Is there a better word than "clueless"?
09-12-2003, 11:53 AM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Pleasanton, CA
Posts: 944
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is there a better word than "clueless"?
I've been searching for a good word to describe people who are unaware of what's going on around them or easily confused. Most of the time the word "clueless" comes to mind, but that seems a bit harsh. Would any of you be able to suggest a better word?
The reason this came up is that I witnessed a classic example on my way back from lunch today. I was riding a bike to get some exercise, so I was able to stop and see how the situation developed. The road I was riding along has a street coming in on one side and a parking lot entrance on the other. It's a big enough parking lot that the traffic light there is a 4-way signal and there are even sensors in the parking lot exit to detect cars so that the light can change for them.
So as I'm coming up the sidewalk at my leisurely pace, I notice a woman in an SUV all the way over to the left at the parking lot exit. I decided that it would be interesting to see how things worked out, since she was not over a sensor to trigger the light and there was a good chance someone would want to make a right turn into the parking lot before she moved.
Sure enough, I only had to wait a minute or two before someone came along wanting to make a right turn into the parking lot. They were confused about what to do as well, for about a minute, before entering the parking lot on the exit side of the lane. About 20 seconds later, the woman figured out what she was doing wrong and backed up to get repositioned. She almost hit another car coming towards the exit before she finally got repositioned properly. She eventually made it out of there safely, but I was shaking my head in disbelief as I rode the rest of the way back to work.
I suppose I really should have knocked on her window and explained things to her when I first noticed the problem, but curiosity got the best of me.
The reason this came up is that I witnessed a classic example on my way back from lunch today. I was riding a bike to get some exercise, so I was able to stop and see how the situation developed. The road I was riding along has a street coming in on one side and a parking lot entrance on the other. It's a big enough parking lot that the traffic light there is a 4-way signal and there are even sensors in the parking lot exit to detect cars so that the light can change for them.
So as I'm coming up the sidewalk at my leisurely pace, I notice a woman in an SUV all the way over to the left at the parking lot exit. I decided that it would be interesting to see how things worked out, since she was not over a sensor to trigger the light and there was a good chance someone would want to make a right turn into the parking lot before she moved.
Sure enough, I only had to wait a minute or two before someone came along wanting to make a right turn into the parking lot. They were confused about what to do as well, for about a minute, before entering the parking lot on the exit side of the lane. About 20 seconds later, the woman figured out what she was doing wrong and backed up to get repositioned. She almost hit another car coming towards the exit before she finally got repositioned properly. She eventually made it out of there safely, but I was shaking my head in disbelief as I rode the rest of the way back to work.
I suppose I really should have knocked on her window and explained things to her when I first noticed the problem, but curiosity got the best of me.
09-12-2003, 05:21 PM
#3
I think clueless is the best word. The others that I can think of are much more harsh.
09-13-2003, 04:36 PM
#6
Originally posted by The Professor
neutral: "unobservant", or "otherwise occupied"
somewhat judgemental: "oblivious", or "incompetant"
accurate: "airhead"
neutral: "unobservant", or "otherwise occupied"
somewhat judgemental: "oblivious", or "incompetant"
accurate: "airhead"
Trending Topics
09-14-2003, 04:04 AM
#8
Mentally challenged...
09-14-2003, 05:34 AM
#10
A few bricks shy of a load...
