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Is There a Name For This Phenomenon?

bustedknee

We own 4 cars. Anytime one of them developes a problem, the other 3 suffer "Sympathy Breakdowns"! (I happen to be sitting in the waiting room at the garage)

I have noticed SBP (Sympathy Breakdown Phenomenon) also occurs with:

Fishing rods

Flashlights

Toilets

Plumbing

Windows

Kids

Relatives (health, death & borrowing)

Batteries

TV's

Human body parts

Rifle scopes

Street conditions

Roof leaks

Shoes

Shoe laces

Socks

Nails (bent)

Light bulbs (also headlights)

Trailer lamps

Pocket knives (lost and/or dull)

Tools (broken or runaway)

Pets

Phones

Smashed fingers

Aircraft seating

Shaving nicks

Shirt buttons

....

Is there government aid for SBP?

3

Comments

17 comments

Date Votes
  • hillbille
    no need for aid, just start protesting, light a few fires and take what you want.  seems to be working for the masses nowdays..........
    0
  • bustedknee

    I don't think the riots are cowinkydink.

    0
  • pulsarnc

    Don’t know about a name or guvment help but I have a much more meaningful question . Why ? when you need a Phillips screw driver all you can find in the toolbox and the shop are flatheads ? You know you own at least a dozen or more . Where the heck are they ?

    3
  • hillbille
    pulsarnc said:

    Don’t know about a name or guvment help but I have a much more meaningful question . Why ? when you need a Phillips screw driver all you can find in the toolbox and the shop are flatheads ? You know you own at least a dozen or more . Where the heck are they ?

    where ever the wife last used em...........
    6
  • bustedknee

    Those "missing" tools are what I call runaways.

    What bugs me the most about screwdrivers is, it was just yesterday I needed a flat-tip but could only find phillips then today when I need a phillips they are are all missing.

    ONE DAY!

    0
  • Brookwood
    I went for a phillips and could only find a Reed & Prince!   Just darn!  :)

    I now just buy those "star heads" screws.  I seem to strip out a lot less of them. 
    0
  • Nanuq907
    Don't get me started on the "too many hangers / too few paperclips" phenomenon.

    I think paper clips are the larva stage of clothes hangers.
    3
  • Brookwood
    I always thought Bobby Pins were the first paper clips!
    3
  • Butchdog2
    That Reed and Prince will fool'em every time.
    0
  • BobJudy
    The catch all name for this is the tried and true SNAFU.  If you have a repair that is in an inconvenient location and grab and take every tool that may be needed you will discover that you forgot one. Bob
    0
  • chme
    Name for the phenomena ?  It is the old, tried and true "Rule of 3's"  Crap happens in 3s.  Unless you are playing poker.  
    That is why the tractor won't start, the car is out of gas, and you can't find the key to the truck. 
    You're fresh out of 30-30, your shotgun is a 12 g, but all the buckshot in the cabinet is 20 g, and your brother in law borrowed the .22. 
    Your paycheck, truck payment and girlfriend are all a month late. 
    0
  • truthful
    I have two old British sports cars that live up to the expectation that all British motor vehicles leak oil. Well, no matter how drip-free it has been, anything I park near them in the garage begins to leak oil within two days.
    0
  • spasmcreeksrun
    phillips head screwdrivers should be BANNED.....hate  em
    0
  • SW0320
    hillbille said:
    pulsarnc said:

    Don’t know about a name or guvment help but I have a much more meaningful question . Why ? when you need a Phillips screw driver all you can find in the toolbox and the shop are flatheads ? You know you own at least a dozen or more . Where the heck are they ?

    where ever the wife last used em...........
    And I thought it was only me with this problem.  Now I know I am old because I remember when my father was looking for his tools and got mad because he could not find them because I used them and did not put them back.
    0
  • dreher
    If I can't find a particular tool I know what happened.  My Russian father-in-law struck.  He tries to be "helpful" and put MY tools back where he thinks the correct place for those tools are!!     :#

    The worst part is I cannot ask him where he put the tool I am looking for because he doesn't speak English and I don't speak Russian.   My wife doesn't understand why Nick drives me bat poop crazy!!
    0
  • Butchdog2
    Agree on the Phillips screw and for the matter it ought to be a punishable by death for making for more than one type screw head.
    0
  • mohawk600
    OP.........you called it yourself....."sympathy breakdowns"
    0

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