Best Reasons for Exchanges?

[gerund]

One Friday 13th I was in a casino and a woman I knew slightly was going on about how she should have known that it would be unlucky to gamble that day.

I said to her, "Then it must be the casino's lucky day, if it's unlucky for you."

She looked at me oddly (I got lots of odd looks in the casino when I said things like that) so I asked ...

"Why can't it be an unlucky day for the casino, which means it would be a lucky day for you?"

"Oh yeah", she said and frowned.

This sort of logic seemed very hard for the people in casinos.

[gerund]

And some superstitions are based on a thread of logic.

If you are not going to walk under a ladder because it is dangerous I can understand, but if you are only doing it because you think it is unlucky that is just stupid.

What about when there are men on a scaffold, or if they are on a roof? If you understand a ladder is dangerous then you are going to think my example is dangerous too.

If you just think you don't walk under a ladder because it's unlucky, then you are going to walk under a scaffold without a seconds hesitation and you will deserve the lumps you get. Or even a Darwin award.

THAT'S what I'm laughing about.

[DeltaSierra]

I remember a few times when working for a fast food place of incidences where if the total rang up at 6.66 the person ordering would ask to either remove or add something to the order to change the total.

I don't subscribe to the superstition that certain numbers are unlucky - in fact the number 13 has been incredibly lucky for me, and I usually end up getting good news on Friday the 13th.

The one I'll never forget was 2 years ago, when on a Friday the 13th I found out that my abusive ex-husband that I had left 10 years prior (but hadn't divorced - long story) had made me a widow. When I told my 90-year-old Grandmother this she said "CONGRATULATIONS!!!" My Dad, upon hearing about it sent a link to my FB with a Youtube vid of "The Merry Widow"

[MoonCat]

When we find a package of meat at the grocery store that reads $6.66, we usually buy it...

Years ago when we used to have a "dating" column in the paper, the computer used to generate the PO Box # for the customers' replies. Sure enough it once generated the box #666 and this customer I had refused to accept it. She had to call back several days later to place her ad, after that number had been taken by someone else.

[ozcatbug]

If you had asked my grandma if she was superstitious, she would deny it. Yet she would freak out if she found us putting our newly purchased shoes on the table, would throw salt over her shoulder if she spilt it, would insist on buying her lottery ticket from a shop mum referred to as her "lucky shop", despite picking her numbers (meaning it didn't matter where she bought it, she still ended up with the same numbers). She would walk away from black cats, she freaked out when mum went in to their unit first on New Years Day instead of letting my dad or brother (some Scottish tradition), and don't get me started on the time I went shopping for an umbrella with her. How was I supposed to know how big the bloody thing was unless I opened it, and it's not like the shop was going to let me walk out with it, despite her insistence, just so I didn't have to open it inside. No Grandma, of course you weren't superstitious.

Me, I'm not a believer in luck. I believe whole heartedly in the saying "Shit Happens". It can either happen to you or to someone else. Plan for the worst and you will always be happy (either you are right or you are wrong, but better off). And the absolute sure fire way of beating the casinos every time: don't play!

[mharbourgirl]

I remember a few times when working for a fast food place of incidences where if the total rang up at 6.66 the person ordering would ask to either remove or add something to the order to change the total.

Around here, BK has their daily 'King deal' - if you add a side of gravy to it, it comes up to $6.66. I order it on purpose, just to see what kind of reaction I get. The number of cashiers that have asked me if I want to add something to the order is quite amusing.

[PepperElf]

One Friday 13th I was in a casino and a woman I knew slightly was going on about how she should have known that it would be unlucky to gamble that day.

Sis and I decided it's a lucky number too. Plus back when she turned 13... yep, her birthday fell on Friday the 13th!

We also think black cats are lucky too. I almost made a face when one of my shipmates was honestly AFRAID to let a black cat cross her path. However I was nice and said nothing about it... and walked simply around her, so that it was my path it crossed and not hers. Besides, I'd already owned 2 black cats so, my path's been well and truly blessed by their kitty cat good luck charms... one more won't hurt.

[dragon_wings]

My sister has a black cat. He's a skittish little fellow from all the times he's blended into the shadows and been tripped over. But he sure loved to snuggle up to me. I miss that cat.

Back when I lived in Baltimore there was a Panera Bread next door to my work. When I could afford to I'd get a bagel and a coffee drink. My semi regular order was a bagel and a frozen mocha coffee drink. The total? $6.66. If I had a cashier that had rung me up before they wouldn't say anything but if it was a newer cashier they'd get a look on their face like they were afraid I'd wanna change my order. And I often (not always) had exact change.

[Carsomyr]

The closest I get to old wives tales is spiders. I really don't like them and I know it's irrational (unless it's a whitetail - then fear is fair game), but I just panic for a second when I see one. But sometimes I leave black paint lying around which they could have climbed out of, so better to be safe than sorry.... right? That's rational, right.....?

Although... superstitions are a great way to get customers to stop playing with the umbrellas.

Never had a $6.66 order.. but, I always say the cash price anyway, so even if I did it'd come out as "$6.70". In fact, it'd be really difficult to get that price but I could do it.

[greek_jester]

...and don't get me started on the time I went shopping for an umbrella with her.

You know, what gets me is so many people are superstitious about this, but it's only unlucky if you open the umbrella indoors & hold it over your head...

[PepperElf]

never understood why that was unlucky.
unless you were hitting stuff with it by accident.

i mean at least the one about walking under ladders makes sense - something might fall on you or you might knock it (and the person on it) over and do a lot of damage.

[Merriweather]

When I was a kid, my dad and I had a very long list of these jokes. Thanks for making my day!

Glad to oblige - my goal is to make one person's day each day, and hopefully without harm or humiliation to myself

If you are not going to walk under a ladder because it is dangerous I can understand, but if you are only doing it because you think it is unlucky that is just stupid.

Personally, I think avoiding walking under a ladder is a good thing, no matter why you do so.

IMO, having an irrational fear doesn't make a person stupid. Whether it's a fear of the number 13, a fear of black cats, or a full blown claustrophobic fear of small places, most people know their fear is irrational, but they still have the fear. In general, I don't think avoiding what you fear is stupid.

We also think black cats are lucky too.

Most people I met in the UK felt that way as well, I even saw black cats as good luck symbols on greeting cards for congratulations, good luck, graduation, even weddings.

Sadly, they're still considered very unlucky here in the US - our local cat shelter says they're always harder to adopt out, they're definitely less desirable than other cats. So my next rescue cat will probably be another black cat (we lost our last black cat, a rescue, a couple of months ago - I miss her like crazy).

[Jay 2K Winger]

I'm not a hugely superstitious person, but I do believe in luck and jinxes.

During football season, I never wear Redskins shirts on game day. They invariably lose when I do so. Granted, they often lose when I -don't- wear a Redskins shirt on game day, but hey.

Similarly, I don't watch the games I'm interested in. The team I'm rooting for tends to lose when I do so.

I believe in NEVER joking about how (not) busy a store is, since it always triggers a rush.

And, dating back to my days in the theater, don't whistle on stage, don't wish someone good luck, and you always call it "The Scottish Play."

[Gizmo]

My boss '13'th me the other day. I had to tell him some bad news and he got the wrong end of the stick and thought it was twice as bad as it was and then said "and its the 13th..." I did gently remind him it wasn't a Friday but he said it was still the 13th.

Yep, had a bad day even though 13 and 'horror' related numbers are normally good for me!

[BeeMused]

Ah yes, grandmothers and superstitions! My Gran would never let me play with the salt shaker, every grain of salt mean a tear, but if you want to curse someone... take a knife and stab into the salt!
And one day... my Mum and I went to a flea market once in a while to get rid of stuff we didn't need any more. My Gran threw a broom after us, bristles first. My Mum and I looked at her, thinking 'she was quite sane even seconds ago...' Grans's explanation: It's a way to "sweep" the merchandise out of the house, ensuring good sales, but it has to be bristles first! Uh yeah, well I don't remember if it worked or not.