# Weird stuff you do habitually for no reason (sequel) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 13, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579 "2010-07-13T19:38:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579/61 "2010-07-19T12:53:26Z")
> [@Captain\_C](#): > > Me too! This unconscious trait actually has its advantages. I work in the human services field, and it seems people are more likely to open up to me / trust me once I’ve picked up their accent. I don’t think they realize it, either. I agree! I used to verify employment & work/rental history for a credit reporting service and found out over time the following fact: 1. if I was talking to another woman and matched her accent/talking style - she gave me the information no problem. Professional tone with professional tone: we were 2 business women just doing our jobs. Casual tone with casual tone: we were old friends just doing what had to be done. But if I tried to mix - they got suspicious and it would take twice as long. 2. if I was talking to a man, I just had to use my southern accent and act a little helpless - and I got the info, no problem. Men who I would tell this too would get all huffy, but it happened over and over and over again. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579/62 "2010-07-19T21:03:38Z")
In the cafeteria at my workplace, there are several colors of trays: maroon, tan, gray, some rare blue ones, and some even rarer yellow ones. If I see a blue or yellow one on top of a pile, I rush over to grab it before anybody else can. Maroon trays are the default, whereas the gray and tan ones are completely unacceptable. Of course, cheating by grabbing a blue or yellow tray that is underneath some other trays is prohibited. I’ve never cheated this way, but there were a couple occasions where I had to cheat just to get a maroon tray instead of an ugly gray or tan one. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2010, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579/63 "2010-07-20T13:23:17Z")
I like to eparate books and CDS by seasons and then by months (Winter=December, January, February; Spring=March, April, May; Summer=June, July August; Autumn=September, October, November). This especially applies to culinary mysteries and CD series. I recently discovered putumayo CDS, and I am in heaven. And Autumn is always Autumn, and never “fall.” The names of the seasons should all have six letters, dammit. ---
**Author:** ![BlakeTyner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@BlakeTyner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlakeTyner)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579/64 "2010-07-20T15:00:00Z")
Ever since I can remember, I’ve “swished” my drinks. As in, I’ll take a sip of a beverage, but rather than swallowing it immediately, I swish it around, kind of like what you’d do with mouthwash, only quicker. Then I swallow. When I’m thinking about it, I try not to do it, but my brain is under the impression that it will somehow ‘hurt’ if I just swallow a sip without swishing it. It sucks, because it’s really horrible on the teeth. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579/65 "2010-07-20T15:20:15Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I like to eparate books and CDS by seasons and then by months (Winter=December, January, February; Spring=March, April, May; Summer=June, July August; Autumn=September, October, November). Er? Are you going by release date or when you buy it? Or, I don’t know, the contents somehow? ---
**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:** [July 20, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579/66 "2010-07-20T17:47:37Z")
By whatever I think applies. As an example, the cluinary mysteris of Joanne Fluke are sorted as follows: November–Gingerbread Cookie Murder December–Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder Januaey–Sugar Cookie Murder February–Fudge Cupcake Murder March–Key Lime Pie Murder April–Apple Turnover Mystery May–Lemon Meringue Pie Murder June–Strawberry Shortcake Murder July–Blueberry Muffin Murder August–Peach Cobbler Murder September–Sugar & Spice October–Carrot Cake Murder November–Candy Cane Murder December–Plum Pudding Murder Januaey–Cream Puff Murder February–Cherry Cheesecake Murder ---
**Author:** ![kcor1953](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kcor1953/32/3221_2.png) [@kcor1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kcor1953)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579/67 "2010-07-20T21:56:55Z")
> [@CapnPitt](#): > > Number displayed on the volume control for the TV, car radio, anything like that, always has to be an even number. I want an even number volume level (and yet I recognize it’s an arbitrary number–how does my TV know what increment of volume equals a “one”?), but when the remote batteries are fresh it is almost impossible to increase a level by a jump of one. It’ll jump two, not one. You have to go up or down by a large amount and then approach an acceptable even number in small jumps to “fool” the TV. (Unfortunately The Wife considers “27” the perfect volume number for everything, regardless of channel or program.) ---
**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:** [July 21, 2010, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579/68 "2010-07-21T03:59:51Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > By whatever I think applies. As an example, the cluinary mysteris of Joanne Fluke are sorted as follows: Ah, okay. Haven’t actually read any of them so I don’t immediately grok why, for example, cream puffs = January, but nevermind. What works for you, works for you. I shelve my books by spine height. That puts all the shorter ones together and thus allows me to shoehorn extra books into the bookcase by laying them on top of the others. ---
**Author:** ![KinkiNipponTourist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9bcb4/32.png) [@KinkiNipponTourist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KinkiNipponTourist)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579/69 "2010-07-21T05:11:29Z")
I always clean both my ears at the same time, a q-tip in each hand, making the same motions. Must clean both ears the same amount of times. If, god forbid, there are only 3 q-tips, then each end of the 3rd one goes in one ear to keep things even. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579/70 "2010-07-21T05:13:15Z")
I keep Listerine caps based on preference for the embossed number under the cap. Not that I collect 'em; I just discard the new cap and keep the one from the outgoing bottle if it’s a “better” number. I just prefer to start the day looking at a “23” or a “42” rather than a “51” or some-such. I would be vaguely embarrassed if my wife ever noticed this habit. ---
**Author:** ![Taenia\_spp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@Taenia\_spp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taenia_spp)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579/71 "2010-07-21T06:37:39Z")
I don’t always do this, but I do it often enough: when heating up leftovers in the microwave, I don’t let it get down to zero and have the beeper go off. Instead I stop it when the number of seconds left is a prime number. ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579/72 "2010-07-21T13:57:49Z")
> [@kcor1953](#): > > I want an even number volume level (and yet I recognize it’s an arbitrary number–how does my TV know what increment of volume equals a “one”?), but when the remote batteries are fresh it is almost impossible to increase a level by a jump of one. It’ll jump two, not one. > > You have to go up or down by a large amount and then approach an acceptable even number in small jumps to “fool” the TV. > > (Unfortunately The Wife considers “27” the perfect volume number for everything, regardless of channel or program.) Turn on a small fan in the corner of the room. This might make your wife find “28” more attractive. 🙂 And I know too that “1” is wholly arbitrary according to the manufacturer, but don’t tell my brain that. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579/73 "2010-07-21T14:27:14Z")
> [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > I keep Listerine caps based on preference for the embossed number under the cap. Not that I collect 'em; I just discard the new cap and keep the one from the outgoing bottle if it’s a “better” number. I just prefer to start the day looking at a “23” or a “42” rather than a “51” or some-such. > > I would be vaguely embarrassed if my wife ever noticed this habit. Of all the posts in this thread, I’m most amused and puzzled by this one. It made me smile, for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579/74 "2010-07-21T15:03:17Z")
If I touch either side of a doorway when I go through it then I have to touch the other side to balance it out. The balancing isn’t about the number of times, it’s more about pressure, so if I really hit one side then I have to touch the other side maybe 3 or 4 times. Usually it’s not a problem but every now and then I will have to go back to touch. Lately I have developed an urge to “balance” whenever my knees touch. It’s hard to explain but I will find myself walking funny so that my knees lightly touch in an effort to get the right and left to have the same amount of … something. I know it when I feel it. The I have to thoughtfully walk so they do not touch anymore or the whole thing starts over. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579/75 "2010-07-21T15:20:38Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > By whatever I think applies. As an example, the cluinary mysteris of Joanne Fluke are sorted as follows: > > November–Gingerbread Cookie Murder > December–Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder > Januaey–Sugar Cookie Murder > February–Fudge Cupcake Murder > March–Key Lime Pie Murder > April–Apple Turnover Mystery > May–Lemon Meringue Pie Murder > June–Strawberry Shortcake Murder > July–Blueberry Muffin Murder > August–Peach Cobbler Murder > September–Sugar & Spice > October–Carrot Cake Murder > November–Candy Cane Murder > December–Plum Pudding Murder > Januaey–Cream Puff Murder > February–Cherry Cheesecake Murder See, now that’s just plain silly. Apple turnover obviously goes into the September slot, and Key Lime should move up to April. Sugar and Spice can really fit anywhere, so use it to fill the hole in March. . . What? ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579/76 "2010-07-21T16:26:16Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > In the cafeteria at my workplace, there are several colors of trays: maroon, tan, gray, some rare blue ones, and some even rarer yellow ones. If I see a blue or yellow one on top of a pile, I rush over to grab it before anybody else can. Maroon trays are the default, whereas the gray and tan ones are completely unacceptable. Of course, cheating by grabbing a blue or yellow tray that is underneath some other trays is prohibited. I’ve never cheated this way, but there were a couple occasions where I had to cheat just to get a maroon tray instead of an ugly gray or tan one. Different color trays? You are one lucky guy! In our company cafeteria, there is only one color tray, the ugly gray. If we had more variety I could play a strategy game like you do. I don’t know why, but I thought your post was hilarious. I could see myself doing something very similar. Just don’t go crazy and start keeping a spreadsheet of your success rate getting blue and yellow trays! ---
**Author:** ![czarcaztic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@czarcaztic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/czarcaztic)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579/77 "2010-07-21T18:02:34Z")
> [@Shark\_Sandwich](#): > > When I eat meals that have separate food groups (steak with a baked potato and vegetables, etc. - not say, a hamburger or a plate of pasta), the different foods can’t come into contact with each other on the plate, and I eat one food group until it’s gone, then move on to the next, turning the plate so the food I’m currently working on is directly in front of me. +1 ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579/78 "2010-07-22T08:15:21Z")
When I was younger (about 10 to 12), I used to walk from home to school in a rather urban environment. I like to imagine I was in a video game level, and those manhole covers were power-up which have to step on. The distance between home and school was about a mile, so I broke into a couple of ‘zones’. I also do the handwave thing at automatic doors now. Increasingly so. When after listening to a piece of music (say a piano piece) for some time, I begin to hear imaginary lyrics with it. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2010, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579/79 "2010-07-22T13:19:32Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > See, now that’s just plain silly. Apple turnover obviously goes into the September slot, and Key Lime should move up to April. Sugar and Spice can really fit anywhere, so use it to fill the hole in March. . . > What? Apple and April both begin with AP, Sugar, Spice & September all begin with S, and Key Lime Pie is green, a la St. Patrick’s Day. And Cream Puff is January because the brown pastry and white cream remind me of snow on the ground. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579/80 "2010-07-22T18:06:15Z")
> [@melodyharmonius](#): > > My accent changes depending on the person I am talking to or the subject I am talking about. I don’t mean to do it - it just happens. My ex used to laugh when I answered the phone because he knew in a minute if I was talking to one of my southern SILs or one of my northern cousins. Me three. Or four. Or whatever. I’d bet this is common enough that there’s a name for it. I also tend to pick up sentence structure and dialect from whatever book I happen to be reading. [Olde English Beowulf](http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/beowulf-oe.html) was an interesting time in high school. When eating flavored candies (Skittles) I sort them by flavor and then eat them in order from least to most favorite. Yellow or green first, red always last. And a habit that I’m not aware of anyone else having. If I’m grocery shopping and don’t know what I want for supper, I’ll grab a cooking magazine and pick something from it. I have a lot of cooking magazines. ETA: Something I just did. When I finish a can of soda, I always stand the can on the floor and crush it from top to bottom. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason-sequel/546579.md?page=5)