» Urban Legends

Hair colour
As a scientist, I once managed to convince a non-scientist that your hair changes colour in the dark and it is only your normal colour when light is present!

He reckoned he was going to turn the light off and shine a torch on his hair but I said that wouldn't work as the torch would be light so it would be normal colour.

Once he realised there was no way of disproving my 'fact', he believed me! Sucker.
(Mon 9th Jan 2006, 11:57, More)

» Cheating cheaty cheats

Uni
The end of year union party was always the biggest and best event at university. Everyone tried to go, but with the union capacity at about 3,000 and more than 10,000 students, obviously most people weren't going to get in. The tickets were sold out within an hour of them going on sale, and my best mate and I didn't manage to get hold of tickets.

Because the union was open all day, when holding a ticketed event, they would kick everyone out about 15 minutes before the start time so only people with tickets were admitted.
Hiding in the loos was no good - that was the first place the stewards would look.

So my mate and I hatched a cunning plan! We scoured the union for a suitable hiding place, eventually discovering a broom cupboard in the basement. For a whole hour before the event started we crouched in the darkness, in between the hoover and the mop bucket. It was very uncomfortable!

But we got in! Not only did we not pay to get in (everyone else had paid a tenner - huge sum of money in student terms), but everyone we told the story to was so impressed they bought us a drink!

You've either got it or you haven't!
(Fri 18th Nov 2005, 16:45, More)

» When were you last really scared?

Last year while on a work thing away from home
There were 6 of us from my department on our annual visit to one of our contractors and we were staying in this old guest house overnight.

By way of background, ever since I got caught up in a fire alarm at 3am on a school trip at the age of 11 (scaring me shitless), I always leave my door unlocked so I can get out easily.

Bad idea on this occasion. At about 4 in the morning, I was fast asleep when suddenly my door swung open and by the light of the hallway, I could see a tall, ugly man standing there. He staggered towards the bed and I could smell the alcohol on him.

I was literally crapping myself by this point. Unfortunately, I also sleep naked so couldn't get out of bed to turn the light on or do anything else!

He came and sat on the side of my bed, not saying a word - he was extremely drunk. I told him I would scream if he didn't leave, but his alcohol-sodden brain just didn't seem to register what I was saying.

I seriously thought I was going to be raped or worse. Thankfully, after about 10 minutes of him just sat on my bed staring at me (and he was very ugly), he left my room.

I leapt up and locked the door after that and slept with the light on for the rest of the night! The manager got a serious talking to the next morning. Apparently there was a building project in the town and a lot of the builders were staying at this place.
(Fri 23rd Feb 2007, 16:29, More)

» Strict Parents

Banned from cycling
My parents were terrified that my sister and I were going to get knocked over by a car in the street if we went out cycling.

So despite purchasing two £100 bikes for us, we were then not allowed to ride them in any place where there might be traffic. In short, anywhere outside our house.

Needless to say, two £100 bikes were advertised for sale in the local rag a few months later.
(Mon 12th Mar 2007, 9:39, More)