Do you talk to yourself while mystery shopping?

MS-sing can be a lonely activity. You are undercover. No one knows you are posing as a customer for work. You often shop alone...doing lots of shops in a route. There are no fellow co-workers, office staff, managers, etc. that you talk to during your day/night. It's just you. Only you know. In some ways, it feels like being in the CIA undercover or something of the sort.

Lots of alone time. You have to act like someone else. No interaction.

I talk to myself a lot in the car and during down time between shops. I pretend to interview myself and ask how my day is going. I remind myself of things verbally aloud. I say all sorts of random stuff to entertain myself, etc.

Is this normal? Does anyone else do this?

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I'll say things like "Seriously?" or "Oh boy, this will be fun" to myself in the car when pulling up to the pump of a gas station reveal and I see things on the pump that should have been taken down a year or more ago. Sometimes on a mystery shop that ends in an exterior photo, I'll say, "And you've been shopped!" or "Yep, enjoy the report that's coming." as I take it if no one is around to hear me. But that's about it.

I talk to myself alot whether mystery shopping or at home. I am retired and have very few other people to talk to. I think I am sane LOL.

Talking to yourself is OK. But do you get answers?

My husband says he talks to himself so he can get all the right answers.

@LIJake wrote:

Talking to yourself is OK. But do you get answers?

No, I don't. My husband talks to himself all the time.. He is apparently sane but it drives me crazy as he gets annoyed that I don't respond when he talks to me!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/13/2019 04:22PM by prince.

I talk to myself all the time.

I'm very, very good company!

(On last week's road trip, Erica asked me, "Do you ever think that you just think too much?" I thought about it for awhile, and asked her, "Did you actually mean that I think way way too much about things that no one else on earth could possibly think about?" and she said, yep, that's what she meant.

At the time, the conversation was a rather one-sided, far ranging thing, figuring how trout in the USA are genetically related to the trout in Russian rivers; if grass-fed beef is better for the environment than feedlots (less methane because of more natural diet); if free range eggs have a different nutritional profile from factory produced eggs, that sort of stuff.

I'm my own best company. Most people think that kind of stuff is drivel.)

I listen to podcasts while I am driving. Right now my favorite is Mike Rowe's "The Way I Heard It." They are short, entertaining, and even educational. Most are between 6 and 12 minutes so I can listen to a few or a bunch depending on the amount of time between shops. They keep my brain engaged so it doesn't wander into the unknown wasteland of "teetering on the edge."

I talk to myself all the time, since I tend to be the only person who will listen to me. When I'm mystery shopping, I find that verbalizing things ahead of time, like important observations I need to make, helps me to remember them. I make voice or notepad notes after shops, but if it takes me awhile to get where I can do that, I'll relate them out loud to myself so I remember them.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

The voices in my head are giving me the silent treatment. But I assure you I'm perfectly normal. It's my imaginary friend that has the issues.

Thank you.

(Giggle, giggle)

I talk out loud to myself sometimes I look crazy but who cares...Insanity is normal look at the news...it is okay as it does not hurt anyone. I prefer to shop alone...people can be a burden as this is WORK so I have to pay close attention. It would be nice to shop sometimes but when I do 5 to 10 shops I might miss something crucial.

I realized this is not just ms-ing. I talk to myself walking through Walmart or Target shopping on my own time too!

Other than muttering and cursing?

No.

@ceasesmith wrote:

I talk to myself all the time.

I'm very, very good company!

(On last week's road trip, Erica asked me, "Do you ever think that you just think too much?" I thought about it for awhile, and asked her, "Did you actually mean that I think way way too much about things that no one else on earth could possibly think about?" and she said, yep, that's what she meant.

At the time, the conversation was a rather one-sided, far ranging thing, figuring how trout in the USA are genetically related to the trout in Russian rivers; if grass-fed beef is better for the environment than feedlots (less methane because of more natural diet); if free range eggs have a different nutritional profile from factory produced eggs, that sort of stuff.

I'm my own best company. Most people think that kind of stuff is drivel.)

Do you have full-blown fictional characters that come out of your head, cease???

I do not think it drivel and find it interesting. I am sure that the nutritional profile is different in free range eggs, every living being follows the "you are what you eat" rule. When I go to Mexico or buy eggs from rural farmers, I am always amazed at the bright, neon yellow-orange yolks. And if "Eggland's Best" eggs have more Omega's because of the diet they feed those chickens, well...that should explain it.

My Aunt Lily is the one who taught me that you can leave eggs on the counter in the carton at room temperature when you get them from a local farmer if you don't wash them first. The eggs have a natural biome that protects them. I didn't believe her at first (I Googled it) and turns out she is right. Who knew. I am still going to wash them and put them in the refrigerator, though.

I don't often talk to myself out loud. I frequently do so in my head.

@ceasesmith wrote:

...if free range eggs have a different nutritional profile from factory produced eggs, that sort of stuff.

I'm my own best company. Most people think that kind of stuff is drivel.)

"Do you have full-blown fictional characters that come out of your head, cease??? "

Sometimes. Why?

JAS, somewhat less than one person in one hundred appreciates...shall we say, intellectual curiosity?

I live in a town of about 700, so there really SHOULD be 3 or 4 people here who appreciate me, LOL!

At least Erica tolerates me; she occasionally even smiles in silent approval. Or sarcasm. Not sure which.

@panama18 wrote:

Other than muttering and cursing?

No.

LOL, that's me, not shopping, just getting out of bed every day!!!

And let me add Ceasesmith that the Russian River is not in Russia. It is right here in California. I think California is still part of the USA..but not for long if our president has anything to say about it. lol

@JASFLALMT wrote:

I do not think it drivel and find it interesting. I am sure that the nutritional profile is different in free range eggs, every living being follows the "you are what you eat" rule. When I go to Mexico or buy eggs from rural farmers, I am always amazed at the bright, neon yellow-orange yolks. And if "Eggland's Best" eggs have more Omega's because of the diet they feed those chickens, well...that should explain it.

My Aunt Lily is the one who taught me that you can leave eggs on the counter in the carton at room temperature when you get them from a local farmer if you don't wash them first. The eggs have a natural biome that protects them. I didn't believe her at first (I Googled it) and turns out she is right. Who knew. I am still going to wash them and put them in the refrigerator, though.

I don't often talk to myself out loud. I frequently do so in my head.

@ceasesmith wrote:

...if free range eggs have a different nutritional profile from factory produced eggs, that sort of stuff.

I'm my own best company. Most people think that kind of stuff is drivel.)

Ah, Sandy, I know where the Russian River is -- I've fished it!!!!

I was talking about how trout are in rivers thousands of miles apart, and the trout are quite closely genetically related. You can fish for trout in California, and catch basically the same fish in rivers in Russia.

One supposition is that they had common ancestors that were trapped when oceans receded...another is human intervention (but I just can't picture prehistorical man carrying baskets of live fish from Russia to North America...just can't picture it! )...and so on.

I know that a manmade pond can eventually fill with fish without human intervention. The theory is that fish eggs attach to the feet of waterfowl, who carry them from one body of water to another.

Then there was a land bridge from Russia to Alaska at one time so things were pretty close. I was just kidding about the Russian River.

No. I normally don't talk much anyway (says she who posts waaay too much). BUT, I often sing/shout, horribly off-key, as I bounce around and head-bang while driving and listening to jamming metal. I would not be surprised if there is video out there somewhere of a crazy old lady in a one-woman automotive mosh pit. Keeps me awake, though.

They have trout in England. And India. But all the continents were connected at one time, sooo...

@sandyf wrote:

Then there was a land bridge from Russia to Alaska at one time so things were pretty close. I was just kidding about the Russian River.

I've never washed my eggs :

*****************************************************************************
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain

MS-ing is my "fun" job. I have one day off a week and this is my opportunity to treat a friend to a dinner or hotel stay. It also is a fun way to get to see different friends. Different strokes for different folks, or somebody doesn't have a schedule that lines up. I used to drag my boyfriend along and say, "This could get weird, but you should be used to that by now." Now I take a few different friends rotationally. We try different foods and activities and we marvel at how terrible or good customer service and food can be.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/2019 04:30AM by nolimitem.

Depending upon where I'm driving, I do find myself talking out loud while on the road, but it's generally just a word or two: "Ignoramus!" "Jackhole!"

"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams

I have never washed my eggs since I throw away the shells before cooking and yes, the Russian River is in Nothern CA, where we went as teenagers and wild times were had, also, the only time I've talked to myself was
when I get lost and say "S#$## on a stick...never when shopping.

Live consciously....

Only when typing reports!

When strangers were gawping a little too intently while I was at work, I muttered a few phrases. I wanted to find out their lil' ears would perk up, they would tap something on their phones, or they would otherwise do something beside look like statues whose only moving parts were the creepy eyeballs. There was no way to track them, but i might have given them something to talk about. i should not have done that.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu

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