this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2024
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[–] swag_money@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago (4 children)

is there a superstition about walking under ladders?

[–] BigBenis@lemmy.world 31 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

To be fair, it's one of the more reasonable superstitions considering the potential of being hit by a heavy falling object.

[–] rickyrigatoni@lemm.ee 22 points 1 month ago (3 children)

People won't listen to "if you walk under a ladder you might get hit by a paint bucket" but they will listen to "if you walk under a ladder some nondescript aethereal force will give you bad luck". What is wrong with our brains.

[–] ouRKaoS@lemmy.today 4 points 1 month ago

It's pretty much the same as "Don't do that, it's wrong." vs "Don't do that, God doesn't like it."

[–] Ardyssian@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago

The fear / allure of the unknown

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

That is from times where a majority of people were trained to believe in an a nondescript invisible being. It does things to your brain.

[–] FryHyde@lemmy.zip 15 points 1 month ago (2 children)

absolutely, yeah. there's still a lot of construction folks/builders that refuse to do it. usually the same folks that have superstitions about tools (like never hand someone an unfolded pocket knife, no matter how safely you do it)

[–] LowtierComputer@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago (2 children)

There's a really weird thing in the Southeastern US where people will hand you pocketknives with the blade out always and you can't hand it back closed. I don't understand it.

[–] cyrano@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

One explanation ties this to a belief that closing a knife someone else opened can bring bad luck, or is considered bad manners. There’s also the practical side: if someone hands you an open blade, they’re entrusting you with a dangerous tool, and closing it before handing it back could suggest you don’t trust them to handle it properly.

[–] LowtierComputer@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I get the bad luck superstition, but handing someone a closed knife is just safer. The idea that handing someone an open knife shows more respect is stupid.
I've had someone hand me an open knife and accidentally stab me with it. The whole point of it closing is to reduce the risk of getting cut.

[–] cyrano@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Agreed with you. In Europe, there’s a superstition that gifting a knife can "cut" or sever a relationship. To avoid this, the person receiving the knife must give a coin—usually just a small one—back to the giver. This act symbolically "pays" for the knife, turning it into a purchase rather than a gift, and preventing any bad luck or harm to the friendship or relationship.

It’s blend of practicality, tradition, and superstition.

[–] Rubanski@lemm.ee 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I also know about this superstition. It's apparently pretty widespread

[–] perviouslyiner@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Is that to do with showing the condition it was in, and that you didn't break it?

[–] LowtierComputer@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Nope, is apparently a superstitious thing, but I have a feeling it's roots are in some masculinity BS.

[–] MajorHavoc@programming.dev 1 points 1 month ago

like never hand someone an unfolded pocket knife, no matter how safely you do it

Yeah! Without a proper backspin toss, it's not going to land in their palm correctly, or in time for their next throw.

[–] devfuuu@lemmy.world 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] swag_money@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago

maybe where you're from :p