I stumbled on an old post about a journalist with twenty five of his petty irritations. I didn't actually list my own, so here are some of them now.
- Loud music in restaurants and coffee shops. I have to almost shout to be heard. If I ask for the music to be turned down, they adjust it very marginally.
- Doorstep chuggers*. A Red Cross person appeared yesterday, and I told him we already donated to the Red Cross. He laughed as if this was a joke.
- Loud phone conversations on trains and buses. Can't they wait until they get off? Can't they text instead?
- Changing layouts in supermarkets. I knew where the tofu was but now it's been relocated goodness knows where. Why oh why?
- Cashpoints declining my card. So I insert the card again and it's fine. Presumably some random security measure.
- TV adverts. None of which interest me. I don't need pant-liners or perfumes or hair conditioners. Just get on with the programme.
- Incorrect weather forecasts. It's pouring with rain but the forecast said dry all day. The best bet is still to look out of the window.
- Cyclists riding on pavements. I understand why - they don't want to ride on busy main roads. But it takes pedestrians by surprise.
- Misdelivered mail. Both our own and our neighbours'. Luckily people are kind enough to redeliver the mail.
- Untrained dogs the owners can't control. They leap on me and sniff me, while the owner mutters some feeble apology. Just keep Fido to yourself!
The only one on the original list was loud phone talkers on public transport. If you're curious, the list is here.
*Chuggers: charity muggers
Chuggers is a new word for me. The supermarket layout changes drives me nuts, too. My pet peeve is when pedestrians walk on the road, when there is a perfectly good sidewalk next to them. WHY?
ReplyDeleteBijoux: People walk in the road here (especially at night) to avoid dog shit on the pavement. And in my case to avoid huge piles of soggy fallen leaves.
DeleteI dare not try. The list will just be too long. Like an autobiography!
ReplyDeleteRamana: Oh, go on - give us half a dozen of your petty niggles.
DeleteOkay. Will start on a blog post.
DeleteRamana, I look forward to that!
DeleteUnclear (to me) Nick, are these yours or just some random journalist's?
ReplyDeleteI used to have many but ungeezering myself, I have very few now. I can't abide those other geezers who complain about the young constantly. I get up and walk away. The young are brilliant and doing their best to cope with the world we've left behind, the worst mess ever. And Doomsday Clock boiling over.
Being talked down to by servers as if I'm three years old is definitely a gripe.
XO
WWW
www: This is my own list. The journalist's list was the one I quoted a few years back. I don't complain to others about my personal irritations. That would be very tedious. I also dislike all those complaints about "young people". They're all different, and some are more positive and constructive than others. As for the world we leave behind, it's not one I ever advocated or voted for. It's the politicians who've let us all down.
DeleteMy instinct for the first one is to take paper and pencil and write down what I want to say to the servers and expect them to write back.
ReplyDeleteLinda Sand
Linda: I'm not sure that would be any more successful in getting the music turned down!
DeleteOh Nick, I rarely blow my own trumpet - the orchestra will do that for me. Make mine the violin. Fact is (Ramana, Zen and the Angel will be proud of me) I do not have gripes as such. I do think it such a waste of energy to get het up about stuff - other than cyclists and e-scooters on the pavement, shooting past me from behind. One day one of them will be the death of me. Literally. Hope my son won't waste his time suing for damages. Better mowed down in the midst of life than lingering on your death bed.
ReplyDeleteStill, yes, your list is most valid. Glad someone other than myself is still using ATMs (cash). Mind you, be careful, if you get it "wrong" three times it will swallow your card. Which is one of life's lessons - not least on a Sunday morning, your bank being closed.
U
Ursula: Oh, I don't get especially het up about these things. I just take them in my stride and move on. Re bank cards, I have a very logical PIN that's easy to remember. And no, it's not 1234.
DeleteI had a fit of petty irritation yesterday whilst on the Guardian website. I was looking at a Photographer's work with the title: This is England. I think it should have been called: These are a few shots taken in two areas in Northern England. Drove me nuts.
ReplyDeleteSx
Ms Scarlet: We get constantly irritated by the media confusing the UK, Great Britain and Northern Ireland. And announcing something as if it applies to the whole UK when actually it's only England.
DeleteNick, despite what I said the other day (that I don't entertain pet peeves) I have just been reminded of one. And it's a big one which pisses me off to a degree I'd rather it didn't.
ReplyDeleteWhen I hear someone referring to their partner as "my other half" I die. There and then. OTHER HALF? No, you are complete - or should be. Don't expect someone else to make you "whole".
Nick, just typing the above I am in knots, besides myself with exasperation at the very idea, the very concept. Let's leave it there before I evaporate.
U
Ursula: I agree. We never use either "my other half" or "my better half", for the same reason as you - we should be complete in ourselves. I think some people use the terms in a humorous way, but even so....
DeleteThis was a great list of annoyances, Nick, and I agreed with so many. The term chuggers was new to me, thankfully living in the mill apt we are not annoyed by them and these days most seem to use the phones or mail systems.
ReplyDeleteWhy do people loudly talk on their phones in crowded markets, even at the checkout?
No thank you, I do not want to be greeted by other people's pets and will distance myself purposely.
TV adverts are avoided as I do not watch on-the air programming, aside from a public broadcasting network for the mystery shows. Thankfully, all the adverts are at the beginning or end and never in between the program.
Whenever I want to be sure of the weather, I check outside the window first!
Cyclists and scooters riding on sidewalks are annoying to me as well especially when there is no warning they are behind.
I could go on, but will stop here.
Beatrice: Well, that's a very comprehensive list! Why this urge for constant phone conversations, I wonder? It's as if people feel they don't exist unless they're talking to someone.
DeleteTV adverts is my all time top hate, I mute the sound as soon as they start. And some are getting way too offensive, I don't want to see a blood soaked panty liner. We have a lot of cyclists in the area and they think they are king of the roads. I would have agreed about supermarket layouts, but my Tesco has retained the same layout for years, perhaps they received too many complaints. I bet I think of more after I have pressed the publish button!
ReplyDeletePolly: Same here, we always mute the ads. And they seem to go on for longer and longer. Your branch of Tesco has the right idea.
Delete