OK my Sims do this every time they go outside.
They stomp their foot and this symbol (in a thought bubble) comes up:




BTW i had to draw it up in paint because i could not get a screenie.

what does it mean?

This is NOT a help Request. Its just a simple Question.

It happens when a Sim wants to do something, but has no access to it, for instance. Is there something else in the thought bubble, some object that would hint at what your Sim wants to do, or it has only the cross in it?

Added: if you tried to show in your drawing that your Sim wants to go up the slope, then in some cases they can't, then Sims indeed stomp they feet and try to walk around in order to get where they want to be (some particularly stupid, or stubborn, Sims continue stomping their feet though, unless I direct them to Go There, just to change their position and make them think of an alternative way to get where they want to. It often happens in Summerdream's lot in Veronaville, it has plenty of slopes)

It's an elevation issue: whatever they're trying to do, the ground isn't level enough for them to accomplish it. I've had sims throw up this thought bubble when they're trying to greet a sim, play a game (such as catch) or are trying to get from one section of the lot to another, but the ground slopes too much for them to be able to walk there.

is there a hack to where they walk on any ground no matter how sloped it is?

I don't think so.

This question probably could have been asked in the Stupid/random questions thread, and you could ask in the WCIF if there is a hack like that.

ok i submitted a thread in the WCIF section.

Sims have to be on level ground to do an interaction.