# Things you do despite knowing they're completely irrational **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 18, 2018, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-do-despite-knowing-theyre-completely-irrational/818174 "2018-07-18T23:17:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 4
**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:** [July 23, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-do-despite-knowing-theyre-completely-irrational/818174/61 "2018-07-23T21:42:15Z")
> [@bump](#): > > It’s totally irrational and superstitious, but I have ‘lucky’ aftershave I wear on days that for whatever reason, I feel like I might need a little insurance that things will go my way. Does it work? Do people wave their hands around you, or hold handkerchiefs to their faces? ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-do-despite-knowing-theyre-completely-irrational/818174/62 "2018-07-23T22:06:12Z")
I was an impressionable youngster when I saw the movie _Jaws_. Ever since, I get nervous when I am swimming, and I cannot see the bottom of the sea/lake/swimming pool. ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2018, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-do-despite-knowing-theyre-completely-irrational/818174/63 "2018-07-24T02:03:25Z")
> [@Whatever4](#): > > Are we related? I do this all the time. I’ve got a little green worm named Cecil B. DeMillipede. He has a top hat, a wine glass, and occasionally wears spectacles. Makes me giggle at least once a day. :rolleyes: Does he sing “hello my baby” to you only when no one else is around? Well, lucky you, you’ve got the plot of a Merrie Melodies cartoon! ---
**Author:** ![blob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blob/32/489_2.png) [@blob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blob)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2018, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-do-despite-knowing-theyre-completely-irrational/818174/64 "2018-07-24T08:06:02Z")
> [@Marion\_Wormer](#): > > Does he sing “hello my baby” to you only when no one else is around? Well, lucky you, you’ve got the plot of a Merrie Melodies cartoon! I LOVE that cartoon! ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2018, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-do-despite-knowing-theyre-completely-irrational/818174/65 "2018-07-24T14:18:09Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Does it work? Do people wave their hands around you, or hold handkerchiefs to their faces? Seems to, although I’m sure there’s a huge dose of confirmation bias and wishful thinking going on. And no, it’s not some kind of rancid scent! ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2018, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-do-despite-knowing-theyre-completely-irrational/818174/66 "2018-07-24T15:53:53Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > I check that the door is locked even though I know I locked it. Not totally OCD as I only check once. So far. Are you sure you checked it? Better check it again. ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2018, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-do-despite-knowing-theyre-completely-irrational/818174/67 "2018-07-24T19:52:38Z")
Talking to pets is not _completely_ irrational, though yeah, mostly. But they probably can hear tone of voice and so I figure that telling them that I’m going out but that I’ll be back soon is at least some kind of reassurance. Okay, more to me than them. Still. And they don’t argue. When I’m on a walk with the doggies, I can tell them details about the projects I’m working on. That at least forces me to convert vague ideas into words, and that has some kind of benefit. Probably. And not one of them has given me a look of “that’s too stupid for words, which is why I’m saying nothing.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2018, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-do-despite-knowing-theyre-completely-irrational/818174/68 "2018-07-24T20:01:08Z")
Argue with other posters in GD. I think I changed someone’s mind once, so I guess not 100% irrational. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2018, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-do-despite-knowing-theyre-completely-irrational/818174/69 "2018-07-24T20:11:27Z")
I always say hello whenever I cross paths with one of the neighbourhood cats (outdoor cats are really common where I live) ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-do-despite-knowing-theyre-completely-irrational/818174/70 "2018-07-25T14:57:38Z")
When I’m driving and I see something going on up ahead, I turn the radio down so I can see better. I like to touch the trees in my yard once in a while so they know I care about them. Lots of talking to the dogs. When I put their collars on before we go for a walk in the woods where they’ll be off leash, I ALWAYS say, “you have to be good boys, listen to mama and come when mama calls you”. (Just typing that makes me feel like a loony tune.) When I leave for work, I always say, “be good boys, I’ll be right back”. I actually think they understand some of the words. But I’m sure most of it is Charlie Brown adult speak to them. I feel my car always runs much smoother after it’s been washed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-do-despite-knowing-theyre-completely-irrational/818174.md?page=3)