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Original poster

What quirks do you have?

212 replies

MalcolmsBrokenWalrusMoneybox · 14/12/2018 19:19

I recently came across thinker Alain de Boton, and was very taken with his statement that each of us is "deeply crazy".
With that in mind, what quirks do you have?

A family member once mentioned that he was always up by 6 and since then, I used to set my alarm for 5:58 so I would "win" obviously I never told him that!
Likewise when working from home, if I was still in my pajamas at say 7, and I'd hear a neighbour going off to work I'd get almost a feeling of jealousy - they'd got dressed before me!
I've mellowed a little.

What secret or not so secret quirks do you have?

OP posts:
LollipopViolet · 16/12/2018 10:11

Hate the feel of certain fabrics on my skin.
Can’t do green liquid - smoothies, mushy peas etc.
Don’t like sudden loud noises.
Volume on things has to be on an even number.

I have many quirks.

ElsaMars · 16/12/2018 10:15

I hate sitting facing away from people in a cafe or restaurant, when I have to sit like that because someone got there first, it just feels wrong.
I'm also ridiculous with sleep, it has to be the left side and I freak if the pillows, duvet, my bed socks or vest top don't feel 'right'.
I have to rinse out a drinking glass at least 3 times before I'll drink the water out of it.

SlatternIsTrying · 16/12/2018 10:27

Until I started reading this I hadn’t properly acknowledged how so many of these things are incorporated into my everyday life.

Seriously, I do most of these things but if you had asked me I would have said I didn’t have any quirks.

Not sure how I feel - amused at my lack of awareness or worried about ‘my ways’.

TofuPanda · 16/12/2018 10:43

Out of interest, how would you feel if you had to stop these quirks? Could you stop doing them? I do agree with Skittles that it can be problematic and if you can't stop this is where is goes from being a quirk to OCD. If any of your children have quirks I would encourage them to be more flexible. (Speaking from personal experience with a family member being really severely affected BTW).

fudgefeet · 16/12/2018 11:29

I count my steps sometimes but usually when I just want to be home fast, it makes the walk pass quicker. Actually, these days I listen to music to distract me, mostly so I don’t get caught muttering to myself ( which has happened 🤭)
I also put away 100 things when tidying up, as long as I’ve put away that amount I can then relax even if it’s still a mess.

katseyes7 · 16/12/2018 11:35

l have to have the volume on my car radio and my tv on odd numbers. No idea why.
And when l hang out washing, l have to use the same coloured pegs on each garment. Not to match the garment, just the same two pegs.

RyderWhiteSwan · 16/12/2018 11:43

I used to be OCD along the "did I really lock the door?" line, but managed it by saying to myself "I am locking the door", "I am posting the letter", "I am putting my purse/bankcard in my bag" etc; while doing the task.

Now when the thought "did I....." strikes, I 'see' in my mind myself doing it, and the anxious thought disappears.

RyderWhiteSwan · 16/12/2018 11:46

Oh - I don't like matching things. No matching mugs. An assortment of other crockery My shoes a different colour to my bag. Matching things make me feel stifled Confused

Gwenhwyfar · 16/12/2018 14:08

I think not having your back facing people is quite normal, you need to see what's going on.

I've been reading this thinking 'thank God I'm not like that', but I suppose there must be things. I don't like open doors except in my own flat. I don't like people standing up or wearing their coats when they're supposed to be sitting down. I don't like people eating fruit in public.

I sing the same songs in my head over and over and even sometimes do the piano fingering for one particular song even though I haven't played the piano for about 20 years. Is that odd?

I'm seeing a lot more OCD that autism on this thread, by the way.

AFistfulofDolores1 · 16/12/2018 14:24

Everyone has quirks. Including the people who think they don't and who think the rest of us are 'mad'.

Life is unpredictable - and it can be even more unpredictable if our upbringing was unpredictable. Rituals can keep an unpredictable and uncontrollable life at bay; and the anxiety that can set it if we don't do them (because, of course, we're doing them to keep things in control) can feel unbearable.

So it's less 'spetrum-y' as it is OCD.

AFistfulofDolores1 · 16/12/2018 14:26

From my side: I have to beat the check-out person at Lidl or I've 'lost'. I will often avoid pavement cracks. My pillow has to be 'just so' or I have a very, very bad night's sleep. And many more :)

noblegiraffe · 16/12/2018 14:33

I amend songs so they have my name in. E.g. if I had ‘one man went to mow...’ in my head it would be ‘Noble went to mow, went to mow a meadow, Noble and her dog...’. With my kids it would be ‘Mummy went to mow...’.
I have no idea why.

Cakemonger · 16/12/2018 14:49

I could stop mine yes, Tofu

Youmatter · 16/12/2018 16:10

I can’t sleep with clothes on. If I somehow drift into a nap on the sofa or ontop of the bed and I’m in clothes I wake up in terrible form.

I hate the feel of waking up in clothes, my thighs feel like they’re moist and suffocating despite zero sweat.

In the kitchen I’m terrified of germs especially when cooking chicken. I basically cling film the entire worktop, wear gloves and bleach the place and my hands after. And still worry I’ve hit salmonella

April2020mom · 16/12/2018 17:25

I have to read before bed. Also I always have to take money and my charger cord with me. Just in case I need to buy something. Whenever I go to a shoe store I have to try on at least one pair of shoes. Same goes for clothes perfume and makeup.

foxyknoxy30 · 16/12/2018 17:36

My volume on my TV must end in a 0 or 5

Youmatter · 16/12/2018 17:43

foxyknoxy30

Me too!

Original poster
MalcolmsBrokenWalrusMoneybox · 16/12/2018 18:10

I could and have stopped some of mine - get up around 6:30 now! Ignore the neighbour who's leaving for work before I'm dressed (although I feel more on top of things if I am dressed and ready to leave the house should I need to).

OP posts:
MsLexic · 16/12/2018 18:36

Where to begin? Even Mum says I am eccentric...
I do actually worry a lot about it being noticed...
I don't like things on my feet. I freeze sometimes before I will put on socks.
I always worry someone will vomit on the back of my head in trains.
My fingernails have always looked like little faces to me...
I cannot sleep if I do not wash my feet first.

Oh there is more... much more.

Kahlua4me · 16/12/2018 19:52

I have to let three cars out in front of me on every journey I drive but do get irrationally angry if somebody pushes in 😊.

I have many more but can’t think of them now...

DogMamma · 16/12/2018 20:22

To the pp who asked everyone, no I don't think i could stop them if asked,....

TofuPanda · 16/12/2018 20:33

Do they negatively affect your life DogMamma? Or those around you?

DogMamma · 16/12/2018 20:41

Not that I am aware of nobody had asked me to stop or said it bothered them...apart from dh when he makes tea and it's not my mug he just says don't be so fussy and Giggles as I dash off to put it in the right mug

DogMamma · 16/12/2018 21:01

Also my thing with cling film foil and grease proof in right order I'm convience for opening drawer and grabbing correct one without having to look

And having my mug furthest left when making more than one brew is because my sugar is on the right so I don't accidentally put sugar in my tea and ruin it lol

IdblowJonSnow · 16/12/2018 22:20

I sniff milk to see if it's off, even if it's brand new - and I have little sense of smell! I avoid speaking to people on the phone. Prefer to text or email, even if it's my own parents! When I'm in the shower I wash my top half first, then rinse, then my face, rinse and then bottom half. Yep, I am weird alright!