That happened to me a few days ago.. I still can’t remember what it was. 
It pains me to have to complain about classical music used as Hold music, but I must. I have to call a certain medical office all the time and usually wait on hold for at least 5 minutes. They have classical music as their hold music, which is nice in principle. But in this case, it’s solo Spanish Classical guitar in a particular performance with insane dynamic variation. It’ll be pianissimo for long stretches, and I’ll turn up the volume so I could hear if someone came on the line. Then it will suddenly BLAST a fortissimo fast strumming section, damaging (probably) the phone’s speakers and (certainly) my eardrums. Just as I leap for the volume control, it will drop down again to nearly inaudible. And back and forth.
Unless I hold the phone tightly to my ear during the entire hold time, there isn’t a volume that allows me to hear the soft-voiced receptionist when she finally comes on, while also not blasting my whole world with the loud sections. Classical hold music is great; E for Effort. But remember what people are doing when they’re on hold. They put the phone down, while monitoring out of one corner of their ear for when the line is finally answered. Some music allows for this. Classical guitar, or this selection anyway, doesn’t.
The phrase “denim jeans”.
Jeans ARE denim. If a pair of pants isn’t denim, it isn’t a pair of jeans.
I mean, does anyone go into a shop and ask for “denim jeans”? Or “non-denim jeans”?
So do I win the thread?
I’d like to expand that to any sort of marketing-speak that adds no real information. Like in the thread about Lay’s potato chips, there was a side discussion about how they said their chips are made from “farm-grown potatoes”. Of course they’re farm grown! Where else would they be grown? (I think we can safely assume they’re not using home-grown potatoes).
People who stan things with absolute refusal to consider the negative impacts. Trump fans, obviously, but basically anyone bending over backward to defend their thing, for any reason. People who aggressively defend celebrities are another example. People who deny the health risks of weed. For anything I love, I’m able to clearly articulate the potential drawbacks or recognize why someone else wouldn’t like it. I’m not threatened by acknowledging things I like are imperfect. I don’t understand why this is so hard for some people and it drives me mad.
In the other direction: stores using “home grown” to describe produce grown on farms large enough to be supplying a chain’s warehouses.
“Creamery butter” always makes my eyes roll.
That somehow reminded me that I recently saw “bakery made bread” at the store.
In California one can get a permit to sell food prepared in a home kitchen, and the vendor that sells sourdough at my local farmers’ market does just that, but obviously the bread at a large chain store comes from a bakery.
Building off of this, I’ll mention specifically comic book fans who are so in love with a particular character that they regard it as essential that the character be presented as absolutely superior in every way.
It’s not enough for Batman to be a cool character. He must the best, most badass, most undefeatable character ever. Any story in which he is shown to make a mistake, to be outmaneuvered by a villain, to be defeated by a foe who is considered unworthy, is clearly “garbage writing,” by some loser who doesn’t understand the character AT ALL (and is probably woke, come to think of it).
And without those elements you don’t have conflict and just bad storytelling. Heroes need to have weaknesses because we all do. I’m with you.
Except Willie Mays. He was perfect.
Intentionally confusingly worded discounts that attempt to make the discount appear larger than it actually is. Like the promotional email I just got from Uber Eats: “Enjoy 70% off your next order! (Maximum discount $7)”. Do that math. If the maximum discount is $7, then you’ll only be getting 70% off if your total order is $10 or less. Which if you’ve ever ordered from Uber Eats you know most likely won’t be the case (unless maybe you just order a single McDonald’s cheeseburger or something). So for all intents and purposes, the discount is really $7 off. But they clearly want you to just focus on the first part and think “Wow, 70% off, that a lot!”
I found them less than trustworthy.
The Fifth Third Bank. Umm. You guys deal with numbers, right? WTF??
I.
Do.
Not.
Care.
If.
You.
Are.
The Fifth branch or the Third branch or whatever.
Merge of two banks- Third and Fifth National banks. Yeah it kinda bothers me a little.
Like Ruth’s Chris steakhouse.
Why aren’t they The Eighth Bank?
Because five thirds are 1.6666… of a bank. Or they are the last 0.333… that make it achieve 1.666…. But they certainly aren’t eight.
The first third bank is #3, the second third bank is #6, the third third bank is #9, the fourth third bank is #12 and the fifth third bank is #15.
I favour classical music. I like the Faure Requiem, the incredible Mozart Requiem, and Dvořák’s possibly greatest work.
All are suitable for the call center where we all go to die.
Gaaaaa… That drives met a bit batty as well.
Ok, I think you just broke my brain… Oh, I get it. I think that nobody in these ‘institutions’ have any creativity at all. I guess I don’t want my bankers to be ‘creative’ or do I? They certainly don’t understand grammar. “So, where are the other four third banks, hmmm??”