# Stupid things that bug you, or something. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 17, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314 "2011-07-17T03:00:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314/81 "2011-07-20T07:09:15Z")
> [@fjs1fs](#): > > Stand still on the right and walk on the left–it’s a really simple concept that some people Just Can’t Grasp! See, when we’re talking of hallways rather than escalators this more than bugs me, it makes me out-right angry to encounter these people. If you haven’t lived in the US long, I’ll give you a pass (for a while) for not grasping the fact that virtually everyone else walks on the right, but if you were born here and are over 12 years old…:mad: > [@hogarth](#): > > Buildings where the “push” and “pull” door handles are identical. Grrrr… And why can’t doors all open from the same direction? As a leftie I’m annoyed enough at doors that want me to contort my arm/wrist unnaturally to open them because the makers forgot that 10-14% of people are going to open the door with the opposite hand as everyone else, and then you have doors that are hinged on the “wrong” side too. And now for something completely different: When driving, it bugs me when rain doesn’t fall at a steady rate. A steady drizzle, a steady downpour, fine. But drizzle, then downpour, then monsoon season, then a fine mist…now you’re making the wiper blades squeak until I adjust the speed, then it’s impossible to see until I adjust the speed, then… ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314/82 "2011-07-20T17:19:51Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I have the opposite problem - I’m usually the slowest eater at any table, and I’m always finishing my meals alone, with everyone else sitting there with nothing in front of them. I have more than once just stopped eating before I was full because it was getting too embarrassing to eat so slowly. I do this very frequently. Actually, I did it yesterday when out to lunch with my boss. My mouth is pretty small and I don’t like to shovel things in it, so I’m a pokey eater. Also, I hate putting something else in my mouth before I’ve fully chewed and swallowed a bite. When I’m really hungry or need to eat fast, sometimes I do that, but it usually makes me feel like I’m going to choke. One of my hates is when people try to talk to me when I’m sick. I know I should appreciate their concern for my welfare, but it makes me see red. Dammit, you know I’m sick! Leave me the hell alone! I also hate it when people go overboard decorating their cubes at work. I get wanting to have a few personal things around you - maybe a photo or two or a light to use instead of standard fluorescents - but is a Hannah Montana poster really necessary? Must you have all those ridiculous gee-gaws around? Yes, I think the wrought iron rooster is super-cute (well, not really), but why the hell would you bring it to work for your cube?? ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314/83 "2011-07-20T17:37:53Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > I also hate it when people go overboard decorating their cubes at work. I get wanting to have a few personal things around you - maybe a photo or two or a light to use instead of standard fluorescents - but is a Hannah Montana poster really necessary? Must you have all those ridiculous gee-gaws around? Yes, I think the wrought iron rooster is super-cute (well, not really), but why the hell would you bring it to work for your cube?? Maybe they’re a fan of [The Bloggess?](http://http://thebloggess.com/2011/06/and-thats-why-you-should-learn-to-pick-your-battles/) yeah too much stuff makes me wonder too. Some of the managers have crazy amounts of stuff in their office. I have very little, I have no space for stuff even if I wanted! ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314/84 "2011-07-20T18:16:37Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Another grocery complaint; when the bagger doesn’t put my gallon jug of water in a bag. . . It’s my fault. Oh, and CrazyCatLady’s, too. > [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > See, and it drives me straight up the goddamn wall when they _do_ bag the gallon jug of milk. The damn thing weighs 10# and the handles on a plastic grocery bag become approximately 0.002" inches wide when you put that kind of weight on them. Whereas the jug itself has a nice wide sturdy handle specifically designed for comfortably carrying that sort of weight. I can carry two gallon jugs in each hand more easily than one jug in a plastic bag that’s slowly sawing my fingers off. Also, if you hold the jug handle, you have control of the jug. If you hold the handle of a bag with the jug in it, you have a heavy pendulum that’s not completely under control. Move with it, and it starts swinging, pulling your arm this way and that. Set it down, and the jug usually tips over rather than settling nicely on its bottom. I know it usually doesn’t leak, but I don’t enjoy putting that to the test every time. Bag my jug and I’ll pull the jug out of the bag. It’s just easier to deal with that way. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314/85 "2011-07-20T18:33:43Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > See, when we’re talking of hallways rather than escalators this more than bugs me, it makes me out-right angry to encounter these people. If you haven’t lived in the US long, I’ll give you a pass (for a while) for not grasping the fact that virtually everyone else walks on the right, but if you were born here and are over 12 years old…:mad:\ And sidewalks, too. How many times do you have to encounter other people head-on on the sidewalk before you realize that YOU’RE the one on the wrong side? And then they go right back to walking on the left as soon as you’re passed - makes me want to yell at them. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314/86 "2011-07-20T18:56:50Z")
Every time I spend the night at my inlaws’ house, one of them will invaribaly see the need to microwave a cup of coffee and forget about it. Their microwave beeps about once a minute to remind you to take the cup out once it’s done microwaving. I’ll simply hit the cancel button since no one is every around when this happens. Then, when they do remember, they’ll discover that the coffee is once again cold, hit the timer and once again forget. This usually goes on til about noon when the cup just gets tossed. Actually, I’m more amused by it than annoyed now that I think about it. > [@Wheelz](#): > > Advertising material left on my front door. > I usually enter and exit my house through the garage, so if I spot some crap hanging from my doorknob, it means extra steps to go retrieve it and deposit it in the recycling bin. Not a _lot_ of steps, but enough to bug me. > > (Note to businesses that do this: You’re wasting your time and money. Putting unsightly junk on my door helps ensure that I will not ever purchase your product or service.) When someone hand me a flyer, it’s like they’re saying “here - you throw this away” -Mitch Hedburg. ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314/87 "2011-07-20T19:33:01Z")
Banner ads for upcoming shows at the bottom of the screen on the show I’m watching. Once upon a time, it was a tiny little gee-gaw in the lower corner…now it consumes the full width of the screen, and about 25% of the vertical space! It’s annoying!! ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314/88 "2011-07-20T19:33:58Z")
> [@DirkGntly](#): > > Banner ads for upcoming shows at the bottom of the screen on the show I’m watching. Once upon a time, it was a tiny little gee-gaw in the lower corner…now it consumes the full width of the screen, and about 25% of the vertical space! It’s annoying!! This, this, a thousand times this. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314/89 "2011-07-20T19:53:08Z")
> [@Flutterby](#): > > Maybe they’re a fan of [The Bloggess?](http://http://thebloggess.com/2011/06/and-thats-why-you-should-learn-to-pick-your-battles/) yeah too much stuff makes me wonder too. Some of the managers have crazy amounts of stuff in their office. I have very little, I have no space for stuff even if I wanted! Yikes - the managers?? I’ve got piles and piles of paper everywhere, definitely no room for other stuff. My co-workers frequently tell me that I should stop living in my “sterile” cube and hang some pictures. At this point, I’m refusing out of principle. Personal items I have at my desk include: - office supplies I like better than work-purchased supplies - my Franklin planner - cups (one for water, my travel mug for coffee) - gum - the keyboard and mouse my husband got me as a gift (yes, he has “different” romantic sensibilities) **CrazyCatLady’s** comments about bagging a jug struck a cord with me, too. I hate it when people use so many damn bags to package things. I went to Wendy’s the other day to pick up a small salad and chile. Each were in their separate bags. I just got back from Target to get an energy bar. The cashier seemed hell-bent on giving me a bag for it, despite my enormous purse. Dammit, my cat only poops so much! Why all the bags - why?? ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314/90 "2011-07-20T20:20:00Z")
Small bits of crumpled up paper, especially straw wrappers. They’re just terribly icky to me for some reason. If I’m a restaurant with friends and someone does that, I have to more or less discreetly try to hide it behind something so that I can’t see it or else knock it into the floor (while touching it as little as possible, because _ick!_) Chewing gum, particularly noisily/open-mouthed, and worse still, any sort of removing it from the mouth. Ick, again. Related, though less icky and more annoying, is open-mouthed/noisy chewing in general. I do not want to hear you masticate. My dad does this, and I’m not even sure I have a last nerve any more. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314/91 "2011-07-20T20:33:33Z")
I worked at McD’s in high school (late '80s) and still have their customer service training ingrained in my head. We were taught to look directly at the next person in line and say to them “May I help you?”. Nowadays servers in fast-food places gaze blankly past the counter and say “Can I help who’s next?” The people are in a damn line. It’s obvious who’s next. Even if there is only one person they still go “Can I help who’s next?” Annoys the hell outta me. ---
**Author:** ![Kickback\_Joe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/cdc98d/32.png) [@Kickback\_Joe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kickback_Joe)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314/92 "2011-07-20T21:45:15Z")
I love to play golf and even watch golf if i get a yew hours to waste but I cannot stand when people yell “GO IN THE HOLE!”. My buddy suggested we go to a watch a tournement and I told him he would need to take bail money for me as I would punch the idiot next to me when he yelled it. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314/93 "2011-07-21T00:00:06Z")
> [@Kickback\_Joe](#): > > I love to play golf and even watch golf if i get a yew hours to waste but I cannot stand when people yell “GO IN THE HOLE!”. But the hole is the ball’s **home**. Why wouldn’t it want to go into **its home**? ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314/94 "2011-07-21T01:25:21Z")
> [@DirkGntly](#): > > Banner ads for upcoming shows at the bottom of the screen on the show I’m watching. Once upon a time, it was a tiny little gee-gaw in the lower corner…now it consumes the full width of the screen, and about 25% of the vertical space! It’s annoying!! Aw, damn, you stole mine nearly word-for-word. I am so sick of seeing those chicks from Hot in Cleveland mosey across the bottom of my screen that I’ve come to loathe a show I have never seen. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314/95 "2011-07-21T14:08:01Z")
Paper towel and napkin disorders loaded as tightly as possible so the staff won’t have to deal with it. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314/96 "2011-07-21T14:27:41Z")
> [@campp](#): > > I get annoyed when I try to plug something into the wall, and ALWAYS get it oriented wrong the first time. I would think 50% of my attempts would be correct. But no. > > Pull back out, spin over, re-insert. Grrr. So when you plug it in the first time, ignore your first instinct and turn it over the opposite way. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314/97 "2011-07-21T14:29:46Z")
> [@brewha](#): > > Every time I spend the night at my inlaws’ house, one of them will invaribaly see the need to microwave a cup of coffee and forget about it. Their microwave beeps about once a minute to remind you to take the cup out once it’s done microwaving. I’ll simply hit the cancel button since no one is every around when this happens. > > Then, when they do remember, they’ll discover that the coffee is once again cold, hit the timer and once again forget. > > This usually goes on til about noon when the cup just gets tossed. Actually, I’m more amused by it than annoyed now that I think about it. Don’t you think they’re waiting until they are in the area and hear the reminder beep? Or does the beep drive you crazy in the meantime? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314/98 "2011-07-21T15:03:33Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I’d be ranting over the saleslady not leaving me alone - if I want any help, _I’ll_ find _you._ Otherwise, this is a nice, peaceful, not talking shopping trip for me. I’m bugged by the opposite – when I need help with something and there’s no sales staff to be found. I’m also bugged by support beams in stores. Last night I was in CVS looking for bar soap. I asked several workers (once I tracked them down) and got two different answers. I went up and down both aisles repeatedly, not seeing even one package of bar soap. Finally I found it – on the lowest shelf, behind a support beam. It was well hidden away, and I had to do a little contortion act to get at it. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314/99 "2011-07-21T15:10:27Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I’m also bugged by support beams in stores. Last night I was in CVS looking for bar soap. I asked several workers (once I tracked them down) and got two different answers. I went up and down both aisles repeatedly, not seeing even one package of bar soap. Finally I found it – on the lowest shelf, behind a support beam. It was well hidden away, and I had to do a little contortion act to get at it. CVS (and Walgreens) bug me for a different reason - why are their buildings so tall? They look like 2-story buildings but from what I can tell they aren’t. Are they just trying to look tall and impressive? ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314/100 "2011-07-21T17:23:42Z")
> [@fjs1fs](#): > > Stand still on the right and walk on the left–it’s a really simple concept that some people Just Can’t Grasp! I’ll be honest and say I’ve never heard of escalator etiquette. I assumed they were for people who wanted to stand still instead of taking stairs. I rarely go anywhere they use them though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-that-bug-you-or-something/589314.md?page=6)