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Tricky · 13th January 2006, 09:50 AM

Yep, today's the day. I usually celebrate the day by violating every bad luck superstition I can think of. I walk under ladders, open an umbrella in the house, break a (cheap) mirror, spill salt, turn the shoes upside down (my mom told me that one), and if I can find them, walk where a black cat has crossed and hang a horseshoe upside down.

Anybody got any others, old or new? The only thing I can think of is finding a four-leaf clover and plucking the extra leaf off.

ChristineR · 13th January 2006, 09:52 AM

Surgically reattach a foot to a rabbit? Say "Macbeth" in a theater?

Tricky · 13th January 2006, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by ChristineR

Surgically reattach a foot to a rabbit?

Good one.

Hagrok · 13th January 2006, 10:05 AM

Along the same line, you could shoe a horse

Tricky · 13th January 2006, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by Hagrok

Along the same line, you could shoe a horse

...or see a penny and leave it there.

tsg · 13th January 2006, 10:09 AM

Running with scissors?

kmortis · 13th January 2006, 10:11 AM

Kill an albatross on deck?

dogjones · 13th January 2006, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by ChristineR

Surgically reattach a foot to a rabbit? Say "Macbeth" in a theater?

I'm an amateur actor, and I make a point of saying 'Macbeth' in every show I'm in - without anyone hearing me. I just mutter it to myself, and see what happens.

Funnily enough, major things have gone wrong, in the scene directly after I say it:

Romeo and Juliet, 2003 - said 'Macbeth' in the interval. In the very next scene Friar Lawrence walks on stage, trips, and careens into the audience.

Waiting for Godot, 2004 - again in interval. I walk on stage. A gust of wind takes my hat off and blows it down a chasm (we were doing it outside.) I had to mime the hat juggling.

Proof, 2004 - Again in interval. Next scene, leading lady gets stuck to a door and has to shout most of her lines.

There have been other occasions. Of course, this means absolutely nothing. I'm sure other things have gone wrong in other scenes in other nights, but these were the ones I remember!

Anyway, I'm off to find some single magpies, and then neglect to say "Good morning Mr. Magpie".

ChristineR · 13th January 2006, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by dogjones

I'm an amateur actor, and I make a point of saying 'Macbeth' in every show I'm in - without anyone hearing me. I just mutter it to myself, and see what happens.

Funnily enough, major things have gone wrong, in the scene directly after I say it:

Romeo and Juliet, 2003 - said 'Macbeth' in the interval. In the very next scene Friar Lawrence walks on stage, trips, and careens into the audience.

Waiting for Godot, 2004 - again in interval. I walk on stage. A gust of wind takes my hat off and blows it down a chasm (we were doing it outside.) I had to mime the hat juggling.

Proof, 2004 - Again in interval. Next scene, leading lady gets stuck to a door and has to shout most of her lines.

There have been other occasions. Of course, this means absolutely nothing. I'm sure other things have gone wrong in other scenes in other nights, but these were the ones I remember!

Anyway, I'm off to find some single magpies, and then neglect to say "Good morning Mr. Magpie".

This is universal in the theater. EVERYONE refuses to say it. If you say it aloud, you'll be hounded until you do the ritual. I've even had people insist to be that they too once thought it was nonsense, until the day when they said it....

tsg · 13th January 2006, 10:25 AM

You could try some of these.

dogjones · 13th January 2006, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by ChristineR

This is universal in the theater. EVERYONE refuses to say it. If you say it aloud, you'll be hounded until you do the ritual. I've even had people insist to be that they too once thought it was nonsense, until the day when they said it....

Paul C. Anagnostopoulos · 13th January 2006, 10:55 AM

Step on every damn crack you can find.

~~ Paul

brodski · 13th January 2006, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by dogjones

I'm an amateur actor, and I make a point of saying 'Macbeth' in every show I'm in - without anyone hearing me. I just mutter it to myself, and see what happens.

Funnily enough, major things have gone wrong, in the scene directly after I say it:

Romeo and Juliet, 2003 - said 'Macbeth' in the interval. In the very next scene Friar Lawrence walks on stage, trips, and careens into the audience.

Waiting for Godot, 2004 - again in interval. I walk on stage. A gust of wind takes my hat off and blows it down a chasm (we were doing it outside.) I had to mime the hat juggling.

Proof, 2004 - Again in interval. Next scene, leading lady gets stuck to a door and has to shout most of her lines.

There have been other occasions. Of course, this means absolutely nothing. I'm sure other things have gone wrong in other scenes in other nights, but these were the ones I remember!

Anyway, I'm off to find some single magpies, and then neglect to say "Good morning Mr. Magpie".

Just so long as you dont whistle on stage.

Or use real flowers.

or use a new pot of pancake on a first night.

CFLarsen · 13th January 2006, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by kmortis

Kill an albatross on deck?

What flavor is it?

Jitterbuggery · 13th January 2006, 11:05 AM

Saying "MacBeth" won't bring you bad luck in theatre.

Doing COMMUNITY theatre will....

tsg · 13th January 2006, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by CFLarsen

What flavor is it?

It's bloody albatross flavor! Bleedin' seabird bleedin' flavor!

kmortis · 13th January 2006, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by tsg

It's bloody albatross flavor! Bleedin' seabird bleedin' flavor!

gamn you.

ETA: Do you get any crackers with it?

Azrael 5 · 13th January 2006, 11:47 AM

I crossed many people on the stairs and refused to salute a solitary magpie!

Solus · 13th January 2006, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by Tricky

Yep, today's the day. I usually celebrate the day by violating every bad luck superstition I can think of. I walk under ladders, open an umbrella in the house, break a (cheap) mirror, spill salt, turn the shoes upside down (my mom told me that one), and if I can find them, walk where a black cat has crossed and hang a horseshoe upside down.

Anybody got any others, old or new? The only thing I can think of is finding a four-leaf clover and plucking the extra leaf off.

Oh yes glad you reminded me: the day they show that lousy slasher movie on a couple cable channels. If I see a ladder I'll go under it. but Too lazy for the umbrella

Steven Howard · 13th January 2006, 05:00 PM

When you take your hat off, toss it on your bed instead of hanging it up.

Chimera · 13th January 2006, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by tsg

You could try some of these.

Jeez!! What an utterly exhausting list. If I tried to not do all of those things, I would never find the time to read my daily horoscope, visit my psychic, and chant voodoo love spells over my Greek evil eye amulet.

Outhere · 13th January 2006, 07:17 PM

On Friday the 13th a few years ago, I went uptown on my lunch hour. A ladder propped against the side of a building blocked my path, and I felt obliged to walk under it to show my freedom from superstition. I was unaware that a local TV station had positioned a camera across the street for a Friday 13th news segment. Just as I came out from under the ladder, someone atop the building swept dust and debris off on me, and I had to go home to bathe. However, I was proud when I saw myself on the late news.

There are times when safety comes before skepticism, and I walk warily around ladders now.

tsg · 13th January 2006, 09:05 PM

Originally Posted by Outhere

On Friday the 13th a few years ago, I went uptown on my lunch hour. A ladder propped against the side of a building blocked my path, and I felt obliged to walk under it to show my freedom from superstition. I was unaware that a local TV station had positioned a camera across the street for a Friday 13th news segment. Just as I came out from under the ladder, someone atop the building swept dust and debris off on me, and I had to go home to bathe. However, I was proud when I saw myself on the late news.

There are times when safety comes before skepticism, and I walk warily around ladders now.

This is one of the few woo things that actually came out of sane advice: Don't walk under ladders, not because it's bad luck, but because the guy on it might drop something.

Tricky · 14th January 2006, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by tsg

This is one of the few woo things that actually came out of sane advice: Don't walk under ladders, not because it's bad luck, but because the guy on it might drop something.

LOL. Yes. Like it's bad luck to stand in the middle of the street.

But I hope everyone had a safe Fri-XIII. I was perfectly safe in spite of my deliberate and repeated violation of the rules of luck. I actually had a bit of good luck in finding a shop-vac at a garage sale for $5 that I had braced myself to pay $40+ at the hardware store.

Anybody else have a particularly lucky or unlucky day?

Jon. · 14th January 2006, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by Tricky

Anybody else have a particularly lucky or unlucky day?

No.

El Greco · 14th January 2006, 05:51 PM

In Greece we have a superstition I like a lot: It is bad luck when you see a priest out of a church.

On second thought, I don't think this is a superstition after all.

clarsct · 14th January 2006, 07:23 PM

I bought Lottery Tickets.

Mongrel · 15th January 2006, 03:38 PM

We had a 3 phase mains fuse start to melt at work, whilst technically a bad thing we had 2 hours with no telephones or computers

Dicon · 15th January 2006, 04:00 PM

The fact that nothing bad happened to me on Friday is PROOF that there's a massive coverup by the government and the Rand Corporation to hide the truth about bad things happening on Friday the 13th. The complete lack of evidence is all I need to know that it's true.

13th January 2006, 09:50 AM	#1
Tricky Briefly immortal Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Group W bench Posts: 42,405	Friday the 13th Yep, today's the day. I usually celebrate the day by violating every bad luck superstition I can think of. I walk under ladders, open an umbrella in the house, break a (cheap) mirror, spill salt, turn the shoes upside down (my mom told me that one), and if I can find them, walk where a black cat has crossed and hang a horseshoe upside down. Anybody got any others, old or new? The only thing I can think of is finding a four-leaf clover and plucking the extra leaf off.

13th January 2006, 09:52 AM	#2
ChristineR Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,189	Surgically reattach a foot to a rabbit? Say "Macbeth" in a theater?
ChristineR Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,189

13th January 2006, 10:05 AM	#4
Hagrok Muse Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: ABQ, NM, USA Posts: 904	Along the same line, you could shoe a horse
	__________________ Indecision may or may not be my problem...

13th January 2006, 10:09 AM	#6
tsg Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Location: Location: Posts: 6,771	Running with scissors?
	__________________ Being offended by someone questioning your beliefs is a sign that you should be questioning them. In the beginning there was nothing. And the Lord said "Let There Be Light!" And still there was nothing, but at least now you could see it.

13th January 2006, 10:11 AM	#7
kmortis Biomechanoid Director of IDIOCY (Region 13) Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Texas Posts: 24,802	Kill an albatross on deck?
	__________________ -Aberhaten did it - "Which gives us an answer to our question. What’s the worst thing that can happen in a pressure cooker?" Randall Munroe -Director of Independent Determining Inquisitor Of Crazy Yapping - Aberhaten's Apothegm™ - An Internet law that states that optimism is indistinguishable from sarcasm

13th January 2006, 10:02 AM	#3
Tricky Briefly immortal Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Group W bench Posts: 42,405	Originally Posted by ChristineR Surgically reattach a foot to a rabbit? Good one.

13th January 2006, 10:08 AM	#5
Tricky Briefly immortal Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Group W bench Posts: 42,405	Originally Posted by Hagrok Along the same line, you could shoe a horse ...or see a penny and leave it there.

13th January 2006, 10:11 AM	#8
dogjones Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bermuda Posts: 1,286	Originally Posted by ChristineR Surgically reattach a foot to a rabbit? Say "Macbeth" in a theater? I'm an amateur actor, and I make a point of saying 'Macbeth' in every show I'm in - without anyone hearing me. I just mutter it to myself, and see what happens. Funnily enough, major things have gone wrong, in the scene directly after I say it: Romeo and Juliet, 2003 - said 'Macbeth' in the interval. In the very next scene Friar Lawrence walks on stage, trips, and careens into the audience. Waiting for Godot, 2004 - again in interval. I walk on stage. A gust of wind takes my hat off and blows it down a chasm (we were doing it outside.) I had to mime the hat juggling. Proof, 2004 - Again in interval. Next scene, leading lady gets stuck to a door and has to shout most of her lines. There have been other occasions. Of course, this means absolutely nothing. I'm sure other things have gone wrong in other scenes in other nights, but these were the ones I remember! Anyway, I'm off to find some single magpies, and then neglect to say "Good morning Mr. Magpie".
	__________________ It's great being ideologically flexible.

13th January 2006, 10:14 AM	#9
ChristineR Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,189	Originally Posted by dogjones I'm an amateur actor, and I make a point of saying 'Macbeth' in every show I'm in - without anyone hearing me. I just mutter it to myself, and see what happens. Funnily enough, major things have gone wrong, in the scene directly after I say it: Romeo and Juliet, 2003 - said 'Macbeth' in the interval. In the very next scene Friar Lawrence walks on stage, trips, and careens into the audience. Waiting for Godot, 2004 - again in interval. I walk on stage. A gust of wind takes my hat off and blows it down a chasm (we were doing it outside.) I had to mime the hat juggling. Proof, 2004 - Again in interval. Next scene, leading lady gets stuck to a door and has to shout most of her lines. There have been other occasions. Of course, this means absolutely nothing. I'm sure other things have gone wrong in other scenes in other nights, but these were the ones I remember! Anyway, I'm off to find some single magpies, and then neglect to say "Good morning Mr. Magpie". This is universal in the theater. EVERYONE refuses to say it. If you say it aloud, you'll be hounded until you do the ritual. I've even had people insist to be that they too once thought it was nonsense, until the day when they said it....
ChristineR Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,189

13th January 2006, 10:25 AM	#10
tsg Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Location: Location: Posts: 6,771	You could try some of these.
	__________________ Being offended by someone questioning your beliefs is a sign that you should be questioning them. In the beginning there was nothing. And the Lord said "Let There Be Light!" And still there was nothing, but at least now you could see it.

13th January 2006, 10:39 AM	#11
dogjones Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bermuda Posts: 1,286	Originally Posted by ChristineR This is universal in the theater. EVERYONE refuses to say it. If you say it aloud, you'll be hounded until you do the ritual. I've even had people insist to be that they too once thought it was nonsense, until the day when they said it....
	__________________ It's great being ideologically flexible.

13th January 2006, 10:55 AM	#12
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Nap, interrupted. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: a little toolshed Posts: 18,632	Step on every damn crack you can find. ~~ Paul
	__________________ Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon. ---Susan Ertz RIP Mr. Skinny

13th January 2006, 11:00 AM	#13
brodski Tea-Time toad Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15,159	Originally Posted by dogjones I'm an amateur actor, and I make a point of saying 'Macbeth' in every show I'm in - without anyone hearing me. I just mutter it to myself, and see what happens. Funnily enough, major things have gone wrong, in the scene directly after I say it: Romeo and Juliet, 2003 - said 'Macbeth' in the interval. In the very next scene Friar Lawrence walks on stage, trips, and careens into the audience. Waiting for Godot, 2004 - again in interval. I walk on stage. A gust of wind takes my hat off and blows it down a chasm (we were doing it outside.) I had to mime the hat juggling. Proof, 2004 - Again in interval. Next scene, leading lady gets stuck to a door and has to shout most of her lines. There have been other occasions. Of course, this means absolutely nothing. I'm sure other things have gone wrong in other scenes in other nights, but these were the ones I remember! Anyway, I'm off to find some single magpies, and then neglect to say "Good morning Mr. Magpie". Just so long as you dont whistle on stage. Or use real flowers. or use a new pot of pancake on a first night.
brodski Tea-Time toad Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15,159

13th January 2006, 11:02 AM	#14
CFLarsen Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 42,804	Originally Posted by kmortis Kill an albatross on deck? What flavor is it?
	__________________ SkepticReport.com

13th January 2006, 11:05 AM	#15
Jitterbuggery Thinker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Can't tell... too smoggy Posts: 137	Saying "MacBeth" won't bring you bad luck in theatre. Doing COMMUNITY theatre will....
	__________________ Flat Foot Floogie with a Floy Floy

13th January 2006, 11:10 AM	#16
tsg Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Location: Location: Posts: 6,771	Originally Posted by CFLarsen What flavor is it? It's bloody albatross flavor! Bleedin' seabird bleedin' flavor!
	__________________ Being offended by someone questioning your beliefs is a sign that you should be questioning them. In the beginning there was nothing. And the Lord said "Let There Be Light!" And still there was nothing, but at least now you could see it.

13th January 2006, 11:14 AM	#17
kmortis Biomechanoid Director of IDIOCY (Region 13) Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Texas Posts: 24,802	Originally Posted by tsg It's bloody albatross flavor! Bleedin' seabird bleedin' flavor! gamn you. ETA: Do you get any crackers with it?
	__________________ -Aberhaten did it - "Which gives us an answer to our question. What’s the worst thing that can happen in a pressure cooker?" Randall Munroe -Director of Independent Determining Inquisitor Of Crazy Yapping - Aberhaten's Apothegm™ - An Internet law that states that optimism is indistinguishable from sarcasm

13th January 2006, 11:47 AM	#18
Azrael 5 Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Yorkshire,Uk Posts: 5,042	I crossed many people on the stairs and refused to salute a solitary magpie!
	__________________ "I achieve these results through a mixture of magic,misdirection,suggestion and showmanship"-Derren Brown

13th January 2006, 02:44 PM	#19
Solus Tinkering with my brain Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: L.A. area Posts: 1,723	Originally Posted by Tricky Yep, today's the day. I usually celebrate the day by violating every bad luck superstition I can think of. I walk under ladders, open an umbrella in the house, break a (cheap) mirror, spill salt, turn the shoes upside down (my mom told me that one), and if I can find them, walk where a black cat has crossed and hang a horseshoe upside down. Anybody got any others, old or new? The only thing I can think of is finding a four-leaf clover and plucking the extra leaf off. Oh yes glad you reminded me: the day they show that lousy slasher movie on a couple cable channels. If I see a ladder I'll go under it. but Too lazy for the umbrella

13th January 2006, 05:00 PM	#20
Steven Howard Custom Title Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 1,798	When you take your hat off, toss it on your bed instead of hanging it up.
	__________________ See also:LiveJournal flickr

13th January 2006, 05:33 PM	#21
Chimera Mind Fetishist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southwestern US Posts: 394	Originally Posted by tsg You could try some of these. Jeez!! What an utterly exhausting list. If I tried to not do all of those things, I would never find the time to read my daily horoscope, visit my psychic, and chant voodoo love spells over my Greek evil eye amulet.
	__________________ "6,000 years ago, God created a 4-billion-year-old Earth. He can totally do that!"--Aggle-rithm "I always thought 'respect' meant 'don't let on how ridiculous you think other people are'."--Tragic Monkey

13th January 2006, 07:17 PM	#22
Outhere Thinker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 145	Ladders On Friday the 13th a few years ago, I went uptown on my lunch hour. A ladder propped against the side of a building blocked my path, and I felt obliged to walk under it to show my freedom from superstition. I was unaware that a local TV station had positioned a camera across the street for a Friday 13th news segment. Just as I came out from under the ladder, someone atop the building swept dust and debris off on me, and I had to go home to bathe. However, I was proud when I saw myself on the late news. There are times when safety comes before skepticism, and I walk warily around ladders now.

13th January 2006, 09:05 PM	#23
tsg Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Location: Location: Posts: 6,771	Originally Posted by Outhere On Friday the 13th a few years ago, I went uptown on my lunch hour. A ladder propped against the side of a building blocked my path, and I felt obliged to walk under it to show my freedom from superstition. I was unaware that a local TV station had positioned a camera across the street for a Friday 13th news segment. Just as I came out from under the ladder, someone atop the building swept dust and debris off on me, and I had to go home to bathe. However, I was proud when I saw myself on the late news. There are times when safety comes before skepticism, and I walk warily around ladders now. This is one of the few woo things that actually came out of sane advice: Don't walk under ladders, not because it's bad luck, but because the guy on it might drop something.
	__________________ Being offended by someone questioning your beliefs is a sign that you should be questioning them. In the beginning there was nothing. And the Lord said "Let There Be Light!" And still there was nothing, but at least now you could see it.

14th January 2006, 05:08 PM	#24
Tricky Briefly immortal Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Group W bench Posts: 42,405	Originally Posted by tsg This is one of the few woo things that actually came out of sane advice: Don't walk under ladders, not because it's bad luck, but because the guy on it might drop something. LOL. Yes. Like it's bad luck to stand in the middle of the street. But I hope everyone had a safe Fri-XIII. I was perfectly safe in spite of my deliberate and repeated violation of the rules of luck. I actually had a bit of good luck in finding a shop-vac at a garage sale for $5 that I had braced myself to pay $40+ at the hardware store. Anybody else have a particularly lucky or unlucky day?

14th January 2006, 05:28 PM	#25
Jon. Increasing entropy since 1970 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: On the Clapham omnibus Posts: 3,509	Originally Posted by Tricky Anybody else have a particularly lucky or unlucky day? No.
	__________________ In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. I don't appeal to the masses, and they don't appeal to me. - Graham Parker Calling modern day fundamentalists medieval is giving them about a thousand years of philosophical advancement they do not have. - Jorghnassen

14th January 2006, 05:51 PM	#26
El Greco Summer worshipper Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Παρά θιν'αλός Posts: 14,426	In Greece we have a superstition I like a lot: It is bad luck when you see a priest out of a church. On second thought, I don't think this is a superstition after all.
	__________________ "Robbing a bank is no crime compared to owning one" - Bertolt Brecht "Let it go and come to bed already, El Greco" - MoeFaux

14th January 2006, 07:23 PM	#27
clarsct Humor Impaired Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The Cultural Desert Posts: 4,910	I bought Lottery Tickets.
	__________________ When Religion becomes State, and breaking the Law becomes Sin, then Dissenters will become Heretics. Oh nonsense. Still not hugging you. -Kiless Forum Tosser and Skirt Chaser

15th January 2006, 03:38 PM	#28
Mongrel Begging for Scraps Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: 20 minutes in the future Posts: 1,643	We had a 3 phase mains fuse start to melt at work, whilst technically a bad thing we had 2 hours with no telephones or computers
	__________________ “Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science.” - Charles Darwin ...like so many contemporary philosophers he especially enjoyed giving helpful advice to people who were happier than he was. - Tom Lehrer

15th January 2006, 04:00 PM	#29
Dicon is not a radish Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Grumpy in Seattle Posts: 2,974	The fact that nothing bad happened to me on Friday is PROOF that there's a massive coverup by the government and the Rand Corporation to hide the truth about bad things happening on Friday the 13th. The complete lack of evidence is all I need to know that it's true.