Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder what stupid questions you've been asked

480 replies

backtolifebacktoreality · 09/12/2021 09:58

Last weekend I phoned a local florists
and asked them to send some flowers to a nearby friend.

The friend lives in a relatively small cul de sac. The florist obviously asked the address for them to be delivered to. I advised they lived at No 12.

She then went on asking all sorts of questions about how she could find the house once in the street, ie what side of the road etc. She then asked questions about what would make the house recognisable to her, ie what colour front door.

I had to bite my lip but really wanted to respond "the fact that is has the number 12 on the door"!

OP posts:
CaputApriDefero · 10/12/2021 19:27

My birthday is Christmas Eve.

Multiple times a year I will be asked if I'm lucky and get two sets of presents. Yes. Like everyone else who celebrates these occasions, I get birthday presents and Christmas presents.

Scubadivinginabox · 10/12/2021 19:28

After a scan where the consultant could clearly see the sex of the baby but I'd said I didn't want to know.
Consultant: "What do you think it is?"
Me: A boy
Consultant: Err....!
It was a boy but what a bloody stupid question.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 10/12/2021 19:32

My 10yo earlier...

"Is Christmas Day on Christmas day?"

She meant to ask if Christmas day was on the 25th December but got muddled up...

COPPER3 · 10/12/2021 19:36

Massage Therapist here! I have been asked countless times over the years... "Do I have to take my top off?" meaning their jumper/sweatshirt/shirt.

I always answer politely of course, but ..(roll eyes behind their back).

BabyDreamsz · 10/12/2021 19:40

10:03Aroundtheworldin80moves

Maybe they had seen the movie Twins - Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Devito

Staffy1 · 10/12/2021 19:50

@AlternativePerspective

I am visually impaired. I have been asked:

So does the dog help with the cooking?

So if you’re blind, does that mean you can’t see what I look like?

Having got help in a shop and after paying,”where have you parked your car?

And at an interview, where I walked in with a cane, demonstrated a screenreader and a braille display while talking through the benefits of the job, “do you drive?”

Those are just a couple off the top of my head… Grin

Oh my goodness, I can’t stop laughing at the thought of the dog helping with the cooking Grin
LawfulSearch · 10/12/2021 19:50

Conversation with HR about why I’m not in work as I’m with my young daughter in the children’s hospital. Explained she will be in for at least a further 14 days.

“Oh, is she still poorly?”

No the NHS is so under capacity that we booked a few nights. Like Travelodge. But with intravenous drugs.

MammaMacgill87 · 10/12/2021 19:51

Red, one syllable can only be spelt one way

ErrolTheDragon · 10/12/2021 19:53

Oh my goodness, I can’t stop laughing at the thought of the dog helping with the cooking

I'm sure it would love to try. Grin

ErrolTheDragon · 10/12/2021 19:54

@MammaMacgill87

Red, one syllable can only be spelt one way
The surname Redd exists though.
thehippietothehiphop · 10/12/2021 20:20

Some of these, like ‘oh, are you left handed?’ ‘Is she still poorly?’ ‘You haven’t had the baby yet then?’ aren’t really stupid questions they’re just a way of expressing surprise in the English language. I take things pretty literally but wouldn’t think people are genuinely confused about the answers to these questions.

Madamesosostris · 10/12/2021 20:26

Is South Wales in Wales?

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 10/12/2021 20:34

Holy sugar there are whole books dedicated to the STUPID things people ask crew on cruise ships.

Some of my personal favourites:

"What time is the midnight buffet?"

"Does this lift go to the front of the back or the ship?"

"Do you go home at night time?" (

sueelleker · 10/12/2021 20:41

@ErrolTheDragon

Oh my goodness, I can’t stop laughing at the thought of the dog helping with the cooking

I'm sure it would love to try. Grin

I'm sure it would help with the washing-up.
mediumbrownmug · 10/12/2021 20:44

Just now DH was wearing only one of his earbuds and I asked him if he would mind taking it out for a second so I could tell him something (yes, he was actively using audio). He looked surprised, and answered a bit annoyed that it was out?

We stared at each other for a moment before he slowly reached up to his ear, pulled it out, looked at it and then said a bit confused, “Oh, you mean that one.”

We both died laughing.

Grin
amusedbush · 10/12/2021 20:49

A couple of years ago a colleague (a university lecturer with a PhD, I might add) complimented my tattoos. Then she asked me how long they would last Confused um, forever I would hope, considering what I paid.

Many years ago a women turned up at the door to do the census with my mum. I was 10 at the time, my brother was 4. The woman, with a straight face, asked for my brother's marital status.

Dragonsmother · 10/12/2021 20:53

Every year the same stupid friend I have known for over 25 years asks me if I celebrate Christmas!
I should mention that I am English but of Indian heritage. She has also asked what I eat on Christmas Day and if I add spices to my turkey!!

Makes you realise the ignorance that still exists.

rightsideoftheroad · 10/12/2021 20:53

I was on my first outing with my newborn twins - 8 days old and very tiny. Still had quite a big tummy. A woman came up to me in a shop, started cooing into the pram and asked me how old they were, I said 'a week old' and she said 'what?! And you're pregnant again?!' Looking at my belly!

rightsideoftheroad · 10/12/2021 20:54

Oh and yes, twin parents get all the stupid questions. I had someone actually argue with me that b/g twins could be identical.

furbabymama87 · 10/12/2021 21:13

If I'm allowed out with all those kids without another adult? No I'm not a childminder, yes I have loads of kids, yes I'm older than I look.

AnotherOneWithNoGoodName · 10/12/2021 21:17

@rightsideoftheroad

Oh and yes, twin parents get all the stupid questions. I had someone actually argue with me that b/g twins could be identical.
My friend who has twins was asked if they have the same father. (rude question in general, but also stupid)
AnotherOneWithNoGoodName · 10/12/2021 21:21

@MammaMacgill87

Red, one syllable can only be spelt one way
Read is a homophone though. In just hearing the name I might not think enough to assume that Read isn't generally a surname and would want to make sure I was spelling it right.
AnotherOneWithNoGoodName · 10/12/2021 21:23

@CaputApriDefero

My birthday is Christmas Eve.

Multiple times a year I will be asked if I'm lucky and get two sets of presents. Yes. Like everyone else who celebrates these occasions, I get birthday presents and Christmas presents.

That's not really a stupid question. Loads of people just buy one present for people who have birthdays around Christmas time. (and normally only spend the equivalent of one present, tight bastards)
FortVictoria · 10/12/2021 21:37

Had a missed call from an unknown number. Called back, gave Receptionist my name, explained was returning missed call.
“Do you know who called you?”
“No - as explained, I missed the call”
“Okay. Do you know what the call was about?”
Now, where did I leave my crystal ball…………

AnotherOneWithNoGoodName · 10/12/2021 21:40

@FortVictoria

Had a missed call from an unknown number. Called back, gave Receptionist my name, explained was returning missed call. “Do you know who called you?” “No - as explained, I missed the call” “Okay. Do you know what the call was about?” Now, where did I leave my crystal ball…………
That's not that daft either If you instance, it was an opticians "I'm not sure, but I ordered some glasses last week, maybe they are ready?" or something to guide them to help you.