Daily Life Pet Peeves

[Brown Eyes]

Heya,

I've just returned this evening from a long trip to California and Chicago that involved lots of air travel, lots of driving and lots of eating at restaurants.  So, the urge to make this poll was at least somewhat inspired by recent experience.

Please select up to 5 options or add your own suggestions to this thread.

[optom3]

I always attract the weirdo, who wants to have a conversation.Even as a kid on the bus home from school, they would always make a beeline for me.
So that was one I chose.

[injest]

Pdas...that covers so much....I love to see two people holding hands or a quick peck...but I have seen men laying over the back of their 'whatevers' like capes being dragged around....people making out with the guy with a leg up on a table and the girl between his legs...that stuff REALLY gets on my nerves...

funny thing it always happens in Walmart or Kmart...you never see anyone acting like that in Dillards!

[Brown Eyes]

Heya,

I added a few options to this poll just now.  And, I made it so that folks can change their vote if they would like.

[Kelda]

people who leave the stickers on their shoes

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[David In Indy]

I always attract the weirdo, who wants to have a conversation.Even as a kid on the bus home from school, they would always make a beeline for me.
So that was one I chose.

The same thing happens to me too! I've always been a magnet for odd people and weird occurances.  I once got stuck in an airplane bathroom. The lock somehow jammed and I couldn't get back out. I was standing in there for what seemed like HOURS. It took three stewardesses and a bunch of staring passengers to get the door unjammed. God was I ever embarrassed.

[David In Indy]

People who don't clean up after their pets is definately one of my peeves. I take a roll of toilet paper and a baggie with me when I walk Cody. Somebody else shouldn't have to clean up after my pet.

And there's nothing more annoying than stepping in a nice soft pile of puppy shit in your dress shoes.

Rude drivers is another one. Here in the Midwest we are TERRIBLE drivers. But for the most part we are polite. Honking of car horns is considered extremely rude here. Car horns are only used for emergencies here. It's rare to hear a car horn in most parts of the Midwest, even in the downtown areas. Chicago and Detroit would be exceptions though.

[Brown Eyes]

Ooooooooooooo, I just thought of another one related to shoes and stepping in stuff... wet gum on the sidewalk or pavement!  So annoying to get wet gum stuck to the bottoms of nice shoes!
 

[David In Indy]

Ooooooooooooo, I just thought of another one related to shoes and stepping in stuff... wet gum on the sidewalk or pavement!  So annoying to get wet gum stuck to the bottoms of nice shoes!
 

Oh yeah that is bad! Especially during the summer when it's all bubbly and gooey. You step on it and it creates a fine string and when you try to pick it off you have to contend with all those nasty little gum strings too. They get all over your hands, all over the paper you're using to clean it off, and even after you've managed to remove it, a sticky film remains on the bottom of your shoe and your shoe makes an annoying snapping sound as you walk across the floor.

[delalluvia]

people who leave the stickers on their shoes

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Kelda I'm going to slap you down again, friend. 

The sticker is under my foot on the liner or on the sole!!!!  How can that possibly bother someone?!?!?!  Is a pet peeve for people to leave the label on their underwear as well?!?

 

[Kelda]

Kelda I'm going to slap you down again, friend. 

The sticker is under my foot on the liner or on the sole!!!!  How can that possibly bother someone?!?!?!  Is a pet peeve for people to leave the label on their underwear as well?!?

 

 

It really, honestly does though - it drives me nuts!!

I don't see your underwear every step you take along the road though! (Or at least I hope I don't!)

I don't want to know how much you shoes were, where you bought them and how much you got off on the sale!!!

[delalluvia]

It really, honestly does though - it drives me nuts!!

I don't see your underwear every step you take along the road though! (Or at least I hope I don't!)

I don't want to know how much you shoes were, where you bought them and how much you got off on the sale!!!

Why are you staring at my shoes?

 

[Kelda]

it's the commuting zombie stare at the pavement on way to work kinda thing...

[delalluvia]

it's the commuting zombie stare at the pavement on way to work kinda thing...

Weirdo.

 

[mariez]

I could've voted for more than 5, I think! 

I experienced the parents disciplining their children too loudly tonight while grocery shopping.  Why do people think that screaming at a child who is crying their eyes out is going to help matters any?    All you get is screaming on top of crying. 

Marie

[Kelda]

Weirdo.

 

People who leave STICKERS ON THEIR SHOES!  are the real wierdos!!!!

 

[Kerry]

I attract sleepers on public transport!    And even though I don't use public transport these day, I did once work in the city and traveled to and from my beach-side home via ferry each day. Most nights, going home on the ferry, I would get a head on my shoulder. Some were cute, but mostly they were not cute.    And when I traveled by bus to my then job in the city, I would often get a standing passenger mistaking my boney shoulder for the edge of the seat, and they would rest their butt-cleavage on my shoulder    (our buses in Sydney admit standing passengers). Sometimes I didn't mind    but those occasions were rare. And then there are the newspaper readers who sit behind you on public transport and rest their paper on top of your head. Sheesh! It's no wonder I no longer travel by public transport. 

[Kelda]

I attract sleepers on public transport!    And even though I don't use public transport these day, I did once work in the city and traveled to and from my beach-side home via ferry each day. Most nights, going home on the ferry, I would get a head on my shoulder. Some were cute, but mostly they were not cute.    And when I traveled by bus to my then job in the city, I would often get a standing passenger mistaking my boney shoulder for the edge of the seat, and they would rest their butt-cleavage on my shoulder    (our buses in Sydney admit standing passengers). Sometimes I didn't mind    but those occasions were rare. And then there are the newspaper readers who sit behind you on public transport and rest their paper on top of your head. Sheesh! It's no wonder I no longer travel by public transport. 

 

Yes thats like the public transport I use too!

[LauraGigs]

Oh yeah that is bad! Especially during the summer when it's all bubbly and gooey. You step on it and it creates a fine string and when you try to pick it off you have to contend with all those nasty little gum strings too. They get all over your hands, all over the paper you're using to clean it off, and even after you've managed to remove it, a sticky film remains on the bottom of your shoe and your shoe makes an annoying snapping sound as you walk across the floor.

Yeah, I would have put on the polling list, "any misuse or improper disposal of gum".  Like sticking it on the wall () or worst of all, putting it on their plate or tray before they eat.   YUCKO!!!!!!!

[Mandy21]

Rude drivers is another one. Here in the Midwest we are TERRIBLE drivers. But for the most part we are polite. Honking of car horns is considered extremely rude here. Car horns are only used for emergencies here. It's rare to hear a car horn in most parts of the Midwest, even in the downtown areas. Chicago and Detroit would be exceptions though.

Hey Amanda, funny topic.  I could add about a thousand other scenarios to your list.

DavidInIndy, I agree with part of what you said.  Lived here in St. Louis most of my life, only been in two car accidents -- one from driving down a hill in ice very slowly, with the brakes on, but gently bumping into a parked car on the side of the road, and the second from a lady not paying attention who slammed into my '71 VW Bug's hood after running a red light.  Some of us are terrible drivers, some of us not.  The part I agree with you on is the honking thing.  That really made me laugh.  I never really thought much about when I was taught how to drive, etc., growing up here.  Every person who'd ever been my passenger never said a word or made a comment about the way I drove.  But then my fiance from Belfast came over to visit many times when we were together, and whenever we'd get stuck behind someone who wasn't moving past a green light within a second or two, he'd reach over from the passenger side and toot my horn, and every single time, without exception, my jaw would drop to the ground and my eyes would bug out at him, and I would try to blink the mortification out of my eyes before I looked in front to see the expression on the face of the person he just honked at.  More often than not, during that blink, I pictured an incredibly angry motorist coming towards us with a gun in hand.  He just didn't understand how we don't do that here.  As a goof, when I went to visit him in Belfast, I would often lean over when he was driving, and honk his horn for no reason at all.  People in front of us would always carry along quickly, not quite knowing what they had done wrong to justify a toot of the horn, but acquiescing, none the less.  It was too funny.

[Kerry]

Sydneysiders are very impatient drivers and very heavy on the horn, especially in the part of Sydney where I live, which is near Sydney's Little Italy. An Italian friend literally drives with his hand permanently resting near the horn, just incase he needs to use it at a moment's notice, which he does, often and with enormous gusto!    But I suspect this is perhaps a big city, Sydneycentric thing going on and not representative of Australians in general. For example, when I visit country villages up the coast, one seldom hears a car horn. 

[David In Indy]

Hey Amanda, funny topic.  I could add about a thousand other scenarios to your list.

DavidInIndy, I agree with part of what you said.  Lived here in St. Louis most of my life, only been in two car accidents -- one from driving down a hill in ice very slowly, with the brakes on, but gently bumping into a parked car on the side of the road, and the second from a lady not paying attention who slammed into my '71 VW Bug's hood after running a red light.  Some of us are terrible drivers, some of us not. 

Perhaps there is a difference in driving skills between Missouri and Indiana.

And I should have probably said MANY Midwesterners are terrible drivers. At least this is the case in my part of the Midwest. It's not that they are really bad drivers, but rather they fail to pay attention to what they are doing. They drive very fast, zip in and out of lanes suddenly, talk on their cell phones when they should be paying attention to the road, tailgate, cut across three lanes of traffic at the very last second in order to exit off the interstate, and a whole host of other things.

And hey, I'm a Midwesterner too, and I do some of those things sometimes as well!

I also had the experience of living in South Florida for a couple of years. Jesus have mercy! Talk about aggresive driving! WHOOOO!

[southendmd]

Rude and aggressive driving is the norm here in Boston.  It's the slow drivers I can't stand; I always seem to be behind them.  They inch along, and then invariably run a red light!

Cell phone use in public is a huge problem.  Why do people shout into their phones?  It ain't necessary.  I try to duck into a corner and be discreet, rather than those who just walk along, blathering at the top of their lungs!

[delalluvia]

Sydneysiders are very impatient drivers and very heavy on the horn, especially in the part of Sydney where I live, which is near Sydney's Little Italy. An Italian friend literally drives with his hand permanently resting near the horn, just incase he needs to use it at a moment's notice, which he does, often and with enormous gusto!    But I suspect this is perhaps a big city, Sydneycentric thing going on and not representative of Australians in general. For example, when I visit country villages up the coast, one seldom hears a car horn. 

Someone should do a study.  In the U.S. New Yorkers - the city - are famous for their constant honking.  In my city, no one lays on the horn at all.  You can go days and not hear anyone honk. 

Is it because in our state we may be armed? 

[Mandy21]

Perhaps there is a difference in driving skills between Missouri and Indiana.

And I should have probably said MANY Midwesterners are terrible drivers. At least this is the case in my part of the Midwest. It's not that they are really bad drivers, but rather they fail to pay attention to what they are doing. They drive very fast, zip in and out of lanes suddenly, talk on their cell phones when they should be paying attention to the road, tailgate, cut across three lanes of traffic at the very last second in order to exit off the interstate, and a whole host of other things.

And hey, I'm a Midwesterner too, and I do some of those things sometimes as well!

I also had the experience of living in South Florida for a couple of years. Jesus have mercy! Talk about aggresive driving! WHOOOO!

David, this is getting even more hilarious, because my current boyfriend's from Indiana, and he won't even play the radio when he's driving, or have anything resembling a conversation.  All eyes and thoughts on the road at all times, that's his motto.  Would never in a million years occur to him to talk on a cell phone while driving.  I must say that I don't do any of the things you described above.  Always drive the speed limit, signal and check before changing lanes, one at a time, don't talk on a cell, don't tailgate, etc.  So, in your estimation, pretty good drive.  I do believe that a car is a weapon that can easily kill, and needs to be treated as such.  However, unlike my boyfriend, when I'm the one driving, I, crazy girl that I am, do actually allow the stereo to be playing, and conversation to be rolling, even when it's only with myself:)  Hope you don't think less of me for that.

[Kerry]

Rude and aggressive driving is the norm here in Boston.  It's the slow drivers I can't stand; I always seem to be behind them.  They inch along, and then invariably run a red light!

Cell phone use in public is a huge problem.  Why do people shout into their phones?  It ain't necessary.  I try to duck into a corner and be discreet, rather than those who just walk along, blathering at the top of their lungs!

   This must be universal, Paul. Same thing happens, here in Sydney. They crawl along, hogging the road and then accelerate at great speed when the traffic lights turn amber, leaving you, furious and fuming, at the red light. 

[southendmd]

  This must be universal, Paul. Same thing happens, here in Sydney. They crawl along, hogging the road and then accelerate at great speed when the traffic lights turn amber, leaving you, furious and fuming, at the red light. 

Sure enough, my antipodean friend!

[injest]

  This must be universal, Paul. Same thing happens, here in Sydney. They crawl along, hogging the road and then accelerate at great speed when the traffic lights turn amber, leaving you, furious and fuming, at the red light. 

what irritates me is, I will be driving along, after finally getting my little four cylinder up to speed after a stop light and someone will pull out in front of me requiring me to put the break on...and looking in the rear view mirror to see NO ONE IN SIGHT>.....so if they had waited two seconds I could have gone and they could have pulled out behind me. 

they are really counting on me being a nice person that has a sense of self preservation....they don't know how close they come....sometimes I think I could just go ahead and ram their behinds...

(and they NEVER do this when I am driving the F350 by itself....they will if I am hauling a big ol horse trailer or a load of hay but not when it is just the truck itself....why is that, I wonder?)

[injest]

One time we were hauling five horses to a show in Athens....now we are talking a Ford F350, a five horse slant trailer with a dressing room, five horses (by themselves weighing almost three tons) barreling along at 60 MPH. You can't stop suddenly when you are hauling lifestock, they lose their footing and can seriously injure themselves...

and a woman in a little white subcompact pulled out in front of us.

You want scared? My husband laid on the horn and the brakes and finally took the truck and trailer over on the shoulder, because she wasnt' moving...how he managed to not flip it, I dont' know.

and she honked at us and flipped us the bird....

 

[Mandy21]

One time we were hauling five horses to a show in Athens....now we are talking a Ford F350, a five horse slant trailer with a dressing room, five horses (by themselves weighing almost three tons) barreling along at 60 MPH. You can't stop suddenly when you are hauling lifestock, they lose their footing and can seriously injure themselves...

and a woman in a little white subcompact pulled out in front of us.

You want scared? My husband laid on the horn and the brakes and finally took the truck and trailer over on the shoulder, because she wasnt' moving...how he managed to not flip it, I dont' know.

and she honked at us and flipped us the bird....

 

That's an interesting little factoid, Jess.  I didn't know that about the livestock losing their footing.  I'm always fascinated when I pull up next to a trailer with a horse in it, looking out at me, wondering what the heck I'm doing.  I always wonder what he or she might be thinking as they're watching the world go by, without moving their legs at all.  They must find it very strange indeed.  So yes, I guess it would be very easy for them to lose their bearings if that world suddenly started moving much slower than the one they'd adjusted to.  Hmmm...  Will be especially careful to stay far, far away from horse trailers next time I'm out driving in the country.  Thx!

[Kerry]

It's protocol here in Australia to give people a little wave in your rear-view mirror, if they have courteously allowed you to merge into their lane, in front of them. Alas, however. this is a practice that has also been taken-up by ultra-rude, barge-arse drivers, who dangerously barge in front of you in traffic, for no apparent reason.    One is driving along at speed and for no reason, whatsoever, some drongo will barge in front of you and give you a jaunty little "Thank you kindly!" wave in their rear-view mirror. It's hard not to take it as a sarcastic, "Up yours!" gesture, even though it does take the form of a limp little wave. If they're going to barge dangerously in front of me, I would personally prefer that they don't give me a familiar, cheery wave, thanks all the same. We're not friends, so please don't wave at me. And besides, you twit, you've just been driving like a moron. Keep away from me!      Sheesh, I think I'll go back to public transport! 

[southendmd]

Beware the drongos!


dron·go2     
–noun, plural -gos. Australian Slang. a stupid or slow-witted person; simpleton. 


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[Origin: 1920–25; prob. to be identified with drongo1, as a name for the Australian bird Dicrurus bracteata; though often popularly alleged to have originated from the name of an unsuccessful racehorse of the 1920s]

[Kerry]

Beware the drongos!


dron·go2     
–noun, plural -gos. Australian Slang. a stupid or slow-witted person; simpleton. 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Origin: 1920–25; prob. to be identified with drongo1, as a name for the Australian bird Dicrurus bracteata; though often popularly alleged to have originated from the name of an unsuccessful racehorse of the 1920s]

       



http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=20

 

[delalluvia]

One time we were hauling five horses to a show in Athens....now we are talking a Ford F350, a five horse slant trailer with a dressing room, five horses (by themselves weighing almost three tons) barreling along at 60 MPH. You can't stop suddenly when you are hauling lifestock, they lose their footing and can seriously injure themselves...

and a woman in a little white subcompact pulled out in front of us.

You want scared? My husband laid on the horn and the brakes and finally took the truck and trailer over on the shoulder, because she wasnt' moving...how he managed to not flip it, I dont' know.

and she honked at us and flipped us the bird....

 

I hear you.  People are such fucking morons.  I was pulling out of my work's parking lot when I saw a car barrelling along in the far left hand lane - the asshole must have been going 90 mph on the access road in front of a line of businesses.  So, I decided to go ahead and pull out, since he was in the far lane and going so fast, he'd be by me in a blink.  I pulled out carefully hugging the right hand lane and looked for him in my left hand mirror and - he was gone!

Yep, you guessed it, he zipped around the traffic in the left lanes going 90 just so he could get in the far right lane - right where I was pulling out - he's laid on the brakes, screeching, horn honking, flipping me off.

Asshole.

P.S.  A biker friend of mine - as in motorcycles - used to say he'd get a hard time from truckers hauling cattle.  That if they felt he was tailgating them - or just to be jerks, I guess - they'd tap their brakes, making the rig jostle gently back and forth - this made the cows piss, dousing anyone behind them.

Is this true?