Baffling behaviors you witness often

[akiratubo]

I see a LOT of people do this, and it's completely baffling to me.

Whenever they stop, they put their car in reverse.  I see this happen at stop signs, red lights, gas pumps, and even parking lots.  I've seen people start their car, set the parking brake, and put it in reverse while they load groceries in the trunk!

The only thing I can figure is that they think it's bad to let the car idle in drive. (???)  Even if that's the case, why don't they just put it in neutral?  Why reverse?

What examples can you all think of?

[ER]

I've always found it a little baffling when people get on an elevator and push a button that has already been pushed by someone else.

[FatFreddysCat]

I've always found it a little baffling when people get on an elevator and push a button that has already been pushed by someone else.

...or while they're waiting for an elevator, they tap the "up" or "down" button repeatedly. As if that's going to make it come any faster.

[Andrew]

Old people in the middle of the road who believe that putting their hand up means that you cannot or will not hit them.  I have seen this over and over, and as recently as last week.

Example #1:  Driving down a road at approximately 25 mph.  An old man walks across the road in front of me (the crosswalk is a short ways away). He holds his hand up in the air, palm out toward me as I slam on the brakes.

Example #2:  Driving down a main entry lane of a parking lot at about 15 mph.  Old man moves out from between cars, apparently just spotting his vehicle on the opposite row.  He steps out in front of me, realizes that he has done so, then raises his hand up just as example #1 above.  I hit the brakes.

Example #3:  This was just last week.  I am driving down a long hill near Havre De Grace, MD at about 35-40 mph  As I come over a small rise in the road, I see an old man walking uphill in the middle of my lane.  He could be on the grass, but he is in the middle of the road.  He is holding his right hand up in the air, palm outboard toward me.

[tracy]

People who seem to have no idea how a  4-way stop works. They come to a complete stop then simply drive on through,even if other cars are coming. I've seen so many near accidents and several pretty bad ones because of this.

[AndyC]

People who seem to have no idea how a  4-way stop works. They come to a complete stop then simply drive on through,even if other cars are coming. I've seen so many near accidents and several pretty bad ones because of this.

Or they sit there and wave other people through who don't have the right of way, and generally cause more confusion and delay for everyone than if they'd just gone ahead. Want to be courteous? Then learn the rules and follow them consistently.

[Mr. DS]

The common folk dealing with atms.

[Zapranoth]

With two lanes going each way, with a turn lane, the people who stop in their lane (when there's no other reason to stop) and then wave on the person in the turn lane -- creating a pileup behind themselves so that the person who wants to turn can't see the flow of traffic (in the next lane, going probably 30-40 MPH) that will annihilate them if they attempt to do said proferred turn.

It's supposed to be courtesy?  The courtesy of proferred annihilation?  :)

[tracy]

People who seem to have no idea how a  4-way stop works. They come to a complete stop then simply drive on through,even if other cars are coming. I've seen so many near accidents and several pretty bad ones because of this.

Or they sit there and wave other people through who don't have the right of way, and generally cause more confusion and delay for everyone than if they'd just gone ahead. Want to be courteous? Then learn the rules and follow them consistently.

Oh,yes....I've seen that too much as well.

[alandhopewell]

     Magical thinking of all sorts.An old example: tv viewers who, even when it's plain that the problem is at the station / network end, will continue to fiddle with the antenna, knobs, (or, insist that YOU do it) as if their sheer desire to "see their show" will somehow make it work.

     Aren't we supposed to outgrow this?

[JaseSF]

People who hit  malfunctioning machines hoping that somehow physical violence will make them function better.

[The Burgomaster]

* People who click their mouse about a dozen times in rapid succession when their computer freezes.

* People who hold up a check-out line at a store while they dig around in their pockets or purses to find exact change.

* People who hold up a check-out line at a store while they select individual scratch tickets: "Give me a $1 "Lucky Winners" ticket, a $2 "Big Bucks" ticket, a $5 "Set for Life" ticket, a $1 "Golden Fortune" ticket, a $1 "Mystery Cash" ticket . . . AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

* People who put on the turn signal in their car after they have started turning.

* People who have a favorite word and consistently use it incorrectly.  Years ago, I worked with a guy who could barely finish a sentence without saying the word "irregardless," when, of course, he should have said, "regardless."

[AndyC]

* People who hold up a check-out line at a store while they select individual scratch tickets: "Give me a $1 "Lucky Winners" ticket, a $2 "Big Bucks" ticket, a $5 "Set for Life" ticket, a $1 "Golden Fortune" ticket, a $1 "Mystery Cash" ticket . . . AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, I hate that one. The tickets all offer the same random chance of winning. Just grab anything. I'm standing there waiting to pay for a coffee while somebody is carefully picking tickets, then scratching them, then trading in the ones that won free tickets, then scratching the free tickets. And the cashier can't break away for two seconds to take my buck-fifty. Really, I'd like it if there was one kind of generic scratch ticket, with one box indicating prize or no prize. Quit pretending people are doing it for the fun of the stupid game. Then the rest of us might be able to pay for our actual shopping and get out faster.

[claws]

Whenever I take the bus downtown in summer, there is always some person who closes the window(s), even though its like 100 F outside and twice inside the bus.

[Ash]

I've always found it a little baffling when people get on an elevator and push a button that has already been pushed by someone else.

It's even more baffling that they push them with their fingers.  I'm no germophobe and I don't have OCD, but I have to say that elevator buttons are the most filthy germ-ridden things ever.  Think of all the people who picked their noses, or a scab, or had their finger in their ass and then pressed that same elevator button.
I use my knuckle to press them and even then, I wash my hands after.