# Weird stuff you do habitually for no reason **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 24, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487 "2008-12-24T01:31:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487/81 "2008-12-29T11:11:48Z")
> [@Tabby\_Cat](#): > > I drag my hands along the wall or other surface when I’m walking. Like I’m reassuri g myskef that the wall is indeed still there. I hve no idea why I do it, it’s subconscious at this point. Sometimes ms. Mouse will catch me doing it, and I’ll have no idea I was! IIRC there was a very renown physics professor who did the same thing, I can’t think who, though. I do it quite a bit, depending on the setting. I’ve never done it at home, and I rarely find myself doing it much anymore at all, however when I was in school I did it quite often. So much so that the knuckle on my right middle finger got a callous because I’d drag that knuckle along the ridge of the wall… ---
**Author:** ![Arglefraster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@Arglefraster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arglefraster)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487/82 "2008-12-29T15:34:26Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > I often blow on my food before I eat it. Even salad. I think it’s because I usually eat hot things. So in rare cases I’m not eating something hot, I forget. I do this with spicy food. Logically, I know that blowing on it won’t “cool down” the spicy, but I do it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Stauderhorse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Stauderhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stauderhorse)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487/83 "2008-12-29T16:23:23Z")
Whenever a car goes by, I turn my head and take a look at the people inside. I just want to see what they look like, for some reason. Occasionally, they look back. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487/84 "2008-12-29T17:48:02Z")
> [@Stauderhorse](#): > > Whenever a car goes by, I turn my head and take a look at the people inside. I just want to see what they look like, for some reason. Occasionally, they look back. I do this too except I get annoyed when they look back at me. I think, “What the hell are you looking at?” or “What’s your problem jerk?” even though I know they are just curious like me. ---
**Author:** ![bink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@bink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bink)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487/85 "2008-12-29T19:20:50Z")
I scroll back up to the top of a web page before using the bookmarks in my toolbar to go to another page. I am trying to break this habit, but I still find myself doing it all the time. ---
**Author:** ![eldowan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@eldowan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eldowan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487/86 "2008-12-29T21:09:25Z")
> [@freekalette](#): > > f something happens to one side of my body, it has to happen to the other side. Joints cracking, muscles stretching, hell if I stub my toe I have to rub it to mae it feel numb, and then rub the other side. Heh, I’m kind of the same way. If I stub my toe on one side, I usually have to stub my other toe to make it even. I also have to sniff milk before I drink it. And I also do the inhale thing for people I find attractive. However, I also do it for those I find unattractive, but not those that are neither. I inhale deeply to sniff the smell of a dead skunk. Though I do that just because I _like_ the smell of skunk. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487/87 "2008-12-29T21:22:56Z")
I compulsively archive every single e-mail, letter, messenger chat, IRC chat, RPG character sheets. I never re-read them. The one time I lost a particular cache of really old and musty IRC logs, I felt like I had lost a bit of myself, a deep physical sensation. Go figure. I’m eagerly waiting for the day I’ll be able to record every single conversation or thought in my life on some kind of cerebral cyber-harddrive. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487/88 "2008-12-30T18:41:50Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > When people I don’t like or that I find unattractive walk past me while indoors I exhale when their “wind” hits me because I don’t want to breathe in their nasty humors or something. I do the opposite for people that I do like or that I find attractive. I have no idea when this started or why I do it. Thank God… I thought I was the only one who did this! I always sleep with two pillows… one under my head and one on my face covering my eyes and nose, but not my nostrils or mouth. It became habit years ago when my bedroom let in a lot of sunlight and I’ve been doing it ever since. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487/89 "2008-12-30T19:22:06Z")
I have several strange number things I do. Aside from the counting of steps, staircases, light poles going past the car window etc I also; 1. Do sequences in my head. (1,2,4,8,16,32 and so on) 2. Add every number I see until it reaches a multiple of 5. Once it starts, I’m mentally stuck until I get to a 5 or 0 then I have to close my eyes to avoid seeing any other numbers until I can clear it out of my head. 3. Ok, this one is hard to explain. But if I’m not adding numbers I run these strange calculations on series of numbers. For example, the number 802 would be perfect for me. (1 space in between each). A number like 29 would be bad. It can get even more complicated, but I don’t know that I can easily explain it in this format. 4. Walking down a sidewalk I break each concrete ‘slab’ into 2 or 3 steps depending on size so that I can get sets of 5. Stepping on the crack is a no-no because that throws off the count. What really sucks about all these strange number things that go through my head is that I’m pretty bad at math. ---
**Author:** ![Alma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alma)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487/90 "2008-12-30T19:28:50Z")
I always need to have one foot sticking out from the covers, or if it’s really cold, at least with less covers on one foot than the rest of me. Doesn’t matter which foot. Not to get too morbid, but when my mother was on her deathbed, the hospice nurse would keep covering up both of her feet and then a few minutes later one would be uncovered again. My sister and I found this funny because we both do it too. I also need to sleep with three pillows, one under my head and one at either side of my body. I toss and turn a lot, so when I’m on my side I will hug the one in front of me, but even when I’m on my back they need to be there. I’m a fraternal twin and my sister does this too–she has theorized that it has something to do with our separate placentas in the cramped gestational quarters. I guess if that explains it then it’s not so strange. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487/91 "2008-12-30T20:33:08Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Whenever I come to an automatic door I do this little wave with my hand, like I’m opening it with the Force. I do this, although not consistently. Most of the time, I admit, but it doesn’t bother me when I don’t. I think I’m waiting for someone to comment on it. Or thank me, maybe. This is the only remote-control magic I perform. I punch unrounded number combinations into the microwave. Like, not 2 minutes, but 2:13. Also the alarm clock. Of possible note, I have never worn a wristwatch in my 43 years. When I commuted into Manhattan and had trains to hurry to, I bought a cheapo pocket watch. I don’t want numbers on my hands. For further numerological fun, I really wanted to make it to 1000 posts by the end of year but barring a meth binge that’s not going to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487/92 "2008-12-30T20:54:32Z")
> [@Ichbin\_Dubist](#): > > I do this, although not consistently. Most of the time, I admit, but it doesn’t bother me when I don’t. I think I’m waiting for someone to comment on it. Or thank me, maybe. This is the only remote-control magic I perform. I also do this. My other ‘remote control magic’ is with elevators, but only when I’m alone. I’ll bring my hands together to ‘close the doors’ and gesture up or down for it to move. I’m not exactly habitual about it, but it is kinda fun. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487/93 "2008-12-30T22:52:01Z")
I pace when on the phone. I hate taking calls at my desk at work because it’s not really paceable. I’m also a wet, paste, re-wet tooth brusher. I count my steps. Seriously, all of them. It’s 43 steps from my desk to the door of the storage area, 36 to the bathroom, 21 from my bed to the car, 987 from my front door to the nearest grocery store, etc. I run my thumbs over the tips of my other fingers very lightly so I can feel the contact of my two sets of fingerprints. I’ll often do this in a 5 pointed star pattern in each directional orientation on each fingertip. Sometimes I’ll do it over all four fingertips at once, making one large star in each direction. Each of my pets has her own, “voice,” and I will hold full on conversations with them. I always crack my neck first tilting to the left, then to the right. ---
**Author:** ![Rack-a-Bones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rack-a-Bones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rack-a-Bones)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487/94 "2008-12-31T00:34:13Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > I also do this. My other ‘remote control magic’ is with elevators, but only when I’m alone. I’ll bring my hands together to ‘close the doors’ and gesture up or down for it to move. I’m not exactly habitual about it, but it is kinda fun. When I’m in the elevator I like to stand right in front of the doors. Maybe an inch away. Sometimes I startle people who are waiting for the elevator. I also do the “wind walk” thing. Either breathing in or holding my breath depending on the person. I chew the inside of my lip. I also bite the hair on the back of my hand. From the bus stop to my work is about 4 blocks. I vary my route in case someone is following me knowing full well that I’m not important enough to be followed and even if someone was following me I end up in the same place every day no matter what route I take. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487/95 "2008-12-31T15:59:37Z")
> [@MsJinx](#): > > When I set the alarm on the digital clock, it has to be on a multiple of 5, never in between, like how much of a difference can it make if I it goes off at 6:05 or 6:07? And the snooze alarm is for 9 minutes, not 10, so I’m really getting up at 6:14 (or 6:23, sometimes even 6:32!). Sometimes I think if I really want to get up at 6:15, I should set it for 6:06, but never do. I do the opposite of this - I perform the mental gymnastics to figure out what time to set the alarm clock at so that after the appropriate amount of snoozes (which is 1 right now for me), I get up at the appropriate time I want (which is always a multiple of 5). So my alarm clock currently is set to 6:06 AM. ---
**Author:** ![Megan\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc79bd/32.png) [@Megan\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Megan_Jones)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487/96 "2010-07-12T11:41:18Z")
A couple of mine- I ignore the handles on mugs and just hold the main part instead. I tolerate heat really well so it never burns me. I use my knife to cut things on the plate but then put it down and just eat the rest of the meal with the fork in my right hand, and use my left index finger to stop the food on the plate as I spear it with the fork. I hate the show MASH so much that the first few notes of the theme song sound like nails on a blackboard to me, which makes me switch it off immediately or leave the room if I’m at someone elses’ house. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487/97 "2010-07-12T11:49:33Z")
If I ever unintentionally touch paper or cardboard I have to then intentionally touch it. It seems random but it kind of ties into a thing I have with paper and cardboard. The sound of cardboard brushing up against something gives me goosebumps, as does the sound of paper being creased. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487/98 "2010-07-12T12:06:23Z")
The light switches by the back door all have to be down and off when I leave the apartment. Even if it means turning off the kitchen lights with the switch by the living room, and walking through a dark kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487/99 "2010-07-12T12:25:30Z")
Zombie compulsion! ---
**Author:** ![dbygawdcapn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dbygawdcapn/32/3995_2.png) [@dbygawdcapn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbygawdcapn)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487/100 "2010-07-12T12:46:00Z")
Every time I fart, I audibly proclaim "What did you say? " .Then I will fart again and say "Oh, that’s what I thought you said! ". [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-stuff-you-do-habitually-for-no-reason/478487.md?page=6)