# 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:** 156
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/3101 "2026-09-18T18:52:06Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > This is an absurd spelling. The standard suffix meaning “one who does” is -er. The word should be spelled “better.” Obviously. One who runs is a runner. One who swims is a swimmer. One who drives is a driver. One who bets is a better. This is obvious and undeniable. > > But no. Apparently the standard spelling is “bettor.” _Forget it, Jake. It’s the English language._ ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/3102 "2026-09-18T19:30:47Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > This is an absurd spelling. The standard suffix meaning “one who does” is -er. The word should be spelled “better.” Obviously. One who runs is a runner. One who swims is a swimmer. One who drives is a driver. One who bets is a better. This is obvious and undeniable. > > But no. Apparently the standard spelling is “bettor.” I suppose “bettor” likely became the standard spelling to avoid confusion with “better” as in “more good”. Except there are plenty of words in the English language that have different meanings depending on the context. So I don’t think that’s a particularly good reason. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/3103 "2026-09-19T00:38:35Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > I suppose “bettor” likely became the standard spelling I think we’re stuck with it, for bettor or worse. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/3104 "2026-09-19T12:36:23Z")
The first example that popped into my mind was “lessor.” It is another example of a word that prevents confusion by using “-or” and not “-er.” “The lesser is owed $2000 in rent by the lessee.” “Your honor, the tenant obviously can’t owe anything to a lesser person. They don’t deserve it.” ---
**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:** [September 20, 2026, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/3105 "2026-09-20T04:22:16Z")
I don’t use any streaming services on my television, only stations that are broadcast free over the airwaves. A month or so ago, ABC was supposed to move from channel 30 here in St. Louis, to channel 32.1 instead. However, the ABC network is not on any over-the-air channels that I can access. This is infuriating to me because there are a couple of shows that I can’t watch anymore. First world problem I know. But I wanted to continue watching Will Trent. 32.1 doesn’t show any ABC programming. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/3106 "2026-09-20T23:11:36Z")
I am irrationally irritated that I’m stuck letting my sons’ school laptops/tablets onto my home network, despite having very little control over how they’re configured, etc… The school district manages all the settings, and I can’t do things like turn off the random MAC addresses, so that my router can consistently identify that device. I’m not a security paranoiac or anything, but I don’t like the idea that I’m essentially required to let some black-box device onto my network. It feels somehow… coercive to me. Like “You can ban these, but your kids will get shit grades” kind of coercive. And what’s worse, my kids are kind of obsessed with YouTube and various flash games, and since the MAC addresses jump around, I can’t consistently put those machines into a group for parental controls. 🤬 ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/3107 "2026-09-21T00:58:42Z")
Could you get some other tech-savvy parents together to write a letter pointing out these and other safety and security problems the policy causes and get the district’s tech people to allow parents access to the relevant settings? ---
**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:** [September 21, 2026, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/3108 "2026-09-21T01:23:53Z")
On many routers you can set up a “guest network”. Devices connected to a guest network can access the Internet through your router but cannot access other devices in your home network. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/3109 "2026-09-21T13:52:57Z")
I bought a new washing machine last year. Not super high end, it’s a top load, has some fancy features, and a lid lock. The infuriating part is that the lid locks while it fills with water. I use liquid laundry detergent, one of the big jugs with a side dispenser, and it comes with a cup for measuring. If I don’t rinse the cup every time it becomes disgustingly covered with dried up detergent. If I throw the cup in with the wash, it occasionally comes out broken. In the old days, I could rinse the cup out as the washer filled, but not anymore. I’m now protected from the water entering a stationary washtub. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/3110 "2026-09-23T14:04:09Z")
**Fork-split English muffins!!!** UGH They never come apart easily. I have to do it over a garbage can, because of the crumbs and sometimes pieces that fall all over the place. I’ve used butter knives, sharp knives, and forks but nothing really works well. I read about a “hack” where you just have to twist them apart with your hands. HA! Only do it that way if you want a mangled English muffin. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/3111 "2026-09-23T14:20:14Z")
Here’s a “hack”, use a plate !! ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/3112 "2026-09-23T14:28:58Z")
It’s customary to tear bread rolls apart, but for muffins a sharp knife (longer than the diameter of the muffin) should minimise the debris - and yes, cut it on a plate for tidiness. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/3113 "2026-09-23T14:42:26Z")
I know how to use a plate! The English muffins scatter crumbs everywhere. The cornmeal on the bottom also scatters. The issue lies with the fork-split. It’s not even, so when I cut into it (with a large, sharp knife!), the knife hits some of the fork holes but not all. So it’s a very uneven cut, which makes a mess of the muffin. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/3114 "2026-09-23T18:40:58Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > **Fork-split English muffins!!!** UGH They never come apart easily. I hear you! ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/3115 "2026-09-23T21:36:47Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@commasense](#): > > > > People who drive at night without turning on their headlights. > > Being an old guy, I just set my headlights to come on automatically when it gets dark. Otherwise I could forget to turn them on or off. My car doesn’t have daytime running lights, so I just turn my headlights on and leave them on, even when driving in the daytime. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/3116 "2026-09-23T21:48:47Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > I’ve used butter knives, sharp knives, and forks but nothing really works well. I just use my thumbs to pry them apart. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2026, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/3117 "2026-09-28T14:22:08Z")
Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2026, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/3118 "2026-09-28T14:22:29Z")
And they don’t fall apart? ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/3119 "2026-09-28T15:31:26Z")
Rarely. Sometimes one will start to tear, but I can usually stop it. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2026, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/3120 "2026-09-29T14:06:14Z")
I don’t possess that talent. 😕 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712.md?page=155) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712.md?page=157)