Pet Peeves

[creampuff]

High end German cars and Japanese import wannabees that park horizontally in vertical stalls to take up 2 to 3 spots, so other cars won't scratch them. I always have to resist the urge to run a key along the side of the car.

 

[Coop]

Women nagging about the 'right' position of the toilet seat. Geez woman, you know how that thing works! put it down yourself!

People not washing their hands after using the bathroom. At work if I see one of my colleagues do so I will tell them to go back and wash their hands, as we have shared workstations. If they don't go back and wash their hands, something nasty will happen. If someone doesn't have the decency to wash their hands after taking a leak and then go on to use equipment which I have to use too, I have no problem at all to openly spit on their lunch...

People who keep bugging me about the loud music in my car. I have a good reason to play music very loud, it's because otherwise I can't hear it over my exhaust noise (I drive a classic with zero noise insulation, so it all seems a lot louder than it really is).

 

[TorchMan]

Parents who do not supervise their children in public places. I'm not talking about an occasional lapse, but those that don't care/are oblivious. Such as letting their toddler run around under my table/booth in a restaurant, bumping into and crawling up on us while dining. Children two ailses over from their parents in stores that have run into me while I was looking at the shelves, the parents talking as if at home, not even noticing.

When I sold shoes, some kids would hurl the measuring device (can't remember the name of the device, but they are heavy). The store wall had broken sheet rock! I had one sail past my face, and it hit a coworker on the foot. The adult by the child didnt' even flinch.

Working in washaterias, I've had kids put suckers they were eating down my back (don't blame the kid, far too young), one tried to pee on me, another used my neck to get to the top of the game that he couldn't reach and I was working on. Many, many have grabbed money out of my collection bin, or even reached into the game (over me) and grabbed it. Once while working on a game, the washateria owner asked the mom to remove her kids from the seat of the game while I moved it (nope, they were not paying and playing). She offered free game credit when I was done. For her trouble, the mother cursed her out.

I've no children, and I know it isn't easy and they can't be 100%. I must also say that there were many parents who cared, and their kids were usually much better in general.

 

[greenLED]

Threads about pet peeves.
:nana:

 

[jtr1962]

And who needs to be connected 24x7 anyway ? Really successful people don't even own cell phones, they have others that take their calls - so don't try to impress me with how important you are. If you were really that important, your assistant would be handling your calls.

That's exactly the reason why I don't understand the current popularity of cell phones. I consider it great that when I leave the house nobody can bother me with phone calls or other distractions. I'm not even that crazy about using the phone when I am home since to me a phone call is like a kid saying "I want attention now". Emails and PMs that I respond to at my own convenience are much more my speed. Anyway, I can't imagine someone actually wanting to be bothered with phone calls when they're not home. Usually you go out to do something. I tend to think taking phone calls would interfere with doing whatever it is you went out to do. In general though I feel cell phones mostly serve the function of adult pacifiers. For example, you're waiting for the bus so you're bored and unproductive. Why not call a friend to talk about nothing so you can make them equally unproductive while you're waiting for the bus? Or why not call your spouse when you're at the store to find out what they need when making a simple shopping list beforehand would serve the same purpose? That brings me to the second main use of cell phones-to compensate for a disorganized, impulsive lifestyle. Or rather to partially compensate since there's really no surefire solution to being disorganized. A third use is undoubtably an ego trip for the insecure-"Hey look, I'm so important that people call me all the time!" Really, the only valid use I usually see for a cell phone unless you have a job where you need to be reachable 24/7 is if you drive, break down, and need to call for help.

BTW, while I find adults on cell phones annoying enough, I really hate it when children have them. Children have absolutely zero reason to be reachable 24/7. In fact, when you're in the developmental stages the fewer unnecessary distractions the better. The excuses often made for giving kids cell phones don't wash, either. So what if there's a problem at school-the school will call you just like they've been doing ever since I could remember. Terrorism attacks? Putting aside the unlikeliness of this happening to your kid, chances are the network would be down or overloaded in the event of a major attack anyway. And even if you did manage to contact a child in the midst of a major attack, could you really do anything about it? Perverts? Chances are the pervert will throw the kid's cell phone away before they have a chance to make any calls to their parents. Sorry but I see little enough reason for most adults to carry cell phones. I see no reason at all why children should have them.

Cell phones, the plague of modern life.

Boy, now I feel better!

 

[pathalogical]

Another thing about cell phones...people are at home all day long...the phone doesn't ring. They sit at the office all day long...they never use the company phone, nor does it ring. Yet, when they leave the house or walk out of the office, all of a sudden they gotta make 50 calls before they get to their car 20 ft away. Then you have to hear them go on and on about how they keep running out of minutes every month. Heck, sitting at the office, you might even get away with a long distance call or two.

 

[TigerhawkT3]

People who don't write clearly enough. If someone else has to read my writing, I'm going to make sure my scribbles are legible.

This is especially odd in situations like the one I encountered today: My junior college was supposed to have free flu shots for students last week, but they were delayed until this week. Students came in and wrote down their names and phone numbers to be contacted when the shots were available. I could puzzle out a name like Emily or Dave if it were messily written, but if you have some exotic foreign name that a thick-tongued Caucasian couldn't pronouce if his life depended on it, what makes you think I can figure it out with half the letters MIA?

An enormous key set for old, stiff locks constantly frustrates me. The labels might be wrong, or the keys might be degraded, or the key I need might only be on a backup set.

It's disappointing when a simple little DIY project turns into a massive undertaking.

Bad grammar and/or spelling grates heavily on my nerves.

EDIT: I almost forgot to say that I absolutely loathe A/V desync.

 

[PhotonWrangler]

Most of my pet peeves are about oblivious and selfish behavior on the part of others while shopping or using cell phones (I see a trend here)...

People who stand in line at a fast food place, yakking with their friends oir on their phone, who have no clue what they want to order until they get to the front of a long line, then they look at the menu and say "now what do I want..."

BTW, the reason the line is so long is because so many other doofuses are doing the same thing...

People who walk around with a cell phone glued to their ear while they babble on endlessly about nothing...

Poeple in line at a coffeeshop who, when they get to the front of the line, want to have a conversation about different kinds of coffee, where it's grown, what the harvesters are paid, their living conditions... when all I want is to get a cup of plain ol' coffee and get OUTTA there!

Smokers in front of me in a checkout line who HAVE to have their exact brand of cigarettes, in their exact length, exact flavor, and exact style of pack. The line stops as they turn the whole store upside down trying to find that damn pack of cigarettes! Why does it matter when you're only going to take them outside and set them on fire?!!

There, I feel better now.

 

[Big_Ed]

Boy, lots of common things in this thread.

These are a few of mine.
-people who drive with their left foot on the brake. Not only can no one tell when they are really going to stop because the brake lights are always on, but these people are the morons who complain that their brakes are always needing replacement.

-women putting on make up while they are driving on the tollway.

-people who tailgate me and won't just go around. If you want to exceed the speed limit, that's your business, but don't expect me to speed up as well. There's the left lane, use it!

-People talking on the phone while shopping, especially with hands free devices. It looks like they are talking to themselves.

-people who don't call or show up when they said they would (without a good excuse).

-commercials for the cable company I'm already a customer of. I already have your product, no need to continually cram it down my throat.

-Inconsiderate smokers. If you want to smoke, please do it in a place where I don't have to breathe in your smoke. Would you like it if I continually farted for 6 minutes while I'm near you? That's what it's like to put up with smokers who won't take it elsewhere.

-people who don't think before they act. Just a general thing.

-excessive radio commercials. Especially ones for casinos, and politicians. Enough already!

-loud boom boom music in cars. I do find it funny how it makes their own car sound bad by exposing rattles and squeaks that they can't hear themselves because the stereo is too loud.

-people who talk during a movie in a theater

-that one (or 20) stoplights I just can't ever seem to make it through without having to stop for a red light.

-rush hour traffic!!

-bicyclists who don't think they have to obey traffic laws. Yes, you have to stop at stop signs and red lights too.

-pedestrians who don't hurry across the street. I was taught to get out of the path of traffic as quickly as possible. Even though pedestrians have the right of way, having that right won't matter if you get seriously injured or killed will it?

Boy, do a lot of things bother me. I better cool down!!

 

[Rayne]

* Not washing hands after using the bathroom.

* Slow drivers in the left lane.

* Slow drivers who speed up when you try to pass them, then slow down again once you get back behind them.

* When people leave shopping carts next to your car. I once saw a woman unload her cart, then push the cart between 2 cars to the side of her, not next to her own. Neither was my car but I was still pissed.

* People who pick their nose, then roll and flick whatever they've collected. It's not hard to get a napkin or kleenex or to go wash their hands.

* Why do smokers get a break every hour or more including their lunch while non-smokers only get a lunch break?

* One or more lanes of a road closed/coned off for construction, but not a single person along the whole length of the closure working or even present.

* Road contruction during rush hour.

* When people are checking out at a hotel and call for a bellman, then when s/he gets there, the people hand stuff to the bellman and have them help pack the bags. It's not your job, they should pack their own damn bags.

* Hotel guests call for help with bags checking out then when you get there, ask you to come back in 15 minutes cause they aren't done packing yet.

* When people check in to the hotel and aren't at the room when you bring up their bags.

* Parents who let their little kids do anything and go wild while sitting on their behinds or standing there like nothing is happening.

* When people are rude to you and expect you to be nice back to them, especially while you're on the clock.

 

[Thujone]

* Slow drivers in the left lane.

* Slow drivers who speed up when you try to pass them, then slow down again once you get back behind them.


* Why do smokers get a break every hour or more including their lunch while non-smokers only get a lunch break?

* One or more lanes of a road closed/coned off for construction, but not a single person along the whole length of the closure working or even present.

These are great... I am dealing with the road closed but not working on it right now on the road leaving my neighborhood.... Good thing I ride my Ninja most of the time & can just cut thru the cones!

 

[Cliffnopus]

Here's another......boy this is fun and much less expensive than a shrink.
Anyway, this is a very minor annoyance but an annoyance anyway. It just happened to me (again) so it's fresh in my mind.

You're sitting in a restaurant and the waiter/waitress (I refuse to use PC "server") walks up to you and asks; "Are you still working on that?"

Am I working on that???? No, I'm eating it.....I'm not working......do you see a hard hat or tools? Is there a "Caution" sign at my table ?

My wife usually rolls her eyes when we're asked that because she knows, of course, I'm going to answer. I'm not impolite but I always look confused and say "working?? I'm still eating if that's what you mean."

Where did that come from anyway ? Like I said, it's very minor but

Cliff

 

[Arkayne]

Oh oh oh the talking on the cell phone while at the register bit. ARRRRGH. How inconsiderate is that?! I was in a line once and the register guy DENIED the lady service and wouldn't take her order until she was done. It was an older guy and he simply said, "I'll be with you when you are finished talking on your phone." The lady was disgusted and told him how "rude" he was. *shrug*

I wanted to hug the register guy for standing up to that crap.

 

[BladeZealot]

GEEZ!!!!! You guys need help!!!!

While I agree with many of these listed, most don't bother me that much. I have gotten much better over time about letting things get to me.

I have one I can think of...Smacking!

That there are actually people that cannot seem to chew with their mouth shut is beyond comprehension.

 

[zespectre]

My pet peeves mostly concern "failure to anticipate".

I ride the DC metro system every working day. I see a good number of the same people EVERY WORKING DAY. The vast majority of these people wait until they board the bus and THEN start fumbling around for their change or smartcard EVERY DAMNED DAY! Same thing at the metrorail toll gates creating a huge backup. C'mon folks you do this every day, you can remember to get your damned fare out BEFORE you hit the bus/train/gates, etc.

Same deal with people running a merge lane right to the very end and causing a backup when they could have merged in gracefully a 1/2 mile back.

Same deal with some of the turn lanes around my area. I see the same cars every day and they do the same dumb things like drive up in the "turn-only" lane and then freak and yank their car abruptly over into the "straight-through" lane right in front of you! Bloody HELL, you drive this route every day, I've seen you! Get a clue about what damned lane you are supposed to be in!

GRRRRRRRRR!

 

[jtr1962]

Three more:

I hate it when you are asked if you want something "extra" without being told it will cost extra. For example, a few months ago I bought a couple of Whopper Jrs. at the local Burger King from the dollar menu. The cashier asked if I would like cheese on them. I don't care for cheese, but I said OK on the two which were for my mom since she does. Anyway, the cheese was I think $0.25 extra. I kind of got annoyed because the way she asked made it sound like there wasn't any extra charge. She really should have mentioned the extra $0.25.

Another thing which annoys me is when stores don't adhere to the closing times on their door. If a store says it closes at 8PM, for example, then that means that they let the last customers enter the store at 8 PM, not that the staff is ready to run out the door at 8PM. This happened to me once. I got to a store which ostensibly closed at 8PM around 7:50. They wouldn't let me in even though I showed them my watch. Well, I snuck in the back door since nobody was there. I happened to see the same woman who denied me entry while waiting in line to pay for my purchases. She recognized me and was she pissed. :laughing: I told her that there were still people shopping who weren't even on line yet so it wasn't like anyone was going home later on account of me. Seriously, though, if you really want the staff out the door at 8 then post 7:45 as your closing time. I don't mind if I'm rushed a little to pay if I arrive 10 minutes before closing time but if it says 8:00 closing on your door you had better damned well let me in if I show up at 7:59.

On the Metro thing just mentioned, yes, when I used to ride the trains and buses each day it was amazing how the same people had to be told every single day to step to the back of the bus whenever it became crowded. Thankfully everyone here uses Metrocards now so there's no more fumbling for change. In fact, I think that's the main reason NYC used tokens before Metrocards.

 

[Arkayne]

Driving behind someone and you see the cigarette butt tossed out the window.

 

[JimH]

Sometimes cyclists ride on sidewalks when traffic gets so heavy that riding in the street would be unsafe, or maybe they just feel like riding slower than normal. That's why no sidewalk cycling laws are about as stupid as they come. They put cyclists in needless danger by forcing them into the street regardless of traffic conditions. And as an experienced cyclist I would rather that the inexperienced cyclists stay on the sidewalk out of my way. Nothing worse than to be stuck behind some novice going 8 or 10 mph for blocks with no room to pass.

There is no good reason cyclists and pedestrians can't share the same sidewalk (they do in most other countries) but there's no reason either for cyclists to use pedestrians like a slalom course when they do or otherwise ride like idiots. In general, if you must ride on the sidewalk it's a good idea to keep your speed under 20 mph even when the sidewalk is totally empty, to go much slower when pedestrians are around, and to cover your brake at all times just in case you need to stop quickly. Staying alert at all times goes without saying. Never expect pedestrians to get out of your way but rather go around them instead. And if pedestrian traffic is so thick that you can't ride faster than walking speed then just get off the damned bike and walk it. Nothing more unstable than a cyclist wobbling along at a few mph.

I've ridden over 55,000 miles since college. Probably less than 5% of that has been on sidewalks but that could still mean I went one or two thousand miles on them. Never hit a pedestrian or even came close to hitting one. Since I know I'm intruding on what is basically their space when I'm on the sidewalk I'm very careful. If I see someone walking erratically I just slow down enough so as to not hit them if they happen to walk in front of me. The majority of pedestrians never even know I'm there until I pass them.

I was about to post a very emotional reply until I read your very level headed response. I'm one of those inexperienced, casual, riders you speak of. The only time I'm not on the sidewalk is if there is no sidewalk or there is not a moving vehicle in sight (maybe even then too). I still carry the scars from many years ago when I was run off the road and almost killed by a lady with her head up her a.. . (never got hurt near as bad in all my years of riding motorcycles)

Also, I take your approach when on the sidewalk. I feel that it belongs to the pedestrians, and I give them all due respect and clearance. I appreciate them letting me share their space for the sake of my own safety.

 

[JimH]

My biggest, numero uno, most enraging, big kahuna of all pet peeves is TAILGATING. And the worst thing is that people don't even seem to realize they're doing it. Automotive brakes are wonderful things, many improvements in recent years. But (in most cases) the idiot behind the wheel still has to have time to step on the pedal! Just today I got tailgated badly by some lady in an Accord. Five feet of room when we're doing 55 mph.

My biggest, numero uno, most enraging, big kahuna of all pet peeves is the person I'm TAILGATING. Yes, you read that correctly. I'm the guy doing 65 mph in a 1 ton truck, 2 feet off your rear bumper, flashing my brights.

There is nothing that tics me off more than speed limit vigilantes or drivers that pull into the fast lane and just park there. The flow of traffic in non rush hour where I live is in the 75mph to 80mph range in the fast lane.

When someone is going just the speed limit in the fast lane, it is not only stupid, but it is downright dangerous. Just the other day this situation occurred. The guy had over half a mile of no traffic in front of him and 31 cars (I counted them) backed up bumper to bumper behind him - a lot of road rage building up out there. People were performing all sorts of crazy maneuvers and jockying for position to try to get around him, but he would always speed up just enough to keep people from passing on the right and then slow back down. I think this is the number one reason you are not allowed to carry a loaded gun in your vehicle.

You want to go the speed limit in other than the fast lane, go right ahead. I got no problem with that. But if you are doing it in the fast lane in front of me, don't whine when your bumper get scratched or you come real close to getting run off the road when I finally do get around you.

End rant. Thanks, I feel better. :buddies:

 

[Empath]

I'm the guy doing 65 mph in a 1 ton truck, 2 feet off your rear bumper, flashing my brights.

Jim, regardless of why you feel justified, I'm hoping they pull your license or throw you in jail; whichever it takes to stop you before you kill someone.

I'm aware that you're not going to take such a comment well, but your actions are far more serious than engaging in casual conversation over.

I'll leave it to another moderator to moderate this thread, since the two of us have now probably screwed it up beyond repair. But, we both got to speak our mind, didn't we?