# What "innocent" group of people can you simply not stand? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 28, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982 "2015-10-28T16:27:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982/221 "2015-11-02T20:35:16Z")
> [@BrightSunshine](#): > > The link is to apartment _buildings_ for sale. Of course apartments are owned by the landlords. We were discussing owner-occupied dwellings. Sheesh. The first two entries were buildings. The others were not. [Just admit it,](http://realestate.nytimes.com/sales/new-york-ny-usa#/sales/new-york-ny-usa/0-525000-price) you were [wrong](http://realestate.nytimes.com/sales/detail/46-2255424/Murray-Hill-Plaza-244-Madison-Avenue-NEW-YORK-NY-10016). These are not [buildings](http://realestate.nytimes.com/sales/detail/56-12722359/795-FIFTH-AVENUE-NEW-YORK-NY-10065); they are single-family homes that demonstrate how expensive Manhattan is. [This one](http://realestate.nytimes.com/sales/detail/44-3474945/151-East-58th-Street-NEW-YORK-NY-10022) even says “apartment” in the description. ETA: I see that \*\*CatastrophicFailure \*\*has also responded to this. TY! ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982/222 "2015-11-02T21:23:10Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > A woman brought what she said was a nice couscous veggie salad to a potluck. I asked her if there was any meat or fish in it. She said no. I took one bite, spit it out and said “There’s shellfish in this. BLECH!”: > > She said “Oh, you can’t taste the little bit of crabmeat in it.” Oh my god. What if you were allergic. My contribution would be “people who wear too much perfume.” Even worse if it’s cheap perfume. Instant headache and nausea if they’re near me. ---
**Author:** ![LiveFree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@LiveFree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveFree)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982/223 "2015-11-02T21:31:10Z")
People who are impressed with themselves. Grandiosity People who ask for help, but huff and puff when someone asks for help from him. All take and no give. People who can’t/won’t admit to being wrong. People who listen only to respond and not understand. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982/224 "2015-11-02T23:03:08Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Thats a pretty reasonable take on it. Yeah, you’d think everyone would agree. But they absolutely do not. Ha! Let’s wait to see what **Rune** has to say. I’m sure his mind will be changed. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982/225 "2015-11-03T00:12:57Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > \*Balding middle-aged \*white guys with dreadlocks. _Blonde_, balding middle-aged white guys with dreadlocks _that can’t grow a proper beard and instead look like a yorkie with mange rather than the swashbuckling libertine in their mind’s eye, and they insist on wearing cargo shorts over spandex biker leggings._ You know the type. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982/226 "2015-11-03T01:45:27Z")
People who talk about their children, especially when they bring them up completely out of context to the conversation. There is a woman at work—a little on the batty side, but perfectly nice. She is a middle-aged single woman who adopted a baby from China. Good for her and everything; I wish her the best. I don’t run into her very often in the building and one day I happened to be strolling by her office and I just waved and said, “Hey, how are you?” “I’m a mom! That’s what I am! I’m a mom now!” Okaaayyyyyy. … I’m just making a polite greeting here and on my way to somewhere else … My cousin, who graduated at the top of her class in physics from an Ivy League college, taught English in China for a few years, went to medical school, and now is a pediatric _brain surgeon_. Run into her at a family wedding. “Hey, how have you been? What are you up to? How are you doing?” “I’M RAISING TWO CHILDREN!!!” Okaaayyyyy … Murder me for offering a content-free, formulaic polite greeting. Really, all I wanted to hear from either of you is another content-free, formulaic reply, so we could then decide whether to have a conversation or not. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982/227 "2015-11-03T01:58:46Z")
> [@Lowdown](#): > > With huge dudes that’s just how the arms hang. For most dudes that happens because they don’t stretch. Haven’t seen it with the just-started-outers, but I’d agree that’s not the best. LOL. It’s really not though. I’ve been a gym rat for years and years and I mostly see this with skinny guys trying to puff out or something. It’s humorous as hell. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982/228 "2015-11-03T02:04:44Z")
Ooooh. How about this: People who, when you say “Come to my house at around 6:30ish” show up at 6:30 on the dot or even earlier, especially without advance warning that they’ll be early. I would a million times rather someone showed up 15 minutes or a half hour late than if they showed up early or on-the-dot. At that time I’m probably still cleaning and/or getting ready, because I’m really not expecting them till at least 6:40, and won’t start worrying where they are unless I haven’t heard word by 7. I know a lot of people think it’s hella rude to be late. But IMO it’s ruder to be early. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982/229 "2015-11-03T02:14:35Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > People who, when you say “Come to my house at around 6:30ish” show up at 6:30 on the dot or even earlier, especially without advance warning that they’ll be early. Can I then add the other person in this vignette to the list? “6:30ish” means roughly 6:15 to 6:45. If you don’t want them to show up at 6:30 on the dot or even earlier, then tell them what time you actually want them to show up. If you aren’t expecting them before 6:40, then tell them to come at 6:45ish. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982/230 "2015-11-03T03:26:15Z")
> [@Mudshark](#): > > People who use their cell phone in lines at stores. Cell phones in inappropriate places, like bookstores, or in the bathroom. People who stare at their phones while at restaurants instead of paying attention to the people they are out with. I think it was Dave Barry who once wrote he was standing next to a guy at a urinal, the neighbor chatting away on his phone, when he heard the guy say, “I’m handling it.” Barry found it difficult to suppress a snicker. > [@Smeghead](#): > > Just out of curiosity, which grocery store purchases do you find “pathetic”? > [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > Spam I see someone’s never been to Hawaii, where it’s the state dish. Of course, they do ban it on this Board. > [@Acsenray](#): > > Can I then add the other person in this vignette to the list? > > “6:30ish” means roughly 6:15 to 6:45. > > If you don’t want them to show up at 6:30 on the dot or even earlier, then tell them what time you actually want them to show up. If you aren’t expecting them before 6:40, then tell them to come at 6:45ish. I see someone’s never been to Thailand, where “6:30ish” means anywhere from 8-12:00. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982/231 "2015-11-03T05:03:43Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > People who, when you say “Come to my house at around 6:30ish” show up at 6:30 on the dot or even earlier, especially without advance warning that they’ll be early. > > I would a million times rather someone showed up 15 minutes or a half hour late than if they showed up early or on-the-dot. At that time I’m probably still cleaning and/or getting ready, because I’m really not expecting them till at least 6:40, and won’t start worrying where they are unless I haven’t heard word by 7. Don’t tell them to come around 6:30, if you don’t actually want them to come around 6:30. It’s not that hard. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982/232 "2015-11-03T05:42:48Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Don’t tell them to come around 6:30, if you don’t actually want them to come around 6:30. It’s not that hard. > > 😕 Yeah, I don’t really get that one either, but then I’m one of those annoying punctual people who doesn’t really get “fashionably late.” I’d never show up early, though. Early is bad. Early is worse than late, for social engagements at people’s houses. On time is (or should be) okay. If you don’t want me to show up at 6:30, don’t tell me 6:30. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982/233 "2015-11-03T05:55:45Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Just out of curiosity, which grocery store purchases do you find “pathetic”? dude, did you ever miss the point. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982/234 "2015-11-03T14:31:11Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Whether it’s childbirth, menses, or even just plain toileting necessities: > > Men who think they know what women go through. I do appreciate those who don’t close their eyes to the whole nightmare, but there’s no amount of empathy that can truly comprehend the added hassle. > > And 1000x more so for men who think they know how we _should_ be able to get through it in a way that that is less inconvenient -\* for them.\* Innocently helpful they are. Ummm hmmmm. I can’t speak to childbirth or menses. But as to routine toileting … When I was in my 20s I dated a woman for a year-ish. I can attest that she was an anatomically typical woman. She could go into a womens’ restroom, pee, wash hands, and return faster than I could do the same in the adjacent mens’ room. She could do this wearing a dress, hose, and high heels, or wearing blue jeans & sneakers. She wasn’t \*much \*faster than I was, and was occasionally a few seconds slower. But compared to the typical women of my experience then or since it was magical how fast she was. I asked her how the heck she did it. Her answer: “Beats me. I just don’t waste any time; unlike everybody else.” So by belated proxy from one sister to another: Y’all are doin’ it wrong. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Askthepizzaguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askthepizzaguy/32/9405_2.png) [@Askthepizzaguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askthepizzaguy)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982/235 "2015-11-03T14:41:40Z")
People who phone up and order a pizza, and despite me asking them several times politely to speak up and be audible, they make **absolutely no effort** to increase the volume of their voice. I have zero hearing issues. The other 99 calls I took today went just fine. It’s you, asshole. Oh, and adult females whose voices sound like they got even \*more \*high pitched after reaching puberty. It’s like nails on chalkboard. You can put a little bass in your voice. Try it. If I can do a falsetto voice, you can make a sound that is a couple octaves lower than a dog whistle. ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982/236 "2015-11-04T05:49:07Z")
OK, since this thread has gotten far afield of the “innocence” specified in the OP, I’ll make another contribution: people who don’t move up in line. Has anyone else encountered this more frequently of late? I had never encountered it until a few years ago, and now it seems to happen regularly. I’ll be standing in a checkout line, line to get into a theater or sporting event, security line at the airport, any kind of line–people at the front get through, and everyone behind them moves up, one by one, in a cascading wave, until the wave reaches the person in front of me, who just stands there. And it’s not because they’re engrossed in their phone or anything. Apparently it’s too much trouble to move up. It’s like a person driving a manual transmission car, in a line of traffic, who doesn’t want to feather the clutch just to move up a few feet. Except in that case it’s understandable, since feathering the clutch puts wear and tear on it, whereas shuffling 3 feet forward twice doesn’t take any more physical effort than shuffling 6 feet forward once. What is with these people? This first happened to me in a Quiznos, where I got in what I thought was the end of the line, only to find myself getting bitched at by some woman who apparently was “in line.” Like I was supposed to know that those people leaning on the tables several feet away from what looked like the end of the line were really in line. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982/237 "2015-11-04T06:39:00Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > People who, when you say “Come to my house at around 6:30ish” show up at 6:30 on the dot or even earlier, especially without advance warning that they’ll be early. You’ve got to know your host. If my mother tells me that she wants to do a lunch thing with the rest of the family at 1, that means the house is ready for guests by 12:15 (12:30 at the absolute latest) and that if you’re not there by 12:45 she’ll start to wonder what’s taking you so long. On the other hand, meeting my friend Don for a movie at 8:00 means that he’s planning to pull into a parking space at 8:05 and not a minute earlier. I imagine his party hosting timetables are the same. ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982/238 "2015-11-04T13:25:17Z")
People who have never traveled. It’s a big world out there and it is just as safe as your suburban neighborhood. The usual excuse I get is that “it is too dangerous over there”. My response to this is to tell them to turn on the evening news and count up the number of shootings and assaults that happened that day. Go get a passport and visit another country. Don’t worry, the water is clean, the people are friendly, and they likely speak English as good as you do. A close second are the people that have traveled before but are safely cocooned in a travel group. Their manner of dress is horrible, they talk far too loudly, and complain about the food. Most discussions end with a comment "It’s not like this back home’. When I run into these people I feel the urge to take their passport away. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982/239 "2015-11-04T13:35:04Z")
People who stand in line as if the person in front of them has ebola. Man up and tighten that line! ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982/240 "2015-11-04T14:23:36Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > You’ve got to know your host. Hosts are not standard, time is. Much easier for the millions of hosts to understand the concept of time than for me to understand a million different hosts. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-innocent-group-of-people-can-you-simply-not-stand/735982.md?page=13)