What things about you do other people find surprising?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Amongst ppl my own age or younger it is often that I don't play a musical instrument. Ppl know that i go to lots of gigs, know a reasonable amount about music and have a pretty large cd collection and that I know quite a few ppl in bands and so they think that I play music.

Amongst folks older than me, it tends to be the fact that I'm not in a relationship.

― MarkH (MarkH), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 19:51 (twenty-one years ago)

For pretty much everyone it's my renegade singing life.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 19:54 (twenty-one years ago)

a lot.

― Huk-L, Wednesday, 18 May 2005 19:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Are you me, MarkH?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 19:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I think there's always been a disconnect between the way I look and the sorts of things that I like. People always assume that I'm more conservative in my music, film, and art tastes than I really am. It doesn't really bug me, as it can lead to some pleasantly surprising situations ("You like _________? I had no idea!!!"), but it's always been odd.

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 19:57 (twenty-one years ago)

People are amazed when they find out I play the banjo.

― Zebra, Alpha Go! (cprek), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 19:58 (twenty-one years ago)

That I'm 24.

― dog latin (dog latin), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 20:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Am I a broadcaster? Yes.
Do I hold a full driving license? Yes.
Am I very good at Judo? Yes, little known fact.
Did I once talk a depressed man down from a wall? Yes, but it wasn't that high and he wasn't that depressed. He'd locked himself out of his business premises and was trying to get in.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 20:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I can't think of anything. I don't think I am really that interesting to other people, or it's just all visible and obvious as I'm usually trying desperately yet subtly to alert people to whatever I think I'm good at in a continued quest for recognition and respect, perpetually undermind by inadvertently coming across as an addled nonce who thinks too much about too little.

― $V£N! (blueski), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 20:24 (twenty-one years ago)

1. That I've been married
2. That I'm not anywhere near as bold and confident as I seem. (Public speaking I'm great at, social situations? Terrible.)
3. That I wasn't privately educated and that I don't come from a wealthy background (Me Maw just tort me ta speak proper-like 'n stuff)

― Flava Flavs got problems of his own! / Kate (papa november), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 20:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I find that in my work context (wear a suit, act professional) people assume that the music on my headphones is probably classical, and are surprised when it isn't anything of the sort.

Best work moment in this sense was when my boss was talking about that woman who had an affair with David Blunkett, and 'news' that she had had a total of four affairs that year. A few people were acting as if that was an extraordinary number and I said "Four in a year? I've had busier weeks than that! Hell, I've had one busier day than that." I realised this was a stupid thing to say at work, so backed off at that point rather than answering questions about whether I was serious.

Then there are the people who are surprised that I was married for 23 years. I suspect this is in the same way as that TV series a while back starring Chris Langham - "You're married? Really? You?"

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 20:31 (twenty-one years ago)

At work-that I am not a thick drughead, that I am in college, that I have plans for my life......

At college-that I have a mortal soul

With local friends-that I am no longer single

With parents-that I have a job

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 20:34 (twenty-one years ago)

that i'm 27. most people think i'm far younger.
that i play the harmonica.
that i'm self-conscious.

― kelsey (kelstarry), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 20:36 (twenty-one years ago)

- that I like a lot of the music I do and that I DJ
- that I know more about sports than your average ex-college jock
- that I dated a porn actress (a couple of weeks pre-porn career)

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 20:39 (twenty-one years ago)

My things upthread may not be true.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 20:43 (twenty-one years ago)

- That I used to act.
- That I used to sing.

― Remy (x Jeremy), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 21:24 (twenty-one years ago)

- That I used to be fat.

― Remy (x Jeremy), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 21:25 (twenty-one years ago)

That I'm not Jewish.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 22:25 (twenty-one years ago)

That I'm really gullible.

(x post - Tracer, WHAAAAAAAT?!)

― $V£N! (blueski), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 22:28 (twenty-one years ago)

- That I'm 34, and not 22 like everyone keeps thinking.
- that my hair is 100% grey.

― Trayce (trayce), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 22:35 (twenty-one years ago)

My 12 inch penis.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 22:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha seriously, steve? MY DAD IS A METHODIST MINISTER. AS WAS HIS DAD. And that guy's dad (my great-grandfather on my father's side) was a damn carpenter from Oklahoma. It doesn't get much more Jesus-y than that. Except my great-grandfather put his own eye out with a nail, I don't think Jesus ever did that.

xposts

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 22:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Except my great-grandfather put his own eye out with a nail, I don't think Jesus ever did that.Sheesh, stop giving Mel Gibson more bad ideas!

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 22:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Most things, actually. Offhand...

That I'm 18. (Mentally and physically... Considering the events of last Thursday, I can apparently get into a bar by passing as a 27-year-old and having his ID.)
That I make music.
That I'm becoming increasingly anarchic.
That I can be so quiet at times and so off-the-wall at others.
That I have these deviant tendencies that seem so unlike me.

― ... And suddenly Ian Riese-Moraine is a naked man saying, 'Volvo! Volvo!' (Easte, Wednesday, 18 May 2005 23:46 (twenty-one years ago)

that i'm SHY

― cindy williams permafrost (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 23:53 (twenty-one years ago)

an abiding love for people

― strng hlkngtn, Thursday, 19 May 2005 00:02 (twenty-one years ago)

what Tantrum said

also, at least once, that I'm Jewish

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 19 May 2005 00:04 (twenty-one years ago)

that i'm a misanthrope

― mullygrubbr (bulbs), Thursday, 19 May 2005 00:05 (twenty-one years ago)

also, that I can be mean

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 19 May 2005 00:07 (twenty-one years ago)

That I'm not completely up myself and obsessed with my looks.

― Flava Flavs got problems of his own! / Kate (papa november), Thursday, 19 May 2005 00:07 (twenty-one years ago)

That I'm not Jewish.

i get this one all the time, too!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 19 May 2005 00:15 (twenty-one years ago)

also, people are surprised that I AM A TOTALLY LAZY FUCK. that's the reason why i end up working hard sometimes -- b/c i slacked off and procrastinated!!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 19 May 2005 00:18 (twenty-one years ago)

That I'm not Jewish.

-- Tracer Hand (tracerhan...),

yeah holy shit. i thought this for a really long time

― phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 19 May 2005 00:22 (twenty-one years ago)

but for me, i think most people are surprised that i follow sports. and that i follow it because i enjoy the games rather than the hot baseball players, etc. those too, since i do like juicy butts, but also the game, yes.

― phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 19 May 2005 00:24 (twenty-one years ago)

For a long time I thought phil liked juicy butts.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 19 May 2005 00:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Except my great-grandfather put his own eye out with a nail, I don't think Jesus ever did that. No, but maybe he was following Jesus's advice on adultery literally.

my college friends are surprised when i swear. sometimes people are surprised by my russian major because who the hell majors in russian? all in all though i am not a surprising person.

― Maria (Maria), Thursday, 19 May 2005 00:51 (twenty-one years ago)

that i only saw jurassic park for the first time about oh three weeks ago.

more generally, that i'm working towards a cinema studies degree and that i haven't seen any number of movies that most normal people have seen (i have not watched more than five total seconds of any star wars movie ever, for instance. likewise, gone with the wind, citizen kane, any indiana jones movie, i could be here all night...)

― joseph (joseph), Thursday, 19 May 2005 01:00 (twenty-one years ago)

- that i'm really shy
- that i'm 28
- that i'm a total klutz

― gem (trisk), Thursday, 19 May 2005 01:06 (twenty-one years ago)

i am shy too :(

― mullygrubbr (bulbs), Thursday, 19 May 2005 01:07 (twenty-one years ago)

That I'm an introvert. At least I *thought* I was!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 19 May 2005 01:10 (twenty-one years ago)

that i am not that much different IRL than i am online.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 19 May 2005 01:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I went to county jail (for a stupid youthful incident involving le booze) for a couple of weeks. And kind of enjoyed it.

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Thursday, 19 May 2005 01:15 (twenty-one years ago)

milo = don was in "hi dad, i'm in JAIL!"

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 19 May 2005 01:24 (twenty-one years ago)

that I was a football and track prodigy
that I handicap myself with self-doubt and depression (well, some of you know this, but in "real life" I seem confident)
that I've written four children's books (yeah I pimp this too online but you should see some of the 'yeah right' looks I get)
that I am a former altar boy now raising his children more or less Jewishly

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Thursday, 19 May 2005 01:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, aside from the whole lovely mess of depression/anxiety, it'd be that I'm from Appalachia, dude..

― daria g (daria g), Thursday, 19 May 2005 02:42 (twenty-one years ago)

That I'm not gay.

(Even on ILX someone was surprised to find this out.)

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 19 May 2005 03:09 (twenty-one years ago)

that I'm an excellent cook

― Allyzay is not appropriate for freedom (allyzay), Thursday, 19 May 2005 05:08 (twenty-one years ago)

That I was a child actor.

― giboyeux (skowly), Thursday, 19 May 2005 05:15 (twenty-one years ago)

ok you gotta spill what you were in.

― Allyzay is not appropriate for freedom (allyzay), Thursday, 19 May 2005 05:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Little Big League.

― giboyeux (skowly), Thursday, 19 May 2005 05:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 41 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

--also people are surprised at my love for (often gory) 70's samurai films

So THAT explains why Mark's picture of you with the South Park image generator showed you holding the samurai sword (and why you were gently smiling).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 19 May 2005 13:56 (twenty-one years ago)

-I've never once eaten at Swiss Chalet

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Thursday, 19 May 2005 13:57 (twenty-one years ago)

That I've done It with Boys, probably.

― Lucretia My Reflection (Lucretia My Reflection), Thursday, 19 May 2005 14:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, one more:

-that I used to have long hair.

How old is Dan exactly?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 19 May 2005 14:03 (twenty-one years ago)

That I've done It with Boys, probably.

Er, are you dyke or do people just assume so?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 19 May 2005 14:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Still reeling from Tracer not being Jewish, haha.

A lot of people in college assumed I was a theatre major because I acted in a couple of shows and was on the improv team, but I never even took a single class in the department.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 19 May 2005 14:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha Sgs's MCing owns this thread! I demand a repeat. (Although x-post Tracer yeah! END TIMES)

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Thursday, 19 May 2005 14:09 (twenty-one years ago)

that i used to be a big gangsta rap fan.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 19 May 2005 14:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, I'm not sure whether it's really surprising, but I've done a rap tune as well (I rapped, my friend did the background). Admittedly it was only a graduation present to a friend.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 19 May 2005 14:12 (twenty-one years ago)

(i.e., i'm probably the LEAST gangsta person you'd ever meet -- ergo, people thinking [erroneously] that i'm jewish.)

tuomas -- maybe folks think that yer gay b/c they're jealous (you always seem to be having a blast w/ yer lady friends!)

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 19 May 2005 14:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Jugglers tend to be surprised that I still can't do a three ball shower, but I'm not sure they're people.

Tuomas that doesn't surprise me at all!

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Thursday, 19 May 2005 14:14 (twenty-one years ago)

People tend to get slightly shocked at the amount of CDs and books I have the first time they come over. I think I give the impression that I'm one of those people who just aren't interested in anything much when really, I'm just not a big talker when it comes to myself.

That I'm a trained dancer, jazz and ballet.

That I used to smoke when I was 13 and managed to quit at the ripe old age of 17.

That I've lived in three different countries.

My brother and I: Our friends are always surprised to find out we're siblings. We look NOTHING alike. On three different occasions people have asked if we're dating. Ew.

Also, lots of people think I'm either 25 or 16. (I'm 20).

― Roz (Roz), Thursday, 19 May 2005 14:14 (twenty-one years ago)

tuomas -- maybe folks think that yer gay b/c they're jealous (you always seem to be having a blast w/ yer lady friends!)

I dunno, I guess it has more to with the simple fact that most of my friends are girls, that I dance (and occasionally kiss) with boys, and that I'm overall sorta feminine. But c'mon, since when does all this make someone gay? ;) Anyway, I've been asked on a date by guys several times (I might've said yes, but the right guy is yet to ask).

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 19 May 2005 14:20 (twenty-one years ago)

How old is Dan exactly?

32 years, 4 months and 1 day.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 19 May 2005 14:26 (twenty-one years ago)

I am 34 and a couple of months, so yay.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 19 May 2005 14:28 (twenty-one years ago)

That I am good at sports.
That I was too shy to have any good friends until I was 20.

― Ally C (Ally C), Thursday, 19 May 2005 14:50 (twenty-one years ago)

So that's why you're waxing nostalgic about old Front 242 albums!

― The Emancipation of Baaderonixx (Fabfunk), Thursday, 19 May 2005 14:54 (twenty-one years ago)

I had suspected Ally might be good at football.

I did not know how good, once.

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Thursday, 19 May 2005 14:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Kate, are you related to anyone called J0dy?

― leigh (leigh), Thursday, 19 May 2005 14:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Hahahaha ah man!

― Lucretia My Reflection (Lucretia My Reflection), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:04 (twenty-one years ago)

jugglers are surprised sometimes i can do 5 ball mills mess.

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:10 (twenty-one years ago)

dude can we finish this chess game?

― $V£N! (blueski), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:10 (twenty-one years ago)

My age
I have a Phd in Maths
I don't smoke

― mei (mei), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:12 (twenty-one years ago)

*shrug* I can't think of anything. Maybe the way that I can across as serious, quiet and a tad unapproachable with people I don't know, but really talkative and silly with my pals.

― jel -- (jel), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Lessee:

posh and black, unattached, darkly humourous, a good dancer, Barima isn't really my first name, over-connected and unemployed, good artist when arsed, that I'm not StoneMonkey ;-).

Really, my whole existence is a conundrum and those are just the most common befuddlements!

― The Irrelevant Man (Negativa) (Barima), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Barima isn't really my first name,

yeah, it's really billy!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:21 (twenty-one years ago)

That I'm 29.

― jel -- (jel), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Barima isn't really my first name

Every time I mention 'Burma' people are like "who?" and I have to say "Bareeemaaaaah".

― $V£N! (blueski), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually: that I'm very close to being straightedge. I don't smoke, I'd never had a drink until a few years ago (and have still consumed less alcohol in my life than many people drink in a night), my lifetime drug experiences can be counted on the fingers of one hand, I'm vegetarian and I almost never drink coffee

― Douglas (Douglas), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm most of those things to Douglas, except for the veggie bit. It doesn't surprise people though.

― jel -- (jel), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:31 (twenty-one years ago)

I can't think of one thing about me that's surprising! A lot of people are surprised that I am 25. That's about it, though.

― jill schoelen is the queen of my dreams! (Homosexual II), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I think it's surprising that you live in Colorado, because sometimes I forget that Colorado exists and that people live there. That's just me, though.

― n/a (Nick A.), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I would be surprised if you are not really a redhead.

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:46 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm not really a redhead.

a FAKE one, though!

Nick, but only people from the internets would be surprised by that, not, like, real-life people.

― jill schoelen is the queen of my dreams! (Homosexual II), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:48 (twenty-one years ago)

okay most people are surprised I'm from GREELEY, Colorado.

― jill schoelen is the queen of my dreams! (Homosexual II), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:49 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, it's really billy!

See folks, if you read my UK Top 40 review at Stylus last September, you'd know it's William Barima Swygart, just like Tad.

― The Irrelevant Man (Negativa) (Barima), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Internets people are people too. If you flame us, do we not get really self-righteous and bitchy?

― n/a (Nick A.), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:56 (twenty-one years ago)

mandee, isn't that the city with all the cow-processing which smells rather badly?

― Miss Misery (thatgirl), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:56 (twenty-one years ago)

(Do people still say "flame"? It seems kind of old-fogeyish when I read it.)

― n/a (Nick A.), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:57 (twenty-one years ago)

i don't think anything about me is really that surprising to other people, unfortunately.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 19 May 2005 15:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Every time I mention 'Burma' people are like "who?" and I have to say "Bareeemaaaaah".

So far, Lauren is on record for struggling the longest with this conundrum of conundrums.

― The Irrelevant Conundrum The Blahbarian (Negativa) (Barima), Thursday, 19 May 2005 16:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I was suprised you don't like spam.

― The Irrelevant Man (Negativa) (Barima), Thursday, 19 May 2005 16:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, Sam, it is! It's pretty GRODEY.

― jill schoelen is the queen of my dreams! (Homosexual II), Thursday, 19 May 2005 16:04 (twenty-one years ago)

My name is not Leon.

Aside from that, I can't think of much.

― Leon Federline (Ex Leon), Thursday, 19 May 2005 16:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha what wait seriously Greely is a meat processing town!?? Because I sent Mandee an e-mail in like 1998 or something where I imagined it as like this giant suausage factory with Victorian Chimneys. That is kinda spooky, I'm pretty sure it was totally coincidental.

Ken you big show-off ponce. I got forty catches of five recently! That is not surprising, but good for me. Five ball mills is bloody stupid impressive.

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Thursday, 19 May 2005 16:24 (twenty-one years ago)

let the record reflect that i feel bad about that, BURMA. i blame introductions in extremely loud and booze-filled environs.

― lauren (laurenp), Thursday, 19 May 2005 16:24 (twenty-one years ago)

they dont call Ken "ken the juggler" for nothin', man!!

― jill schoelen is the queen of my dreams! (Homosexual II), Thursday, 19 May 2005 16:43 (twenty-one years ago)

People are occasionally surprised that I'm so mean.
People usually guess I'm between 3 and 8 years younger than I actually am.
Most people don't believe that I weigh as much as I do, but then I guess I'm just big and gronky all around making it harder to judge.
Lots of people find it hard to believe that I'm an accountant, hopefully because they think I'm a wild and crazy guy rather than too dim to be an accountant.

― Bryan (Bryan), Thursday, 19 May 2005 16:51 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah -- it makes the place sound like manchester in the "how soon is now?" video.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 19 May 2005 17:00 (twenty-one years ago)

sixteen years pass...

Third nipple

― A Pile of Ants (Boring, Maryland), Tuesday, 9 November 2021 21:34 (four years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.