Sunday, August 28, 2011

Things I Don't Understand...

... people I don't know/follow on Twitter who send me only a link. Do they really think I'm stupid enough to click on it?

... people who circle me on Google+ when they have no interest in writing. My very limited profile mentions I'm a writer. Actually that's all it mentions - I'm a writer & I'm female. All the people in my circles are interested in writing or books. I'm not interested in accounting. Or international business. Or banking trends. Or military/political/religious organizations. And (huge surprise) I'm not going to circle you back to have bigger numbers.

... obsessions with numbers

... people who circle/follow me, but who don't speak the same language I do


... where summer has gone

... people who tweet about themselves in the 3rd person

... why my parsley won't grow back

... how the dust bunnies multiply so quickly. What ARE they doing in those corners?

... why slashing and burning all those redundant phrases in my ms makes me giddy with joy

... why it's so much fun to follow these characters on their journeys

How about you? Any things you don't understand? Any answers?

80 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I don't get the followers who don't speak my language either. Or why the one time I turn to the Weather Channel, I see some naked guy behind the reporter. What are the odds?

Jemi Fraser said...

Alex - Very long odds indeed! :) The mysteries of the world...

Emy Shin said...

YES to all those things. Although not so much the Google+ because I haven't used it much.

(Although I do think INTERN does a pretty good job re: tweeting about herself in 3rd person. :))

Jemi Fraser said...

Emy - I have to admit I don't visit G+ much either - too many real life obstacles :)

I'll have to check Intern out - don't know her! :)

Mason Canyon said...

I agree with your list. I'm not sure how G+ is suppose to work. One thing I don't understand is people on Facebook who send you a request to play a game, you politely say thanks but no thanks I don't play games and they keep sending you request. Oh well.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Freelance Editing By Mason

Jemi Fraser said...

Mason - I'm not really sure how it all works either - I don't get over there much. :)

I've never joined FB - but I can see how that would be really annoying!!

Anonymous said...

I don't understand why sour cream has an expiration date. What's up with that? Inquiring minds like mine want to know.

Precy Larkins said...

All of the ones you mentioned, except for Google + since I don't have one. What I really don't understand is why chocolate is sooo good and yet it keeps insisting on sticking to your hips? Where's the mercy? The humanity?

Ahem. Also this: Why do kids resist bedtime when you are super tired and ready to fall asleep anywhere--why can't we siphon their energy and use it for our own?

*shakes head*

Anita said...

I have this pillow in my family room. It sits under a table, which sounds weird, but it works. Anyway, there's a print on the pillow fabric. The print has people on it and I always insist the people look into the room. Why? I don't understand.

erica and christy said...

I got invited to G+, logged in once, and never went back! Too confusing!

And even though I'm 36, I still don't step on a crack to avoid breaking my mother's back. Why? Who knows...
erica

Jemi Fraser said...

Stephen - that's a good one! I threw a tub out the other day because it had expired - wonder if I should have... :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Cherie - it's so not fair that chocolate isn't healthy!!!

And I want some of that energy too - it's endless! :)

Heidi-"Heidi in Real Life" said...

I have the same issues! I feel so much better! Thanks for posting!

Jemi Fraser said...

Anita - at least the people on the pillow are getting a good view. It would be very dull to face in instead!

Jemi Fraser said...

Erica - I have to admit I don't frequent G+ too often - I tend to forget all about it!

And I know what you mean about those cracks!

Jemi Fraser said...

Heidi - it's always good to know we're not alone!! :)

Stephanie Thornton said...

You're better than I--I'm not on Google+ at all.

I wonder where all my time goes. And why there's not time for me to take a nap every day. I really like naps!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

yeah...the language barrier is an issue when it comes to followers LOL

Corinne O said...

I am sorry about your parsley. I don't get G+ either, I am there, and I see it, but being the late-comer to most social media things, I will wait and watch as all these strangers add me to their circles. ha.

Great post.

Eric W. Trant said...

... accounting math.

... why the Cap'n Morgan wore off and I'm up three hours before I need to be up.

... why my kids can focus for three hours on Halo, but can't finish a thirty-minute chapter assignment.

... people who don't take care of their teeth.

... writers who write and re-write and re-edit and re-re-write and edit edit edit the SAME BOOK for years and years and still never finish (or get beyond the halfway point).

... writers who write for money.

... writers who write for free.

... writers who write for paltry amounts of money and are neither pro-bono nor well-paid, but are financially b-slapped and proud of the sting, look at that mark! You can see all five fingers in glaring throbbing red! Now here's another book.

... bloggers who answer every comment with a personal note. That to me is the very definition of insanity. ;)


- Eric

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

I don't understand some of those things, either! Especially the Google+ nonwriters. I figure that maybe they're aspiring writers and I add them to my writing circles. Now they're bombarded with writing links... :)

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Why do people join my happy band of followers only for me never to hear from them again? Grant you it's good to see a good number of followers on one's site but not when they don't comment and you can't get back to them as they don't have a blog.

Yvonne.

Jemi Fraser said...

Stephanie - I don't get to Google+ as often as I should - too many other things going on too!

Naps would be good!

Jemi Fraser said...

Lynda - I know! What is the point???

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Corinne! I think it's probably a really good site, I just don't get there enough to take advantage of it!

Jemi Fraser said...

Eric - love it!! :)

As a teacher I'm totally with you on the video game thing - some kids have a hard time focusing on any lessons at all - even when the other kids think it's fun!

Hmmmm... looks like I've been infected with insanity .... again :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Elizabeth - love it! Maybe you'll turn them into writers and make them happier people!! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Yvonne - that's so true! I don't get that either. It's very odd.

Old Kitty said...

Google circling?? Twitter linking? No idea! LOL!

Anyway - dust bunnies - these I understand. My dust bunnies and I have reached detente. They stay settled where I don't see them and I leave them alone. Ahem. :-)

I'm clinging on to the last vestiges of summer - it ain't over, not yet, no, no, no! LOL! Take care
x

Jemi Fraser said...

Old Kitty - you crack me up!!

Now THAT sounds like a great dust bunny plan - it's not like we can win anyway!

One more week for me too - but I'll spend most of it at school prepping - I spent most of the weekend there too :)

Laura Pauling said...

I agree! Why do spammers send the same links over and over. People must actually fall for it.

Jemi Fraser said...

Laura - it's so annoying. And I don't understand the thrill on their end. How sad are their lives that this is what they consider fun???

Yvonne Osborne said...

I'm with you on the dust! All of what you mentioned, actually. I guess the folks with the language barrier use translator?? I love it when I connect with writers in other countries but funny how we expect everyone to speak English.

One more thing I don't understand is why weeds grow three times faster than everything else and why people continue to buy junk fook and soda pop when they know it's bad for them.

Have a good week, Jemi.

Jemi Fraser said...

Yvonne - maybe they do use translation programs - that didn't cross my mind. I do speak enough French to get by, so that helps me recognize some of the other romance langauges too. From what I can tell, none of these folks write though!

YES! Those weeds are almost impossiblities they grow so fast!

Anonymous said...

I am with you when it comes to the fun of following your characters. What mishap are they going to get in next? Yes, I don't understand why accountant's ask to follow me on Twitter! Actually, I haven't got the Twitter habit under control yet, so always surprised to see the 'you have a new follower' show up in my mail box!

Jemi Fraser said...

Lynn - I agree - they're so much fun to follow! :)

That's how I feel about Google+ -- I definitely don't have a handle on it!

A said...

If you figure out the dust bunnies, do let me know.

Jemi Fraser said...

Agnes - I will!!! :)

Talli Roland said...

I hear you on the Google + thing! I have some very strange people adding me to their circles. I have no idea why!

Laila Knight said...

If you could figure out how to kill the bunny without so much effort I would be eternaly grateful. :)

Anonymous said...

All of the above--except G+. That I don't do yet.

--why my dog eats socks. They can't taste good and she follows them with sock chasers. How do they get down her throat?

--why my good intentions never seem to follow through (oh wait, maybe I'm the one who needs to follow...)

--the power of three (I have a crabby son, a crabby daughter and crabby hubby right now) and why it is residing in my home right now.

LOL, love the picture. I feel that way some days!

Jemi Fraser said...

Talli - exactly! I think they must like looking like they interact with bunches and bunches of people!

Jemi Fraser said...

Laila - I really, really wish I could! Nothing I hate more than chasing down those bunnies! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Cat - love those! I bet it's that back-to-school joy that has everyone in your house being so happy! :)

Golden Eagle said...

I'm always thrown a bit by people who follow but don't speak the same language, too. I just have to wonder why they follow in the first place.

Where HAS summer gone? It feels like August just started yesterday . . .

Anonymous said...

I don't get the people who follow who don't speak my language. That has always puzzled me.

I don't get why I can fall asleep with the lights on and the TV blaring, but the minute these things are shut off I'm awake.

Rebecca Gomez said...

Why grown men and women walk in the street rather than on the sidewalk.

Why I have to see butt cheeks hanging out of short-shorts whenever I'm in public.

Why my dog likes to eat fresh poop.

Why I'm so good at wasting time.

Jemi Fraser said...

Golden Eagle - I know - it's crazy how fast the last 2 months have gone!

I wonder what these folks who follow other languages get out of the deal???

Jemi Fraser said...

Susanne - that's a good one! I can do that one too - and then I'm awake forever it seems :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Rebecca - yes! Those are awesome! No one needs to see butt cheeks ... ever!

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

Fascinating quandaries all. I also hate the linky twitter thing from people I don't follow. CAN I STEALZ YOUR ACCOUNT NOW?!

Jemi Fraser said...

Michael - I don't understand them at all - what is the thrill???

Leslie S. Rose said...

I don't understand how I can miss a simple typo in my MS when I've looked at the thing a million times. Ach! I don't understand why the same credit card company you never respond to sends you offers week after week after week after week... Save the trees!

LD Masterson said...

Why Blogger sometimes tells me I don't have permission to comment on a blog I commented on yesterday but lets me comment on one I couldn't before. (Something about cookies. What? Wrong flavor? Not enough chocolate chips? I don't understand. I try so hard. I bake and bake...)

Jemi Fraser said...

Leslie - I agree! Those typos must be able to get some camouflage from somewhere - they're impossible to spot! :)

Anonymous said...

I dont get why when people are driving around after a Hurricane and effectively must drive with no street lights they think that at major intersections they have the right of way no matter which way they are going!!

Jemi Fraser said...

Linda - I know!! I'm in the same boat a lot of the time. I thought it was just me Blogger was picking on - but I kinda like not being alone!! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

C'est la vie - that would be nuts! We haven't had any hurricanes up here (crossing fingers and knockin gon wood!) but we have very similar idiots when our power goes out for other reasons. They don't understand the 4 way stop idea!!

julie fedderson said...

I don't understand how the moment hubs and I have some alone time, small son suddenly awakens and comes running to our bed. It's like some sort of Spidey sense.

Jemi Fraser said...

Julie - I remember those days!! My kids are a lot older now, but I remember the Spidey sense well :)

Kelly Polark said...

I haven't even tried the Google+ yet. I don't need another distraction!!
And unfortunately those spammers with just the link do get some people to click. My mother inlaw has gotten so many viruses from facebook because she just didn't know better not to click on things! Now she knows better.

Lenny Lee said...

hi miss jemi! for me i dont understand how come one of my socks is missing after the wash gets done. i dont get why when im watching a movie i get sleeping at the end and get awake when those credits are rolling. ack! ha ha.
...hugs from lenny

Lola Sharp said...

I don't understand... anything. ;)

Jemi Fraser said...

Kelly - I'm glad your mother-in-law isn't clicking those any more! I don't get those dingbats who send out that stuff!

Jemi Fraser said...

Lenny - those are good questions! I have a pile of socks on my dryer with no mates! Where in the world do they go?

I do that with the movies too - so frustrating :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Lola - oh, I know that feeling very well!!!

Elana Johnson said...

LOL! Sometimes I tweet about myself in third person. It's funny. To me, I guess. I'll try not to do it anymore. Ha!

Also, I am a numbers freak. Give me a number, I'll remember it forever.

Jemi Fraser said...

Elana - I've never even noticed you've done it! :) There are a couple who sound so arrogant when they do it - drives me batty! I don't think you could sound arrogant if you tried :)

I actually kind of like numbers too - LOVE teaching math - but the obsessions drive me nuts!

Shelley Sly said...

Oh yes, the Twitter and Google+ mysteries are beyond me, too. Glad it's not just me who gets those kinds of messages though. We may know not to click on suspicious links, but other people (like my co-workers) don't, and end up with a wiped out hard drive. :-[ It's good to be cautious!

Jemi Fraser said...

Shelley - it really is! I'm glad I've never been tempted - know too many who have suffered I guess!

DL Hammons said...

Why is it that comfort food makes me uncomfortable?? :)

Jemi Fraser said...

DL - it really does, doesn't it? Maybe because we eat too much of it??? :)

Anonymous said...

I don't understand spammers.

I don't understand why it's taking forever to finish my wip.

Jemi Fraser said...

Medeia - I agree ... with both statements! I can punch out a first draft in decent time, but I'm still learning to be speedier in editing, revising & polishing!

Al said...

It must be because we are writers, but most of those apply to me as well.

I don't understand why people are so selfish

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I don't understand why every person offering a marketing service HAS to follow me on Twitter!

Jemi Fraser said...

Al - I definitely don't get that as well. Some people boggle my mind with how limited thier viewpoint is!

Jemi Fraser said...

Diane - so funny! there's probably a bazillion of them too! :)

LTM said...

I'm having that same issue on Google+... who ARE all these people?

And that dust bunny thing, too. Weird. :D <3

Jemi Fraser said...

Leigh - it really is weird! I don't think I've checked in for a week, yet at least a dozen people who have no interest in writing have circled me. Odd. :)