The "This Might Be A Stupid Question, But...." Thread

[MrsJWine]

Why does it drive me so dang batty to try to talk with the TV on?

DH will try to say something to me while he's watching TV and I always ask him to mute or pause it. He inevitably wants to know why. It's like the TV noise crowds my brain or something. I just can't focus on him and the sensation makes me want to scream.

I don't know what it is, but it drives us both nuts.

Maybe you have some minor hearing loss. I noticed the same thing when I had a blockage in one ear, that too many voices were just a blur.  When was the last time you had your hearing checked?

My hearing is fine, and always has been, but I still can't listen to someone with the TV on. In fact, I'm completely unable to focus on anything else if there's a TV on in the room. It's not as bad when it's on mute, but I still have a hard time looking away. I really hate going to friends' houses who always have their TVs on for background noise.

[KenveeB]

Why does it drive me so dang batty to try to talk with the TV on?

DH will try to say something to me while he's watching TV and I always ask him to mute or pause it. He inevitably wants to know why. It's like the TV noise crowds my brain or something. I just can't focus on him and the sensation makes me want to scream.

I don't know what it is, but it drives us both nuts.

Maybe you have some minor hearing loss. I noticed the same thing when I had a blockage in one ear, that too many voices were just a blur.  When was the last time you had your hearing checked? 

My hearing has always been less than perfect, so that could explain it. I've never had my hearing checked except for routine screenings in school, when they said it was below average but not bad enough to be further evaluated.

I have a hard time hearing when there's a lot of background noise. I hate trying to have conversations in noisy restaurants or clubs! I think it's a pretty common problem.

[VorFemme]

It could be an attention deficit thing - I know that I'm very distractable, have been since I can remember.  It could be a hearing loss thing - an ex-boss loved to listen to jet fighter planes taking off, so he left his exterior door open to the flight line most of the time - which meant that the door between our offices (with a pane of painted over glass and a ventilation grill) was the only thing between me and forty to fifty take offs and landings a day.

He was a pilot and thought that the sound was grand.  I was an admin officer and trying to do paperwork or make phone calls.  He was the 0-5 (selected for 0-6) and I was the 0-2.  He was the boss.  I have some minor hearing loss.

[Slartibartfast]

Why is there an on and off switch for cruise control?

I find it useful for when you suddenly notice a speed trap ahead but you don't want to slam on your brakes and make it obvious you're slowing down - you can just turn off cruise control and decelerate naturally for a few seconds 

[lynxcan]

I discovered, while on a long roadtrip, that if I turn off the cruise control when I see the change in Speed Limit sign, (it's dropping) and I keep my foot off the gas, that by the time I get to the new posted speed limit that I am going the posted speed.  Once I discovered this, I kept trying it and it worked consistently.  It would be interesting to know if anyone else has noticed this.

[ladyknight1]

I discovered, while on a long roadtrip, that if I turn off the cruise control when I see the change in Speed Limit sign, (it's dropping) and I keep my foot off the gas, that by the time I get to the new posted speed limit that I am going the posted speed.  Once I discovered this, I kept trying it and it worked consistently.  It would be interesting to know if anyone else has noticed this.

I have learned to coast downhill. I generally do this on road trips, but any time I am reducing my speed, I would much rather coast than brake, if I can. I have also found that coasting vs braking cuts down on the echo braking around you.

[CakeBeret]

I love the cruise control off button for two reasons.

First, if I'm not actively using cruise control, I can't stand to have that little Cruise Control light on.

Second, my car's cruise control is not the greatest system. If I set it for 60 and then re-set it to 50, it gets all confused. It's more effective to turn it off and then turn it back on and set it to 50.

[Mental Magpie]

Why is there an on and off switch for cruise control?

I find it useful for when you suddenly notice a speed trap ahead but you don't want to slam on your brakes and make it obvious you're slowing down - you can just turn off cruise control and decelerate naturally for a few seconds 

I do that    No tell-tale break lights when trying to turn it off that way.

[LadyJaneinMD]

Why does it drive me so dang batty to try to talk with the TV on?

DH will try to say something to me while he's watching TV and I always ask him to mute or pause it. He inevitably wants to know why. It's like the TV noise crowds my brain or something. I just can't focus on him and the sensation makes me want to scream.

I don't know what it is, but it drives us both nuts.

Maybe you have some minor hearing loss. I noticed the same thing when I had a blockage in one ear, that too many voices were just a blur.  When was the last time you had your hearing checked?

My hearing is fine, and always has been, but I still can't listen to someone with the TV on. In fact, I'm completely unable to focus on anything else if there's a TV on in the room. It's not as bad when it's on mute, but I still have a hard time looking away. I really hate going to friends' houses who always have their TVs on for background noise.

Me too!!  I find it distracting to the extreme.   

[Outdoor Girl]

Re:  Cruise Control

I have just recently discovered the 'cancel' button.  It is effectively the same as braking but doesn't trigger the lights.  And it allows you to 'resume' to the previous setting.  If you turn it off, you have to reset it when you turn it back on.

So if I'm going to be going back to the same speed shortly, I'll use 'Cancel'.  If my speed will be changing, sometimes I'll use 'Off'.

Although I did save the guy behind me a speeding ticket once by tapping the brakes to disengage the cruise.  I spotted a car on the side of the road quite a ways up ahead.  Even though it wasn't marked, I immediately thought 'That's a cop' and tapped my brakes.  Guy behind me slowed down with me; guy behind him pulled out and passed both of us.  And was immediately pulled over.

[EmmaJ.]

How does one know if gorgonzola or blue cheese is going bad?  I mean, it already has mold on it. 

Mind you, it's rarely a problem with me because I love it so much it gets eaten within a few days.  But I found some that had gotten pushed to the back of my cheese drawer.  I tossed it rather than take a chance but it sure made me wonder how to tell if it was ok or not.

[ladyknight1]

How does one know if gorgonzola or blue cheese is going bad?  I mean, it already has mold on it. 

Mind you, it's rarely a problem with me because I love it so much it gets eaten within a few days.  But I found some that had gotten pushed to the back of my cheese drawer.  I tossed it rather than take a chance but it sure made me wonder how to tell if it was ok or not.

I have found the texture changes, it seems to break down and there is usually a watery liquid in the bag or package.

Along this note, don't trust that yogurt that is past it's date. You won't find the mold until you get near the bottom of the cup. (shudders)

[EmmaJ.]

Oh no!  I'm shuddering right beside you!   

[Virg]

The reason for on/off switches on cruise controls is design of the system.  It's a module bolted on to the throttle control and it has its own power supply, so it can be switched on and off.  There's no usability reason why it's set up that way.

The way to tell if goronzola or bleu cheese has gone off is color, texture and smell.  The molds will change color, the cheese will change color, it'll get mushy, and it smells different.  When in doubt, throw it out.

Virg

[Mental Magpie]

The reason for on/off switches on cruise controls is design of the system.  It's a module bolted on to the throttle control and it has its own power supply, so it can be switched on and off.  There's no usability reason why it's set up that way.

The way to tell if goronzola or bleu cheese has gone off is color, texture and smell.  The molds will change color, the cheese will change color, it'll get mushy, and it smells different.  When in doubt, throw it out.

Virg

This was the argument Dark Boyfriend and I were having...even if it has its own power supply, what does leaving it on change?  The power is there, static, not being used, so why can you even turn it off if that doesn't really change anything?  No power use when it is on and not engaged, no power use when it was off...