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Original poster

Aibu to think this doesn't make sense (behind my back)

323 replies

tccat · 14/08/2017 20:50

Having an argument with Dh about this, I say the phrase "behind my back" doesn't make sense because if something was behind your back surely it would be in front of you?
I'm getting more and more irate trying to explain my point and only dogs and dolphins can hear me
Am I right?

OP posts:
Original poster
tccat · 15/08/2017 15:49

I'm prepared to admit that it sounds illogical , but it makes perfect sense to me

OP posts:
WhereWhyWhat · 15/08/2017 15:55

When two people stand facing away from each other with their backs touching, they are BACK TO BACK.

Each back is facing TOwards the other back.

It's not back of back to back of back!

Because it's front of back to front of back.

Which can be simplified to:

BACK TO BACK!

FFS!

Bunnyhipsdontliegrl · 15/08/2017 16:42

Omg you're so right. It's SO clever! How can everybody be SO wrong and not see it! WOW

Original poster
tccat · 15/08/2017 17:25

Bunny I agree, thank you for finally seeing my point of view 😁

OP posts:
IloveBanff · 15/08/2017 17:34

This is going to take some getting used to.

1)Behind my back is in front of me.
2)So if people are talking in front of me they're talking behind my back. 3)People aren't supposed to talk behind my back, so they shouldn't talk in front of me.

Oh dear. Now both my brain cells are in a bit of distress. Sad

cardibach · 15/08/2017 20:08

Where you wrote OP and I (et al) think the surface you scratch IS your back - so someone stood looking at that surface is in fact in front of that surface and is therefore in front of your back Can't you see the switch in perspective there? The person has your back in front of them, therefore they are behind you, and behind your back, which they are looking at.
It's unbelievable you can't see that.

cardibach · 15/08/2017 20:17

Whete why do you think the simplification is removing front not back? What is your justification for that?if I'm wearing a tshirt and I'm standing back to back with another person wearing a tshirt, You would say the back of my tshirt is touching the back of the other person's tshirt, yes? If you are back to back, it's the backs of your tshirts touching, not the fronts, yes? So why do you think it is different for your body?

IloveBanff · 15/08/2017 20:34

tccat "Banff, I would put them behind my back because I would understand what he meant, I still wouldn't think he was grammatically correct though"

"Behind your back" meaning behind you? Isn't this where we came in? Confused

Happydoingitjusttheonce · 15/08/2017 20:39

Silliness is only funny and endearing in kids. Your partner must have a headache

WhereWhyWhat · 15/08/2017 20:45

if I'm wearing a tshirt and I'm standing back to back with another person wearing a tshirt, You would say the back of my tshirt is touching the back of the other person's tshirt, yes?

Yes exactly.

If you are back to back, it's the backs of your tshirts touching, not the fronts, yes?

Yes, you get it too!

So why do you think it is different for your body?

Oh, no you don't.

I don't think it's different. I think it's the same. Their T-shirt is not "BEHIND THE BACK" of my T-shirt nor is it "TOUCHING BEHIND THE BACK", it is "TOUCHING THE BACK"... the front of the back to be precise.

Morsecode · 15/08/2017 21:13

You can't teach stupid.

AnathemaPulsifer · 15/08/2017 21:36

Put your hand behind your back. It's behind your back, right? Now imagine people talking behind your back. Quietly.

your poor DH

mummmy2017 · 16/08/2017 07:07

Nope your totally wrong ...
A noun is a part of speech that denotes a person, animal, place, thing, or idea
MY Back .. is a noun,
I sleep on MY BACK.
Meaning your talking about a place on your body.
Behind MY Back...

means the person doing the talking is Behind a part of your body, where you can't see them.....
So the person is talking about you where you can't see them.
which part of you body is the person behind....... My Back...
After all your are facing them anyway, but you have the whole world between you.......

Mummyoflittledragon · 16/08/2017 08:12

It doesn't sound illogical. It is illogical as you are starting from a false premise.

Bubwiser · 16/08/2017 08:38

I'm still not getting it! something behind your back is in front of you, if you said behind my front you'd mean your back in why is the reverse not true

I suspect no regular person would say 'in front of your front', or 'behind your front', so there is no reverse.

Also, in my head, the back of my back is just my back, and the front is the side facing my rib cage, which is obviously not visible, so behind my back makes perfect sense to me.

Babbitywabbit · 16/08/2017 08:50

OP, next, please will you discuss the whereabouts of your front bottom? Grin
This is hilarious

cardibach · 16/08/2017 15:48

Where you have to be being deliberately obtuse. Nobody could be this dense: Their T-shirt is not "BEHIND THE BACK" of my T-shirt nor is it "TOUCHING BEHIND THE BACK", it is "TOUCHING THE BACK"... the front of the back to be precise Your back does not have its own front! The back of a tshirt does not have its own front! The back of you is your back, its front is the front of you. The back of a tshirt is the back, its front is the front of the shirt!

Madsy1990 · 16/08/2017 17:25

So...you're saying that the front of your body is behind your back?

Galena · 16/08/2017 17:28

If something is behind something else it is further away from the front than the thing it is behind. Behind your back means further away from your front than your back, so behind you. People can't talk about things inside you, so they must be behind you - or behind your back - they are further away from your face than your back is.

bengalcat · 16/08/2017 17:31

Babbitywabbit behave lol ! OP Behring my back makes perfect sense to me . As our eyes look forwards if something is behind your back then its not directly visible/in your conscious zone so when people refer to someone doing or saying something behind their back they mean theyre not aware of it / involved in the decision or action - does that make sense ? ( probably not - giggles )

bbismad · 16/08/2017 17:37

Don't be silly...!!

HidingUnderARock · 16/08/2017 17:48

You seem to think the outside of your back is your back's front. Its not. Your back's front is on your inside touching your ribs.
The back of your front is on the inside touching your front ribs.
Behind (at the back of) your front ribs are your lungs and heart and stuff. Behind them are some more ribs. Behind them is the skin of your back. Behind your back is your husband slowly backing away (backwards, ie back first) or possibly running away forwards, ie front first.
HTH

Peggysgone · 16/08/2017 17:57

Mummy2017 I think you've said it perfectly - behind a part of your body. Could be "behind my ribcage". I was getting confused too ConfusedGrin

PoppyPopcorn · 16/08/2017 18:10

This makes perfect sense in my head

Which is worrying, as you are 100% wrong.

Syc4moreTrees · 16/08/2017 18:12

you've given me a little rage at your lack of understanding OP Grin

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