To wonder what stupid questions you've been asked

[backtolifebacktoreality]

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"!

I nearly asked a very stupid question!

Had just got out of the dentist's chair (excuse: high on novocaine....) and noticed that his diploma certificate on the wall was from the university I'd also attended. I mentioned I'd also been there and he asked what I'd studied (arts subject). I JUST stopped myself saying "And what did you study?" (DENTISTRY, WE HOPE!!!!!)

@JellyBabiesSaveLives

Standard health questionnaires on travel insurance quotes. Having established that my child has Type 1 diabetes, the next question is “do they use insulin”? Err, yes, that’s how they’re alive and need insurance

Love your username! Fellow T1D parent here!

@Greenandcabbagelooking

"Miss I've finished the page of my exercise book. Can I write on the next one?"

No, I'd like you to write the rest of the lesson on the desk. A student asks me this question at least once a week. I teacher 11-18 year olds.

This is not fair. Sometimes work is length limited so would only supposed to be one page.

I have a slightly usual name which continuously gets put the wrong way round, my surname first. When I correct it the other persons says “ are you sure , that doesn’t look right ? “ …. Hmmm, am I sure I know my own name ?

@Frazzledmummy123

I have twins, and was asked "did you try for twins?"

Also, another time in Boots chemist I was collecting a prescription for my 6 year old daughter and the pharnacist was running through safety questions. First was asking her date of birth, then a few questions later, "is there any chance she might be pregnant?". She didn't even realise after she said it and casually ticked no when I said "no"

This isn't stupid. They clearly thought you had had IVF.

“Are you, Roy?”

I’m small and quite obviously of the female persuasion.

@ChickChickaBumBum

Colour surname. Pink.

Could be Pinke or Pynk, tbf.

@FatOaf

My maiden name was a colour. A common, everyday colour. One syllable. Can only be spelled one way. Yet endless people asked me how to spell it! For years!

Unless it's Black (or possibly Blue), I'm not sure about this:

Green/Greene/Gryn
White/Whyte
Brown/Browne/Braun

Same.

I was Gray previously and I got in the habit of saying “Gray with an A” because the colour is obviously spelt with an E.

I said to the man in the train ticket office 'I'd like a return ticket please'
he said 'where to'?
I said 'back here of course'

Talk about stupid questions!

I work in an animal rescue centre and was asked if the dog a women wanted to adopt was neutered.

I said yes.

She said, well why can I still see his penis.

I said castration removes the testicles.

She insisted she wasn’t taking the dog unless we removed the penis also as dog penis’ are “gross”.

Blac, blak blaq

Asking to spell a name is courtesy as some people spell things different to as you may assume. They probably wanted to get the right spellings.

Also, is this what people think when I ask questions when I'm just trying to start a conversation or making sure of something so I don't feel embarrassed

So you haven't had your baby yet? Not being literal, I can see that. I would probably reply with I know yeah, he is due on such and such, I really can't wait, I have his name picked out then go on to discuss my baby/pregnancy ect

Be kind

@Fakereview Identical in twin terminolgy doesn't mean they look alike - it means they're from 1 egg that split into 2 (so they have identical DNA - thats the reason they look exactly the same and can only therefore be girls, or boys). Your triplet friend is a result of 2 eggs being released, 1 of which split (to produce the identical "twins") so 3 babies in the end.

I suppose the asking everybody if they could be pregnant might be deliberate, so as to avoid causing unnecessary offence: a non-pregnant 30yo woman with a large round belly isn't going to be upset to be asked when the 85yo man in front of her was asked exactly the same question.

I suppose they can't even just restrict it to all female patients, as somebody can look much older or younger than they actually are (notwithstanding you might have their actual birthdate in front of you, I suppose) and you don't always know nowadays if the way somebody presents/identifies/appears matches their actual biological capabilities.

She insisted she wasn’t taking the dog unless we removed the penis also as dog penis’ are “gross”.

Was she about 5 years old?

I really hope she never ended up in charge of any animal - at least not without constant supervision from her mummy.

@JuicySatsuma85

I work in an animal rescue centre and was asked if the dog a women wanted to adopt was neutered.

I said yes.

She said, well why can I still see his penis.

I said castration removes the testicles.

She insisted she wasn’t taking the dog unless we removed the penis also as dog penis’ are “gross”.

That’s a little worrying..

Isn't there like safeguarding for animals or something, basically telling a vet to cut off her dogs penis? That's really odd!

Will they still be twins if they are born on different days?

Yes they will

Sunshinecake1, actually yes it is as you don't try for twins or choose them with IVF. Nobody says "I want twins".

Took ds1 into town at about 6ish weeks old to open him a bank account. Lovely woman on the counter cooed over him made me a cup of tea and we started to do the paperwork "do you have his driving licence?" tbf to her after it had left her mouth you could tell it had confused her and she told me that was what the computer was asking for. Turned out shed hit the wrong button or something (too many years ago to remember) but still rather stupid question to ask of a 6 week old.

When pregnant with DS2 , I refused an induction. The MW asked me what I would do if I didn't go into labour.

I let on to a woman at my local sure start group that my son is adopted he was there with me playing with her son. She asked me "Whose baby is that then and who adopted yours?" I asked her in she was joking FFS

@backtolifebacktoreality

And another stupid question this morning ...

I dropped my son's college application off at our local college this morning.

I passed the envelope to the receptionist and she asked "is the application form complete"?

As if we are going to drop off an incomplete form!

You would not BELIEVE how bad people are at filling in forms!

I run a bursary at my work. I sent out the policy to everyone who could apply, with the application form, which is fairly clear. Because of my experience in how bad people are at filling in forms, this year I made a really simple FAQ to go with it. Things like "what evidence do I need to include?" and an "either A, or B" as a reply. Or "what if I don't have A?" - "please send B". Or "when will the bursary get paid?" -"xyz date, provided you meet all criteria and submit your application on time".

I sent everyone the form and the policy and the FAQ. In my email, I said "BEFORE YOU EMAIL WITH QUESTIONS, PLEASE CHECK THE FAQ"

I IMMEDIATELY (and I mean within 15 minutes) I got over 70 replies saying "what evidence do I need?" and "I don't have A, what can I do???".

I then got over 200 applications, of which 80% didn't have any evidence attached. And then another 40 applications a week after the closing date (also with evidence missing). These are students on higher education courses, so not stupid people.

My husband booked a surprise day trip to Dublin on Ryanair, Flying out at 7.00am, return flight 9.00pm ish. A couple of weeks before the date, he received an email stating the return flight had been cancelled, so they could transfer the booking to the only other return flight, which was the plane we would fly out on, returning less than an hour after we landed. So we would land, go through arrivals, then straight to the departure desk for the return flight. However, check-in would then be closed. The question was 'Do you want to transfer your return flight, or cancel the trip?' What do you think we did? Mind you, he got the brownie points for booking it, and got all his money back. So one of us was happy!

@peaceanddove

Recently, our teen DDs persuaded me to accompany them to a night club discotheque (for Heaven's sake). Placidly waiting in the queue I was astonished when the doorman asked for my ID! Just to be clear, I'm definitely not one of the Mumsnet Unicorns who easily pass for 24 despite being in their 40s. I am 51. And I look 51.

I pointed out that I was the mother to the 2 teens he'd just allowed into the club. He still insisted on seeing some ID 'for fire safety purposes' There was no way I was going back to the hotel to get some ID, so we were at somewhat of an impasse

Eventually he agreed to let me in the club (my DDs were laughing hysterically just inside the door) but I had to promise to remember my ID the next time!

So they let your underage daughter in the club, but asked you for ID? OK then..,in your dreams.

I was asked at my wedding outside the church why I wasn’t wearing any fake tan. Friend of my mother.