This bus-charming man

[hirez]

Years and years ago, uk_jon and I came up with the cod-philosophical concept of 'Smoking a cigarette to make the bus come'. As might be obvious, we seemed to be spending rather too much useful drinking time hanging around near windswept Cheltenham bus-stops in the depths of winter, waiting for the sodding bus to turn up. And like as not sail past since

Comments

[markeris]

"Years and years ago, uk_jon and I came up with the cod-philosophical concept of 'Smoking a cigarette to make the bus come'. As might be obvious, we seemed to be spending rather too much useful drinking time hanging around near windswept Cheltenham bus-stops in the depths of winter, waiting for the sodding bus to turn up. And like as not sail past since it was a small bus[1] and already full

[hirez]

I guess it's a kind of quasi-applied Sod's Law.

[liz_lowlife]

Yup, me too.

[serpentstar]

cavalorn used to do exactly the same thing. I likely would too, if I'd ever smoked. I think it's a pretty standard piece of Discordian hedge magick, really.

[dedbutdrmng]

I'm aware of the Tab Law but accidentally discovered another way of making a bus appear. This is the magic of 'Weasel, Stoat, Crow'.

To perform this incantation you first assume the position (Stood in a star shape, legs and arms apart.) You then shout. as loudly as you dare. 'WEASEL. STOAT. CROW.'

In invariably works. It does seem the likelihood of a bus turning up is in direct proportion to A) how loud you shout and B) how many people witness it and shake their heads presuming you to be some sort of nutjob.

[sushidog]

I think if you incant "Oh, fuck it, I've got time for a fag", that generally does the trick. In my experience, at any rate.

[tails_redux]

Aye ... tried and trusted, but adjusted for our modern age ... smoke outside the bus shelter. Found the perfect skill is to time it so the bus arrives by the time the cigarette is finished.

Worry if someone lights up a cigar.

Next we'll be talking about pennies to the Road God of Hitching.

[squiddity]

We referred to the thingies as a 'stick of bus summoning +4' for that very reason.

Mentioning 'the game' is likely not a good idea.

Yes, you'd be surprised what random elements of your audience will huff or make dissatisfied noises.

[hirez]

Quite. Me, for a start.

Although. The contemplation of bus-charming is likely a reasonable memetic counter for the other thing.