# What would they never guess by looking? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 23, 2003, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945 "2003-02-23T08:10:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945/1 "2003-02-23T08:10:04Z")
This thread is inspired by my slippers. I am, I’ve been told, a big scary guy. I weigh well over 200 lbs, and can bench press well over what I weigh. I have stopped three guys from robbing me by looking at them. People regularly ask me why I’m so pissed off when, as far as I can tell, I’m smiling. I’ve bounced a drunken oil rig worker who wanted to fight my boss while looking pretty much straight up into his face to maintain eye contact, and taken a knife away from a man who wanted to stab me with it. I have a shaved head and three large gauge ear piercings, at an age where I’m obviously not going through an adolescent rebellion phase. I also own a pair of slippers. They’re teddy bear slippers. [www.nixesslippers.com/bear\_animal\_slippers.htm](http://www.nixesslippers.com/bear_animal_slippers.htm) If the link is working, you’ll have an idea of what I’m talking about. I like my teddy bear slippers. I bought them myself. If you saw me on the street, you would probably not guess that I owned them. It was not an ironic purchase, I just like them. What’s the thing in your life that nobody who saw you pass by them in the mall would ever guess? ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945/2 "2003-02-23T08:54:54Z")
Oh, any number of things, really. My martial arts training, unless I get into a discussion about it, doesn’t show much. My sexuality, I am told, is almost invisible unless, again, I talk about it or make a comment if I feel comfortable doing so. You would also not guess, simply from looking at me, that I am Soylent Green. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945/3 "2003-02-23T09:05:22Z")
**iamphnha** - Same here, with the training. - Soylent Green is 'punha! It’s 'punha! Soylent green is… 'puuuuunaaaaa…\* Most folks wouldn’t guess that I’m a touch sociopathic. People are always dismissive when it comes up in discussions… “Oh, you wouldn’t REALLY do that.” Wanna Bet? I’m not the kind of person who looks like they’re into odd sexual things (light bondage, rape simulation, voyeurism…). At least, I don’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945/4 "2003-02-23T09:28:56Z")
Apparently, most people wouldn’t guess that I’m 31 years old. I met an interesting gal (in person) recently, we chatted for a while, and I asked for her phone number. “I think you’re a little young for me,” she said. “Wha? How old do you think I am?” “What, maybe 22?” “I’m 31. You might be young for _me_.” She got all confused-looking and left shortly afterward. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945/5 "2003-02-23T11:48:03Z")
That I model for art classes and photographers. Arty stuff. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945/6 "2003-02-23T12:11:00Z")
That I used to have purple hair and that I once spent a day being a “street artisan” at Venice Beach. (I emphasize—it was _one_ day.) ---
**Author:** ![hyperjes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df705f/32.png) [@hyperjes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hyperjes)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945/7 "2003-02-23T12:38:40Z")
That I used to weigh somewhere around 102 lbs when I was 17 and 5’8". Not an eating disorder- Just the result of being a VERY poor art school student who partied too much. (I am 25 now, same height, and weigh a completely average amount.) Also that I’m actually pretty conservative- politically and in lots of other ways. (I definitely don’t LOOK conservative.)😉 ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945/8 "2003-02-23T15:21:49Z")
That I’ve been tap-dancing for 15 years. I’m overweight and very straight-looking (I wear skirts and dresses to work, completely voluntarily). Of course, if you’d noticed my ears were triple-pierced, you might have had an inkling I’m not quite exactly as straight as I appear… ---
**Author:** ![TruePisces](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/truepisces/32/13628_2.png) [@TruePisces](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruePisces)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945/9 "2003-02-23T15:31:19Z")
My true age is one thing that few people guess. I often get “But you must have just graduated from High School!” No, I’m 28, but thank you for playing. From first glance, most people wouldn’t guess that I’m bi, or that I’m as sexually explorative as I am. That one has thrown quite a few people for a loop when I’ve begun talking about my past. And many people are surprised to find out that one of my favorite bands is Queensryche. I guess I just don’t look like an Operation: MindCrime kinda girl. 😉 [sub]But I’m sure they would all think I had teddy bear slippers. They’d be wrong, of course, but that’s what they would guess![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Loneraven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c0e974/32.png) [@Loneraven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loneraven)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945/10 "2003-02-23T15:38:18Z")
Hardly anyone guesses English hasn’t always been my first language. Also, I seem to have the air of a good little girl, as no-one’s failed to be surprised at the revelation I’m a slash writer. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945/11 "2003-02-23T15:53:24Z")
People are generally unaware that I’m basically an introverted conservative. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945/12 "2003-02-23T16:19:04Z")
> [@](#): > > …if you’d noticed my ears were triple-pierced, you might have had an inkling I’m not quite exactly as straight as I appear… 😕 I’m confused. Is there something about having triple-pierced ears that marks you as possibly “not quite as straight?” Until recently, I had triple-pierced ears, and thought it marked me as someone who liked earrings. Was I sending out signals of some kind, unbeknownst to myself? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945/13 "2003-02-23T16:29:42Z")
**genie** – I use “straight” in the old, '60s, you’re either on the bus or off the bus, sense – no reference to sexual preference. Most plump, middle-aged middle-management types are “straight” in that sense. ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945/14 "2003-02-23T16:36:54Z")
Oh yeah, I traveled the U.S. as a carnival worker. And I have a Masters Degree in Music. ---
**Author:** ![TVGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/82dd89/32.png) [@TVGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945/15 "2003-02-23T17:13:11Z")
I’m almost always mistaken for a person much younger than I am. Although now that the gray hairs are starting to appear, I’m not sure how much longer that one will last. Nobody ever gets my true fagginess. I don’t hide it, but I guess people expect _mincing_ or something, I don’t know. It probably has to do with the fact that I’m pretty ‘bear’-ish and usually act fairly businesslike in most settings. People don’t have any idea that as an engineer, I have a [creative side](http://www.mistered.com/drawings.html) as well. ---
**Author:** ![Sqube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Sqube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sqube)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945/16 "2003-02-23T19:38:37Z")
About 98% of the people I know don’t know that I almost committed suicide over the summer and was really depressed for about 6 years. I was pretty good at hiding it, I guess. Also, I can speak English, French, and Creole. Oh yeah, I can move my eyes independently too. That’s about it though. ---
**Author:** ![ProjectOmega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b487fb/32.png) [@ProjectOmega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ProjectOmega)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945/17 "2003-02-23T20:22:15Z")
No one ever guesses that I’m an “O” blood type, unless I happen to mention it in casual conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Winnowill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4491bb/32.png) [@Winnowill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnowill)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945/18 "2003-02-23T20:42:22Z")
Nobody ever realizes that I’m both shy and insecure, because it’s kind of situational. And I’m not shy around people I know. ---
**Author:** ![cherry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945/19 "2003-02-23T20:44:03Z")
Like others the age thing, ppl generally think I am younger than I really am, that my strength is what it is, they think I am weaker except when I am lifting heavy objects and where I am from is guessed wrong as well. ---
**Author:** ![Lynne\_kilii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lynne\_kilii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynne_kilii)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945/20 "2003-02-23T20:45:23Z")
Weight (more than assumed), age (less than assumed), and sexuality(more diversity than assumed… boys are hot, but girls are pretty!), to start. No one beleive that my hair color is real (true auburn, for anyone who cares). And, to get a bit dark, no one knows how much the world scares the crap out of me, or the number of times a day I think about violence and death (much to my dismay). My feelings get hurt really easily, but I cover it up, and obsess about it forever (I’m still smarting over the small-eyes comment my friend made 2 years ago… they’re perfectly normal). back to fun stuff… that I have a twin brother, that I identify with a billion sub-cultures… That I am going through a faith crisis but still identify with Christianity, even though I’m really liberal (politically)… mmk… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-they-never-guess-by-looking/156945.md?page=2)