# What really stupid things do you think less of people for? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 15, 2009, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499 "2009-03-15T04:57:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499/321 "2009-04-01T08:02:16Z")
> [@Lawn\_Gnome](#): > > I really hate when people in crowded places don’t walk on the right side of the sidewalk, hallway, pathway, ect. Many of these people will then stop in the middle, or on the wrong side of said hallway and start texting or talking to someone they know. Heh…what makes the right side the right side? What about us funny furriners that drive on the left - is it ok if we walk on the left of the sidewalk? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499/322 "2009-04-01T13:03:01Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Heh…what makes the right side the right side? What about us funny furriners that drive on the left - is it ok if we walk on the left of the sidewalk? Do you drive on the left side when you visit us? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499/323 "2009-04-01T13:16:20Z")
Any woman who is a self-proclaimed “diva”. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499/324 "2009-04-01T17:58:49Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > - Finding out someone reads tabloids / watches TMZ. > > - Frequent use of clichés. (the occasional one isn’t that big a deal, but I used to know someone who would constantly spout off clichés and it made me wonder if she had any original thoughts of her own) > > - Poor posture. What’s TMZ? And ..come ON, you’ve never picked up one that had the huge headline “I Had to Get 897 Stitches Because a Raccoon Tried to Mate with My Raccoon Hat”? 😃 (that was a real headline on a tabloid many moons ago, And yeah, I bought it, I thought “okay, you’ve got me, I’ll bite”). Mine is misspelling and grammar. Not the snooty type, as in multi-syllable or scientific references and so on. STUPID mistakes…on stuff we learned in second grade, such as your/you’re, fewer vs. less (do you hear me Turner Broadcasting?). ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499/325 "2009-04-01T18:29:26Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > People who ignore friendly dogs who want to meet them. > > I recognize that some people are allergic or phobic…although the percentage of the population that’s genuinely dog-phobic can’t be nearly as large as the number of people I see doing this. I also recognize that truly phobic/allergic people would carefully chart a path clear of the dog or dogs; I’m talking more about the people who give a little fake smile and motor directly past the dog(s). > > Objectively I know that some people aren’t into dogs and might be in a hurry. But it’s such a small thing to stop and say hi to a friendly dog and it means so much to the dog. Our own dogs love everyone they see and stand there looking hopeful and eager; they’re so deflated when people don’t stop and so filled with joy when they do. > > Also, the people I know who never spare a moment for a friendly animal are generally uniformly self-important egotists or cut-throat a-holes. > > Generally, I don’t trust people who don’t like dogs. Superficial and probably inaccurate tough that may be. I have two thoughts on this. I LOVE dogs, I have one of my own, and I always like to pet strange dogs (always after asking of course). But it’s kind of unfair to assume that another person just “HAS” to stop and pet or greet your dog just because you or your dog wants it. That said I agree, people who don’t like animals, especially dogs, are dealbreakers for me. There is just something…strange and fusty about them that makes them not a good match for me as a friend or lover. That used to be a dating criteria for me back when I was still dating. The better a man liked pets, and especially if he had a dog, the warmer and better boyfriend material he turned out to be. But, think about it this way, it’s a good screening mechanism! ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499/326 "2009-04-01T18:39:29Z")
> [@mutantmoose](#): > > I know someone that believes this. It has completely tainted my relationship with them (from my perspective) since, whenever I talk to them now, I just think I’m talking to a complete idiot. Mmmhmm, You know what my answer to this is? (stolen from some comic I saw when I had insomnia and was up watching TV). Anyway, here’s what he said (paraphrased) “Hey, come on do you really think our government was able to keep all that a secret? Hell, they couldn’t even keep a simple blow job quiet”. ---
**Author:** ![Alastair\_Moonsong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3e96dc/32.png) [@Alastair\_Moonsong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alastair_Moonsong)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499/327 "2009-04-01T19:40:28Z")
- People who take their love of dogs (or other pets) too far. I’m talking about people who spoil their dogs rotten, buy them clothes, feed them meat that’s higher-quality then I eat, carry them all over in their purses, etc, etc, etc. - The entire idea of “slut fashion” that seems to have taken hold of girls under age 25 lately. The aforementioned “juicy” pants, trashy clothes, shallow, superficial behavior emulating the either bimbos in gangsta rap videos, or the Paris Hilton crowd. I hate this vehemently - please, girls, treat yourselves with a little more respect! - Anything associated with generic gangsta/crunk rap. - People who try to foister their own relgious beliefs or sexual beliefs on others. I do not have to live by your value system, thank you very much. - People who are rabid NASCAR or sports fans. - People who are gun-crazy. And many, many of the other peeves mentioned here. Basically, people who can’t seem to use common sense and treat hemselves and each other with a modicum of respect. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499/328 "2009-04-01T19:48:18Z")
> [@Alastair\_Moonsong](#): > > - The entire idea of “slut fashion” that seems to have taken hold of girls under age 25 lately. The aforementioned “juicy” pants, trashy clothes, shallow, superficial behavior emulating the either bimbos in gangsta rap videos, or the Paris Hilton crowd. I hate this vehemently - please, girls, treat yourselves with a little more respect.. …unless you’re hot. Smoke 'em if you got 'em, etc. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499/329 "2009-04-01T19:49:53Z")
> [@Scribble](#): > > Hey! I take the elevator to the gym sometimes. I have bad knees (patello-femoral syndrome, to be exact), so sometimes I try to avoid staircases when my knees are acting up. That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t go to the gym to lift weights, go swimming, or do low-impact aerobic whatever. > > And, yes, there are times when I’ll take the elevator to the gym, only to use the stair-stepper machine. But when I use that machine, I use it on settings that work for me and my knees. Real stairs don’t allow you to adjust stair height. > > If that makes you lose respect for me–oh, well. What she said. The riser height on stairs make them very painful on my poor knees, the stairstepper is not only mechanically (or pneumatically, or whatever) controlled for smoothness, you control how high the rise is. As it is, I’m being MORE considerate by taking the elevator, because then people don’t have to queue up behind me while I gimp slowly up the stairs. I also take the elevator at work to our 4th floor office (I’m on the third), especially if my hands are full. Going down the stairs is a lot less painful, so I usually ride up and walk down. Some days I can’t go up OR down the stairs. You know? You can’t tell just by looking at someone if they’ve got health issues that may allow them to do some things, but not others. This sort of reminds me of this STUPID woman I saw the other day. She was older, overweight (which may or may not have added to her disability), and had a walker. I was shopping at the Salvation Army and she was coming in the door. This old guy was about to go out, but then he stepped aside to let her in. He stood way back from the door fiddling with some magazines until she got inside. Then he started to go out. Well, he was pretty frail and obviously not at all strong, he was having a hard time getting the door open by himself. I think he may have been one of the alcohol center clients, they sometimes bring them down to shop for winter clothes and such. Anyway, the lady with the walker turns around and starts berating him for not opening and holding the door for her! I couldn’t believe it. I tried to point out to her, “ma’am, he’s barely able to open the door for himself”. Oh, she starts arguing, “Uh UH, he saw me coming and pretended that he was looking at those magazines”. So I got a little snarky with her “Look at Him! He can’t do it!”. She never did get it, and walked away being all snotty. What an idiot. I am much younger and slightly more healthy than the old alcoholic guy, but I wouldn’t have been able to hold the door for her either. The doors to that place are big and heavy, and like a lot of people (that you wouldn’t know to look at), I have a muscle condition which causes a lot of weakness. This is another stupid thing that makes me think less of some people. Judging a book by its cover. You do NOT know if a person is completely healthy just by looking at them. Maybe they’re lazy, or maybe they’ve got perfectly legitimate reasons for wanting to park close to the door (I don’t mind walking at ALL, what I mind is walking in the COLD), or not walking up steps (knee issues that don’t show). ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499/330 "2009-04-01T20:02:26Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#): > > People who use the automatic door opener when they aren’t physically incapable of opening the door with their own arms. It takes much longer to open anyway, so why not just open the damn door properly? Lazy buggers. Sigh. Because, the mechanism that is installed on the door allowing it to be automatically opened, makes it difficult and painful to open (makes the opening action stiff and the door does not swing freely) for some of us. See my above post. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499/331 "2009-04-01T20:09:51Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#): > > That’s why I pretty much said ‘unless they are physically incapable’, which you are. 😉 Yes, but as she also said, and as I say above, you wouldn’t know that just from watching us open the door, we look perfectly normal and healthy. I don’t know about **rain’s** health issues, but mine don’t show at all, they’re “merely” painful. It’s not as if my arms show injuries or anything. So basically, some of these people that you’re assuming are “capable” just because they have no outward signs of disability may not be. The point is, you _don’t know just from looking_, but yet you’re judging _just by looking_. Sorry, I don’t mean to harp on this to you, you’re not the only one who makes this assumption. But sometimes we get a little tired of the quiet little snorts of derision we hear from time to time. Since we don’t have the opportunity to confront those people at the time, maybe we can set the record straight here, and people like you will spread the word to your like minded friends and such. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499/332 "2009-04-01T20:47:49Z")
People who disagree with me. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499/333 "2009-04-01T21:02:15Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > Yes, but as she also said, and as I say above, you wouldn’t know that just from watching us open the door, we look perfectly normal and healthy. I don’t know about **rain’s** health issues, but mine don’t show at all, they’re “merely” painful. It’s not as if my arms show injuries or anything. > > So basically, some of these people that you’re assuming are “capable” just because they have no outward signs of disability may not be. The point is, you _don’t know just from looking_, but yet you’re judging _just by looking_. Sorry, I don’t mean to harp on this to you, you’re not the only one who makes this assumption. But sometimes we get a little tired of the quiet little snorts of derision we hear from time to time. > > Since we don’t have the opportunity to confront those people at the time, maybe we can set the record straight here, and people like you will spread the word to your like minded friends and such. Reprimand taken, noted and opinion altered accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499/334 "2009-04-02T00:46:18Z")
People who take a few grapes out of a package to eat at the grocery store. ---
**Author:** ![raindrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/74df32/32.png) [@raindrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindrop)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499/335 "2009-04-02T06:41:32Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > But sometimes we get a little tired of the quiet little snorts of derision we hear from time to time. I used to get tired of them too, but not anymore. Nowadays I just think less of them, (_of course!_ :p). > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > People who disagree with me. Hey, I said that too! (so um, does that mean we agree? :D) ---
**Author:** ![raindrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/74df32/32.png) [@raindrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindrop)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499/336 "2009-04-02T06:45:32Z")
Re petting dogs… I love friendly dogs and pet them often, but if I ever sensed the dog owner thought that my petting them was mandatory, I wouldn’t. I also don’t pet them when I’m just about to eat the cookie or apple tucked in my purse, or even if I’m just about to blow my nose. Yesterday it was interesting when a woman’s little dog suddenly jumped up on me while I was sitting on a bench at the park. I did NOT pet him, and she promptly pulled him off of me saying, “no, no, no.” But then while I was expecting an “ohh, I’m so very sorry” type of apology, she just heartily laughed “hahahahaha,” and quickly walked off. Of course I thought less of her for that. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![cleverendeavor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@cleverendeavor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cleverendeavor)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499/337 "2009-04-02T22:12:40Z")
People who say, “that’s so funny” instead of laughing at something that’s supposedly funny. People whose profession it is to report news, but mispronounce words repeatedly. No, it’s not NUCULAR! It’s not SUPPOSUBLY and it’s not AKSHULLY! Also, people who are most intolerant of other people’s ineptitude 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![sherrylynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@sherrylynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sherrylynn)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499/338 "2009-04-02T22:20:04Z")
I golf - I love to golf. But, if you lose your temper during a round and throw your clubs or have a temper tantrum, I will never play with you again!!! ---
**Author:** ![put\_down\_the\_sabre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/da6949/32.png) [@put\_down\_the\_sabre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/put_down_the_sabre)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499/339 "2009-04-03T21:49:36Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > FTR, in the English (ie., British) pronunciation of pasta, the first a sounds like the one in _pat_, not like an o. FTRR (for the real record) there are at least two UK pronunciations of that word: the first ‘a’ can be either short or long. It varies with social class and location. Hang out in Oxford, and meet students from poorer areas or the north, and you’ll see what I mean. pdts ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499/340 "2009-04-03T21:54:01Z")
I really loathe cutesey little diminuatives, so someone who uses “sammich” or “sammie” instead of “sandwich,” “prolly” for “probably,” or “lippie” for “lipstick” grates on my last nerve. This counts for both speaking and writing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-stupid-things-do-you-think-less-of-people-for/489499.md?page=18)