Stupidity

Mom: “Cucumber”.
Boy: C-u-c-u-m-b-e-r.
Mom: Very good. Ah, ah, “barbershop”.
Boy: B-a-r-b-e-r-s–
Mom: No, no.
Boy: B-e-r–
Mom: No, you were right, b-a-r–
Boy: B-a-r-b-e–
Mom: It’s like a lady’s name, cause it’s a hair place.
Boy: B-a-r-b-a-r-a-s-h-o-p?
Mom: Close, it’s b-a-r-b-r-a-s-h-o-p.

–1 train

Overheard by: Daniel Drucker

Girl: The polar ice caps are melting…
Guy #1: Yeah, ’cause of global warming!
Guy #2: Um…it’s summertime.

–F train

Overheard by: cupcake

Tourist taking picture of guy with ‘Overthrow’ shaved into back of his head: So, is Overthrow your rap name?
Guy: Nah, Overthrow — that’s my movement. I’m a general. Five-star general — see the five stars [shaved into sideburns]?

–DUMBO

Overheard by: Mrs Parker’s 4th Grade Class

Waiter: Hey, wassup? I’m Sean. What’s your name?
Girl: Rebecca. Nice to meet you.
Waiter: And you, man?
Guy: Kwanzaa.
Waiter: Hey, by any change you are mixed with Jewish?
Guy: Er, no, everything but.
Waiter: Well…’cause, you know, I’m Jewish.
Guy: …Okay.
Waiter: Uh, ’cause you know, Kwanzaa’s a Jewish Holiday?
Girl: It is? Wow, I didn’t know that.

–Diner 24, 8th Avenue

Overheard by: enkie

Doctor guy: Okay, we have the chest x-ray and it explains what’s going on. See this lesion? It is pretty impressive.
Patient lady: “Impresssive”? Is that a medical term? Am I gonna have to google that, too?

–Office, 71st & Park

Overheard by: Next exam room

Guy: So in your fantasy life you’re a scholar? That’s ridiculous!

–Williamsburg party

Store guy: I love maps! I could look at maps all day. Maps, and Playboy.

–Barnes & Noble, W. 82nd Street

Overheard by: Brooklyn Julie

Guy on cell: Dude, we should bring lightsabers!…I brought my lightsaber for the last two…

–27th & 3rd

Chick: I could get 100 phone numbers in one night if I went to a sci-fi convention!

–Serendipity, E. 60th Street

Overheard by: Djlindee

(Asian tourist walks onto subway with large panda-head shaped hat)
Random guy: Take off that silly ass hat!

–Uptown 1 Train

Guy: When I wear my other coat, I look like a yak.

–Mott St

Overheard by: robin

Thug to friend: I totally know fashion designers. I know who Hill-finger is.

–Thompson Street, SoHo

Drunk guy to orthodox Jew: Nice lid.

–Near Herald Square

Guy walking out of subway: Then she came in and told me to put the mask on.

–6 Train

Overheard by: Sarah

History teacher to class: Now, if you want a decent straw hat, do not make one.

–Millennium High School

Overheard by: Adriana

Guy #1: The menu is on the board.
Guy #2: What’s the sea red dumpling?
Guy #1: Sea red? What are you talking about?
Guy #2: Right there, monster…sea red.

–Dumpling Man, St. Marks Place

Overheard by: Rathan Haran

Female yuppie: As a general rule of thumb, I think I should refrain from going to the Hustler Club with my male boss and co-workers from now on.

–Downtown C train

Overheard by: amused passenger

Yuppie: It was the most intense Hava Nagilah I’d ever seen.

–43rd & Lex

Yuppie, examining the New York Public Library: Wow, that library is such a waste of real estate!

–42nd & 5th Avenue

Overheard by: Reader Rabbit

Emo Girl to friend: Oh I love Whole Foods, its like Wal-Mart for Yuppies.

–Whole Foods, Union Square

Overheard by: Addie Wagenknecht

Yuppie, to McDonald’s cashier: Do you have French vanilla capuccino?

–McDonald’s, 34th & 10th

Mother to child in front of diorama of pilgrims and Native Americans: Well, that's because the Indians never met real people before.

–Museum of Natural History

Overheard by: Peter R.

Young girl, arriving through train tunnel at Grand Central Station: I wonder if Harriet Tubman is down here.

–Grand Central Station

Airhead: I think like… Colonialization is like… The umbrella theme of, like… Diplomacy.

–Pommes Frites

History teacher, about Andrew Jackson: He tight, he kill mad people, he buggin'.

–High School

Teacher, discussing Thomas Jefferson's mistress: You see, guys? History is exciting! It's full of sex!

–High School, Lower Manhattan

Overheard by: SzN31