AIBU to be annoyed by people who think literally

[CunningStunt86]

One of my friends does this all the time. She will take everything I say, literally.
For example, we were in my garage (new place, so was showing her around) I explained that it'd be a good space, once I got rid of the cellar spiders that have taken over. She genuinely looked puzzled, and said... "cellar spiders? But this is a garage, shouldn't they be in the cellar?!!"
I was so taken aback, I just laughed it off
but she was being serious 🙈 I mean how do you respond to people like this?!

Yes, YABU.

I have a friend like this, you can't say anything to him without getting a snappy literal response.

"Oh it's hot out today" "Well obviously, it's summer"

"It's getting dark so early now" "That's how night works"

I give up.

I think it would confuse me because spiders are well, spiders, so they can't take over. It's a great space, or it's not, the spiders are neither here nor there.

So, while I tried to work out what the correct answer was (quickly. People don't like massive pauses while I work it out), I'd probably hit on the 'cellar' bit as I've not heard of them.

I would understand that the OP was being funny (by her manner at the time), but I'd not see quite how it was happening quick enough in the fast paced context of a conversation, so I would respond to the wrong bit. And I'd probably be trying to sound like it was a joke, because I'd be aware of the OP being funny. And then I'd look thick as fuck.

I can do it when it's in writing. I have an English degree and particularly enjoy poetic analysis. I LOVE finding all the meanings and interpretations words can have. I just routinely get it wrong when it's being spoken and I have to respond/act quickly.

I am very literal and it really irritates my OH. I can't help it.

Cellar spiders are very distinctive - the spindly legged ones that tend to sit quietly in a web in the corner. I used to call them ghost spiders, but I don't think I saw them around a lot until about 10-15 years ago and only heard the term cellar spider a lot more recently.

I'm with other people saying that people who take things very literally are often ASD/Aspergers and so it's quite unreasonable to be annoyed at this .

Neurodiverse people often think literally. It's the way their brain works, they can't help it and they're not doing it to be annoying. You sound woefully ignorant 🙄

Whereas I get annoyed when people (my Mum being an example unfortunately, as she is generally lovely) constantly talk in figures of speech.

It makes it hard to know what they mean, and also is quite irritating as it tends to mean they don’t engage with the actual subject matter, just skate over it with meaningless phrases. Idk maybe it’s me but it annoys me.

I quite like people to be precise but then it’s part of my job.

But surely you all know cellar spiders live in other places other than cellars because you actually find them yourselves! Anyone with a brain knows that spiders aren't going to go, "oh no, not going in there- that's a garage not a cellar!"

Some people seem to oblivious to the world around them! It's common to find those spiders (usually known as daddy long legs) in corners in your house- especially at this time of year. Right now I'm finding them in hidden corners when I'm cleaning- like behind the toilet, in the corners behind the furniture etc.

I think this is different as it’s not just being literal, it’s not understanding how conversation works. That you can remark on things even if you know the explanation for them.

haha, lol, iffy post
come on now

You can be annoyed, but you are not superior because your brain works a particular way. As many people who annoy you are likely annoyed by your lack of precision.

To be fair to your friend I've never heard the name 'cellar spider' before- definitely a daddy long legs round here!

I can really imagine another thread: “AIBU to be irritated at my friend calling daddy long legs, “cellar spiders”. Why doesn’t she use a term everyone understands?”

Not heard that phrase for years!

They are not Daddy Long Legs! DLLs have wings and fly in at night and piss about in the lampshades. Dh calls them Crane Flies but he is wrong about that. Daddy Long Legs aren't Cellar spiders and Crane Flies don't exist. Cleared it up for everyone.

As PPs have mentioned, I also got made fun
Of for being overly literal. I now know I'm autistic.

I've never heard anyone f cellar spiders.

I think like this (I have ASD) and I can tell you it’s EXHAUSTING trying to figure out what people mean, constantly, when they talk in riddles and don’t just say exactly what they mean… so yup YABVU

Eh? Crane flies do exist, I mean you could call them Tipuloidea if you want to go for their biological name, but crane fly is perfectly acceptable, and yes their nickname is daddy long legs.

Same here lol

Don't think the OP was talking in riddles but I think it was a fair thing for her friend to mention ( cellar spiders is not a commonly used term) . The OP could use a little more patience. It really is a minor thing.

I'm autistic. I like people to say what they mean.

@KenAdam I'm not sure why you find it funny that your autistic daughter feels the same.

Plus I wouldn't know what a cellar spider was.

I'm neurodiverse and take things literally, it's just how my brain is wired. I accept it can be annoying for others, but it's equally annoying for me when people don't just say what they mean! 🤣 It's not that deep though is it, just chill and let it go

Cellar spider IS the commonly used term, its the common NAME for them.
Like House Spider, and Garden spider, just because colloquially some people call it a 'daddy long legs' doesn't make it NOT a cellar spider, or 'cellar spider' not a commonly used term.

Most people have never heard of the term cellar spider so I would not say its commonly used like house spider or garden spider which most people have heard of.

I am more annoyed at people that don't say what they mean. It means I live my life continually second guessing what everyone says, because yes, I take everything literally.
I'm autistic, I don't understand sub-text