# 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:** 24
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/461 "2024-10-22T11:56:23Z")
That reminds me. Sometimes, I come up onto an intersection where there’s a left turn lane and a lane that doubles for straight across and right turn. If I am lucky, there’s no car in front of me and I can turn right on red, traffic permitting. Sometimes, there’s a car in front and it’s stopped at the red waiting to go across. So I have to wait for the light to turn before I get my right turn. But sometimes, there will be a car waiting for the green light to go across and then when the light changes, THEY TURN RIGHT. This is especially annoying if there was no cross traffic preventing them from turning right on red. I mean, that’s up to a whole minute of my life spent waiting (unnecessarily) for you, Mr. Driver. I imagine them up in their car thinking, “Just because you’re _allowed_ to turn right on red, doesn’t mean that you _have_ to.” So Annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/462 "2024-10-22T12:13:32Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > This is especially annoying if there was no cross traffic preventing them from turning right on red. And of course they didn’t have their blinker on, so that you, with a gentle toot of your horn, could remind them that they can turn right on red. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/463 "2024-10-22T14:00:12Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > As for the mirror thing…yes, I aim my mirrors so I can see as much of my adjacent lanes as possible…but I still turn my head to look before changing lanes. Yep. Same here. I call it a shoulder check. Ya look over your shoulder. I will never not do it. One of the ‘tests’ I do when driving, is to ask myself “do you know the color of the car behind you?” ---
**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 22, 2024, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/464 "2024-10-22T14:08:00Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Yep. Same here. I call it a shoulder check. Ya look over your shoulder. I will never not do it. Me too, I do it religiously. It’s what I learned in driving school 38 years ago, and if you missed to do the “Schulterblick” (shoulder glance) in the practical test, you failed. Furthermore, if you drive the German autobahn, it can be a life saver, because when you change to the left lane with maybe a speed of 140 kph, be always prepared for a Porsche zipping by out of nowhere with 280 kph. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/465 "2024-10-22T14:33:18Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > _We’ll have your total at the window sir._ What about when they use one hand to give you your bag and drink simultaneously? I can’t just grab that with one hand and I have to twist my entire body to use both hands. It’s awkward. Just hand my the drink or bag first and then whatever is left over next. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/466 "2024-10-22T15:35:05Z")
I’ve been keeping up with the thread, but apologies if I missed this one. I am unduly annoyed when I see someone making an unnecessarily wide turn—e.g., when turning left, they first swing wide right, as if they were maneuvering a thresher into a barn. Sometimes this is preceded by someone’s car straddling the opposite lane marker in a turn lane while they wait out a red light. Dude, you’re driving a Corolla, not taxiing a 747. Stay in your lane! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/467 "2024-10-22T15:42:04Z")
Agree with those unnecessary wide turns. The other one is U-Turns. It’s rarely needed if you freaking plan your route. It always screws up traffic, those that are trying to turn right and dangerous for pedestrians. Plan your route. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/468 "2024-10-22T15:53:37Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > What about when they use one hand to give you your bag and drink simultaneously? I don’t order drinks but what irritates me is when they hand me my bag and credit card with one opening of the window. It’s even more irritating when they hand it to me literally simultaneously, but when they have both ready to hand over at once, it feels like I am holding up the line because I have to grab one, then grab the other, then check my order, then put my credit card away before I start to drive. If they gave me back my credit card right when they were done with it then I could drive off only a couple of seconds after I get my order. ---
**Author:** ![slumtrimpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@slumtrimpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slumtrimpet)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/469 "2024-10-22T15:54:58Z")
Not just annoying, downright dangerous. My husband was on his motorcycle and the car in front of him slowed down and started pulling over to the right - no directional - he started to pass on the left of the car when the car abruptly turned left and he smacked into it. Fortunately he was pretty much fine, slightly bruised, and the bike was only scratched some. The dumb-ass driver turned out to be one of his patients and is still apologizing after 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/470 "2024-10-22T18:09:21Z")
Oh, if they do the wide turn without a signal, that goes beyond annoyance into grounds for execution. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/471 "2024-10-22T20:16:27Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > But sometimes, there will be a car waiting for the green light to go across and then when the light changes, THEY TURN RIGHT. This is especially annoying if there was no cross traffic preventing them from turning right on red. I concur, that is just annoying as all get out. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/472 "2024-10-22T22:20:20Z")
“Hey look at the pretty mountains!” While standing in the middle of a crosswalk. You’re on vacation, I get it. But people also WORK here. I’m sure that’s the same with any tourist destination. ---
**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 22, 2024, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/473 "2024-10-22T23:48:45Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > YES. FRUIT STICKERS. I peel them off as soon as they get to my house. Pears are the worst. > > Despite my best efforts I find them in my garden beds and in the fields, because they get into the compost and never degrade. If I became empress the banning of fruit stickers would be my first official act. I can’t say i like fruit stickers. But they are why it’s feasible for supermarkets to offer 10 different types of apple. So i think it’s worth it. > [@Odesio](#): > > But it bugs the hell out of me to see someone wearing it improperly. I went to an eye appointment and the receptionist was wearing a surgical mask under her nose. What’s even the point? I saw a guy wearing a mask on his chin at the airport, in the crowd of people jostling to get on the airplane. I mean, if there’s ONE point in your journey to wear the mask, that’s it. And i just started at him and thought, “huh?”. (I was wearing an n95 respirator over my mouth and nose. And i don’t mind that everyone else has given up on masks. But… Yeah, that drives me nuts, too.) ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/474 "2024-10-23T13:12:03Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > I imagine them up in their car thinking, “Just because you’re _allowed_ to turn right on red, doesn’t mean that you _have_ to.” I was the annoyed and the annoyed in a similar situation last week. I needed to make a u-turn on a divided highway, so I pulled up to the intersection where I could make the u-turn and waited for my chance. A truck pulled up behind me, and when they saw that there was no oncoming traffic to prevent my turn, they gave me a honk to remind me. But I didn’t turn. A few seconds later, they gave me another honk; and when I finally made my turn, they gave me a loud angry blast on the horn to send me on my way. I don’t know if they ever noticed the red left-turn traffic light that I was waiting on to turn green so I could go. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/475 "2024-10-23T13:20:40Z")
Yeah, “left turn on red” is not a thing anywhere that I know of. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/476 "2024-10-23T13:34:38Z")
I wasn’t clear whether he didn’t see the light at all (it was a small and flimsy one), or whether he thought I should ignore it since there was no oncoming traffic. In any case, I honked back at the end, one of my very rare horn-as-expression-of-irritation uses. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/477 "2024-10-23T13:47:04Z")
Just thought of another one, after witnessing it again this morning. Wawa is a huge, but I believe regional, chain of massive mini-markets with gas available out front. People have this as their regular morning stop—coffee, breakfast sandwich, etc., and gas if you need it. Anyway, after you’re done pumping your gas, you’re supposed to move to one of the parking spots if you’re stopping in the store, to open up the space for the next guy. These places get super crowded, and it’s not unusual to have cars waiting in line for their turn at the pumps. But some entitled assholes ignore this, including the guy this morning who pulled up to a pump, exited his car, and walked on into the store. I guess he’ll pump his gas after he gets his coffee and everybody else can just wait. Pure evil! The worst ever variation on this? I pulled into a Wawa to get air in a badly leaking tire (they have free air). It was in the wee hours and there was a single car in the lot—empty and blocking the air pump, while they got their munchies. As long as they’re not inconvenienced even slightly, I guess. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2024, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/478 "2024-10-23T13:56:30Z")
I hate when they hand me 3 or 4 cup items - drinks and/or ice cream. Why don’t they put them in a drink carrier? I always have to ask for one. How do they think I’m going to fumble around with numerous cups while I’m driving?! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/479 "2024-10-23T16:07:54Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > Yeah, “left turn on red” is not a thing anywhere that I know of. With the exception of if you’re on a one way street intersecting another one way street whose way goes left. And even then I assume it’s not allowed unless I see a sign saying otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712/480 "2024-10-23T17:02:41Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > With the exception of if you’re on a one way street intersecting another one way street whose way goes left. And even then I assume it’s not allowed unless I see a sign saying otherwise. In Michigan, you can also turn left on red onto a one-way street from a _two_-way street. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-infuriate-you-well-beyond-their-actual-importance/1006712.md?page=25)