# What are your pet peeves?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [February 11, 2001, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078 "2001-02-11T22:51:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2001, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078/41 "2001-02-17T23:26:44Z")
More on gum …
Rude people, like a former supervisor of mine, who chomp and snap their gum **while they are talking to me on the phone**. I finally got up the gumption to say, ever so sweetly, “I’m sorry, I didn’t understand what you were asking me to do, it might have been because I couldn’t hear what you were saying with all that noise.” The supervisor, still cracking the gum madly, asked “what noise?” and I said “I’m sure I don’t know.” and then just sat there and waited until the gum stopped. It was a big Dilbert-esque victory for me, I tell you.
People who have to be sooooo competitive when they play games. A bunch of people were at my house for a party, and we started playing Monopoly. This can be a rather long game. Through some bizarre twist of fate, one of the players went bankrupt after just a few turns. Someone offered to give that person X amount of dollars so they could keep playing, and one person just went ballistic. How dare we violate the rules in such a manner? Geez, lighten up, it’s just Monopoly, not the World Series of Poker.
People who pet dogs before they ask if the dog is friendly. I see people drag their kids over to someone else’s dog on a leash, and encourage the kids to pet the nice doggy, even while the dog owner is trying to say “this dog isn’t used to children.” I’m quite sure the parents won’t be so pleased with the nice doggy if it snaps at their child.
This goes beyond the realm of pet peeves when the dog in question is a Seeing Eye Dog! I know two people with guide dogs, and one doesn’t want people to pet the dog (because it distracts the dog), and the other one loves it when people pet the dog. Is it so hard to ask “is it ok if I pet your dog?”
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### Author:  [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2001, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078/42 "2001-02-18T00:47:32Z")
Agree with most of the above; _fervently_ agree about aggressive drivers. Also:
- cheap, easy rudeness to people who can’t answer back, like waitstaff, clerks, etc. Especially people who manage to be polite to “people who matter” but treat everyone else like dirt.
- people who don’t teach their children basic manners, i.e. let kids run amok and make nuisances of themselves. If nothing else it’s grossy unfair to the kids, because they aren’t how to behave, self-restraint, etc.
- passive/aggressive tactics: they’re so gutless and pointless, not to mention annoying as hell.
- rude telephone idiots: The phone rings, you answer and it’s a wrong number. The person just hangs up or says “ok” and THEN hangs up. What about “oh, sorry to have disturbed you?” Or:
You place a call.
Unknown dimwit answers with a highly informative, “yeah.”
You identify yourself and ask to speak to X.
1.dead silence except for the crash as dimwit drops the receiver onto sheetmetal before wandering off to–possibly–find X.
1. dimwit BELLOWS directly into your ear, “HEY, X! PHONE FOR YOU!”–then drops the receiver onto sheetmetal.
2. dimwit torpidly states “X isn’t here.” Ooohkaaay, a fun game of Twenty Questions: any idea when X might be available? Is it possible to leave a message? With dimwit? Who might actually write it down, if he’s literate and trusted with unfamiliar sharp objects like pencils?
Veb
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### Author:  [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2001, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078/43 "2001-02-18T01:37:54Z")
- Intolerance in any way, shape, or form. Especially annoying, personally, because it’s widespread, often vocalized and completely unjustified, is making fun of me because I listen to country music and/or watch auto racing. If you don’t like either activity, you don’t do it. I just said I like them; I didn’t say you have to agree with me. You didn’t think I was a redneck up until I said that, did you? I’m not any different. YOU are. And oddly enough, the people with whom I run into the most of this kind of trouble would have no problem with me if I were homosexual, of a different race or religion, or held differing political views. It’s my choice of entertainment that causes a problem. :sigh:
- I learned the difference between “its” and “it’s,” “there” and “their” or “they’re,” “your” and “you’re,” etc back in grade school. Were you absent those years?
- H@ck-r speek and all kewl spellings of words. Makes me want to slap people.
- Talk radio. My mom told me she was listening to the radio and some respected columnist was saying that it was irresponsible of Anthony Hopkins to appear in _Hannibal_ because the movie will legitimize cannibalism and teach our young people that it is all right to eat human flesh. I wish I could crawl into the speaker and slap that woman.
- Lars Ulrich of Metallica.
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### Author:  [@Sealemon88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon88)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2001, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078/44 "2001-02-18T17:32:49Z")
> [@](#):
>
> passive/aggressive tactics: they’re so gutless and pointless, not to mention annoying as hell.
Oh yeah, esp. in combination with people who hold grudges. You’re an adult, right? Act half your age.
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### Author:  [@The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Zamboni)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2001, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078/45 "2001-02-18T23:42:18Z")
I can’t say enough about gum. My Mom chews it so loud you can hear it ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE HOUSE! Sometimes you can’t understand a word she says. I haven’t chewed gum in more than three years because I don’t want to sound like that.
> [@](#):
>
> - Talk radio. My mom told me she was listening to the radio and some respected columnist was saying that it was irresponsible of Anthony Hopkins to appear in Hannibal because the movie will legitimize cannibalism and teach our young people that it is all right to eat human flesh. I wish I could crawl into the speaker and slap that woman.
I don’t like talk ANYTHING. They are all degrading. I can’t stand court shows. The only difference between court and talk shows is a judge.
PS, boy that woman’s an idiot. She actually thought canniballism would be popularized with this movie? She needs to find another way to criticize the movie.
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### Author:  [@poohpah\_chalupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poohpah_chalupa)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2001, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078/46 "2001-02-19T13:20:24Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by The Great Zamboni \*
> **…the movie will legitimize cannibalism and teach our young people that it is all right to eat human flesh…**
Any word on her reaction to the obvious outbreak of a particular practice after the release of “American Pie?”
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### Author:  [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2001, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078/47 "2001-02-19T17:05:16Z")
This is when the standards of the present are inappropriately applied to the past. For example, to create an image of cool nonchalance, for which a cigarette hanging from the lips would once have been de rigeur, we now often see a matchstick or toothpick being used. Notably, Bill Cosby, in a spot for Turner Classic Movies, is seen decked out in 1940’s era regalia, but chomping on a toothpick instead of an cigarette. Similarly, the posters for a Sly Stallone movie about 10 years ago showed him sucking on a matchstick.
Then there’s the problem of current-day artefacts being used
in situations where the older versions of those things would have worked. On some sitcom or other I recently saw were someone tries to hypnotize somebody with a watch–but it’s a wristwatch! The whole point of hypnotizing someone with a watch required that the watch be a large shiny object that
could swing back and forth on a chain…i.e. a pocket watch.
But in the TV show you just saw this person futily swivelling this wristwatch back and forth. It wouldn’t even
swing, so he had to move it by rotating his wrist back and forth. I don’t know if this situation was the result of bad writing, or actually an accurate depiction of how someone would try to hypnotize someone now. I suspect the latter, and hence don’t know if I really have the right to be peeved by it. But since this is the Pit, I figure it’s all right to post it here regardless.
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### Author:  [@Winnie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnie)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2001, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078/48 "2001-02-19T17:45:55Z")
> [@](#):
>
> People who pet dogs before they ask if the dog is friendly. I see people drag their kids over to someone else’s dog on a leash, and encourage the kids to pet the nice doggy, even while the dog owner is trying to say “this dog isn’t used to children.” I’m quite sure the parents won’t be so pleased with the nice doggy if it snaps at their child.
I’m glad to see someone bring this up. It is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. My 5-year old English Bulldog, Pia, is a major sweetie - except around kids. She’s a rescue and sadly endured some torture by her previous owner’s kids and neighbors, and since then has developed a severe disdain for children. We’ve had her in very specialized behavior training and we maintain a comfortable control over her in public. However, I can’t believe when a parent allows a child to just walk up behind start grabbing her, hugging her, petting her, even trying to pick her up (weird since she’s a 60-lb dead weight), and then look at me like I’m a child abuser when Pia turns and growls or shows her teeth, ready to snap. You wouldn’t expect me to come up behind your child, pick her up, grab her backside, or hug her, would you?
Another dog-related pet peeve: As much as I love dogs, the one thing that grates on my nerves is a barking dog that doesn’t stop barking. You’ve ALL had this neighbor with the unstoppable barking dog. Everyone hears this dog barking at 3 a.m. except for the dog’s owner.
My traffic-related pet peeve: Hit and run drivers. To me, nothing says chicken shit like someone who hits a car or even a person, sometimes killing them, and then takes off. Truly, these people must be sentenced harshly without a second thought.
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### Author:  [@Winnowill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnowill)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2001, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078/49 "2001-02-19T22:24:00Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Cervaise \*
> \*\*“From whence.”
>
> That bugs the shit out of me. “From whence.” Grrrr.
>
> It’s redundant. “Whence” means “from where.”
>
> “Go back whence you came.” \*\*
Thank you! This one has always bugged me. More so now that the animal group I volunteer with has started a “brick” campaign. You know the kind - donate some money and we’ll dedicate a brick to you in our new shelter. Someone decided to dedicate one to our founder (who was an English major, making it even worse). It says “TO JULIE: FROM WHENCE OUR INSPIRATION COMES”. Every time I see it, I want to smash it. “From whom” - fine. “Whence” all by itself - fine. “From whence” - ugh!
Other pet peeves: people who do “The Wave” at sporting events. If you’re busy doing the wave, you aren’t paying attention to the game. If you’re not paying attention, why are you there?
People who say “okay” or “ya know” after every other word.
People who come into the PETsMART I volunteer in to attend obedience class, and send their ill-behaved children to the Adoption Center for free babysitting. Oh, no, you don’t, either! I always kick 'em out. There’s a reason the vast majority of the volunteers don’t have kids… Extension of this - children who make sudden moves around the rescue dogs, even after having been asked to stay away from them. They were pound rescues. They’re a little unpredictable sometimes. Hello - parents? Umm…do you mind taking care of your child?
Urban legends and virus hoaxes being spread by e-mail. C’mon people - do a little research before you send it on.
And, finally, misuse of apostrophes and commas.
Ah. I feel better now.
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### Author:  [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2001, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078/50 "2001-02-20T06:37:47Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by OrcaChow \*
>
> - (similar to Lord Davidson’s list) In a supermarket checkout, people who dispute a difference of two or three cents on a single canned item (“That’s not the brand I meant to buy.”) and hold up ten other customers in line in doing so.
I HATE THIS!
Once I was in line behind this pompous guy who obviously was the type of person who goes into stores just itching to pick a fight with the sales clerks (these people are a whole peeve unto themselves). Anyway, he was complaining because apparently the item had rung up $.10 more expensive than he’d expected. Ten cents, folks. There were two people in line behind me. Every other lane was full up, too. And this guy is holding us all up for a dime. He was being a real jerk about it too, threatening the cashier and all. I could tell he was about two seconds from calling the manager. For ten cents.
So I dug in my pocket, fished out a dime, slapped it down on the counter, and said, “There you go. Does that take care of the problem?”
He turned bright red, looked pissed off, and gave the dime back, muttering something like, “No thanks, forget it,” and very quickly finished up his transaction and got out of there. It was very satisfying.
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### Author:  [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2001, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078/51 "2001-02-20T07:20:59Z")
People who sit behind me in a theatre and eat their popcorn loudly
Assholes who don’t signal and then cut you off or slam on their brakes to turn
People who can’t just accept that an opinion is an opinion and move along
Liars
Those who treat people with disabilities as if they don’t exist
The guy in the grocery store the other day who ran his cart up the back of my ankles cuz he was in such a hurry
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### Author:  [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2001, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078/52 "2001-02-20T07:22:22Z")
Oh yeah, and phone solicitors… I hate those people. I realize everyone needs a job, but take no and go away.
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### Author:  [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2001, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078/53 "2001-02-20T14:01:03Z")
> [@](#):
>
> So I dug in my pocket, fished out a dime, slapped it down on the counter, and said, “There you go. Does that take care of the problem?”
Perfect! Beautiful! Excellent! Bravo, sir, bravo.
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### Author:  [@The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Zamboni)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2001, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078/54 "2001-02-20T15:35:38Z")
> [@](#):
>
> he was complaining because apparently the item had rung up $.10 more expensive than he’d expected.
To some people 10 cents can mean a lot, but if it bugs you that’s fine.
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### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2001, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078/55 "2001-02-20T17:17:51Z")
My peeve du jour - **The Hallway Conference Attenders** (a variation of the Elevator-Holding Discussion Groups). If you have a lengthy, involved discussion that you need to have with lots of people, make sure you have it right in the middle of the hallway at work. The most strategic position is right in front of someone’s open door who is still trying to work. And don’t move off to one side for people coming down the hallway, because you’re having an important discussion, dammit!
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### Author:  [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2001, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078/56 "2001-02-20T17:20:10Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by The Great Zamboni \*
> To some people 10 cents can mean a lot, but if it bugs you that’s fine.
He was wearing a leather jacket with personalized detailing on it, had a cell phone, and an expensive pair of sunglasses. I think that what meant a lot to him was not the dime, but rather the thrill of verbally assaulting the cashier. :rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Zamboni)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2001, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078/57 "2001-02-20T17:51:06Z")
I wasn’t exactly refering to him. Now he looks like a jerk.
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### Author:  [@Niggle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niggle)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2001, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078/58 "2001-02-20T18:29:57Z")
What the heck, here’s some of mine.
I do a lot of traveling on the highways here in BC. For those of you who haven’t driven here, these roads are fairly narrow, two lane with some passing area, mountain roads. In the winter they’re usually wet, icy or covered in compact snow. I’ve noticed that there exists a particular type of driver on these roads - the dreaded SUV owner. For some reason 80% of these folks seem to think that because they’re driving a SUV that there is no need to slow down because of some titchy patches of black ice on the road. I drive a small sports car, so it’s particularly scary to see these huge beasts bearing down at me at 140kph (no kidding) in a 80kph section that’s covered in snow, slush or ice. C’mon people, getting to Whistler to do your skiing 10 minutes earlier isn’t worth several people’s lives! It’s no wonder almost every vehicle you see in the ditch (or, because of these roads, over a cliff) is an SUV. Maybe I should just take the stance that this is simply natural selection at work.
Other than that, the only thing that really makes me grit my teeth is when people leave time on the microwave. I’ve been late for things because there was a minute and 20 seconds left on the micro and I thought it ment it was 1:20 in the afternoon. =P
-nigel
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### Author:  [@Pammipoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pammipoo)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2001, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078/59 "2001-02-21T07:18:05Z")
I also really hate when I’m going like 85 down the road, with no one behind me for miles. A little piece of shit car pulls in front of me, forcing me to slow down to 35 or so. You couldn’t wait till AFTER i passed to turn out? Because, of course, you couldnt tell that i was in a hurry to get somewhere.
I also really hate when they change all the clocks at work without telling anyone. I depend on that extra 8 minutes. When you set the clocks to the right time, I’m now 7 minutes late, as opposed to my original 1 minute early.
And I hate when people whine about the same problems every night, but do nothing about them. The first few times, I can kinda understand. You need to vent. However, 3 weeks later,after listening to the same BS continuously, either do something about it, or MOVE ON!! My best friend does this constantly, and I just want to slap him.
OOh, and when people pry into your personal business for the sake of gossip? “So, I heard you hooked up with that guy in our math class?” Yeah, and what’s it to you? My life, not yours. Stay back.
I’m sure there’s more, i’ll think of them after I hit send. I’ll be back.
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### Author:  [@Mu\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mu_Mu)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2001, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pet-peeves/54078/60 "2001-02-21T10:12:29Z")
Since you mentioned TV, I might as well say one of my pet peeves with TV is that you have to watch the news on every channel at the same time. You can’t skip it and go straight to Letterman or Leno.
You can’t even skip parts of it you don’t care about, like weather or sports. Since they all broadcast in lockstep, changing channels just gets the identical weather or sports.
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