What lame excuses do you hear all the time (besides "I don't have time")?

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2000

Answers

"I forgot."

I've used this one myself since childhood. Frankly though, the truth is sometimes more difficult to explain than using a lame excuse. Like saying, "Yes it's true, I'm not doing anything important, but I still don't want to go with you (fill in appropriate person) to such and such. (even though what I may be doing is napping or just doing nothing).

I hate to say no, and give such an excuse because in all likelihood such and such person will not bother to make the offer again. (or at least that's what I think)

But perhaps I underestimate people.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2000

"I'll think about it and call you back"....

waiting...waiting...waiting...my best friend is famous for this, then again maybe it is because I do not like her boyfriend. Oh then it turns into...

"I forgot" or "I got busy"....oh well, I guess it's all for the best anyway.

Most times she remembers her boyfriend happens to show up at the place we are at..."WIERD huh?" I think not.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2000

A lame excuse of sorts: "I was only joking." People sometimes use this to follow up some of the most hurtful things they could possibly say and make it seem accidental. What they really mean a lot of the time is, "That's what I really think but I didn't mean to let you know it."

Own up to what you think, or at least to what you say. It hurts a lot less that way.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2000

Geez, I thought I told you that!

This is, of course, a variation on I forgot which is not lame in my book. I THOUGHT seems to let the person off the hook and infer (imply?) that some of the blame should be heaped on me for not getting the messager through the ozone. Lame-o, lame-o.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2000

"Dude, I flaked."

When I lived in Southern California, this was considered a valid excuse by many people I knew. I think it's a euphemism for "I don't really give a flying fuck about whatever it was that you wanted me to do, but I have no reason to hurt your feelings. At least not now."

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2000

The scary part is that my friends aren't bothering to make up creative excuses anymore. So many times I'll call my friend Bev and she'll say, "Oh, I can't talk right now. I just got in/put food on the table/was getting ready to leave. I'll call you back later, or tomorrow, or maybe I'll e-mail you next week!" My question is, if she was really that frickin' busy, why'd she answer the phone in the first place? Better if she'd just said, "Oh, well, if it were someone else calling I'd make the time to talk. Since it's just you, I'll put all of life's smallest priorities ahead of a few minutes of conversation with you. Maybe when I'm bored out of my skull, I'll call you back". No wonder I'm getting so antsy about making new friends!

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2000

"It got late".

-An excuse from a musician explaining why he showed up an hour late to a gig I'd hired him for.

-- Anonymous, May 03, 2000

Not an all the time one, but get this - upon asking why the new employee in my company (there are only 2 of us working here and I was doing everything by myself for the last 5 months) anyway - I asked the owner if he thought it fair that I should be making (are you ready for this next part?) $18,000 LESS than the new guy - who was a bartender and has NO experience, skill, background, history or even UNDERSTANDING of what we are to do - I'm in publishing and printing, you know,layout, design, platemaking, web presses - the big stuff - for a nationally produced magazine - and I came here to get this edition started after working in Production at the Coporate Headquarters for the company! ANYWAY - sorry to go on like that - his initial response was "That's none of your business and I don't have to answer to you". But then he added (direct quote) "He makes more because he's older (he's about 3 years older than I am), he's a man and he has more responsibilities." Please feel free to give me your 2 cents worth on this. Unless, of course, you are a man, which would obviously entitle you to give me about 3.26 cents I guess!

Currently studying up on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Equal Pay Act

Kathy

-- Anonymous, March 11, 2001

You wanted me to do this now?

Oh, you were talking to me?

Do I know you?

And you are?

Huh?!?

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2002

I lost my keys

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2002

I try to be creative or humorous when making an excuse such as " I can't do (whatever) or go (wherever) because its time to give my pet mouse his worm medicine or my pet turtle drowned and I'm just to upset or my cat coughed up a hairball, the dog ate it and made me sick. Iguess thats enough for now but would like to see more lame excuses.

-- Anonymous, August 25, 2002

Oh geesh, I didnt hear you, i forgot to take my medience and when i dont take it i cant hear. However when I whisper a secret to someone else she hears it! get that?

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2002