Question, though, Davebear: do you get offended if people get up and change seats when you sit next to them? I’ve had people get on the train and sit next to me who are reeking of cigarette smoke, and it literally makes me a bit ill (and, I don’t want my clothes smelling for the rest of the day). I don’t hate them, of course–but I really do have to get up and move. I feel a tad guilty doing it, though, and generally pretend I’ve just spotted a friend in another seat . . .
A) cell phone
B) vehicle/automotive
C) the cute little things that you typically buy for babies, from which objects are suspended, usually from an X-shaped object, that spins, twirls, and sometimes make noises
D) Being able to get from point A to point B
Smart people who talk to freakin’ loud on their mobiles.
That’s an easy one though, isn’t it? Back when these instuments of the devil became avalible, everyone called them “mobile phones” instead of “cell phones.” Or at least they did in the north east. And since they’re talking on them…
People who insist on talking to me when I’m on the freaking PHONE! Get a clue, idiot! I can NOT talk to you AND this other person at the same time! Nor can I hear both of you! This happens to me all the time, and not just at work. Totally infuriates me.
My SIL breastfeeds without throwing the blanket over the shoulder to cover the baby. I’m very surprised my brother lets her get away with this. He can be very conservative, so I would have thought he’d have discussed it with her.
Oooh, this is going to be fun.
Let’s see, first, there’s the people who bring young children to movies clearly not meant for children. The kid inevitably gets scared or bored and starts screaming bloody murder. Either pay for the sitter or go another day. I paid $9 to watch the movie, not your kid having a shit fit!
Then there’s the people who go to the video store alone, but have to call home to see if their selection is good enough. If your SO is so damn picky, he/she should have come with you in the first place.
Then there’s the people who stop in the toll plaza to make sure the light turns green or even worse, those people who get out of the car if their change misses the basket. Honk the horn and keep moving!!! Some people have to get to work.
People, especially strangers, who feel the need to tell me smoking is not good for me. OK, love it or hate it, I think everyone can agree at this point that smoking isn’t healthy. However, while I cannot speak for all smokers, I make an effort to be considerate about it. I go outdoors, I don’t smoke in other people’s cars, etc. So why oh why do people feel the need to comment on my habits. Would these people go up to an obese person in a restaurant and tell them they’re about two cheeseburgers away from a cornary? I doubt it.
All I ask is this, please just leave me alone.
Interesting…millions of miles apart, and we have the same problems
I definetly agree that spitting in public is really fucked up. Here in Rwanda it is so common that its like some kind of genetic disease. It is so annoying;
And right on with the cellphones and stopping the car in the middle of the road.
As for arguing in public, thats something you dont see here. People are too conservative to wash their dirty linen in public. Ditto for the Public displays of affection.
I didnt know “mobiles” was a British term…thats what we call it here.
Okay, big pet peeve is people who do not hold the elevator when you’re a mere 10 steps behind them. Most of the folks in our office, do a quick shoulder check in the lobby as the board the elevator. Our lobby is quite short, so if anyone is coming in the doors, usually, whoever is in the elevator will hold it and wait for them. Some dipshits, just hit the close door button. It’s inconsiderate.
Related pet peeve. People who do not hold the elevator when you’re a mere 10 steps behind them and then only go up one floor! Gah! I don’t mind if you have a bum leg, are carrying something or are elderly etc., but if you are young, healthy, could march up the 16 steps (they are right beside the elevator and it’s faster to climb those steps then wait for the ancient lift) and then you close the door right when I get there…
Personal pet peeve. I cannot stand it when people slurp and eat loudly while in public. Huge, irrational pet peeve of mine, I’d prefer fingernails on a blackboard. Good table manners show that you a respectful and considerate of those around you. Make as much noise as you want at home, eat with your fingers and lick the bowl – I don’t care. But do not slurp, smack your lips, and slu-u-u-u-up your starw-in-an-empty-can during a luncheon business meeting so that I have difficulty being heard over you.
Stopping Right Outside The Elevator-
Sorry. Usually, I’ve been thinking about something else and was distracted. I walked the wrong direction and got on the wrong elevator. Suddenly seeing that I’m nowhere near my intended destination snaps me back to the here and now.
‘Huh? Where the hell am I?’
This is usually followed by a jump to the side when I realize
‘I’m blocking the exit of the people behind me.’
I find it embarrassing and I’d stop it if I could.
Talking To Myself-
Helps me concentrate. Anybody in this thread watch Ally McBeal? Remember the man who used to shout certain words in order to stop his stutter? I’ve found the technique usefull for dealing with mental stutters caused by OCD, or social anxiety disorder. I try to keep it quiet.
Re-The Bus
This really depends on how good public transportation is in your area. Septa, South Eastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority, stinks.
During sports seasons the route displays alternate between number and destnation and “Go Phillies!” or whatever the appropriate team is.
I only found out that the route I ride has an A route one day when the driver anounced last stop and I was further from my house then when I started. There’s the standard route, several expresses each day, the A route, a route which covers the A stops and the standard ones, and a route which covers the standard stops but makes it final stop several miles further north at a mall.
Most stops have no benches, and none have posted schedules. There are almost never schedules on the bus either.
So I always ask.
Do you have showers and clean clothes in your office? I don’t. And, you don’t think it’s a problem to HATE someone because you don’t like the way they smell? Then, you have bigger problems than smokers.
No, not at all, although I rarely sit, on a bus or a train. And, I like that you say “I don’t hate them, of course…” (emphasis mine). It shows that you’re a rational person, unlike so many, these days. It would never occur to you that you should hate someone because of the way they smell, any more than it would ever occur to some of these people that there’s no difference between hating people because they smoke and hating them because they’re a different race.
No, what I mind is the rude comments, both verbal and non-verbal, and the implication that I’m “disgusting”, just because I smoke. I may smell disgusting, temporarily, but doesn’t make me disgusting. And, it’s no reason to hate me. I didn’t kill your dog, rape your sister, or foreclose on the family farm. I had a cigarette.
My bus is often half filled with people who’ve been working in markets and restaurants in Chinatown, all day. And, they often “reek” of an assortment of exotic, and often unpleasant, smells. Do I hate them because of it? Hell, no! Do I give them dirty looks or make rude comments to them? Of course not. Nor do I hate the Indians and Pakistanis I work with, who regularly stink up the office with curried food. I hate the smell, but I don’t hate the people.
" . . . there’s no difference between hating people because they smoke and hating them because they’re a different race."
Well, actually, I do have to part company with you there. I don’t hate people because of their race or because they smoke–but smoking, unlike race, is a chosen behavior.
People who have motorcycles that are louder than foghorns ripping down the street at 1 am and waking up my kids!! Or they drive by my care and blast my ears when my window is down! I wish I could side-swipe them and send them flying!!!
And those loud speakers in cars that I can hear booooooming in my house over top of my own TV!!! WTF? You have no eardrums left, get a clue!!
Oh, and I am allergic to cigarette smoke, so passing by folks with cigarrettes is annoying, but unavoidable.
And those crazy people who think aluminum is poisonous (although it is in all the food you eat naturally) and don’t wear deoderant. ugh. I’m all for natural living…but use common sense for cripe sakes!!! It’s heavy metals you have to worry about…not iron, aluminum…etc. Your body actually needs minerals!!! Halloo…there’s aluminum in vitamin supplements!!!
ughghgh!! Dumb paranoid people drive me nuts. 
People who play the game of musical chairs all by themselves on the train. Maybe it’s just Chicago, I don’t know, but I don’t know what it is with people who have to get up and change seats every five minutes. And I’m not just talking about people who have someone smelly sit down next to them.
People who drive really really slow in the fast lane. And people who tail-gate. I don’t know what the point of tail-gating is if you’re not on the highway and you’re not attempting to pass that driver. And my third driving peeve, gutter sniping. Is this just a Chicago thing?
I too also hate people spitting on the sidewalk, and doing that godawful nose-blowing-without-a-tissue thing.
Gentlemen, Take Note
Pocket Billiards.
Not a quick adjustment, or a discreet scratch.
Having your hands in your pockets, or down the front of your trousers, and a gormless expression on your face as you play with your bollocks.
Here’s an important cell phone conversation I overheard in a store this afternoon:
“Hello?..oh, HI!!…oh, not much, just doing some shopping…hello…hello, can you hear me???..I can’t hear you very well there’s alot of static, I’m here in a store…uh, who is this??..uh, I think you might have the wrong number, I can’t hear you very well…ok, bye.”
:rolleyes:
I also agree that littering and spitting are horrible public displays and should be stopped.
[slight hijak]Why must baseball players spit every 5 seconds? What is so horrible about having saliva in their mouths that they must spit it out repeatedly??[/hijak]
Now…I’m not really trying to pick on any particular group of people, but it REALLY REALLY bugs me when Asian people, specifically females seem to LOVE wearing their shoes a couple of sizes too big. fine. BUT MUST YOU DRAG THE SHOES ALL ALL OVER THE DAMN FLOOR??? REALLY??? WHY oh WHY do you INSIST on doing this? Is there a trend that I don’t know about? 'Cuz if it is, I suggest it quickly be put on the DON"T list.
And you know what else bugs me??? On buses or trains, You see people waiting patiently in a line to board the vehicles. Then there are those who decide to come flying out of NOWHERE and jumo the queue. That’s not cool at all. I’ve been know to openly cuss anyone who happens to do it to me.
And another thing…spitting is really just plain disgusting. As is clipping your nails in public. GROSS
AND people who just openly stare you in your face. WHY? do you know me? do i got something on my face? did i do something to you??? If so, SPEAK THE F&%K up!!! Don’t just sit there and stare at me!!
thank you for your attention
Guys play baseball specifically so that they can do all the things their mothers told them not to do: get their clothes dirty, spit, and scratch their private parts in public.
So is hatred.
where I live, people drive into parking lots of stores, get out of car, leave the windows down with FULL VOLUME, OBSCENE rap music blaring from their CD player while they go inside.