v0.31:Thought

xTATTEREDx  · +FINE+  · *SUPERIOR*  · ≡EXCEPTIONAL≡  · ☼MASTERWORK☼

v50.14 · v0.47 · v0.34 · v0.31.25 · v0.28 · v0.23 This article is about an older version of DF. More Info · V

Over time dwarves will experience things that makes them more or less happy, with each experience being recorded as a thought (in the latest version of DF, the rate at which a dwarf gains certain thoughts is controlled by personality modifiers). If a dwarf becomes unhappy enough, s/he might Template:L. If the overall happiness level of your fortress is low enough then a single tantruming dwarf can trigger a dreaded "tantrum spiral". A separate article has advice on Template:L.

The change in Template:L that triggers bad thoughts about thirst, hunger, and fatigue can also slow the speed at which a dwarf works and moves.

To view a dwarf's recent thoughts and current happiness level, press k, move the cursor to the dwarf, and press enter twice. (Or v, move to the dwarf, then z and enter.) Now you will see a page describing the dwarf's feelings and thoughts, physical description, and a set of phrases describing personality traits.

Happy Thoughts

Thought	Triggered by
Slept in a (good quality) Template:L recently	doesn't have to be the dwarf's assigned quarters
Dined in a (good quality) Template:L lately	self-explaining
Admired a (good quality) (object) lately	Passed right next to or over a constructed piece of Template:L and noticed it (what are the chances of noticing an object?)
Talked with a spouse lately	Married dwarves idling in the same room
Talked with a friend lately	Idling in the same room with a friend
Talked with a child recently	When talking to the dwarf's own son or daughter (whether a child or adult)
Made a friend recently	Idling in the same room with a dwarf who prefers socializing
Had a Template:L recently	usually from Template:L
Was comforted by a lovely Template:L lately	Sprayed by mist from a waterfall.
Was glad to have Template:L (delayed/reduced) recently	No one around to execute the dwarf's punishment
Satisfied at work lately	When the dwarf works with materials, items or animals he/she likes.
Took someone to Template:L recently	Moved an unconscious (usually injured) dwarf to a bed.
Enjoyed throwing something recently	Threw an item during a Template:L
Enjoyed smashing a building recently	Destroyed a building or piece of furniture during a Template:L
Enjoyed starting a fist fight recently	Attacked another dwarf during a Template:L
Is quite pleased with making an Template:L	Crafted an artifact
Took joy in slaughter lately	Have killed another creature
Adopted a new pet recently	self-explaining
Was pleased to have been able to give somebody (food/water) lately	When a dwarf with a kind personality feeds or gives water to another.
Gave somebody (food/water) lately	When a dwarf feeds or gives water to another.
Ate a legendary meal lately	Dwarf ate a prepared meal of Legendary quality. Might be influenced by preferences.
Was able to rest and recuperate lately	Self-explanatory
Had a (fine/wonderful/truly decadent) drink lately	Dwarf drank alcohol of the relevant quality. Might be influenced by preferences.
Beat somebody recently	Administering Template:L

Unhappy Thoughts

Thought	Triggered by
Complained of (hunger/thirst) lately	Got hungry/thirsty and didn't eat or drink soon enough (actual time unmeasured).
Has been (starving/dehydrated) recently	Has not had food or drink for a long time and will soon Template:L.
Forced to eat vermin to survive lately	Dwarf hunted vermin for food due to starvation. Will still die soon without real food.
Complained about the nasty water lately	Got thirsty and had to drink from open water because no alcohol or at least a Template:L was available
Was forced to drink vomit lately	A tainted water source causes this little gem.
Disgusted by a miasma recently	Dwarf was exposed to Template:L
Accidentally killed somebody in a fit of rage lately	Killed a dwarf or someone's pet during a Template:L
Has been (tired/exhausted) lately	Became sleepy but wasn't able to Template:L because a task had to be completed. Exhaustion is extreme tiredness and may come from over-exertion.
Was (put off/flustered/upset/very upset/greatly upset/angered/enraged/shattered/traumatized/utterly traumatized) by a lesser's pretentious (office/sleeping/dining/burial) arrangements recently	Template:L dwarf is jealous of a lower-ranked dwarf's room and will soon go Template:L.
Slept in a (poor/very poor/awful/horrible/horribly substandard) bedroom recently	Noble dwarf has slept in an unsatisfactory Template:L. Increasing levels of badness.
Conducted a meeting in a (poor/very poor/awful/horrible/horribly substandard) setting recently	Noble dwarf hates the Template:L provided them for meetings.
Dined in a (poor/very poor/awful/horrible/horribly substandard) dining room recently	Stupid noble}wants a better Template:L.
Worried greatly about not having a tomb after gaining another year	Noble dwarf is upset about lacking a Template:L on their birthday.
Worried about having a (poor/very poor/awful/horrible/horribly substandard) tomb after gaining another year	As above, but the dwarf has a tomb, just one that isn't good enough
Was (very/greatly) angered at the state of demands recently	Noble dwarf Template:L something that wasn't provided.
Upset by having a mandate ignored lately	Noble issued a Template:L that went unfulfilled.
Upset that a criminal could not be properly punished	A dwarf became a criminal without an established Template:L system present.
Upset by not having enough (chests/cabinets/weapon racks/armor stands) lately	Noble doesn't have enough of their position's furniture requirements.
Attacked/Haunted by the dead lately	Dwarf was frightened or injured by an unacquainted ghost. Hauntings aren't as bad as attacks for the dwarven psyche.
Attacked/Haunted by a dead (spouse/lover/sibling/and still annoying acquaintance) lately	Dwarf was frightened or injured by an acquainted ghost, somewhat worse than the above thought.
Attacked/Haunted by own dead (mother/father/child) lately	Dwarf was frightened or injured by a closely-related ghost. This is a very bad thought.
Yelled at somebody in charge lately (but only got angrier)	Dwarf yelled at a Leader/Mayor and felt worse afterward.
Cried on somebody in charge lately (but only felt more depressed)	Like above, but for dwarves less prone to anger/more prone to depression.
Complained of the lack of chairs lately	Was eating and couldn't find an unoccupied Template:L.
Complained of the crowded tables lately	Tried to eat at a table someone else was already eating at.
Complained of the lack of dining tables lately	Was eating and couldn't find an unused Template:L next to the chair it sat on while eating.
Depressed about being confined	Dwarf is in Template:L.
Slept uneasily due to noise lately	Was sleeping in the zone of influence of a Template:L source.
Woken by noise while sleeping recently	As above, but a worse thought from being closer to noise.
Slept without a proper room recently	Was sleeping and couldn't find a bed designated as a Template:L not assigned to someone else.
Slept in the (mud/dirt/grass/rocks/ice/a ('rough stone') floor) recently	Could not find any Template:L for sleeping, or Dwarf is a Template:L. The thought may be worse with certain terrain.
Slept on rocks/pebbles/ice/a floor/a pile of driftwood) recently	Like above. May or may not be a slightly better thought.
Caught in the rain recently	Went outside while it was Template:L
(Irritated/Nauseated) by the sun lately	Is suffering from Template:L and went outside. Nausea indicates a more serious case.
Annoyed by flies	Shared a tile with Template:L.
Accosted by terrible vermin	Exposed to Template:L that the dwarf particularly hates.
Saw something unpleasant in a cage recently	Dwarf examined a cage containing hated vermin
Killed somebody by accident while sparring recently	Sparring dwarf accidentally(?) kills another. Defunct now that sparring is now totally safe, whatever weapons are used.
Had a miscarriage recently	Pregnant dwarves that lose their baby before birth (like female military getting too much damage to the lower body)
Attacked recently	Dwarf was assaulted by a hostile creature.
Witnessed death	Present while another dwarf died.
Lost a (friend/pet) to tragedy recently	A dwarf with relationship status "Friend" or a pet died.
Lost a (family member) to tragedy recently	Someone related to the dwarf has died. Worse thought than above.
Forced to endure the decay of a (friend/pet/family member/annoying acquaintance)	Dwarf was exposed to the Template:L corpse of a companion, loved one or rival.
Unable to find somebody in charge to cry on lately	Dwarf couldn't complain to the Expedition Leader/Mayor, either because they are inaccessible or busy. This may also include other nobles.
Upset that a criminal could not be properly punished	Crimes always have an "injured" party (the noble who assigns the mandate), and a "criminal" party (the dorf who breaks the mandate). The injured party gets this thought if the criminal goes unpunished.
Was (very) embarrassed to have to conduct an official meeting in a (dining room/bedroom)	Noble dwarf had to meet a diplomat without an office (or any dining room, if the bedroom was used).
Incredibly embarrassed not to have any rooms lately	Noble dwarf went without any kind of room to conduct a meeting in.
Beaten recently	Template:L served.
(Irritated at/Unhappy at/Suffered the pain of) having to haul somebody to bed lately	Selfish dwarves will be annoyed at needing to help others.
(Irritated at/Unhappy at/Suffered the pain of) having to give somebody (food/water) lately	As above, with bringing food or drink to others.
Sustained (minor/major) injuries recently	Dwarf recently suffered torn arteries and/or broken bones.
Knocked out during a cave-in lately	Being caught in a Template:L. May or may not be coupled with the above thought.
Choked on smoke/dust underground lately	Dwarf was exposed to either smoke from a Template:L or Template:L from a cave-in.
Suffered the travesty of art defacement	Loss of a masterpiece, (usually destroyed or stolen). This is a pretty major hit. Can include mining through an engraved wall or allowing a masterful meal to rot away.
Complained about the draft lately	Newly drafted into a military squad as a recruit.
Upset about being relieved from duty	Military dwarf without civilian skills is removed from active duty.
(Complained about/Enraged by) long patrol duty	Military dwarf has active order (or training) for more than one month (one for complaining, two for growing enraged).

Negative Thought Modifiers

• "is quick to tire"

The mechanics of thoughts

A dwarf's emotional state is quantified in a single number which is influenced by recent thoughts in an unknown manner.

Number	Happiness
151 or more	ecstatic
126 to 150	happy
76 to 125	quite content
51 to 75	fine
26 to 50	unhappy
1 to 25	very unhappy
0	miserable

Thoughts Experienced

There are 221 thoughts that a dwarf can experience in this version of Dwarf Fortress. Many of these thoughts never actually occur, but are placeholders for things that have yet to be implemented (or were present in earlier versions but subsequently removed):

Index	Value	Thought	Notes
0	-?	had a miscarriage recently
1	-?	has been evicted lately
2	-?	has been tired lately
3	-?	has been exhausted lately
4	-?	has complained of hunger lately
5	-?	has complained of thirst lately
6	-?	has been starving lately
7	-?	has been dehydrated lately
8	-?	was worried by the scarcity of tax collection escorts lately
9	-?	was worried by the scarcity of guards lately
10	-?	was worried by the scarcity of cages and chains lately
11	-?	has been attacked lately
12	-?	has been attacked by the dead lately
12a	-?	has been attacked by a dead pet lately
12b	-?	has been attacked by a dead spouse lately
12c	-?	has been attacked by own dead mother lately
12d	-?	has been attacked by own dead father lately
12j	-?	has been attacked by a dead lover lately
12l	-?	has been attacked by a dead sibling lately
12m	-?	has been attacked by own dead child lately
12n	-?	has been attacked by a dead friend lately
12o	-?	has been attacked by a dead and still annoying acquaintance lately
13	-?	was unable to reach a room for tax collection lately
14	-?	was misinformed about a room for tax collection lately
15	-?	was upset that the tax collection didn't go smoothly lately
16	-?	has been taxed recently
17	-?	has lost property to the tax collector's escorts recently
18	-?	was upset to have disappointed a noble lately
19	-?	has complained of the lack of chairs lately
20	-?	has complained of the crowded tables lately
21	-?	has complained of the lack of dining tables lately
22	-?	was forced to eat vermin to survive lately
23	-?	was forced to eat a beloved creature to survive lately
24	-?	was forced to eat a treasured pet to survive lately
25	-?	has complained of the lack of a well lately
26	-?	has complained of the nasty water lately
27	-?	was forced to drink slime lately
28	-?	was forced to drink vomit lately
29	-?	was forced to drink bloody water lately
30	-?	was forced to drink gooey water lately
31	-?	was forced to drink ichorous water lately
32	-?	was forced to drink purulent water lately
33	-?	slept uneasily due to noise lately
34	-?	slept very uneasily due to noise lately
35	-?	was woken by noise while sleeping lately
36	-?	was worried not to have adequate protection lately
37	-?	has complained about the draft lately
38	-?	was upset about being relieved from duty
39	-?	has suffered the travesty of art defacement
40	-?	has been annoyed by flies
41	-?	has been accosted by terrible vermin
42	-?	saw something unpleasant in a cage recently
43	-?	saw something unpleasant in a pond recently
44	-?	has witnessed death
45	-?	has lost a pet recently
46	-?	has lost a pet recently
47	-?	accidentally killed somebody in a fit of rage recently
48	-?	killed somebody by accident while sparring recently
49	-?	has lost a spouse to tragedy recently
50	-?	has lost a friend to tragedy recently
51	-?	has lost a sibling to tragedy recently
52	-?	has lost a child to tragedy recently
53	-?	has lost a mother to tragedy recently
54	-?	has lost a father to tragedy recently
55a	-?	was forced to endure the decay of a pet
55b	-?	was forced to endure the decay of a spouse
55c	-?	was forced to endure the decay of a mother
55d	-?	was forced to endure the decay of a father
55j	-?	was forced to endure the decay of a lover
55l	-?	was forced to endure the decay of a sibling
55m	-?	was forced to endure the decay of a child
55n	-?	was forced to endure the decay of a friend
55o	-?	was forced to endure the decay of an annoying acquaintance
56	-?	ate rotten food lately
57	-?	drank something spoiled lately
58a	-?	was grumbling about long patrol duty lately
58b	-?	was depressed by long patrol duty lately
58c	-?	was angered by long patrol duty lately
58d	-?	was enraged by long patrol duty lately
59	-?	was disgusted by a miasma lately
60	-?	choked on smoke underground lately
61	-?	choked on dust underground lately
62	-?	was knocked out during a cave-in lately
63	-?	was embarrassed to have to conduct an official meeting in a dining room
64	-?	was very embarrassed to have to conduct an official meeting in a bedroom
65	-?	was incredibly embarrassed not to have any rooms lately
66	-?	sustained major injuries recently
67	-?	sustained minor injuries recently
68	-?	slept in the mud recently
69	-?	slept in the grass recently
70	-?	slept in the dirt recently
71	-?	slept on rocks recently
72	-?	slept on a rough cave floor recently
73	-?	slept on the floor recently
74	-?	slept on ice recently
75	-?	slept on a pile of driftwood recently
76	-?	slept without a proper room recently
77	-?	slept in a horribly substandard bedroom recently
78	-?	slept in a horrible bedroom recently
79	-?	slept in an awful bedroom recently
80	-?	slept in a very poor bedroom recently
81	-?	slept in a poor bedroom recently
82	-?	conducted a meeting in a horribly substandard setting recently
83	-?	conducted a meeting in a horrible setting recently
84	-?	conducted a meeting in an awful setting recently
85	-?	conducted a meeting in a very poor setting recently
86	-?	conducted a meeting in a poor setting recently
87	-?	dined in a horribly substandard dining room recently
88	-?	dined in a horrible dining room recently
89	-?	dined in an awful dining room recently
90	-?	dined in a very poor dining room recently
91	-?	dined in a poor dining room recently
92	-?	dined without a proper dining room recently
93	-?	worried greatly about not having a tomb after gaining another year
94	-?	worried about having a horribly substandard tomb after gaining another year
95	-?	worried about having a horrible tomb after gaining another year
96	-?	worried about having an awful tomb after gaining another year
97	-?	worried about having a very poor tomb after gaining another year
98	-?	worried about having a poor tomb after gaining another year
99	-?	was greatly angered at the state of demands recently
100	-?	was very angered at the state of demands recently
101	-?	was angered at the state of demands recently
102	-?	was upset by not having enough chests lately
103	-?	was upset by not having enough cabinets lately
104	-?	was upset by not having enough armor stands lately
105	-?	was upset by not having enough weapon racks lately
106	-?	was upset to be wearing old clothing lately
107	-?	was upset to be wearing tattered clothing lately
108	-?	was very upset to have worn clothes rot away lately
109	-?	was very embarrassed to be uncovered lately
110	-?	was embarrassed to have no shirt lately
111	-?	was embarrassed to have no shoes lately
112	-?	was very embarrassed to be uncloaked lately
113	-?	was caught in the rain recently
114	-?	was caught in a snow storm recently
115	-?	was (put off/flustered/upset/very upset/greatly upset/angered/enraged/shattered/traumatized/utterly traumatized) by a lesser's pretentious (office/sleeping/dining/burial) arrangements lately
116	-?	was unable to find an available hammer lately
117	-?	was upset by having a mandate ignored lately
118	-?	was upset by having a mandate deadline missed lately
119	-?	was upset by having a request ignored lately
120	-?	was angered that nobody could be punished for a recent failure
121	-?	was upset that a criminal could not be properly punished
122	-?	was upset by the delayed punishment of a criminal
123	-?	was beaten recently
124	-?	was beaten with a hammer recently
125	-?	is depressed about being confined
126	-?	was unhappy with the lack of work last season
127	-?	had a terrifying nightmare about an army of the dead
128	+?	admired own (fine/very fine/splendid/wonderful/completely sublime) (building) lately
129	+?	admired a (fine/very fine/splendid/wonderful/completely sublime) (building) lately
130	+?	admired own (fine/very fine/splendid/wonderful/completely sublime) tastefully arranged (building) lately
131	+?	admired a (fine/very fine/splendid/wonderful/completely sublime) tastefully arranged (building) lately
132	+?	was comforted by a wonderful creature in a cage recently
133	+?	was comforted by a wonderful creature in a pond recently
134	+?	was pleased by having a request approved lately
135	+?	was glad to have punishment reduced recently
136	+?	was glad to have punishment delayed recently
137	+?	beat somebody recently
138	+?	beat somebody with a hammer recently
139	+?	has been satisfied at work lately
140	+?	was happy to have pleased a noble lately
141	+?	is quite pleased with making an artifact
142	+?	made a satisfying acquisition lately
143	+?	adopted a new pet recently
144	+?	took joy in slaughter lately
145	+?	ate a pretty decent meal lately
146	+?	ate a fine dish lately
147	+?	ate a wonderful dish lately
148	+?	ate a truly decadent dish lately
149	+?	ate a legendary meal lately
150	+?	had a pretty decent drink lately
151	+?	had a fine drink lately
152	+?	had a wonderful drink lately
153	+?	had a truly decadent drink lately
154	+?	had a legendary drink lately
155	+?	was comforted by a pet lately
156	+?	saw a beloved creature lately
157	+?	was pleased to have a mandate deadline met lately
158	+?	talked with somebody lately
158a	+?	talked with a pet lately
158b	+?	talked with the spouse lately
158c	+?	talked with mother lately
158d	+?	talked with father lately
158j	+?	talked with a lover lately
158l	+?	talked with a sibling lately
158m	+?	talked with a child lately
158n	+?	talked with a friend lately
158o	-?	was forced to talk to somebody annoying lately
159	+?	made a friend recently
160	+?	was pleased that the tax collection went smoothly lately
161	+?	was comforted by a lovely waterfall lately
162	+?	conducted a meeting in a setting worthy of legends recently
163	+?	conducted a meeting in a fantastic setting recently
164	+?	conducted a meeting in a great setting recently
165	+?	conducted a meeting in a very good setting recently
166	+?	conducted a meeting in a good setting recently
167	+?	dined in a legendary dining room recently
168	+?	dined in a fantastic dining room recently
169	+?	dined in a great dining room recently
170	+?	dined in a very good dining room recently
171	+?	dined in a good dining room recently
172	+?	slept in a bedroom like a personal palace recently
173	+?	slept in a fantastic bedroom recently
174	+?	slept in a great bedroom recently
175	+?	slept in a very good bedroom recently
176	+?	slept in a good bedroom recently
177	+?	was greatly pleased at the state of demands recently
178	+?	was very pleased at the state of demands recently
179	+?	was pleased at the state of demands recently
180	+?	celebrated having a legendary tomb after gaining another year
181	+?	celebrated having a fantastic tomb after gaining another year
182	+?	celebrated having a great tomb after gaining another year
183	+?	celebrated having a very good tomb after gaining another year
184	+?	celebrated having a good tomb after gaining another year
185	+?	enjoyed starting a fist fight recently
186	+?	enjoyed smashing up a building recently
187	+?	enjoyed toppling something over recently
188	+?	enjoyed throwing something recently
189	+?	had a satisfying sparring session recently
190	+?	is happy to be free
191	-?	was nauseated by the sun lately
192	-?	was irritated by the sun lately
193	+?	was able to rest and recuperate lately
194	+?	received water recently
195	+?	received food recently
196	+?	was rescued recently
197a	-?	was unable to find somebody to complain to about job scarcity lately
197b	-?	was unable to make suggestions about work allocations lately
197c	-?	wwas unable to request weapon production lately
197d	-?	was unable to find somebody on charge to yell at lately
197e	-?	was unable to find somebody on charge to cry on lately
198d	-?	was yelled at by an unhappy citizen lately
198e	-?	was cried on by an unhappy citizen lately
199a	+?	was satisfied to bring up job scarcity in a meeting lately
199b	+?	was able to make suggestions about work allocations lately
199c	+?	was glad to request weapon production lately
199d	+?	had a cathartic experience yelling at somebody in charge lately yelled at somebody in charge lately and felt (fantastic/great/a lot better/better/a little better) afterward yelled at somebody in charge lately (but only got angrier)
199e	+?	had a cathartic experience crying on somebody in charge lately cried on somebody in charge lately and felt (fantastic/great/a lot better/better/a little better) afterward cried on somebody in charge lately (but only felt more depressed)
200	+?	was very happy to be elected mayor recently
201	+?	was very happy to be re-elected mayor recently
202	+?	was very satisfied to be chosen as the expedition leader recently
203	+?	was very pleased to receive a higher rank of nobility recently
204	+?	was greatly pleased to enter the nobility recently
205	+?	was proud to have become a mayor recently
206	+/-?	was (overjoyed to be/happy to have been/pleased to have been) able to give somebody water lately gave somebody water lately (was irritated at/was unhappy at/has suffered the pain of) having to give somebody water lately
207	+/-?	was (overjoyed to be/happy to have been/pleased to have been) able to give somebody food lately gave somebody food lately (was irritated at/was unhappy at/has suffered the pain of) having to give somebody food lately
208	+/-?	was (overjoyed to be/happy to have been/pleased to have been) able to help somebody to bed lately brought somebody to bed lately (was irritated at/was unhappy at/has suffered the pain of) having to haul somebody to bed lately
209	+?	gave birth to (children) recently
210a	+?	got married recently
210i	+?	became caught up in a new romance recently
210k	+?	gained (a) sibling(s) recently
210l	+?	became a parent of (children) recently
211	-?	formed a grudge recently
212	-?	has lost a lover to tragedy recently
213	+?	(has lost/was just a little happy to lose/was happy to lose/was thrilled to lose) an annoying acquaintance to tragedy recently
214	-?	has been tired of eating the same old food lately
215	-?	has been tired of drinking the same old booze lately
216	+/-?	was (disgusted/upset/irritated) to be forced to talk to a pillar of society recently was (pleased/ecstatic) to be able to talk to a pillar of society recently was still bathing in awe after talking to a pillar of society recently
217	-?	had a wonderful soapy bath recently
218	-?	had a nice bath recently
219	-?	has been (haunted/tormented/possessed/tortured) by the dead lately
219a	-?	has been (haunted/tormented/possessed/tortured) by a dead pet lately
219b	-?	has been (haunted/tormented/possessed/tortured) by a dead spouse lately
219c	-?	has been (haunted/tormented/possessed/tortured) by own dead mother lately
219d	-?	has been (haunted/tormented/possessed/tortured) by own dead father lately
219j	-?	has been (haunted/tormented/possessed/tortured) by a dead lover lately
219l	-?	has been (haunted/tormented/possessed/tortured) by a dead sibling lately
219m	-?	has been (haunted/tormented/possessed/tortured) by own dead child lately
219n	-?	has been (haunted/tormented/possessed/tortured) by a dead friend lately
219o	-?	has been (haunted/tormented/possessed/tortured) by a dead and still annoying acquaintance lately
220	-?	has been tormented in nightmares by the dead lately
220a	-?	has been tormented in nightmares by a dead pet lately
220b	-?	has been tormented in nightmares by a dead spouse lately
220c	-?	has been tormented in nightmares by own dead mother lately
220d	-?	has been tormented in nightmares by own dead father lately
220j	-?	has been tormented in nightmares by a dead lover lately
220l	-?	has been tormented in nightmares by a dead sibling lately
220m	-?	has been tormented in nightmares by own dead child lately
220n	-?	has been tormented in nightmares by a dead friend lately
220o	-?	has been tormented in nightmares by a dead and still annoying acquaintance lately