# Things that infuriate you well beyond their actual importance **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 4, 2024, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712 "2024-09-04T02:18:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 114
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/2261 "2025-10-21T20:58:47Z")
The one copier in our department is also the main printer for the administrative staff. Which is fine, most of the time. But the copier is in the faculty lounge, not the office, so every once in a while someone will print something from the office and then either forget about it or come pick it up without realizing that half the job didn’t print because it ran out of paper. Then I come in to make a copy, put paper in the empty drawer, and then have to wait five minutes while somebody else’s print job finishes up. I just want my damn copy! ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2025, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/2262 "2025-10-21T21:15:24Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Like if I see someone waiting to cross, I’ll stop, but there was no time to stop. > > I don’t know why some pedestrians endanger themselves like this. But it tears me up that if the worst happened, the driver would get blamed. There are two crosswalks in my town that have flashing lights so you know if someone is crossing the street. Why don’t people push the button for the flashing lights so drivers will know they’re crossing the street? It’s so much safer! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/2263 "2025-10-22T09:39:36Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I only do this when traffic is stop and go, and someone wants to get in from a parking lots or something. Pausing for a few seconds instead of rushing up those two car length just to stop again is a nice thing. Of course. I know just what you are talking about. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2025, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/2264 "2025-10-22T11:59:26Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > That’s different, and I agree. I’m very generous with letting cars in—so long as it’s safe. Me too, but one thing I’ve learned is that if you let a car pull out in front of you, they will immediately do something to piss you off and make you regret it. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/2265 "2025-10-23T22:33:14Z")
The way “x” has replaced “&” as the default way to combined two artists who are working together (and now even any two things collaborating) It’s super irritating and confusing, like “Thing X Other Thing” what does that mean? And mathematically it makes no sense multiplication is not the same thing as addition (I guess it’s meant to be saying the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, but that’s only true if both the numbers are positive and greater than 1) ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/2266 "2025-10-23T22:35:36Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > the driver would get blamed The driver would get blamed _because it’s the driver’s fault_. If you barrel through a pedestrian crossing at 40mph and hit someone you deserve to be prosecuted and go to prison. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/2267 "2025-10-23T23:00:27Z")
Seems to me that if you’re a pedestrian crossing a heavily trafficked road with a posted speed limit of 40mph, you stop at the crosswalk, hit the light to cross, and wait for cars to stop before safely proceeding. The flashing lights signal to the driver that it’s time to slow down and come to a safe stop if they have time to do so. It’s fairly standard while driving to slow a bit before approaching a crosswalk, even if there are no people and no flashing lights - at least that’s what I do, mostly to guard against situations like the one I described. Since I didn’t see anyone, I proceeded. It wasn’t me who was going too fast, being reckless, not paying attention, not hitting the flashing lights, not waiting for cars to stop. I was paying attention and following the law. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/2268 "2025-10-23T23:44:12Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Seems to me that if you’re a pedestrian crossing a heavily trafficked road with a posted speed limit of 40mph, you stop at the crosswalk, hit the light to cross, and wait for cars to stop before safely proceeding. The flashing lights signal to the driver Light? Flashing Lights? I think I saw this - once. At a crosswalk- lights or no lo lights, the pedestrians have the right. However, I have seen walkers, all dressed in black, with their hoods up and their eyes glued to their phone- cross right in the middle of a dark street. In that case, i do not think the car should be at fault ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/2269 "2025-10-24T00:11:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Light? Flashing Lights? I think I saw this - once. Where I live they are all over the place. Sometimes on very busy multiple lane roads, sometimes on back roads. It’s similar to when someone stops on a corner and hits a button to cross the street - the main difference is there’s no stop light at these crossings. So the person hits a button that makes the crosswalk signs flash yellow, and cars stop for them to cross. Anyway, the experience will make me even more cautious than I already was. Just more fuel for my driving anxiety. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/2270 "2025-10-24T00:20:49Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Seems to me that if you’re a pedestrian crossing a heavily trafficked road with a posted speed limit of 40mph, you stop at the crosswalk They have right of way. That’s like saying the compact car coming towards you on the main road, as you barrel out of side street at 40mph, in your great big truck, should stop for _you_. Why is that idiot not stopping!? Doesn’t he know he’s gonna get killed when you side swipe his tiny compact with your truck. Sure he has right of way, but why is he endangering himself like that? ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/2271 "2025-10-24T01:12:09Z")
I hear you. I’ll be more careful in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/2272 "2025-10-24T03:54:28Z")
I hate the way the word, “verse” has come to mean “compete against” - a bastardization of “versus”. When my kids were little and we would play some one on one game it was inundated with, “you can verse Matt and I’ll verse the winner.” I tried and tried to explain to them that sounded like little morons because they were trying to say, “versus,” but it didn’t take. And now, apparently, it’s just a thing. I, of course, blame them. ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/2273 "2025-10-24T12:03:53Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > The way “x” has replaced “&” as the default way to combined two artists who are working together (and now even any two things collaborating) Because I first came across this in the context of Spanish-speaking artists, I formed the possibly incorrect idea that this _x_ represents the Spanish word _por_, and I tend to mentally pronounce in that way when I see it written. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/2274 "2025-10-24T17:27:01Z")
I’ve had the vague idea that it derives from [hybrid names](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_name) in botanical nomenclature, where the “x” literally means “crossed with”. But I’m not sure if I’ve ever had any real basis for that assumption. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/2275 "2025-10-24T17:37:58Z")
The way that, when YouTube people are ranking things (be it TV shows, movies, hotels, airlines, whatever), they’ll do it with letters, like grades in school, with A being the best, B the next best, and so on. Except for the very very super terrific tippy top best of them all, even better than A, which is…S. Seriously, why is S above A? That is not how the alphabet works, people! ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/2276 "2025-10-24T18:06:35Z")
When I was in school in the 1960s, “S” was an actual grade above “A”. It was very rarely used, and I think only for individual homework assignments and such, not for actual quarterly grades. I think it stood for “superior”. I remember being very proud of getting an S on a book report I did, probably around 6th grade or so. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/2277 "2025-10-24T18:08:47Z")
That one’s actually one I know. The “tier” system was started/inspired by Japanese culture, where S is, in fact, better than A. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/2278 "2025-10-24T18:25:09Z")
It was very much different at my school. “S,” when it was given, meant “Satisfactory.” It certainly wasn’t high praise. Basically it meant your work was just…okay. Not terrible, but not great, either. Just…okay. I remember it as being something that we would get in elementary school. The A-B-C-D-F scale didn’t come along until junior high. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/2279 "2025-10-24T18:35:19Z")
I’m getting text messages from doctors offices saying my bill is ready and “click here to pay” Nope…send me a paper bill. That’s how we keep track of our bills. One that my dentist sent simply said I owe $100 and had no itemization whatsoever. Again, if you want me to pay, send me a paper bill. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/2280 "2025-10-24T18:37:58Z")
It was exactly that same system for me. Very simplified in elementary school, letters in middle school, numeric in HS. Elementary was O ( outstanding ), S ( satisfactory ) or M ( more improvement needed ). The joke among us was that if you got a humming report card, you were in trouble. Humming, as in “MMMMM”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712.md?page=113) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712.md?page=115)