# NaNoRantMo (November Mini Rants)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [November 1, 2015, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347 "2015-11-01T17:39:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347/81 "2015-11-05T18:44:56Z")

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> [@Nava](#):
>
> 😕 Why is the model relevant? I’m used to the question being “is your phone bound or free?” (if it’s bound the people who work in phone stores either can release it themselves or know some pirate nearby who can), not which model.

This is an excellent question. I don’t know the answer. All they say is that their nice inexpensive calling/text/data plan isn’t available for my phone. Because it’s a smartphone? Hell if I know. They can, of course, sell me a phone that would go with their plan, one that is considerably inferior to the ONE I ALREADY OWN.

I HATE THEM. :mad:

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**Author:** ![DoggyDunnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@DoggyDunnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoggyDunnit)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347/82 "2015-11-05T19:00:37Z")

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> [@The\_Vorlon](#):
>
> **Nava** , the problem is the 4 major carriers in the US have 3 incompatible standards between them. Verizon uses CDMA, The DeathStar, er, excuse me, AT&T and T-Mobile are GSM, and I forget what Sprint uses. IPhones are agnostic, but Android phones only work with one carrier.

Sprint uses CDMA, too, though there are several incompatibilities between “Sprint” CDMA and “Verizon” CDMA, which is why it’s a rare (but not non-existent) occurrence that one can potentially use a phone on either carrier, rather than just one of them.

GSM Android phones are mostly carrier-locked from manufacture, with the option to have them “unlocked” for other GSM carriers after a period of service (MetroPCS’s is three months; that I know because they’re my carrier).

> [@jayrey](#):
>
> This is an excellent question. I don’t know the answer. All they say is that their nice inexpensive calling/text/data plan isn’t available for my phone. Because it’s a smartphone? Hell if I know. They can, of course, sell me a phone that would go with their plan, one that is considerably inferior to the ONE I ALREADY OWN.
> 
> I HATE THEM. :mad:

If your phone’s still in good condition, you can try selling your current phone on eBay and using the proceeds to buy a GSM phone for T-Mobile/MetroPCS or AT&T, or pursue a local “even swap”–your Sprint S4 for a GSM S4–on Craigslist or something.

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**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347/83 "2015-11-05T19:21:41Z")

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How to make sure I’ll never order from your company again:

Background: Mid-October. Needed a part for my mower. Did some research on the internet and found that some non-OEM replacements were inexpensive but had shafts that were 1" rather than the necessary 25mm (0.98"). So I searched around and found a place that _explicitly_ listed the shaft as 25mm.

Ordered the part and, damnit, it had a 1" shaft.

Called 'em up. Guy tried to argue that 1" is really, really close to 25mm. “Sure,” I answered, “And if my pulley were made of elastic rather than steel, that would be a valid point.” He promised to call me back after checking with the warehouse.

A couple of days go by and I say “fuck it”, ordered some bearings and fixed the old assembly.

Called for a return authorization today. Told the guy my problem. He cops an attitude. “Didn’t you see the big red warning about the shaft size on the web page?”

Well, no, I didn’t. Because you put that big red warning up in response to my phone call, a week after I ordered the part. And I’ve got the original web page up in my browser, so don’t give me any of that “It was never advertised as 25mm” bullshit.

“Well, our manufacturer changed the spec without telling us.” Um, not my problem. Just give me the RMA already.

Jeepers, it’s a $36.00 part. Accept the return cheerfully, apologize for the mistake in the listing, and you’d have a (reasonably) happy customer. But you have to be dickheads and now I’d rather take up blacksmithing and fashion a new part out of pig iron and anthracite coal than order from you again.

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**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347/84 "2015-11-05T19:23:05Z")

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Fuck cancer. Fuck especially lung cancer, because it’s very easy to NOT GET! (Don’t smoke.)

Yes, I am aware some people die of lung cancer who never smoked in their life or worked around asbestos. The daughter of a good friend of mine died way too young of lung cancer and she never smoked. But let’s not make things easier for lung cancer by smoking, mmmmkay?

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**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347/85 "2015-11-05T20:09:03Z")

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> [@DoggyDunnit](#):
>
> Sprint uses CDMA, too, though there are several incompatibilities between “Sprint” CDMA and “Verizon” CDMA, which is why it’s a rare (but not non-existent) occurrence that one can potentially use a phone on either carrier, rather than just one of them.
> 
> GSM Android phones are mostly carrier-locked from manufacture, with the option to have them “unlocked” for other GSM carriers after a period of service (MetroPCS’s is three months; that I know because they’re my carrier).
> 
> If your phone’s still in good condition, you can try selling your current phone on eBay and using the proceeds to buy a GSM phone for T-Mobile/MetroPCS or AT&T, or pursue a local “even swap”–your Sprint S4 for a GSM S4–on Craigslist or something.

Oh boy, the idea of buying or swapping scares the daylights of me. But should it? I’m worried I’d end up with a crappy phone, having no idea how to tell if the one I’d be buying on eBay or swapping for was in good condition. How do I tell?

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**Author:** ![jerseymule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jerseymule/32/3155_2.png) [@jerseymule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerseymule)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347/86 "2015-11-05T20:44:12Z")

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I am sick of hearing the very words “code” and “coding”. I work as a clerk at a psych hospital and we are in the process of changing from DSM-IV to DSM-V, and from ICD 9 to ICD 10. Our computer systems seem to have a great problem with this, as does every employee that is involved with diagnoses. I don’t have to deal directly with this, but am sick of hearing about it. ☹

In fact every time there is any little change, the computer systems seem to have a problem, as do employees who all seem to dislike change of any kind. :eek:

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**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347/87 "2015-11-06T02:41:51Z")

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> [@jayrey](#):
>
> Oh boy, the idea of buying or swapping scares the daylights of me. But should it? I’m worried I’d end up with a crappy phone, having no idea how to tell if the one I’d be buying on eBay or swapping for was in good condition. How do I tell?

**Jayrey** , did you actually go to a Virgin Mobile store? VM is owned by Sprint and uses Sprint’s “lines” (or whatever they’re called), so I don’t understand why they say your phone won’t work? Does someone here know?

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**Author:** ![Memnon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Memnon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Memnon)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347/88 "2015-11-06T11:46:54Z")

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I’m trying to get a head start on my New Year’s resolution to quit smoking. I’ve been off the cigs for two days and EVERYTHING is making me mad at the moment. Fucking everything. Even when I’m alone in my bedroom with nothing but peace and quiet and a good book I’m still fucking pissed off for some reason. How can it be possible to be angry over literally nothing? I’m going cold turkey at the moment but if this keeps up I’m gonna have to get some gum or something.

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**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347/89 "2015-11-06T17:43:10Z")

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> [@Helena330](#):
>
> **Jayrey** , did you actually go to a Virgin Mobile store? VM is owned by Sprint and uses Sprint’s “lines” (or whatever they’re called), so I don’t understand why they say your phone won’t work? Does someone here know?

**Helena** , this is a very good idea. I was ony on their website and in retrospect, I think I may have given them the wrong information when they asked for the model of my phone. I’ll go talk to them. Thanks! 🙂

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**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347/90 "2015-11-06T17:46:19Z")

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> [@Tithonus](#):
>
> I’m trying to get a head start on my New Year’s resolution to quit smoking. I’ve been off the cigs for two days and EVERYTHING is making me mad at the moment. Fucking everything. Even when I’m alone in my bedroom with nothing but peace and quiet and a good book I’m still fucking pissed off for some reason. How can it be possible to be angry over literally nothing? I’m going cold turkey at the moment but if this keeps up I’m gonna have to get some gum or something.

**Tithonus** , what you are doing is very important for your overall health and I applaud you (which is probably pissing you off, like everything else is. :)). Definitely get some gum or the patch to help you with the transition. Hang in there!

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**Author:** ![Lowdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Lowdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lowdown)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347/91 "2015-11-06T19:10:46Z")

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A house in my neighborhood has put their Christmas tree up. Lights and everything.

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**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347/92 "2015-11-06T19:22:34Z")

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Count me in as another who thought the thread title was clever, not stupid.

Rant #1: The wife and I are trying to refinance our mortgage through our credit union. We’re getting emails from three different people asking for all kinds of documentation. Can’t you all get together and figure out what documetation you need and send us ONE email? Also, why are you asking us for information about our accounts at the credit union? Can’t you just frickin’ look it up yourself?

Rant #2: Some new woman at work who takes an out-of-the-way route past my cubicle to get to hers. This woman REEKS of patchouli. She leaves a vapor trail when she walks past that lingers for about five minutes. I fucking hate the smell of patchouli and am thinking of keeping a spray can of Lysol at my desk and dousing her next time she walks past.

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**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347/93 "2015-11-06T19:36:03Z")

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> [@Shoeless](#):
>
> Rant #1: The wife and I are trying to refinance our mortgage through our credit union. We’re getting emails from three different people asking for all kinds of documentation. Can’t you all get together and figure out what documetation you need and send us ONE email? Also, why are you asking us for information about our accounts at the credit union? Can’t you just frickin’ look it up yourself?

If they are anything like Wells Fargo, or I would assume any other big bank, the answer is no they can’t just look it up as the mortgage department (and loan department) are completely separate entities.

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**Author:** ![Lowdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Lowdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lowdown)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347/94 "2015-11-06T20:24:46Z")

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> [@Shoeless](#):
>
> Rant #2: Some new woman at work who takes an out-of-the-way route past my cubicle to get to hers. This woman REEKS of patchouli. She leaves a vapor trail when she walks past that lingers for about five minutes. I fucking hate the smell of patchouli and am thinking of keeping a spray can of Lysol at my desk and dousing her next time she walks past.

Oh god. That is honestly the worst smell on earth. It makes me want to punch people. It’s never a little bit either, it’s like they bathe in it. You can smell it from twenty feet away.

One morning at work I kept smelling it everywhere, and was secretly plotting the death of whichever asshole in my office had decided to wear it. Turns out it was me. I had followed a dude wearing it into the coffee shop that morning, and having used the same door handle, now had it on my right hand. I scrubbed that hand no fewer than ten times with various soaps in an attempt to get the smell off. Did not work. I spent the rest of the day wanting to punch myself.

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**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347/95 "2015-11-06T21:35:55Z")

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I pit companies that make you submit a resume for a job as a part-time cashier.

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**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347/96 "2015-11-06T22:49:39Z")

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The flapper in my toilet decided to disintegrate today. I can’t get a new one until tomorrow because it’s Friday night in a tourist town and traffic is _stupid_.

At least it’s a minor fix.

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**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:** [November 7, 2015, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347/97 "2015-11-07T01:20:38Z")

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My office has instituted a new dress code. Jeans everyday! This is pilot program. If it does well here, other offices will follow suit.

But it is not going to last. Why? Because of idiot co-workers.

We are an insurance company. By definition, we are conservative. Our dress policy has always been business casual. Now its jeans + business casual. Are my co workers dressing business casual?

_ **NO!** _  
They are dressing like they it’s Saturday morning and they getting ready to pick up the dog poop in the yard and then clean the garage. And several have have revealed that they either have no taste at all or are color-blind. Way to fuck up a good thing.

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**Author:** ![Memnon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Memnon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Memnon)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347/98 "2015-11-07T01:26:42Z")

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> [@jayrey](#):
>
> **Tithonus** , what you are doing is very important for your overall health and I applaud you (which is probably pissing you off, like everything else is. :)). Definitely get some gum or the patch to help you with the transition. Hang in there!

STOP CLAPPING!!

Uh…I mean, thanks 🙂

P.S. - I cracked and went out and got some gum this evening. Feeling _so_ much more chill.

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**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347/99 "2015-11-07T02:00:14Z")

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> [@Tithonus](#):
>
> STOP CLAPPING!!
> 
> Uh…I mean, thanks 🙂
> 
> P.S. - I cracked and went out and got some gum this evening. Feeling _so_ much more chill.

If gum ends up being all you need to get yourself over the hump, I’d consider that a win. Congrats on an A++ effort.

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**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanorantmo-november-mini-rants/736347/100 "2015-11-07T07:25:32Z")

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Rant: godDAMN the trains are stupid and re-routed tonight and I missed the last bus. Train would take two transfers and probably 45 minutes to get home.

Anti-rant: Ah, I have a free Lyft ride coming to me! Home in 10 minutes. Sweet!

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