# Please "stop" doing that. It's "making" me "crazy" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 15, 2002, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342 "2002-10-15T15:48:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342/1 "2002-10-15T15:48:03Z")
I went to the grocery store this morning after dropping my kids off at school. And there it was, painted in the window of Denny’s just across the parking lot. **FABULOUS “FRIDAY’S” “FREE” SCOOP OF “ICE CREAM” WITH EVERY “DINNER” ORDER. STOP IN THIS FRIDAY!** Agghh! STOP DOING THAT!! No, no, no! It’s just sooooo fucking wrong. It’s like fingernails on a chalkboard. Why do people do this? If it’s quote-unquote “free,” then I guess I have to pay for it, right? If it’s quote-unquote “ice cream,” then what the hell is it? If I don’t get it with my “dinner” order, can I get it with my breakfast or lunch order? And while we’re at it, get that fucking apostrophe out of ‘Fridays’, okay? Didn’t we learn this back in 3rd or 4th grade? Don’t they know that it’s “wrong”? I wish there was a “law” that could force “people” who do this to go back to “school” and learn the “correct” way of “writing” so they would “stop” using “quote” marks incorrectly. _::: sigh :::_ I’ll be over here beating my head against the wall… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342/2 "2002-10-15T15:52:32Z")
Biblio, your rant was so funny when I read it out loud, used air quotes in place of the regular quotes and emphasized the words in quotes. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342/3 "2002-10-15T15:53:40Z")
“YEAH!” ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342/4 "2002-10-15T15:54:18Z")
Somewhere along the way, people seem to have gotten the idea th putting words in quotes is the same as underlining them. I don’t know where that came from, but it seems to be the pattern. There’s a movie theater here whose sidewalk has a sign saying: “NO” BICYCLES That always cracks me up. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342/5 "2002-10-15T15:55:38Z")
Ah, the rant I was thinking about posting. As my husband and I wandered thru a retail establishment (can’t remember which one) I saw a novelty license tag for sale that said: _Single and “Good” Looking_. It hurt my head to consider exactly what was intended. Just one of many idiotic examples I’ve come across, tho I’ve managed to blank most of them out of my memory. It’s enough to make one weep. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342/6 "2002-10-15T16:09:26Z")
“No Parking”. We serve “Real Beef!” “Sale” On “Shoes” Today! Grr. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342/7 "2002-10-15T16:27:57Z")
I was “just” thinking about this! It works great in social situations when you use the “two fingers” on each hand to signify the quotes. You look “great”. I “love” you. That was really “nice” of you. “Thank you.” etc… ---
**Author:** ![Zappo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b3f665/32.png) [@Zappo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zappo)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342/8 "2002-10-15T16:34:27Z")
Amen. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342/9 "2002-10-15T16:41:20Z")
I “agree”. “That” is “so” annoying. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342/10 "2002-10-15T16:45:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FairyChatMom \* > \*\*…I wandered thru a … > > … tho I’ve managed to … \*\* Sorry to single you out, **FCM** , but this is another thing that bugs me. Did a disaster at the letter factory cause a shortage of g’s and h’s? Are we rationing them now? “Tonite’s special: Potato with lite cream cheese. Follow atria thru complex. Next to Rite Aid.” ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342/11 "2002-10-15T16:54:07Z")
I’m surprised that no one has pointed out this, from the OP: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BiblioCat \* > **FABULOUS "FRIDAY’S"** FRIDAY’S what?!?!!? Fabulous Friday’s Special? Fabulous Friday’s Happy Ice Cream Blowout Goodness? What? Grrr. Misused apostrophes and quotation marks make some innocent infant diety cry. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342/12 "2002-10-15T16:58:19Z")
How about the ever-present, much-maligned, backwards N?? or Z? or S? Do people not take a moment to stand back, look at the sign they just made, and ask themselves, “Hmmm. Is that N backwards?” Apparently, they don’t, probably because they are busy deciding where the extra quotation marks should go. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342/13 "2002-10-15T16:58:39Z")
This reminds me of the _Friends_ episode last week, where Joey was using air quotes inappropriately and driving Ross nuts. ---
**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342/14 "2002-10-15T17:09:37Z")
We do “this” all the time for shits (backward ‘n’) grins. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342/15 "2002-10-15T17:28:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tlw \* > \*\*I’m surprised that no one has pointed out this, from the OP: > > FRIDAY’S what?!?!!? Fabulous Friday’s Special? Fabulous Friday’s Happy Ice Cream Blowout Goodness? What? > > Grrr. > > Misused apostrophes and quotation marks make some innocent infant diety cry. \*\* I did. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by BiblioCat_ > \*\*And while we’re at it, get that fucking apostrophe out of ‘Fridays’, okay? \*\* Yeah, that makes me crazy, too. Lawn\*\*‘**s Cut. Call Mike. Yard Sale. Household Good **’** s Kitten**’\*\*s For Sale DON’T DO THAT! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342/16 "2002-10-15T17:28:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BiblioCat \* > \*\*And while we’re at it, get that fucking apostrophe out of ‘Fridays’, okay? > \*\* At a roadside stand near me: > [@](#): > > “ROSE’S” > > $10/dozen My head “exploded”. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342/17 "2002-10-15T17:42:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bodypoet \* > \*\*How about the ever-present, much-maligned, backwards N?? or Z? or S? > > Do people not take a moment to stand back, look at the sign they just made, and ask themselves, “Hmmm. Is that N backwards?” Apparently, they don’t, probably because they are busy deciding where the extra quotation marks should go. \*\* I see that on hand-lettered signs quite a lot. Backwards Ns definitely make me _and_ the Baby Jesus cry. Also switching from all upper-case on one word to all lower-case on the next, like they have no concept of continuity. _YARD Sale. October 15th. 123 MAIN Street. HOUSEHOLD Goods, TOY’S, Game’s, BOOK’S, Furniture, Yard GOODS, Dishes._ Makes me want to poke my eye’s out. I mean my “eyes.” I mean…oh, the hell with it. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342/18 "2002-10-15T17:42:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bodypoet \* > \*\*How about the ever-present, much-maligned, backwards N?? or Z? or S? > > Do people not take a moment to stand back, look at the sign they just made, and ask themselves, “Hmmm. Is that N backwards?” Apparently, they don’t, probably because they are busy deciding where the extra quotation marks should go. \*\* I see that on hand-lettered signs quite a lot. Backwards Ns definitely make me _and_ the Baby Jesus cry. Also switching from all upper-case on one word to all lower-case on the next, like they have no concept of continuity. _YARD Sale. October 15th. 123 MAIN Street. HOUSEHOLD Goods, TOY’S, Game’s, BOOK’S, Furniture, Yard GOODS, Dishes._ Makes me want to poke my eye’s out. I mean my “eyes.” I mean…oh, the hell with it. ---
**Author:** ![DeskMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@DeskMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeskMonkey)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342/19 "2002-10-15T17:42:56Z")
AAAAARGH! I hate, hate, hate the unwarranted use of quotes! Whenever I get a card from my parents, my mom signs it like this: “Love” Mom and Dad Now, does this mean they don’t really love me? Are they making fun of me with these cards that say they care? Why are they playing this awful game with me? And whenever my fiance’s grandmother adds my name to a card or the Christmas newsletter, I’m known as “Deb”. As in; We had a lovely time visiting my grandson and his girlfriend “Deb”. I can’t help but think she thinks I’m a man masquerading as this mysterious “Deb”. I feel so invalidated. Gah!!! People should have to pay to use quotes. Then they wouldn’t be so horribly mistreated. So put that in your “pipe” and “smoke” it, “grammaw”!!! I also have an issue with the way quotes are used with punctuation, but I don’t give a crap what the Chicago Manual of Style says, I just don’t like the way it looks when you include the punctuation inside the quotes. There, I said it. That felt good. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342/20 "2002-10-15T18:19:11Z")
AAAIIIIII!!! This is one of my major pet peeves. I can get (quite literally) so mad that it ruins my whole mood. Yes, this is a problem of mine and I should probably seek counselling, but there you have it. I see it most frequently at the grocery store. I get so tempted to find the manager and explain it to them (in short, simple words) but they probably wouldn’t even understand what I was saying. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-doing-that-its-making-me-crazy/132342.md?page=2)