# April Annoyances (mini-rants) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 1, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516 "2015-04-01T16:57:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516/341 "2015-04-21T16:32:12Z")
My uncle died yesterday, heart attack. Means that of my father and his four siblings we’re down to two: a brother who has turned into a mysoginistic, pee-smelling, loud old fart and the sister, who’s got cancer. At least this time I got the news (along with a scan of a whole-page obituary from one of the newspapers my uncle used to write for) right quick, instead of finding out weeks or months later, and I was able to send my condolences with my brothers. Still wish I could have been there for the funeral, though. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516/342 "2015-04-21T16:36:06Z")
**Nava** , I’m sorry for your loss. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516/343 "2015-04-21T16:59:46Z")
**Nava,** I’m so sorry for your loss. My condolences. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516/344 "2015-04-21T20:10:00Z")
My company changed their insurance plan and decided they were no longer offering insurance for domestic partners (unless you lived in a state where gay marriage was illegal). Since we are hetero and in California, we lose. That sucks, but not what I am mad at. I am mad because I tried to do a little research online on ACA insurance. Not wanting to buy right now, just wanting to see what’s out there. I foolishly put down my actual cell phone number in one of the fields when looking pricing. I have received more than 50 phone calls already from people wanting to sell me insurance. Grrrrrr! ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516/345 "2015-04-21T20:15:03Z")
Here is my twofold rant of the day: 1. I was pulling out of the McDonald’s. I pulled out of the parking lot onto the road in the right lane. I have a tiny car and I know I was well in my lane. Despite this, some fucking BMW old guy in the left hand lane decided to lay on his horn. I must have made him nervous. I was startled and made a “What”? gesture. He pulled up right next to me and began gesticulating. I made a “What?” gesture one more time and then proceeded to ignore him. What a douchebag. You do not own the road. 2. McDonald’s. I don’t really eat McDonald’s. It is the busiest week of my year at the office, however, so I thought I’d treat myself to some French fries. After a ten minute wait at the drive through, well after lunch time, I got my fries. They were awful. I can’t tell if my tastes have matured or they just suck now but I hated them. I had like ten fries and then couldn’t eat anymore and threw them away. If I am going to eat food that is bad for me, I should at least enjoy it, no? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516/346 "2015-04-21T20:30:55Z")
I am approaching Medicare age. My mail box in the past week has had at least two ads every day for companies trying to sell me Medicare insurance. There’s no need to rub it in, folks. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516/347 "2015-04-21T20:41:44Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > I am approaching Medicare age. My mail box in the past week has had at least two ads every day for companies trying to sell me Medicare insurance. There’s no need to rub it in, folks. I’ve been stalked and harassed by AARP for five ears now. It started a couple of weeks before my 50th birthday. I wish I knew how to make them stop. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516/348 "2015-04-21T21:21:38Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > I’ve been stalked and harassed by AARP for five ears now. It started a couple of weeks before my 50th birthday. I wish I knew how to make them stop. Same here. I was all bummed about turning 50 when I heard from AARP. I was so soured by them that I wouldn’t join for any reason. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516/349 "2015-04-21T21:28:03Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > I’ve been stalked and harassed by AARP for five ears now. It started a couple of weeks before my 50th birthday. I wish I knew how to make them stop. I first got mail from them at 28. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516/350 "2015-04-21T21:29:13Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > I first got mail from them at 28. Did you look really old for your age? Premature grey, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516/351 "2015-04-21T21:30:32Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Did you look really old for your age? Premature grey, maybe? I noticed my first gray hair around that age. Otherwise, how would people who’d never seen me think I was middle-aged? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516/352 "2015-04-21T22:01:48Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > 1. McDonald’s. I don’t really eat McDonald’s. It is the busiest week of my year at the office, however, so I thought I’d treat myself to some French fries. After a ten minute wait at the drive through, well after lunch time, I got my fries. They were awful. I can’t tell if my tastes have matured or they just suck now but I hated them. I had like ten fries and then couldn’t eat anymore and threw them away. If I am going to eat food that is bad for me, I should at least enjoy it, no? Originally fried in beef tallow they were very good. But the idea of how they were fried- thin, and kept fairly fresh- was copied. So now, Mcd’s fries are by no means special. They are just adequate. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516/353 "2015-04-21T23:19:31Z")
This didn’t bother me much at first, but I’m starting to get tired of it… you know what kind of makes me stabby? The word “stabby.” I dunno, maybe I’m just getting tired of seeing it. (And I’m aware this may make me unpopular on this board. I apologize. I’m not ranting about any particular poster or anything. Just a minor personal annoyance.) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516/354 "2015-04-21T23:23:02Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > This didn’t bother me much at first, but I’m starting to get tired of it… you know what kind of makes me stabby? The word “stabby.” I dunno, maybe I’m just getting tired of seeing it. (And I’m aware this may make me unpopular on this board. I apologize. I’m not ranting about any particular poster or anything. Just a minor personal annoyance.) Yeah, it’s overused. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516/355 "2015-04-22T06:03:48Z")
Apparently you aren’t allowed to say that the systematic slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians 100 years ago by the Ottoman Empire was a a “genocide”, according to Turkey: > **[Turkey summons Vatican ambassador over Pope's genocide comment](https://www.jpost.com/Christian-News/Turkey-summons-Vatican-ambassador-over-popes-genocide-comment-396833)** > > Ankara also calls ambassador to the Holy See back to Turkey after pontiff's remarks on Armenia. All this despite the United Nations, the European Parliament, 23 countries as well as a post WW1 tribunal recognizing it as such. FUCK YOU Turkey. ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516/356 "2015-04-22T07:53:27Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > Apparently you aren’t allowed to say that the systematic slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians 100 years ago by the Ottoman Empire was a a “genocide”, according to Turkey: > [Turkey summons Vatican ambassador over Pope's genocide comment - The Jerusalem Post](http://www.jpost.com/Christian-News/Turkey-summons-Vatican-ambassador-over-popes-genocide-comment-396833) > > All this despite the United Nations, the European Parliament, 23 countries as well as a post WW1 tribunal recognizing it as such. FUCK YOU Turkey. Yeah, fuck. Even Germany acknowledges its transgressions. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516/357 "2015-04-22T13:09:33Z")
**EmilyG** , if it makes you feel better, our big corporate buzzword lately is “the ask.” It makes me stabby. 🙂 Seriously, I’ll be on a call and someone asks me, “What’s the ask?” It makes me want to beat the shit out of someone. It’s one of the douchiest misuses of language I’ve heard in a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516/358 "2015-04-22T13:17:25Z")
[retch] That phrase needs to be removed from the language with extreme prejudice. Has basic grammar become obsolete? ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516/359 "2015-04-22T13:42:47Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > **EmilyG** , if it makes you feel better, our big corporate buzzword lately is “the ask.” It makes me stabby. 🙂 > > Seriously, I’ll be on a call and someone asks me, “What’s the ask?” It makes me want to beat the shit out of someone. It’s one of the douchiest misuses of language I’ve heard in a long time. I absolutely agree! “Ask” is **not** a noun, and people using it as a noun make me want gruesome things to happen. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516/360 "2015-04-22T13:59:01Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > This didn’t bother me much at first, but I’m starting to get tired of it… you know what kind of makes me stabby? The word “stabby.” I dunno, maybe I’m just getting tired of seeing it. (And I’m aware this may make me unpopular on this board. I apologize. I’m not ranting about any particular poster or anything. Just a minor personal annoyance.) Unsolicited advice for the day: when you have feelings and opinions, OWN THEM. I’ve slowly noticed a pattern over the years with your username where in your posts, you often express an idea and then almost immediately backtrack. _Instead of this:_ "You know what really grinds my gears? X, Y, and to a lesser extent, Z, and I know that’s maybe not the most popular thing to say, plus I’m probably a bad person for thinking this but A, B, and C kind of suck too but I apologize for my language … " _Try this:_ "“You know what really grinds my gears? X, Y, and to a lesser extent, Z, and you know what else? A, B, and C kind of suck too, and anyone who disagrees is free to be utterly wrong.” Practice in front of a mirror, alone, if it helps. Say it in a strong, firm voice – your very best “Take no shit from nobody” action movie hero type of voice. _This advice is brought to you by an anonymous internet stranger who’s never met you, and is worth exactly what you paid for it. I am not your doctor or lawyer. If your erection lasts more than four hours, seek medical attention. If you are pregnant or nursing, consult your healthcare professional before taking. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Killing a million and a half people at once probably counts as genocide unless they changed the meaning of the word yesterday._ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-annoyances-mini-rants/716516.md?page=19)