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The Imp Of The Perverse

(150 Posts)
MissAdventure Thu 06-Feb-20 15:54:01

Have you experienced, or heard of this?

It's an urge to do something you never ever would, such as stepping in front of a car, or shouting at an inappropriate time, or anything, really.

Apparently its named after something in an Edgar Allan Poe writing.

I often have the impulse to pull the hair of whoever is sitting in front of me on the bus blush

Chewbacca Fri 07-Feb-20 17:35:52

It's a bit rich to ask us to get the thread back on track SarahCGransnet; if you'd read back several posts, you'd see that we've been asking the person who has deliberately tried to derail the thread to stop doing so for the past 24 hours. It might help if you directed your request to the relevant person whilst the rest of us get back to discussing the topic. Please.

Curlywhirly Fri 07-Feb-20 17:40:28

Well in that case Ninarosa good for you, the b*gger deserved it!

MissAdventure Sun 09-Feb-20 15:57:45

Bumping this for SirChenjin to look at.

SirChenjin Sun 09-Feb-20 16:10:25

Thanks MissAdventure - what a great thread, and a relief to find I'm not alone in having these thoughts! I often myself looking at others in a queue or on the train or wherever and wonder if any of them are wondering what would happen if they beat me about the head with their laptop or stuck out their foot and tripped me up. Statistically speaking I must have been on the receiving end of such thoughts! It's fascinating to think about all the thoughts and monologues that go on in other people's heads.

MissAdventure Sun 09-Feb-20 16:23:26

grin

The tripping up one is something that flits into my mind occasionally, too.

Best to just read my book on the bus and not encourage myself.

BlueSky Sun 09-Feb-20 17:19:27

What an intriguing post MissAdventure ! Glad it has been resurrected!

SirChenjin Sun 09-Feb-20 17:19:50

I know what you mean - my mind can run riots and not in a good way. I’m sure there’s a horror novel tucked away in my brain but I’m not going to open Pandora’s box!

dorcas1950 Sun 09-Feb-20 17:42:40

Love this post! Hilarious grin

Happygirl79 Sun 09-Feb-20 17:54:02

If someone in front of me has a tag showing on their top I have to resist the urge to tuck it back in

Callistemon Sun 09-Feb-20 17:59:30

I didn't resist the urge the other week and I did get a thank you!
I'm sure she didn't want to display her size to the world.
(I knew her a bit but not well)

Drum1234 Sun 09-Feb-20 20:55:52

Slightly different track, but as a teacher I often used to wonder what I would do if the kids just decided they'd had enough and walked out of the classroom. Luckily, they never actually did!

BradfordLass73 Sun 09-Feb-20 21:27:38

I often have the urge to react violently to real situations.

For instance, I've just had a great deal of fun from throwing someone to the floor and by holding onto her ears, banged her head on the carpet a few times. whilst telling her she's a humorless moron.
<aaah, that's better>
Well, I am entitled to my opinion and my fantasies, am I not?

But this thread was about imp(ulses) and mine has always been to stand up in some very boring, up-itself meeting (local council for instance) or church or lecture where people are pontificating - and tell them exactly what I think of their pompous, entitled attitudes.

Chewbacca Sun 09-Feb-20 21:36:08

You know when you're driving and it's been pouring down with rain and there are huge puddles at the side of the road? And on the pavement you can see someone standing, waiting to cross the road, or walking along, minding their own business? I would love to roar through that puddle and drench them from head to foot. I haven't. Yet.

MissAdventure Sun 09-Feb-20 21:42:19

BradfordLass grin

SirChenjin Sun 09-Feb-20 21:44:08

BradfordLass73 I salute you! grin

Chewbacca noooooo, that’s all kinds of wrong shockgrin

Callistemon Sun 09-Feb-20 22:13:35

It's hair.
I have a longing to stroke some people' s hair, to plait it if it's long. DH had to haul me away from Adam Henson because I wanted to stroke his hair (he was filming at the time, that would have been a good take on Countryfile grin)

When I was taking a psychology course many years ago, I learned that it is supposed to be a sign of deprivation but I have never ever felt deprived. I just like hair.
No, I am not a hairdresser!

MissAdventure Sun 09-Feb-20 22:43:45

Yes, I often want to touch peoples hair when I'm on the bus, just to see what it feels like.

I've also met someone who had the urge to feel peoples knees.

There was a crowd of us who decided to indulge her, and she went around feeling and grading all our knees.

Callistemon Sun 09-Feb-20 22:50:27

I always want to squeeze babies' chubby legs but have resisted the urge since reading threads on here about Not Touching Other People's Babies!!

Some babies are just so irresistible.
None of my DGC are babies any longer.

Hetty58 Sun 09-Feb-20 23:02:19

Drum1234, when I began teaching at an FE college I got the class from hell. Their teacher was off sick so I was asked to take them.

From the moment I walked in they mucked about. I tried the usual 'Right, settle down, today we're looking at' etc. and the chaos continued.

'OK, then, guess what?' I shouted 'I'm not teaching you lot, I'm off to have a coffee instead!' They were dumbstruck and off I went (we had no 'in loco parentis duty of care' at the time).

AllotmentLil Sun 09-Feb-20 23:06:41

I often wonder what it would be like to cut off someone’s long hair!

BradfordLass73 Mon 10-Feb-20 06:28:32

I often wonder what it would be like to cut off someone’s......

No, better not go there.

BlueSky Mon 10-Feb-20 08:46:15

But these are not like intrusive thoughts because intrusive thoughts are disturbing and cause a lot of anxiety. As for long hair yes I want to trim it! My OCD perhaps.

Juliet27 Mon 10-Feb-20 08:56:45

One winter a lad put a snowball in my basket as I was passing (Imp!) but I took it out and put it down the back of his neck...yes I do feel a bit guilty!

gillybob Mon 10-Feb-20 09:04:53

I have always had this horrible desire to place the red hot iron over my ear like a telephone.

Juliet27 Mon 10-Feb-20 09:40:23

I often wonder what it would be like to cut off someone’s......

Yes Bradfordlass

A suitable punishment for some I feel