h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A542972

Yay socks.

This is just another sorry example of someone trying to explain away one of the mysteries of life with pseudo-science. Why don't you just go hang out with those people aren't willing to recognize reality when it hits them in the face, like those 'scientists' who explain why saucers and ESP don't work.

I am presently having a special sock suit and washing and drying machine build to I can hide with the wild socks and follow them in their natural migration to Lemuria.



You need to clean up some of your typos. And, you really should acknowledge that since you can only say that most problems relate to static electricity or dogs that you can't, as yet, account for all the lost socks. There's nothing wrong with a little mystery. After all, you and I both know that some socks are transformed into underwear that you have never seen before.

It's a good article that covers that ground but I want more. That's just the way I am.

Barton

*g* I'll see what I can do

~Beeblefish

Hmmm it's a good entry, but currently a little brief.

Here's some discussion on my non-experience of sock loss that might provoke some extra material.

I can now exclusively reveal that in all my years of washing my clothing (almost 10 years) I have never lost a sock. Yes, honestly, I have never lost one. A couple of times I almost did, but never actually done so. I believe this to be due to my fairly organised nature. My methods are thus:

- take socks off last thing at night. Either throw in linen basket or on floor. Those landing on the floor eventually make it to the basket after a few more wearings!!
- empty basket either by the washing machine or carry washing to it. Carrying socks to the washing machine is one way that pairs normally get separated, usually through dropping, although you normally find this one again later.
- Set washing on go and wait for a while.
- Empty machine into laundry basket and give the drum a couple of spins to check for any that might have been stuck to the roof. This was the other time I almost lost a sock. If I hadn't spotted it, it would have ended up in my housemates washing and then never been seen by me again!
- Take washing to place of drying e.g. washing line, drying rack or radiator. Put socks on to dry.
- When socks are dry pair them up again. Usually there are still some more to dry and if one of the dried socks is unmatched, place it in a safe location. Continue to dry then pair socks until all are found.
- Having many pairs of socks of one colour e.g. all white or all black can assist as they can usually be paired with another. Even so it is usually still possible to distinguish their original pairings so this isn't an excuse for not having lost any.
- Finally if you have to throw a sock away, ensure that it's sole-mate goes with it.

Hope this helps,
BBS

There are several interesting theories Beeblefish as to why this happens. I have never heard the static electricity theory before. It may also be that the rest of the Human race is not as well organised as BBS above (I don't know why I label him as human, this is not normal human behaviour). I deal with some of the others in my entry The Joy of Socks! http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A536582 from which I shall endeavour to link to your piece here, but ONLY if you clear up the spelling. If that's not incentive enough, then there is no hope for you.

Im surprised no-one hit the yikes button for that spelling ... I must have been very tired .....

~Beeblefish

Splendid answer to one of my biggest headaches. Hasn't solved it though, as I have no dryer and therefore (if I have understood you) no build up of static electricity. I'll stick with my theory that socks mutate over time into coat hangers.

I like it... I've got to admit I've always wondered where on [insert home planet here] they go! Thanks for the informative and logically based entry .

- Matt

It's paperclips that turn into coat hangers where the mortality is so high. Name the next stage of their lives and, hopefully, the name of the author. I've lost track of the story in my library, but never have lost that wonderful final image.

Barton

Oh just realised another prime area of sock loss - down the back of the chest of drawers. I moved house earlier this week and the bottom drawer of the bedside cabinet wouldn't shut properly. When I took it out I found 3 items of the previous lady's underwear. Boy did I have fun that night I'd reckon the same area could contain socks.

BBS

If sock loss is really a problem, you might visit the bureau of missing socks, which you can find using google.

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Cheers Matt .. but you may want to personalise your aceptance rant a bit .. it seems a bit canned atm. As a fellow Scout I like to throw in a bit of zing!

Cheers!

~Beeblefish

Cheers Matt .. but you may want to personalise your aceptance rant a bit .. it seems a bit canned atm. As a fellow Scout I like to throw in a bit of zing!

Cheers!

~Beeblefish

I just finished reading that story! Hangers turn into bicycles, which are apparantly the adult form and can be bred :D. The story is "Or All the Sea With Oysters" by Avram Davidson.

I have finally given up hunting socks and now I put all the odd socks into a cardboard box (marked "odd socks", of course). When my children are bored I tell them to play sock memory.