Throwback Thursdays! The Hamster Ball People

This was originally posted on The Phil Factor on Oct. 22, 2009.

We all know what a hamster ball is right? Generally I have no problems with hamsters or balls. What I do have a problem with is Hamster Ball People. What or who are Hamster Ball People you ask? They’re not necessarily those people who recreationally place themselves in giant hamster balls like the picture above. The Hamster Ball People are those people who move about the Earth as if they are in a giant plastic hamster ball, as if they are surrounded by a giant invisible bubble that is their space and theirs alone.

Still not sure? Let me give you a few examples: At the supermarket you push your cart along happily gathering what you need for the gourmet feast you’re planning for that evening. As you turn the corner to find that one, last elusive item you need to complete your shopping, there sits a Hamster Ball Person. They are definitely in the middle of the aisle, cart parked sideways as they ponder what appears to be the most difficult decision of their lives. That entire aisle belongs to them don’t you know? Or if perhaps they are actually pushing their cart, they are moving a such a glacial speed that you think their legs may fuse together, or already have. And of course they are in the middle of the aisle as if their invisible hamster ball won’t let them move to either side to let other shoppers pass. Oh, that’s right! They don’t actually recognize that there are other shoppers because the entire store exists to serve their needs.

On the roads the Hamster Ball People aren’t as egregious in their behavior, but they exhibit the same traits. The Hamster Ball People are likely to be the car that will stop regardless of traffic, on any road, without pulling over to the side, to read a sign, look at someones Halloween decorations, or just to point at a bird they saw. At the bank the Hamster Ball People are the ones who on a Friday lunch hour with 40 people waiting in line will take up at least a half hour with the teller because they don’t understand the ATM fee on their bank statement.

Another place the Hamster Ball People foul things up for the rest of men is in the men’s room. Classic men’s room etiquette insists that unless your bladder is in danger of literally exploding and splashing everyone within a 10 foot blast radius with urine and torn skin, you are not to ever use a urinal directly next to another man. The Hamster Ball People do respect this rule, but to an annoying degree. If there are only three urinals in a men’s room, as there often are, A Hamster Ball Person will go to the middle, leaving anyone who follows them the choice of either standing directly next to them, or waiting until the Hamster Ball Person leaves. You ladies may just think men are being silly about this, but really, do you want to go to the bathroom with no divider between you and you’re close enough that you might rub shoulders?

The best part of this post is that I know that from now on whenever you go somewhere and see someone displaying any of these behaviors, in you’re head you’ll think “Hamster Ball People.” As always, if you enjoyed #ThePhilFactor please share by hitting the Facebook, Twitter or Re-blog buttons below. Feel free to leave a comment if you have an example of Hamster Ball People. Have a great Thursday! ~Phil