Things people do that just baffle you

[Whatexcellentboiledpotatoes]

What does either a specific person in your life, or just the general public do, you just don't understand why they do it, and you either can't ask them or you've tried to ask them and they can't tell you?

Write it here and maybe someone else that also does it can tell you why, or has an idea as to why.

Here are mine:

Why do my neighbours across the street bring their bins outside a full 24hrs early? They are retired, home most of the day, go in and out of their house five or six times during that 24hr period, but bring their bins out early Monday morning when they don't get picked up until Tuesday morning?

Why do people talk on their phones on speakerphone in public, what is the purpose?

I have the tech and am in fact work in a tech role but you have to put the bins out on a certain day so I don’t see that it matters to others whether it’s 8.00 am or 11.00 pm.

Putting the bins out early means one less chore to do for the rest of the day. It isn't a nice job so getting it over and done with early suits a lot of people.

If a shop is open, anyone can use it, at any time, on any day. It is baffling to think that there are some who get annoyed by pensioners using shops at busy times. They can go to the shops whenever they want to. Everyone's circumstances are different. Who's to judge when someone does the shopping? It's bizarre.

I don't understand why it works, no. If baffles me as to why people are so easily sucked in.

People are treated better by others when they look attractive and younger. People want that. Sometimes they would prefer to believe that the cream can help with that rather than thinking nothing can get them to feel as though they look good/better ever again. £30 is a small price to pay for hope or a boost in self esteem.

Plus some things do actually work. My cleanser does reduce the spots I develop. My emollient does reduce the aggression of my eczema. My SPF does stop freckles and burns from occurring.

I think people (as a whole) need to work on their self esteem rather than spaffing hundreds on creams that don’t work.

So much time, money and effort is put into trying to look attractive. Then the angst about getting older etc. I guess that probably baffles me.

Why does the gang of ladies after the over 60s aqua aerobics class then decide to gather in the middle if the pool for a 10 minute natter which impedes swimmers and water walkers from doing their lengths. Just get out the bloody pool and catch up on life in the cafe!!!

But that’s based on what you value… you see it as a waste of time. Others enjoy it! They like doing it an researching it and feeling good about it.

Easy - it’s cold when you get out

I appreciate that.....but just get out, get dried, get dressed then have a chat. I don't get how they don't see they're causing an obstruction. The pool is always busy straight after as people time their swim as the aerobics class has exclusive use.

My bin collection day is Tuesday but I put my bin out when I leave to go to work on Monday. This is because the bin collection times can vary and can be as early as 7am so I don't want to get caught out. I can't be arsed to drag my bin out after work on Monday as I've usually been to Morrison's on the way home and have bags, so Monday morning it is. 24hrs early.

But once they’re dried and ready again they’d rather go home. It’s only the dislike of the cold pool exit that entices them to chat at all!

Mumsnet one. People who plop into a thread to tell people off for doing something fun. Years ago I started a thread about lipstick and someone came along to say she never wore lipstick and it was a waste of time, and I've seen others asking why you're doing something when something else is going on and why aren't you doing something about that? (War, climate change, etc.) I've never got it.

Indeed- I've often wondered why those people are wasting their time on MN when they could be out changing the world, saving the planet, campaigning for causes, raising money for victims of war, volunteering to help with homeless shelters etc You know, the exact things they lecture others about 🤣

Agree. The judgement about makeup is so over the top sometimes. I get a lot of pleasure from wearing it, buying it, choosing it. However, there is a minority (small thankfully!) who think it is a moral failing to wear makeup and are very vocal about it. It's almost as though they think they are superior because they choose not to wear makeup! It's laughable!

Queue for 10 minutes or more just to reach the drive through window before they can even order. They could park up, go in, order and have their food in the time they've queued for the drive through. Once they're in the queue they can't even change their mind as it's nose to tail.

Also, the McD's nearest me shares an access road and car park with a supermarket. Every Saturday, the access road is rammed with cars of dads and kids eating burgers while the car park is half empty. Just why?

This gives me the absolute rage! I once had a woman in a sports car drive down the middle of two lanes so I couldn't "overtake" her. All of the signs were very clear about queuing in two lanes. You couldn't help it either if you'd been funnelled off the roundabout in a certain way. She was causing such problems on the roundabout, backing up the traffic even more.

It's been fortnightly collections where I live for years and we haven't got food caddies yet. It's not really been "minging" at all.

I’m baffled why anyone would want to go caving. There’s lots of other sports/hobbies which I wouldn’t want to do, but I can understand why someone might want to do them. But I cannot comprehend why anyone would possibly enjoy squeezing through narrow passages underground!

Ah, OK - thanks. I don't know how they do it with the surveys of the public for Pointless, but I presume they don't force anybody to give an answer if they can't or don't want to.

Several neighbours refuse to use the food caddy, which means their general waste bin will be minging by the time it’s collected

I dont get this - we have never had a food caddy, our council doesnt do this and we have twice weekly household waste collections. It's never been "minging". You just put everything in a strong bin bag and seal it properly so it's air tight. Never ever been a problem 🤷‍♀️

Oh, I know - but why?! Maybe it's just a clumsy way of saying "if you asked my mum this question, she would 100% know it in an instant" ?!

This is a small busy independent cafe where there’s often a queue for a table. You don’t go and sit at a table for four people when you’re alone. I have been in that cafe in both circumstances with just me and DD. We sat at a table for 2. I have also been in that cafe with 6 family members so we got a table for 4 and 1 for 2. Even though it meant the other 2 people were sat separately.

Me too but there’s a bloke near me who tips his rubbish into his wheelie bin loose no bin bags. Then moans when his bin is emptied and it’s scattered all over the street.

I find that large amounts of chocolate work better for that

Obviously he liked that particular seat, in that particular row.