I do not believe in the supernatural, magic, ghosts or anything like that. However, I can be very superstitious about tempting fate and won't make jokes or flippant remarks that could be interpretted as such.
For example, my partner made a dark joke about how she'd rather have cancer than such and such. I begged her not to say such things, not because the thought of her having cancer upset me (although it did), but because it feels as if saying stuff like that could make it happen.
31 May 2026 17:17
Whenever I drive (which is rare) and I go through an intersection on a yellow light, I punch the ceiling of the car. I'll even punch the air above my head if I run a yellow on my bicycle.
Someone told me back in high school that it's bad luck not to do so, and for some reason it stuck with me.
31 May 2026 17:23
Same here. Don't believe in ghosts, the supernatural, or any of that, but there have been very specific occasions where I've made utterances tempting fate and had that very thing happen, so now I try not to say those things or at the very least find some wood to knock on as if that's going to do anything for me.
31 May 2026 17:45
I have a fear of heights. In fear, I go back to what I was taught during childhood. I pray to God to save me even though I'm an agnostic now.
Does that count as a superstition?
31 May 2026 18:17
My job sees me putting a lot of really heavy objects on trailers, vehicles, boats and trains.
You _must_ say "She ain't going nowhere" and tap the load with your hand or else she _is_ going somewhere you don't want.
I swear by it. Every time I or one of my subordinates has forgotten the phrase its been a disaster. So we say it every time now and make sure the new guys do it to. Or else.
31 May 2026 18:19
Same here. With my kids, I really struggled to get stuff ready for their birth because it gent like tempting fate. Cue scrambling to get everything ready once the baby was back home.
In smaller stuff, always knock on wood. Fake wood counts as wood.
31 May 2026 18:27
I'm going to make my wife read this so she stops groaning every time I say it.
31 May 2026 18:29
Technology likes some people and not others.
My brother and my GF are both in the "dislike" camp. I am firmly in the "tech just likes me" camp. Granted, my brother gets back at me for it because crazy stuff just happens around him to his immense benefit all his life.
31 May 2026 18:47
I think that is not uncommon. I do the knock on wood stuff. Not because I actually think it will make a difference but its just kinda a thing. Its like when you have something that is not above the 95th percentile and you are hoping and like "trusting" in luck. Like right now I feel that way about my car. Its also like the "there are no athiests in foxholes". When at deaths door its easy to reach out to supernatural help since its pretty clear your effed natural world wise.
31 May 2026 19:05
I do not believe in the supernatural [...] However, I can be very superstitious
You do believe in the supernatural.
31 May 2026 19:16
Fairies, throwing spilled salt over my shoulder, giving away bad money before it can turn other money bad, not telling strangers my whole name, just a grab-bag of European folkways in general
31 May 2026 19:19
Nah, I'm just a scared pattern seeking monkey.
knocks on wood 31 May 2026 20:34
yeah i do the same thing. i imagine supernatural beings are listening to what i say and making it come true; i suspect it's my own subconscious steering me in a way.
31 May 2026 20:36
yeah because saying it gives you a moment to reflect on whether you properly pulled all the brakes, etc. .
31 May 2026 20:37
Anecdotal, but in my experience fake wood does not count. Just on Friday I said knock on wood and used some fake vinyl bullshit. Cut to 5 hours later, the exact thing I was trying to ward off happened.
31 May 2026 20:42
Lemmy
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