# 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:** 19
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2024, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/361 "2024-10-07T22:06:43Z")
BCE is a better choice because it’s more accurate/less confusing. Try these sentences “The best estimate for date of Jesus’ birth is between 4 and 6 years before Christ” or “The best estimate for the date of Jesus’ birth is between 4 and 6 years before the Common Era.” One of those contains a manifest contradiction; the other does not. This has nothing to do with religion. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/362 "2024-10-08T03:49:24Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > “The best estimate for date of Jesus’ birth is between 4 and 6 years before Christ” I just say “BC”, why add syllables? And it turns out that may be wrong as we are no longer sure of the year death of Herod. > **[Herod the Great](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great)** > > Herod I\[a\] or Herod the Great (c. 72 BCE – c. 4 BCE) was a Roman Jewish client king of the Herodian Kingdom of Judea. He is known for his colossal building projects throughout Judea. Among these works are the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the expansion of its base—the Western Wall being part of it. Vital details of his life are recorded in the works of the 1st century CE Roman–Jewish historian Josephus. > Despite Herod's successes, including single-handedly forging a new aristoc... M_ost scholarship concerning the date of Herod’s death follows [Emil Schürer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil_Sch%C3%BCrer)’s calculations, which suggest that the date was in or around 4 BCE; this is three years earlier than the previous consensus and tradition (1 BCE).[[72]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great#cite_note-74)[[73]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great#cite_note-Marshall_2012-75)[[13]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great#cite_note-FOOTNOTESteinmann2011219%E2%80%93256-14)[[74]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great#cite_note-Barnes_date-76)[[75]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great#cite_note-Bernegger-77)[[76]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great#cite_note-78) Two of Herod’s sons, Archelaus and Philip the Tetrarch, dated their rule from 4 BCE,[[77]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great#cite_note-79) though Archelaus apparently held royal authority during Herod’s lifetime.[[78]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great#cite_note-80) Philip’s reign would last for 37 years, until his death in the 20th year of [Tiberius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius) (34 CE), which implies his accession as 4 BCE.[[79]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great#cite_note-81)_ _Some scholars support the traditional date of 1 BCE for Herod’s death.[[80]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great#cite_note-82)[[81]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great#cite_note-83)[[82]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great#cite_note-84)[[83]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great#cite_note-85) Yet others support 1 CE for the probable date of Herod’s death.[[84]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great#cite_note-Pratt_1990-86)[[85]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great#cite_note-87) Filmer, for example, proposes that Herod died in 1 BCE, and that his heirs backdated their reigns to 4 or 3 BCE to assert an overlapping with Herod’s rule, and bolster their own legitimacy_ ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/363 "2024-10-08T04:00:58Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Spoken like a true Christian. I am not actually a Christian, a point I have made several times before. ---
**Author:** ![Tj54](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tj54/32/17945_2.png) [@Tj54](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tj54)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/364 "2024-10-08T04:24:49Z")
I recently turned 70. I have some health issues but am pretty active. Almost every time I go to the grocery store or Costco I am infuriated by these “old people” who are in the way! They take up the middle of aisle or are hovering by the samples just taking up space and keeping me from moving around. I’m sure someday I will be them, but for now they need to get the f out of the way. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/365 "2024-10-08T06:24:21Z")
One thing that always irks me badly: When I am walking on a footpath that is too narrow to pass the person before me, and that other person walks at 98% of the speed that I want to walk at, i.e., viewed dispassionately, a totally reasonable walking speed. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2024, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/366 "2024-10-08T08:48:25Z")
Yes. Bastards. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/367 "2024-10-08T09:36:50Z")
> [@Tj54](#): > > I recently turned 70. I have some health issues but am pretty active. Almost every time I go to the grocery store or Costco I am infuriated by these “old people” who are in the way! I could say the same about the local racetrack/race book/casino. Lots of seniors with walkers, canes, and slow old people. But at least they’re there. Plus, they usually have pretty good tips on the racing, if you take the time to get to know them. ---
**Author:** ![deneen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deneen/32/17713_2.png) [@deneen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deneen)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/368 "2024-10-08T09:42:18Z")
\*nervously resolves to never walk/ride/exist on a combined walking bike path again for fear of being taken out or, worse, annoying someone… ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/369 "2024-10-09T22:57:06Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I just say “BC”, why add syllables? And it turns out that may be wrong as we are no longer sure of the year death of Herod. I figured “BC” had a meaning, so I thought I’d use it. But we know exactly when the Common Era started, regardless of any later discoveries about the death of Herod. That makes the BCE preferable - we know what it means. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/370 "2024-10-10T01:16:10Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > But we know exactly when the Common Era started, regardless of any later discoveries about the death of Herod. Same with BC. Even if the date of Jesus birth is not really clear. And what "common era’ are they talking about? What makes it the common era? ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/371 "2024-10-10T01:23:08Z")
It’s common because people all over the world now use that as the starting point going forward and backward, regardless of why it was originally so designated. It’s an acknowledgment of a fait accompli, not of the existence of any particular deity. I don’t know why you’re fighting this, it’s so obvious. Can you say FAFO and pretend it doesn’t contain an obscenity? ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/372 "2024-10-10T01:33:58Z")
Just about what I was going to say. Regardless of whether Christ was born that year or not, prople have been counting from the year that Gaius Caesar and Lucius Paullus were consuls, Confucius was given the title Baocheng Xuan Ni Gong. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/373 "2024-10-10T04:00:28Z")
> [@deneen](#): > > \*nervously resolves to never walk/ride/exist on a combined walking bike path again for fear of being taken out or, worse, annoying someone… Just follow the rules and keep to the right, and look both ways before you cross. I had a woman walk right in front of me when I was on my bicycle and I had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting her. Then she called me a jerk. We exchanged a few words after that. ---
**Author:** ![deneen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deneen/32/17713_2.png) [@deneen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deneen)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/374 "2024-10-10T09:54:41Z")
I arrive to the beach early to stake out my spot. I have checked the tide schedule so that I know just about exactly where to sit so that the incoming tide won’t set me scrambling backwards into someone else’s ‘territory’ hours from now. I get my chair and towel and book arranged, sit down with my Wawa coffee, so happy. About 10 minutes later, I spy them coming down the beach path. A bunch of bros, or a big family, or a friend group of about 10. I furtively watch them approach, toting wagons, canopies, umbrellas, backpacks. Here they come… and settle RIGHT in front of me. Mind you, the beach is empty. They spread out, put the canopy up, arrange their chairs in a big circle, yell-talking the whole time. Worst of all, they leave their giant beach cart loaded with even more supplies (are they camping for three months?) directly in front of me. I spend the next four hours listening to their loud music, shouted conversations, and flapping canopy, resignedly gazing at the supply tower blocking my ocean view. Move, you say? Oh no… I am simultaneously too passive aggressive and wimpy to do any such thing. It would look rude, no? I simply muddle through the day, finally trudging off the beach attempting to unclench my jaw and get home to relax. I’ll try again tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/375 "2024-10-10T10:00:11Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > Can you say FAFO and pretend it doesn’t contain an obscenity Well, yes, since I’m not familiar with that acronym. But i did just look it up. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/376 "2024-10-10T10:01:49Z")
The fact that at least half of the cars in the supermarket parking lot are occupied by people who are concentrating on their phones. That’s fine, and I’m glad they’re not texting while driving, but why the hell do they need to park so close to the store if they’re not going in? Park way the hell out, and leave the close-to-the-store spots for people who are actually going to the store. Like me. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/377 "2024-10-10T10:07:55Z")
Lol, they are asking their partners, “do you need anything while I’m here?” Just like the people in the aisles on their phones. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/378 "2024-10-10T13:22:36Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > That’s fine, and I’m glad they’re not texting while driving, but why the hell do they need to park so close to the store if they’re not going in? What makes you think they aren’t, or didn’t? I’ve been known to go to a grocery store, and when I return to my car I check my phone and reply to messages I got while shopping. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2024, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/379 "2024-10-10T14:11:56Z")
> [@deneen](#): > > About 10 minutes later, I spy them coming down the beach path. A bunch of bros, or a big family, or a friend group of about 10. Just like the standard British joke about trying to stop the Germans hogging the sun loungers in any Mediterranean resort: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/LuIJqF8av6I/hqdefault.jpg "Carling Black Label sunbeds") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuIJqF8av6I) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/380 "2024-10-10T14:15:12Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > Just like the standard British joke about trying to stop the Germans hogging the sun loungers in any Mediterranean resort: We like to make the same jokes with the nationalities reversed. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712.md?page=20)