Why do people not join in when you laugh at yourself?

Hmmm, I’d go with all the above?

I would say half of them didn’t notice, a quarter were grumpy about being in line even longer, and a quarter were embarrassed for you.

Or maybe there was a sign up right behind you that said, “No Laughing: This Means You!” You never know.

Maybe they thought laughing at the mistake would seem rude. Laughing at someone’s flubs is rude, now if you were with a friend, spread the cheer. But I wouldn’t laugh at someone who did something klutzy that I didn’t know, I’d offer to help.

In the case of my friends and the regular workers where I get coffee or lunch, yeah, they laugh with me. I’m a big believer in the power of the belly laugh. :)

I’m agreed with asmonet.

When strangers laugh, it appears they they are laughing at you and not with you. It’s rude to laugh at someone. Maybe they were just being polite.

It kinda depends. I would probably help the person pick their money up because I am extremely clumsy myself. If they said something funny about it or showed it was ok to laugh I would give a little chuckle and probably try to comfort them by telling them I do that stuff all the time.

@krose: Yeah, I just came back to clarify and you beat me too it. I think the only acceptable public chuckle is the:

“Hehe, one of those days, we all have them. :D” Or something.

Because…most people are sheep. I’m surprised they didn’t baa and poop out marbles. Did anyone help you gather your money up?

My friend and I had a ‘stupid moment’ in line one day, and got to laughing so hard we were crying. Not only did the cashier not laugh, the people behind us left the line! I think they thought we were crazy.

Some people are like that. Just stuck up and take too many things seriously. Some of those genes run into me, but not too many :).
And I agree with Asmonet because if they laughed, it would sound seriously rude, believe me. Try to imagine it. If they were talking and communicating with then it would be OK to laugh.

@krose
It is also rude to pick up money. Just a thing. Because they may think it is snobby and you may want a tip or you are stealing it or something. If they did it to me, I wouldn’t do anything and thank them but wouldn’t like it :S.

@90s: How is it rude to pick up someone’s money and assist them? That doesn’t make any sense and I didn’t grasp your example. I’ve always appreciated a helping hand, in any form it decides to show up in.

I agree with 90s kid.

When I worked in a resturant and someone grabs money off a table to hand it to me, I wonder if I got all of the money. I think we’re naturally suspicious of each other.

If I dropped 100 pennies, sure I won’t care who helped me pick them up. If I dropped 100 hundred dollar bills, I probably won’t want strangers grabbing at them.

Edit: I would help anyone pick up just about anything but I draw the line at money and guns.

…don’t forget dildos.

@knotmyday yeah I’m with you on that one…I wouldn’t pick up someone’s dildos off the ground either.

I would probably instinctively help someone pick up their money. I would like to think they think of me as just a helping hand and not that I’m stealing their change.

I would also help someone who may have dropped a gun or two. If I was being robbed by the gunman, I should probably pick that up before he does.

But I must draw the line at dildos as well.

Meh, I wouldn’t care if someone helped me pick up change. I’ll take all the help I can get. I guess I’ll try to be careful if people really think it’s rude. dumb

…the cashier did gather some of it up…(I couldn’t get to most of it anyway) and I didn’t get it all back… one guy picked up one 20p coin for me…bless him…

I have helped someone pick up their change before and they thought i was stealing it…

guess some people are miserable and think the worst…. but anyway, thanks guys i feel much better now… I’ll just keep on laughing at myself and hoping that one day someone will join in with me!
x

i’ll join you right fffing -=—now

i think a lot of people are afraid that you’ll somehow be offended or something. or they’re not used to seeing somebody being pleasant about a misfortune rather than irritated.
similar things have happened to me. good question.

I’d say the answer is C.

@Knotmyday
True and without a cattle prod or an applause card they’re stumped.
@lynneblundell
I’m getting a chuckle out of the local nomenclature
nonse,queue, wally
Care to define? I know queue but the other two are Greek to this American.

nonse and wally = stumbling fumbling idiot

x

^Brilliant!