We’ve all got 'em. Certain views, phrases or opinions that we can’t hear out of other people without losing all respect for them damn near instantly. What are your personal insta-respect-drainers?
Mine:
Any reference to the evils of “the corporate state”
“Wouldn’t be great to live in a world without money?”
“You haven’t LIVED until you’ve been to Europe.”
“I’m really more of a dog person.” (Rigidly labeling self as a ____ - person.)
“Live simply so that others may live,” or, related, “If everyone lived like YOU, we’d need 2.3 Earths.”
“There’s still a need for feminism in 2003.”
“The reason there’s so much poverty is that the minimum wage is too low.”
Any use of racials slurs or other related comments about race/culture/ etc.
Any harsh statements about characteristics people have no control over. (Example, this one girl was talking about a guy in a wheel chair who is disabled --has no legs-- and says “every time I see that guy I can’t help but laugh at him”. My jaw fell to the floor. SO RUDE!)
If someone says anything about trends like, “hey snuggles, why aren’t you wearing ____ type of jeans (etc.) They are the “in” thing don’t you know?” GOD I can’t stand that, let me wear what I like, and you do the same.
Overly argumentative people. Why can’t these people have a discussion without forcing their opinion down my throat? Why can’t they be wrong?
Those are examples that come to mind. I am sure there are others.
Wow *Colin! Anyone who writes an OP like that and has a Sig like this:
would seem to have issues of their own.
Something against Feminism Colin? Hmmmm?
And whats wrong with the Dave Matthews Band? Are you Mad at something Dave did in particular, or do you just have a general dislike for those who like Dave Matthews…?
Ditto on the racial slurs. Unfortunately, members of my own family do this.
Liking pro wrestling. Hell, just wearing a shirt that says “NWO” on it.
Thinking their political views are the only “right” opinions to have, and the opposition is either Godless, stupid treehuggers, or Nazis.
“Oh, I never read.”
“Did you hear about J-Lo?”(or whatever moronic celebrity is hot)
“It’s all good!” WTF does that mean? It makes me want to heap bad experiences on their heads until they admit that all is truly not that great.
Actual conversation, three times that I can recall off the top of my head:
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Never have.”
“Aahm!.. are you, um, you know?” A hamster? No. Lesbian? No, I’m not that either.
Teenage girls are weird like that. Another annoying one is when I bring up a serious issue and try to get a discussion going, and they give an answer like “Because it’s, like, wrong? I mean, you know, it just sucks.” Not entirely sure how to put it; whenever I try that kind of babble myself it comes out as 1337speak (punctuated by LOLs rather than actual giggles).
Any ethnic joke, or ethnic disparity. I was at a party last year (when Kordell Stewart was still part of the Steelers) and a guy actually said that Kordell would never go to the Super Bowel because he was the wrong color. I literally turned my back on him.
A guy here at work loves to tell polish jokes. I have no respect for him.
With you all the way on that one cervaise. Hey, have you seen this photo ? Which gender is regulating which other one?
Dung Beetle, it doesn’t have to mean EVERYTHING is good (but yes, I would worry if someone used it with such a Candide act.) Just the choices in the context of the conversation. As in “Would you like a Thai curry or Indian one?”, “i dunno, whatever you feel like, it’s all good.” It’s just a colloquialism. Like “whatever” but a tad more positive.
From my first date with my first potential boyfriend at college … he said “If a married man has an extramarital affair, it’s always his wife’s fault. Obviously, she’s doing something wrong to cause him to want to have an affair … I think men should be allowed to sleep with anyone they want to, whether they’re married or not.”
Oddly, we didn’t see each other much at all after that date.
A gem from my SO’s mother’s husband: “What every woman needs is a good man to tie her down and direct her in life.”
You could have left ice cream on the dinner table after that without fear of it melting.
Why don’t people just think before speaking? Yeesh!
