# Things NOT to say or ask in company. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 13, 2009, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371 "2009-03-13T22:10:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Caveat\_lector\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@Caveat\_lector\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caveat_lector_1)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371/21 "2009-03-14T23:27:32Z")
I think “So how was prison?” would be an inauspicious thing to ask. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371/22 "2009-03-14T23:56:55Z")
“any recent herpes out breaks?” ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371/23 "2009-03-14T23:57:08Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > At our CleveDopeFests, the quickest way to halt all other conversation is to ask, “So, what do YOU call the strip of grass between the sidewalk and the street?” > > It’s gotten so now I time how long it takes before the topic is raised! In Florida, where most streets do not have curbs, we call them swales. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371/24 "2009-03-15T00:37:46Z")
“How did you beat those rape charges?” ---
**Author:** ![Rich\_Mann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@Rich\_Mann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rich_Mann)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371/25 "2009-03-15T00:58:24Z")
If you want to see a couple argue, ask them, “So, how did you two meet?” A surprising amount of the time they will have differing memories of the event. ---
**Author:** ![RedWood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f08c70/32.png) [@RedWood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedWood)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371/26 "2009-03-15T01:27:25Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > “So, what do YOU call the strip of grass between the sidewalk and the street?” the verge… ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371/27 "2009-03-15T10:53:05Z")
I’ve sworn a blood oath to never again ask an Englishman to explain the game of cricket. ---
**Author:** ![willthekittensurvive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@willthekittensurvive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/willthekittensurvive)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371/28 "2009-03-16T12:21:45Z")
When I’m at a party and have troubles reaching “da ladies” because of my fellow geeks cramping my style, I ask… Who would win? Star-destroyer versus the Enterprise versus Borg cube versus… Or sometimes I give then a simple math problem Three pieces of wood, 1 of 1 meter, one of 2 meters and one of 3 The two largest pieces of wood are placed diagonal between two walls And where the two pieces cross the third piece of wood is placed so it just reaches the ground. The 1 meter piece reaches up with a straight angle to the floor. The question being, how far are the walls apart? (The puzzle I write down on a napkin or what ever, not sure if explained is enough here) ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371/29 "2009-03-16T17:58:25Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > At our CleveDopeFests, the quickest way to halt all other conversation is to ask, “So, what do YOU call the strip of grass between the sidewalk and the street?” > > It’s gotten so now I time how long it takes before the topic is raised! Usually, by me. 😃 [Quote=panache45] It’s called a tree lawn… [/quote] Devilstrip! ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371/30 "2009-03-16T19:00:47Z")
Never, never, never if a woman starts to talk about her last pregnancy - do anything to indicate you give the smallest interest at all (Note: Assuming you’re a man). ---
**Author:** ![Dosipede](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dosipede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dosipede)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371/31 "2009-03-16T19:19:37Z")
It’s called… that strip of grass between the sidewalk and the street. Do we need a name for everything? Also, I’ve had amusing results with “Have you ever really thought about where your dollar bills have been?” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371/32 "2009-03-16T19:37:14Z")
> [@Mr Bus Guy](#): > > Never, never, never if a woman starts to talk about her last pregnancy - do anything to indicate you give the smallest interest at all (Note: Assuming you’re a man). I’m a woman and I hate birthing stories so much I’ve had to leave parties on several occasions. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371/33 "2009-03-16T19:45:12Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > At our CleveDopeFests, the quickest way to halt all other conversation is to ask, “So, what do YOU call the strip of grass between the sidewalk and the street?” > > It’s gotten so now I time how long it takes before the topic is raised! If you had consulted your local DOT, you would have known it’s called a “beauty strip.” ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371/34 "2009-03-16T19:47:38Z")
Cite? ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371/35 "2009-03-16T20:00:07Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Cite? The area engineer at my local DOT. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371/36 "2009-03-16T21:02:06Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > The area engineer at my local DOT. Ok, make that **Things NOT to say or ask in company** when there are no Dopers in the group. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371/37 "2009-03-16T21:28:42Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > The bebatees went outside for a cigarette. The gentle sea cow … smokers?! Oh, that’s _manatee_ ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371/38 "2009-03-16T21:30:45Z")
No matter how big she looks never ask a woman when she is due. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371/39 "2009-03-16T21:35:44Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > No matter how big she looks never ask a woman when she is due. I’ve actually done this. To someone who’s actually quite skinny. She was just wearing a loose summer dress that billowed outward a bit. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371/40 "2009-03-17T03:28:35Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > If you had consulted your local DOT, you would have known it’s called a “beauty strip.” See? SEE??? You can’t even raise the topic in here without people getting distracted by it…lol. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-not-to-say-or-ask-in-company/489371.md?page=3)