little case. I like to sit with my eyes closed when my hair/beard is being cut. If the barber happens to say anything, unless it’s important, I pretend I didn’t hear. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595/39 "2019-08-15T15:33:41Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > If that’s the thing that bugs you the most, you can buy little plastic shims for next to nothing at any hardware store in the plumbing aisle. Stick a few under the toilet, snap them off and it’ll stop rocking. Or, you know, tighten up the bolts that hold it down. 99% of the time they’ve just loosened up a little bit. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595/40 "2019-08-15T16:22:09Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Or, you know, tighten up the bolts that hold it down. 99% of the time they’ve just loosened up a little bit. Great, now he has to carry shims AND an adjustable wrench around until he finds an unlevel toilet. > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Great, I’ll carry them around forever until I find an unlevel toilet. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-things-that-make-you-feel-irrationally-embarrassed/838595.md?page=3)