# What were you THINKING? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 13, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532 "2023-10-13T19:36:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 324
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6850 "2026-03-23T00:32:52Z")
Isn’t he the same guy who was aggravated cause his grandkids didn’t play with the blocks like he thought they should? What a buzz kill. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6851 "2026-03-23T00:38:31Z")
I don’t think any of that is an especially sincere argument. It just comes down to “stop reporting, it’s interfering with my ability to get away with shit!” [![](https://benignhumor.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/meddling-kids.jpg) ](https://benignhumor.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/meddling-kids.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6852 "2026-03-23T00:41:22Z")
Generally, I actually get along with the guy reasonably well on the board. But, when I get told I’m a “tattle,” a “busybody,” and a “junior mod,” and when my flagging a hijack is characterized as, “Teacher! Someone is breaking a RULE in a way that does not affect me!”, yeah, it’s pretty fucking rude. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6853 "2026-03-23T04:25:40Z")
We don’t believe that’s what you did @kenobi_65. I think you’re probably one of the most level headed even-tempered posters on the Dope ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6854 "2026-03-23T04:26:25Z")
You’ve not seen some of the stuff I’ve written, and then thought better of it before actually posting. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6855 "2026-03-23T04:36:28Z")
That’s what makes you so even tempered. We all _think_ things. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6856 "2026-03-23T12:11:48Z")
Agreeing with @Beckdawrek . We _all_ think things. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6857 "2026-03-23T12:13:55Z")
I’m trying to think and nothing’s happening! ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6858 "2026-03-23T15:00:26Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > You’ve not seen some of the stuff I’ve written, and then thought better of it before actually posting I think that’s pretty much the definition of “level headed”. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6859 "2026-03-23T17:17:21Z")
The faster I start responding and typing, the more time I spend re-thinking before sending. When I skip taking that the extra time, bad things routinely happen. Sme of us are more reliable about that extra time, and some are not. Some have no idea it’s even a good idea to think twice. Those folks are tiresome. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6860 "2026-03-23T17:37:54Z")
Isn’t the thread for people who _THINK_ things? I believe I just did the thinking but not _THINKING_ in @Czarcasm coffee pod thread. I just Googled the largest pod. Not knowing the difference in machines. Should not have posted my findings, at all. But I thought I was being helpful. Dumb me. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6861 "2026-03-23T17:43:02Z")
The title of the thread is incomplete. “Thinking things” isn’t the problem. “Blurting things you just thought” is the problem. The thread is a celebration 🫤 of posters with no filters. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6862 "2026-03-23T17:45:30Z")
Yeah. More like “What were you _not_ thinking when you posted THAT?” ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6863 "2026-03-23T19:40:29Z")
Beck, did you never hear the phrase? I’ve very commonly heard the phrase “what were you thinking?” used to mean “why on earth did you do/say that? you should have known better!” Emphasis generally on the last word, as it is in the thread title. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6864 "2026-03-23T19:45:25Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LtItMwwoiVY/hqdefault.jpg "Hugh Grant Apologizes for Sleeping with Prostitute") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtItMwwoiVY) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6865 "2026-03-23T21:01:32Z")
My Daddy would say “Yessir, like we all have assholes, we all have thoughts. Don’t need to know what’s coming outta you!” But he was rude. I grant I have things to say. My brain always thinking random shit. I really really am trying hard not to be a buttinski on the Dope. Alot of you know I don’t speak vocally often. It’s hard for me express myself live and in person. So I don’t have conversations with people. The Dope was the first place I felt like I was having a conversation with anyone. Ever. I understand many don’t want to have a visit with me. I get that. I’m a bit exasperating at times. And not nearly as smart as any other person here. I do know a few things. I’m trying folks. I shut up now. 🙃 (My logo: Real Cherries. May contain pits) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6866 "2026-03-23T21:13:36Z")
For what it is worth, I’ve noted that you’ve improved a lot and I was one of your harsher critics for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6867 "2026-03-23T21:19:37Z")
Owning up when you fucked up, and apologizing for it, that’s not easy for most people. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6868 "2026-03-23T21:25:32Z")
I prefer to think of it as growth. One of the points of the thread. You, a general you that is, goes on with your life, and every once in a while, you blurt out something, or double down defensively, or otherwise go off your personal rails because not enough coffee / missed meds / too much 🍺 / not enough sleep. And they you get the backsass. Leaning from constructive criticism can be _extremely_ hard. Leaning and applying it _consistently_ is even harder. I, like most of us I suspect, am a “three steps forward, two steps back” when it comes to consistency. Doesn’t mean I don’t keep trying, and I hope all here do the same. – heads out before the next poster comes in with the traditional “F\*\*\* all you huggers and rational people in the Pit” jocular response. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/6869 "2026-03-23T21:36:12Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The faster I start responding and typing, the more time I spend re-thinking before sending. It helps if, like me, you’re prone to typos and have to keep going back to fix things, which leads to reconsidering and editing wording and phrasing, which leads to reconsideration of the meaning as a whole, which eventually leads to something perhaps rather removed from the original draft. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=323) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=325)