# Surrounded by fools in April? kvetch about it here. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 1, 2013, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508 "2013-04-01T05:52:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508/401 "2013-04-24T03:28:11Z")
> [@thirdwarning](#): > > Did you tell her that? Please say you did. If you were talking to me, no, I didn’t. I’m not going to beat up a grieving mom while her kid is in the hospital. I will confess to gossiping about her, though. Everyone else who was asked to give up PTO and money agrees with me. The kid needs his mom. We hates the stupid mom, but we are sorry for the kid. Its kinda how I feel about kids who don’t ride in car seats. The parents deserve to suffer, but the kids…poor babies ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508/402 "2013-04-24T13:12:53Z")
Grandma has breast cancer. Caca ☹ She doesn’t know about the cancer yet but she’s been feeling real bad lately (small wonder :smack:) and getting one infection after another; she’s also visibly more hunched in just the last few weeks. She’s been feeling so badly that she’s asked my cousin to get her into an old folks’ home, despite having hated them her whole life. She would talk about how thisperson or thatperson “lived in her house all her life and look, they put her into an old folks’ home and she died”. Cousin and her are going to The Big Local Hospital tomorrow, the doctors will be looking at whether she’ll be getting surgery or not. The Gyn gave Cousin the diagnosis Monday, and she called her mother, who called mine, who couldn’t be arsed call me - I found out today, when I called Cousin to tell her I’m off work the rest of the week. The cancer and seeing Grandma so down make me sad. My mother will start making me mad as soon as I’m over the worst attack of sad. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508/403 "2013-04-24T14:26:33Z")
What a small small world. Last night I went for sushi, it was put on by a guy I know from another friend and Beertje and I were invited so WTH, lets go. All you can eat with a large group is fun! I walk in and sitting right beside my boyfriend is a guy I dated once, who is best friends with my best friend’s ex husband. (Got it?) And it turns out the guy I know from elsewhere was roomies with him for a bit, I think after the divorce even but of course why would that ever come up? I’m just surprised I didn’t meet him sooner. My friend circles just crossed wildly… The guy I dated once barely looked at me, or said two words to me. Hello, sitting across the table. I’m not going to be rude or anything but it would be nice to acknowledge me in conversation. I know our best friends hate each other but that is no cause to ignore me in a polite setting! ---
**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:** [April 24, 2013, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508/404 "2013-04-24T14:38:03Z")
What morons come up with security questions? I just had to pick one from a list which was entirely names of family, and questions like ‘where did you get married’. You know, the stuff it’d take 30 fucking seconds to find out from most people’s facebook pages, and the sort of thing any bitter ex-friends/partners, or especially family, would be likely know. Is it just me that thinks that’s pretty dumb? I’m damn sure I’m not the only person who doesn’t exactly trust all members of their extended family. It’s not just strangers who pick through your rubbish bin that might try and get into your account… ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508/405 "2013-04-24T15:03:41Z")
That, and it makes it difficult for people who haven’t married, or don’t have lots of extended family etc. etc. to even pick a question they HAVE an answer for … ☹ ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508/406 "2013-04-24T15:28:08Z")
That’s when you use other people’s families - the Flintstones, the Brady Bunch, the Cunninghams. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508/407 "2013-04-24T15:31:25Z")
I’ve got a name so long its security question sometimes consists of “remembering where do I have to chop it off”… Someone once suggested in these boards to pick a question and an answer which isn’t directly related. They said “something else”, but I think things such as turning “what was your alma mater?” into “what was your BFF’s alma mater?” may be easier to remember. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508/408 "2013-04-24T15:47:06Z")
I have a standard noun substitutions I use for generic security questions like that. So ‘Who was your best friend in grade school’ becomes ‘Who was your arch nemesis’ Create your own variations to suit yourself. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508/409 "2013-04-24T16:26:48Z")
I was thinking of answering all security questions with an obscenity but then the issue would be remembering which one I used. A friend of mine swears he answers every question “bullshit” but I don’t think the system will let you give the same answer to every question. Will it? If so I am so using bullshit. (Name of your first pet? bullshit. Where’d you go to high schoo? bullshit.) Has a certain ring of truth… ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508/410 "2013-04-24T17:07:39Z")
The sites I’ve used this on (What is your mother’s maiden name? Godzilla. What was the name of your first pet? Godzilla) have always accepted it. I know someone who uses a numeric string (Her phone number from highschool) says they take that, too. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508/411 "2013-04-24T17:26:59Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > I was thinking of answering all security questions with an obscenity but then the issue would be remembering which one I used. A friend of mine swears he answers every question “bullshit” but I don’t think the system will let you give the same answer to every question. Will it? If so I am so using bullshit. (Name of your first pet? bullshit. Where’d you go to high schoo? bullshit.) Has a certain ring of truth… Even if they don’t let you use the same word, it doesn’t mean you can’t use the same meaning: (Name of your first pet? bullshitthedog. Where’d you go to high school? bullshithigh. What model was your first car? bullshitmobile.) ---
**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:** [April 24, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508/412 "2013-04-24T17:35:24Z")
I’ve hit at least one that wouldn’t let you use the same answer twice. Yes, I was swearing at it. I’ve had to make a spreadsheet for passwords anyway, so I add the questions and answers to that. No way I’d remember them, even trying to stick to a theme. Passwords, especially, have too many different, mutually exclusive, requirements. Once you’ve got them written down, you can give any answer they’ll accept. ---
**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:** [April 24, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508/413 "2013-04-24T17:54:18Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > [Portland's "no on fluoride" morons - The BBQ Pit - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=689017) brought me back to rant. One of the receptionists where I work is anti-vax. Her kid in in the hospital now, dealing with chicken pox, its in his eyes. Its possible that he will go blind and/or die from this. > > She wants people to donate their PTO so she can be at the hospital with him. I’m kinda conflicted about this. I know the kid needs his Mom, but I think its wrong for her to expect us to give up our PTO because this is happening. Its totally her fault, IMO. I gave up some PTO for the kid, not for the idiot Mom. Well, that’s a big ol’ FUUUUUUUU… Poor kid. Too bad he lost the lottery and was born to someone too stupid to look after his health properly. I would find it _very_ difficult to donate some PTO to her (and not ream her up and down for her stupidity), but as you say, it isn’t the kid’s fault, and he’s the one suffering and the one who needs his mother. > [@flatlined](#): > > Finds a big box, starts putting air holes in it. 3 male kittens on the way on Monday. Not only will they bite and scratch and eat eyes, they will also spray every were 🙂 Sweet! I’ve given up on the program and mailed my taxes in now; the problem is that I forgot to put my receipts in, because I’m used to netfiling now. :smack: > [@Cheez\_Whia](#): > > I felt like Bucky Beaver when my bridge was put in, but it only took me a couple of days to get used to it. Hopefully, you’ll get used to it soon, **CW**! I think it fits well; I’m just not used to having three teeth welded together in that space. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508/414 "2013-04-24T17:55:59Z")
You can also have a husband and realize that you have no damned idea where the hell he went to grade school or what he called his first pet. And the account is a joint account. My husband and I have agreed on a series of passwords we use together but once in a while I run into really stupid questions and have no idea how the hell he answered. ---
**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:** [April 24, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508/415 "2013-04-24T18:02:12Z")
I’m sorry to hear about your grandma, **Nava** (and your mom - my husband runs into the same thing with his family - he’s always the last to know everything). I wish her all the best. ---
**Author:** ![TheFaerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TheFaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFaerie)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508/416 "2013-04-24T18:19:15Z")
The left side of my torso from my neck to my upper abdomen hurts. I can barely turn my head to the left. All I did was sleep! Ouch! ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508/417 "2013-04-24T18:42:37Z")
I was looking through a book fair set up on the ground floor of the building I work at, and noticed that they were selling the boxed trilogy of the great 50 Shades of Gray saga. Now, I’ve seen these books everywhere, and I mean everywhere. At the office, in bookstores, at a friggin daycare once! And, in general, I don’t mind. I’ve never read them. By all accounts they’re horrid but, you know, to each their own. Here’s what annoys me, though. They’re pornography. Pornography in written form in a nicely glossed book with a cute little necktie on the cover. But pornography all the same. Yet no one bats an eye. But if I were to casually leave my DVD of “Barely Legal Teens - Tied up and Spanked #3!” on my desk at work, I’d be written up, if not fired. But it’s the same goddamned thing, just with pictures! ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508/418 "2013-04-24T19:35:17Z")
I’m sorry about your Grandmother **Nava**. I hope things don’t get really bad. **Enderw24** , I’ve never read 50 Shades of Gray, so I don’t know if they are porn or not. I used to work at a public library. Did you know that Anne Rice wrote very explicit BSDM porn? I didn’t until I was shelving the books in general fiction. I have to confess that I was surprised that De Sade was also a very popular general fiction author. Heck, have you ever read a Harlequin Romance? They aren’t called “bodice rippers” for nothing. Don’t judge me people, the only other reading material during the weekend that I read them was the cereal box and I already had it memorized. Its possible that I have a greater tolerance to that sort of stuff because I used to ride the bus in Okinawa. It wasn’t just words on their magazines, they had drawings and pictures. :eek: All that being said…when I take gun magazines to read at work, I always slip them into a folder so nobody can see what I’m reading unless they look over my shoulder. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508/419 "2013-04-24T20:07:02Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > All that being said…when I take gun magazines to read at work, I always slip them into a folder so nobody can see what I’m reading unless they look over my shoulder. 😕 In _TEXAS?_ Wait. Or are you just afraid that you’ll be pressured to contribute them to the reading library in the break room? ---
**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:** [April 24, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508/420 "2013-04-24T20:23:37Z")
I used to get hassled at one job because my book was too thick (good-naturedly, mind you). Sheesh. I’ve been an avid reader for about 40 years now - regular-sized books are just an appetizer. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrounded-by-fools-in-april-kvetch-about-it-here/654508.md?page=22)