# What's that dangling...

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [March 21, 2001, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918 "2001-03-21T21:20:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 19\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918/1 "2001-03-21T21:20:34Z")

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…from your rearview mirror??

I was stuck in traffic and the car next to me caught my attention. From the rearview mirror, there dangled feathers, shells, beads, a dreamcatcher, and other things that were not clearly discernable. I started looking in other cars - sunglasses, air fresheners, handcuffs, toys - Lots of folks hang lots of stuff.

I used to have my high school tassle there, but it disappeared over 25 years ago. I’ve had air fresheners and other things I’ve forgotten, but I’ve found they’re a distraction in my periphery, so I have nothing dangling now.

How about you?? What do you have dangling and why?

… and, yes, I realize my title is very suggestive and I’m deeply ashamed, but what ya gonna do?? 😃

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**Author:** ![Lowellster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@Lowellster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lowellster)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918/2 "2001-03-21T21:59:38Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by FairyChatMom \*  
> **What do you have dangling and why?**

A parking permit, so that I can park my car at work and not have to worry about it being towed (hey, you asked why!). And a little soccer ball, because it actually says a little something about who I am.

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**Author:** ![PRNYouth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PRNYouth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PRNYouth)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918/3 "2001-03-21T22:07:55Z")

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I have a coin holder shaped like Kermit the Frog’s head (it’s one of those squeezie things – like a coin purse, sort of, but not really). My job involves work with teenagers, and it was brought to me by one of them who went on a trip to Chicago.

In the past, I have had a graduation tassel (green and white), a garter I caught at a friend’s wedding, and a poseable Kermit keychain.

Of course, I was in a car accident today, and the old minivan is pretty banged up, so I may retire Kermit for something a bit more lucky. 😃

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**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918/4 "2001-03-21T22:09:10Z")

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Nothing. It’s against the law, you know. In some states.

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**Author:** ![Bubble\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c0e974/32.png) [@Bubble\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bubble_Girl)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918/5 "2001-03-21T22:12:51Z")

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Currently I have nothing but I used to have this really neat disco ball hanging from it. When the light hit it just right the whole car would have little sparklies all over it.

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**Author:** ![Fletch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/919ad9/32.png) [@Fletch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fletch)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918/6 "2001-03-21T22:14:54Z")

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A set of these:  
[http://members.aol.com/nutzforyou/yournutz.html](http://members.aol.com/nutzforyou/yournutz.html)

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**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918/7 "2001-03-21T22:20:40Z")

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I have a parking permit for the farthest-ass, cheapest parking lot in the University. **Ethlrist** will probably be happy to know that in its instructions it explictly says that you Should Not Drive with your parking permit hanging from the mirror as this could Obstruct Your Vision. **Ethilrist** will probably be saddened to hear that I do not remove my parking permit while driving, nor does anyone else I know.

I also have a pewter amulet with a rune of protection hanging from a leather thong. I do not put any faith in the power of protective amulets, but I do appreciate that the person who hung the amulet in my truck cares about my safety.

This isn’t hanging from my mirror, but rather is taped to the dashboard, but I feel compelled to mention Wobbly-Headed Kitty. Wobbly-Headed Kitty is a ceramic kitty-cat with her head connected by a spring. When I go over bumps, she jingles. This probably scares away evil spirits, or something. (A Special Message for Evil Spirits: Stay away from my truck, or know the wrath of Wobbly-Headed Kitty!) A friend brought her for me from Taiwan.

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**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918/8 "2001-03-21T22:20:55Z")

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A pair of brass thumb cuffs and a minature straw broom with with tag attached that says “Alternate Form of Transportation”. 😃

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**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918/9 "2001-03-21T22:36:40Z")

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About ten Mardis Gras bead necklaces. You know, just in case some cute young thing pulls up alongside the Lightninmobile and feels the need to “earn” 'em.

Hey, it could happen.

Anyone want some beads?

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**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918/10 "2001-03-21T22:44:39Z")

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Let’s see…The Honda has a pewter Peace symbol with a tiny cow pin attached, plus a dream catcher.

The Ranger has a Woodstock dog-tag hanging from it’s mirror.

The Supra has a jingly Chinese “tranquility” ball that I shake every once in a while. Usually after I call someone an asshole while I’m driving 🙂

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**Author:** ![callie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@callie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/callie)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918/11 "2001-03-21T23:22:06Z")

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For a while after highschool I had the graduation tassels hanging from the rearview mirror. Then when that started to get stringy - I put up my old baby shoes (I don’t have any kids so…) I guess I’m getting old now though because anything dangling - so to speak - gets on my nerves. 😃  
well… not everything…

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**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:** [March 21, 2001, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918/12 "2001-03-21T23:25:43Z")

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The Tempo has a Tazmanian Devil air freshener hanging from the rear-view mirror.

The son-of-a-misbegotten-puckered-faced-ditch-drab Suzuki Esteem wagon has nothing from the rear-view mirror, but I do have a life-sized, realistic plastic gecko sitting on the dashboard. Great for scaring the guys at the car wash. 😃

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**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918/13 "2001-03-22T00:22:08Z")

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There were (and still are) black fuzzy dice with white spots on the mirror in the Jeep.

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**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918/14 "2001-03-22T00:40:01Z")

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A McDonald’s Christmas ornament of **Bernard** , the mouse from _“The Rescuers”_.

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**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918/15 "2001-03-22T01:20:27Z")

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I have a small clay urn that has vanilla oil in it. When my car gets warm inside the smell sweats out (everyone always comments on how nice my car smells). Other than that, just a parking pass. But everyone concerned for my safety will be glad to know nothing hangs any lower than the mirror bottom. 🙂

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**Author:** ![fnord1966](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@fnord1966](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fnord1966)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918/16 "2001-03-22T01:29:06Z")

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A miniature switchblade. Its a mini because the real thing is illegal in California. But they arn’t gonna get my guns. Freakin liberal tree hugger anti-gun asswipes.

My apologies to those on the board that have a tree fetish.

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**Author:** ![Just\_A\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@Just\_A\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_A_Girl)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918/17 "2001-03-22T02:45:08Z")

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String of gold Marti Gras beads, an air freshener, and a white lei. Very…festive…?

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**Author:** ![Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Mockingbird)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918/18 "2001-03-22T02:45:36Z")

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A porcelin harlequin mask thing from New Orleans, and three strands of faded Mardi Gras beads.

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**Author:** ![gypsy\_gurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@gypsy\_gurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gypsy_gurl)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-dangling/58918/19 "2001-03-22T07:06:58Z")

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ok, I’ve got…10 strands of mardi-gras beads…2 glow necklaces that don’t glow…one candy necklace…one plastic yellow monkey air freshener that was **supposed** to smell like bananas, but just smells like…umm…plastic…
