1. As I mentioned above, wet mouth noises. Smacking, licking, slurping, sucking your teeth (there is a person I care a lot about who does this and I have asked him repeatedly if he needs a toothpick or a piece of floss and he always refuses and goes back to sucking his teeth! Sigh).
2. Playing music, listening to your phone, talking on the phone out loud in public. I know in some cultures this is more normal, but I just don't get it. First of all, I don't want to hear your private conversation, but even worse is the Instagram swipers who go from video to video, so you have to listen to a little snippet of each one. And the absolute worst is when they are playing music out loud on the trail. Here I am walking along listening to the birds sing and admiring the trees and a dude comes up the trail with a boombox blaring Korn of all things! Seriously? Don't get me wrong, I can get down with Korn, but not in the woods.
3. People getting too close to me. I am not obsessive, but I see no reason for the lady behind me in line for airport security to be touching my backpack. We will all get there eventually, I think you can give me three inches of space. I also was changing money in Georgia and a lady came right up next to me rather than standing back to wait her turn. That made me really feel weird as I was exchanging a few hundred euros in cash and I felt uncomfortable having her be so close to my money! :)
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| The too close money changing lady |
4. Sitting with my back to the main part of a restaurant. What can I say; I like sitting with my back to the wall, so I don't have any empty space behind me. Maybe I was a mobster in another life. I also like sitting that way so I can catch the eye of the server if I need something!
5. People who watch TV or look at their phone when you are out together having a meal. This is not always true if it is someone you spent time with a lot, but usually when I am out for a meal, it is with someone I have not seen for a while, or someone I want to have quality time with, and I have set aside this time for them, and I feel like they can set aside one hour for me too where they are not always looking at their phone or the TV behind me (I hate restaurants with TVs in them also!) If I want to watch TV while I am eating, I can do it at home in my jammies and I don't need to pay more for the restaurant experience.
6. Dripping faucets or running toilets. I have to find the leak and fix it; the sound of dripping drives me crazy. Or at least, I have to find a rag that I can put on the faucet so I don't have to hear the sound of the dripping! The same goes for the smoke alarm battery sound, or the "you've left something in the microwave" beep.
7. People who say "I wish I had the time/money to do what you are doing." This can be traveling, reading, going to a movie etc. Whatever it is, I believe that people make their own destiny, and most of the time they CAN have the time or the money to do what I am doing, whatever that may be, if they really want to prioritize things that way.
8. People who wear too much perfume/cologne. It makes me sick, literally. It gives me a headache and I don't know why it has to be put on so liberally. A little dab here or there, fine. But taking a bath in it or spraying it on your head or whatever it is they are doing is too much for me. I have had to move seats at the airport before when a heavily scented woman sat down next to me! I think I would rather have a heavy BO person next to me than a heavily perfumed person.
9. Untrained dogs. This is not as much of an issue in the US, except maybe some of those badass dudes who want to have a fierce Pitbull, but in other countries there are dogs everywhere. Most of them are friendly, but sometimes they are not, and I have perfected the fake "pick up a rock and throw it at them" move, because sometimes that is the only thing that will keep them away. It's flipping scary, let me tell you, and sometimes the locals just sit there and watch as the dog runs at you!
10. Extreme tardiness. I know some cultures view time in a little more relaxed manner than I do, but it still doesn't make me like it when people say that something starts at 7 and then they don't even show up until 8. If they text and say they are running late, that helps, but it is still not my favorite thing.
11. Flakes. Same as the above. Don't say yes if you are going to just change your mind or ditch out at the last minute. Just don't.
12. People who write "hello" as their first text message and then don't say anything else until I respond. I kind of just want to ignore them. I mean, they say one thing that means nothing and conveys nothing and then they are basically putting the ball in my court? Do you have a question? Would you like to make plans or talk about something? If yes, feel free to put them out there. Hello means nothing to me, especially when you are a person who I don't know well and/or I don't have your name in my phone (which happens a lot when I am traveling and joining groups etc.). Who are you, anyway? Block and report spam. Goodbye.
13. Overly confident males. OMG. You guys heard about creepy shirtless guy. I have a couple of other stories which I can talk about offline too. Also recently, I was hiking and I was waiting out a rain shower and this guy caught up to me and started talking. About himself. And how much he knew about the area, and how many times he had been to the area, and all of his wonderful accomplishments. Any time I tried to interject with a question or clarification or addition, he basically just steamrolled over me to talk about himself. Um, no thanks. Block and report spam! I got out of there as fast as I could.
14. People who put their bag/backpack (or their feet!) on the seat next to them on the bus/park bench and then pretend they don't see that someone is trying to sit down. It is rush hour, you are on the bus, you know more people are going to get on. Just put your backpack in your lap! And don't get me started on people who put their feet on the seats. That is just low class. You are not in your own apartment; you are on the subway and you are taking up three seats when there are people who are standing and are too polite to ask you to move.
15. People who don't give up their seat when an older person gets on the bus or needs a seat. Same as above. As Aretha said, show a little respect. Don't pretend you have something so important on your phone that you did not notice a 90 year old lady get on the train and stand next to you with her legs quivering. Especially if you are in the disabled seats, but even if you are in a regular seat, I think it should be given up.
16. Sand. I love the ocean, and I love the beach, and I love swimming, but I don't love having sand on my body. No offense to dogs or kids, but when I am at the beach with friends who have either one, I kind of want to declare my blanket off limits because they kick sand on it and then it has sand on it, and then I have sand on me. I don't care if it's on my feet, but I just don't really want it all over my body. My Mom used to make us hose off before we came into the house in the summer time and now I get it!
17. Non-cold drinks when it is very hot out. Dear Europe, when it is 38 degrees C out (basically 100 F) and I have been riding my bike and I stop in your restaurant and order an iced tea, I kind of expect it to have ICE in it. A lukewarm bottle that you pulled from the non-refrigerated shelves and gave to me with a glass (with no ice in it) is not going to keep me from dying of heatstroke. Okay, maybe that is a little dramatic, and I actually don't like drinking water with ice in it normally but on a really hot day, I miss the US custom of having a lot of ice in our drinks!
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| This tea was NOT iced, but the ice cream was still cold. |
18. Loud talkers. Yes, I know that foreigners think that people from the US are loud, and that can be true for sure, but there are loud talkers everywhere. The other day two Montenegrins were yelling across a street at each other (in a friendly way) at midnight. It's not just them; there is always someone!
19. Smokers. I sometimes forget how strict our rules about smoking are in the US. But then I go to Türkiye and people are smoking in hotels, in the lobbies of hotels, or on the bus. Or when the bus stops, even if just for a minute, everyone jumps out and inhales ten puffs before they all get herded back on the bus. When you are walking down the street in Georgia, you are enveloped in a cloud of smoke. In Montenegro people are smoking in restaurants, even in the inside portion, not just on the outdoor patio. There are cigarette butts on all of the trails and near the lakes and on the street. Everyone smokes!
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| Looks like a joint right? It's a bone I found on the road. |
20. Fidgeters. A person I care a lot about wiggles their legs under the table a lot when we are playing cards. Sometimes when we are on the same bench, the bench shakes. I get distracted easily (see #1, #3, #4, #6) and I can't focus when they are fidgeting! Sit still, dang it!
I guess the moral of all of this is that I prefer still, quiet, sandless and scentless. Haha. The end. Your turn!
COPY/PASTE:
1. Wet mouth noises.
2. Playing music, listening to your phone, talking on the phone out loud in public.
3. People getting too close to me.
4. Sitting with my back to a restaurant
5. People who watch TV or look at their phone when you are out together having a meal.
6. Dripping faucets or running toilets.
7. People who say "I wish I had the time/money to do what you are doing"
8. People who wear too much perfume/cologne
9. Untrained dogs.
10. Extreme tardiness.
11. Flakes.
12. People who write "hello" as their first text message and then don't say anything else until I respond.
13. Overly confident males.
14. People who put their bag/backpack on the seat next to them (or their feet!) on the bus/bench and then pretend they don't see that someone is trying to sit down.
15. People who don't give up their seat when an older person gets on the bus or needs a seat.
16. Sand.
17. Non-cold drinks when it is very hot out.
18. Loud talkers.
19. Smokers.
20. Fidgeters.
Also, Don't forget to fill out --> THE QUESTIONNAIRE!
What is one of your peeves that I don't have here on my list?
Oh I am HERE for this!! But now I'm wondering/thinking that the boys definitely tracked sand on your towel when we went to that beach together last summer. Whoops. We actually drove by it yesterday on the way to a birthday party drop off and Paul recounted how exciting it was when we went over the curb to park on the grass. I would not have remembered that but it's seared in his mind!
ReplyDeleteThe ones that bother me the most are:
- Playing music, listening to your phone, talking on the phone out loud in public (this is mostly elderly people and often happens at doctor offices which drive me crazy!!)
- People getting too close to me (my children do this a lot...)
- Dripping faucets or running toilets (I would add TICKING CLOCKS which bugs me the most. I will take the batteries out rather than listen to that awful sound), Untrained dogs (but I would say untrained owners because it's the owner's problem. I hate off leash dogs and dogs on LONG leashes on crowded running paths. A dog sort of charged at me when I was on my long run because his leash was so long and his owner was not paying attention and I about had a heart attack).
- Extreme tardiness (but it does not have to be extreme. If you are consistently 5 minutes late I will be extremely annoyed).
- People who don't give up their seat when an older person gets on the bus or needs a seat.
- Sand. (and sadly we deal with sand A LOT these days with the sandbox at school. Apparently it does not bother all parents like it bothers us. Phil and I joke about how much money we would give to the school to take out the gosh darn sandbox. There are a lot of "that f'ing sandbox" comments between us.)
- Loud talkers (Again I have one in the house. But there are so many loud talkers in my family, including one sibling and one BIL in particular. It wears on a person to be around someone who is SO LOUD).
- Smokers.
Well I guess I didn't shorten your list by much... but tried to only include things that REALLY bothered me
Oh yeah, off leash dogs (when it is an on leash path) and I guess people who don't follow rules in general, as if they are better than other people or are above the rules. I also getting annoyed by long leashes across paths and dog owners in general, especially when they are like the people who don't give up their seats, they seemingly "didn't notice" ie they are clueless, but I am not sure if them being clueless or them knowing and not caring is worse! I had an off leash dog jump on me and knock me onto the concrete running path in Berkeley and the owners were apologetic, but I was on a LEASHED path that was multiuse and their apologies did not make me really like them since they were not paying attention or following the rules in the first place. (Can you tell I could definitely make a list of WAY more than 20 peeves!? haha)
DeleteI haven’t even read the post yet, I had to come tell you that when I worked at the Parc 55 in SF, I sometimes worked as a concierge in the fancy club on the 31st floor, where guests could have a cold breakfast. Sometimes it was SO QUIET IN THERE, and someone would be sitting around the corner from me, slurping their coffee or their cereal, and I wanted to MURDER THEM. Ugh. OK, I’ll be back to comment further after I read the rest of your post.
ReplyDeleteOK, back now, and most of these annoy me too, but not all. Regarding the dogs, we had a neighbor once in a wheelchair, and he got there because an off leash dog jumped on him and he fell backwards and broke his back. Kind of like your fall, but with life long consequences (he was hopeful that he would walk again, but we moved away so I don’t know what happened there). The stray dogs is a whole new level though, I’m glad you have the fake rock throw move. Heck, I’d throw a real rock if need be. Or carry a walking stick and whack them with it.
ReplyDeleteWow, that situation with your neighbor is extreme! I am glad that did not happen to me, but I did get quite skinned and bruised up! Like I said, the people were apologetic, but I think when you are in a city with a shared walking path where dogs are supposed to be on a leash, you need to (a) follow the rules and (b) WATCH your dog! You are in public! There were people on the same hike as me who carried hiking poles and they did use them to keep the dogs away!
DeleteYes, it was an extreme situation. Now that I think about it, I think he was standing on a low stone wall taking a picture, and the dog jumped up and he fell back. So worse than your everyday fall. Funny(?) story - he was Indian, and about the same age as my husband, with glasses - from the end of a long hotel type apartment building hallway, he looked like my husband. Which is the first time I saw him. I thought my husband had somehow wound up in a wheelchair, and NO ONE HAD EVEN CALLED ME.
DeleteMy brother sent me a photo the other day of a person in a dress and Tevas that from the back looked just like my DAD! And yes, I said a dress, but it was an exact replica of what my Dad would look like if he wore a dress with his Tevas, and if he was going to wear a dress, I bet he WOULD wear Tevas with it!!
DeleteI am cry laughing at Julie thinking her husband had landed in a wheelchair and no one told her and then on top of it - the dad in a dress wearing Tevas story? Stop it. I am dying. It's the middle of the night here (well, now it's 4 am - but I have been up most of the night, unable to sleep, so maybe I'm just in a weird place but I don't think I would ever EVER recognize someone from behind as a person that might look like my dad wearing a dress). Bah ha ha ha ha.
DeleteBasically all of these bug me, too! Except the restaurant one (I never really think of how I'm positioned), but I remember when we went to Cumin you were specific about where you wanted to sit!
ReplyDeleteI echo Lisa. I HATE, HATE, HATE when dogs are off leash.
Other pet peeves:
- When my kids whine, especially if they're complaining right after we did something.
- Crumbs in the butter dish. Ugh.
I complain about lots of things, but can't think of a lot of pet peeves right now!
Haha, crumbs in the butter don't really bug me too much but probably because they are all my crumbs and so I know what they are. Unknown foreign objects in the butter would be a different story. Actually I am not too bothered by it, but I do hate crumbs on the counter! We were taught that you do the dishes, wipe down the counters, wipe out the sink, throw away the strainer junk and squeeze out the sponge and put it back in it's place (NOT wet in the sink). It bothers me when other people do the dishes and do not do all of these steps (of course if someone does the dishes I am grateful, but then I would go and clean up the rest before sitting down in the living room!)
DeleteSince I'm still working, my #1 peeve on your list is #12. Yes the "hello" and nothing else Slack message is worse than hearing someone else's mouth sounds. I expect that once work fades out of my life that #12 will have a lower place on the list.
ReplyDeleteThem: hello
DeleteMe: crickets...
5 minutes passes....
I wonder, "how long will it take for them to come back and actually say something real?" I decide to find out by doing nothing. :) Even without working it is annoying!
Yes to all of these, but some way more than others. People who talk on their cell phones in public- why? Why would you want everyone to hear your conversation? Why do you think I don't mind listening to you babble on an on?
ReplyDeleteI also don't like sitting with my bcak to the restaurant; don't like overly perfumed people (I would also just smell BO if I had to make the choice); and- YES. If I order an iced drink, I want LOTS OF ICE. Basically I want a cup filled with ice with a little liquid poured on top. Next time I get upset about things going on in the US I'll remind myself that at least we are not stingy with the ice here!
Yes! I am so glad that I am not the only one who has that restaurant sitting issue! I just hate having people constantly walking behind me when I can't see them. #issues Yes, we should be happy for our ice filled cups when we have them! I am a huge fan of a very cold iced tea with lots of lemon on a hot day!
Delete1. Wet mouth noises.
ReplyDelete2. Playing music, listening to your phone, talking on the phone out loud in public.
3. People getting too close to me.
5. People who watch TV or look at their phone when you are out together having a meal.
7. People who say "I wish I had the time/money to do what you are doing"
8. People who wear too much perfume/cologne
9. Untrained dogs.
10. Extreme tardiness.
16. Sand.
18. Loud talkers.
19. Smokers.
20. Fidgeters.
I've probably written about each of these at some point in the last 20 years myself.
I actually ended a long, long friendship partially over #5. She used to put her phone on the seat or table next to her and scroll through fb while I was talking. She'd interrupt and say things like, "Remember So And So? He just posted that he's leaving college and going to New York to try and get roles in off-Broadway productions," or "That reminds me! I'm looking at So-and-So's fb right now. Did you know she's pregnant?" Yet I was supposed to be her therapist and listen to every trial and tribulation in her life.
My #7 is "Must be nice." I hear it all the time because we have the lakehouse. (Which we did NOT win in a lottery or inherit; we worked hard and saved and managed our money wisely.) When anyone says it to us, we always say, "Yes, it is, and we are so glad we worked hard to save for it."
#20--There's a word for it: misokinesia. There was a study recently that found that many people who have misokinesia also have misophonia (the sensitivity to certain sounds); I have both. Rick is a terrible fidgeter, and it drives me up the wall. Jared and I both have misophonia, too.
#19--I don't understand why public buildings don't restrict smokers from standing right outside their entrances/exits. Especially hospitals!
The people next door to us are both heavy smokers. When their windows are open and the wind comes from the west, the stale cigarette smoke smell that comes from their house is so bad, we have to shut our windows on that side. It's incredible.
I'd better stop now. I'm on a roll.
I love that you got so into this and guess what!? I learned something new today! I have never heard of misokinesia or misophonia but I think that I have a little bit of both! Like, stop wiggling around and making weird noises! Hahah! Thank you for teaching me the way Obi-wan!
DeleteI had the same issue in Georgia; my downstairs apartment neighbor smoked, and it wafted right up into my apartment! Ug! I had to close the windows even though it was hot and I would have preferred to have a breeze. However, I did not want a smoky breeze!
I am unbothered, or not much bothered, by most things on your list. I do hate the phone-checking thing, unless someone tells me upfront that they are waiting for an important call/ message, and so they are going to leave their phone on the table. That's perfectly acceptable to me, after all, we all have times where we need to be available for the babysitter/ doctor's office/ what have you to call. But I hate when someone just whips out the phone while conversing. There was a woman I used to be friends with who did that all the time, and this was like 2012 before it was common. We'd be chatting on the playground and as I was talking she would just start typing into her phone (it was a Blackberry, this was long ago). I'd stop talking and she would say "oh, I was just looking up x (x being what I was talking about)." So rude. I rarely if ever take public transit, but I do think people should give up their seats for certain people (pregnant, elderly, etc.) All of my friends verge on being early so in the rare case someone is going to be late, they usually text me, and I usually have a book with me, so I don't mind.
ReplyDeleteNow, one thing you mention is actually something I LOVE, and that is when people are talking loudly on the phone. I LOVE THAT. It makes it easy to eavesdrop, and I always eavesdrop, because if someone is talking loudly they are allowing me to do so. On the train from Venice to Rome, the woman across from me talked for FOUR HOURS and wow, did it sound like a juicy conversation. Maybe to an ex? I don't know but I was here for it. I could be entertained for hours. And if someone is on speakerphone and I can hear both sides? YES.
Nicole, you are so tolerant of things, or should I say, zen! I love it. I would not pull my hair out over any of the above, but I do sometimes move away from them! I am usually early and most of my friends are usually on time, and we have all gotten used to updating each other if we are running late. However, now that I am having to make new friends, you never know what you are going to get and sometimes it is frustrating. I have a book, but I still think it is rude to make someone wait for you when really you just managed time badly. Of course, if you have an emergency or something, there are exceptions, but if you are just constantly late, I get irked after a while. But most of my normal friends are on the same page with that! Re the phone out loud thing, sorry, but we will have to agree to disagree on that one!
DeleteDang - I cannot remember how to cut and paste this list. I know you've told us, but I can't remember. I relate to so much of this. The perfume one is one of my biggest pet peeves. There is something wrong with me, because I cannot stand anything scented. I'm hyper sensitive. so when my kids put on strongly scented lotion - forget it. I make them throw it away (if they live in my house). When someone in public has dipped their entire body in a vat of smelly stuff - I cannot be anywhere near them. Eek.
ReplyDeleteRemind me not to introduce you to my son's two dogs. ugh.
I have a sister who makes a low-level, not quite grunt sound intermittently and it makes me nuts. I don't spend much time with her, so there's that.
Loud chewing. Nope. Coach cannot help it if his cereal is crunchy. I do get that, but still - do not sit near me and chomp on crunchy food (unless we are possibly enjoying the same food, but that's not likely. Hello, Celiac).
The phone talkers who have conversations while shopping. Stop it. I don't encounter music played loudly often, but that would tick me off for sure.
People who live in my house and are incapable of wiping down a counter top after they've eaten or prepared food. Every single person that I live with falls into this category.
Thank you baby Jesus for sound makers. I must travel with one, because I do not want to deal with the sound of the elevator or the drip of a faucet, etc. Our kids' bathroom backs up to ours and Lord help the child who aggressively attacks the toilet paper while I'm sleeping. (du-du-du-du-du-du)
Things not on your list: when we go to church and people get there early and sit at the end of an empty pew. Scoot in - be prepared for the fact that someone else is gonna come along and need to sit. Do not make people crawl over you. (exceptions are people with a need to sit on the end like those who use a walker). I find this ridiculous. All the pews have huge empty spots in the middle and all the ends have people sitting on them. What?
People who let you know how much money they have or make a comment about how little money they suspect you have. 1. decades ago a woman said to me at Lad's school picnic, that her daughter was thinking of becoming a physical therapist (like my husband - she was referencing him in this convo so she KNEW what he did for a living, that was sort of her point). Then she tells me that she looked it up and PTs only make x amount, and no way was her daughter gonna come out of school and only make X amount. I was standing there with my 6 small children and she was looking at me like I needed to explain how we were surviving, and I so badly wanted to say FOOD STAMPS HELP. 2. A dad of one of Mini's college roommates said in a conversation about downsizing/their house being for sale: Yeah, well there's only so many houses in the ba-zillion dollar category that are moving right now, so we're just waiting it out.
Kay met a kid at camp and gave the kid my number (Kay doesn't have a phone), so last week late at night I got a HI text. Followed by other texts and when I didn't respond right away, I got a ? text. Um, no. After I told her that I'm too busy to text my kids' friends, she proceeded to text me. I reached out to the camp the next day with a screenshot of what went down. Like do you know what your kid is doing on her phone?
Oh, another big one for me is people who respond to all. It's the year 2025 - how do you not know how to respond to the author of the text or email without involving everyone else? (unless it is requested to respond to all so everyone knows what food is being brought, etc.)
My last biggest pet peeve: times when I struggle to sleep. Boo. But this post made me chuckle and sort of forget that I'm in the wakeful state that sucks.
Ug, the Pew People! They are kind of like the backpack on the seat people, like all they think about it what is comfortable for them, not what will inconvenience other people. Re the money people, first of all, isn't the starting salary for a PT like $80k!? If so, hello, that is a lot of money! But even if it is less, shame on her for knowingly making comments about whatever the number is when she knows that your husband does that. Also there is a saying -- It's easier to look rich than to be rich -- which means that just because you drive an Escalade does not mean you ARE actually rich and just because you drive a Corolla does not mean that you are poor. I am camp Corolla! Why waste money to look rich when you can go and have experiences instead!?
DeleteThis is not even the same, but I hate it when people assume they know my physical limitations. Like I will ask the visitors center about a 20 mile RT hike and they will say, oh but you can't do that in one day, and I am like, excuse me, but watch me, sucker!
OMG, why is a kid texting a mother anyway! And yes, Reply-All! Hahah! Don't do it!
Ooh, I am here for a list like this. I wish I could be more like Nicole, but I am not! I get annoyed so easily by things. My big ones from your list:
ReplyDeletePlaying music, listening to your phone, talking on the phone out loud in public. - OMG YES. I was at Starbucks last weekend and someone was having a whole Facetime convo in the cafe. Like, I could see the person on the other end of the phone laying in bed. Do they really want strangers seeing them???
People getting too close to me. - Yes! I need my personal space and I feel very uncomfortable when it gets invaded.
People who watch TV or look at their phone when you are out together having a meal. - This is just so rude! It happens sometimes to me and I always feel very annoyed. The TV thing is tough because I know I do that. My eye is just drawn there, even when I don't want it to be!
People who write "hello" as their first text message and then don't say anything else until I respond. - UGHHH. This drives me up the wall when it comes to work communication. Usually, I don't respond because I'm just so petty that I want them to tell me what they want.
What doesn't bother me? Dripping faucets/running toilets. Sometimes I barely notice it until I'm finally like, "Wait. This is a problem and I should call maintenance to fix it. Like, my kitchen faucet has a leak and it's only noticeable sometimes and I have YET to call maintenance about it.
I am with you Stephany re getting annoyed, hahah. I am not that zen. Also I fully support your pettiness re not responding to the Hello person. Hello what? What do you want!? They need to learn how to communicate. Sometimes they say "hello" then shoot another text off right away asking for something, and that is still kind of annoying to me (can't you consolidate?) but at least they are moving on and talking about what they are pinging me for. And even if they are pinging just to actually say hello (um, why, but okay), they can still say, hello, just wanted to see how you are doing today, or something like that!
DeleteRe the running water, you are like my Mom! She will put a cup of coffee in the microwave and it will get done, and the microwave will beep, and then every few minutes the microwave will beep, and she will literally just sit there. I have often went and gotten it out of the microwave and brought it to her! She just tunes it out!
OK, of your list:
ReplyDelete- Listening to videos, music, talking loudly on the phone, yes, I hate this. Some talking on the phone, but quietly is OK. I was at the airport earlier this year, and a lady was talking on the phone on speaker with a friend, and I really felt that a large portion of their conversation should have been private. Just weird, why would you air your private business in public? I hope the friend on the other end realised she was on speaker, but I don't know.
- People looking at their phones when you're having a meal is so rude. When we were at our special dinner at St. Peter last month, I noticed that almost everyone didn't have their phones out at all, or they were face down on the table, except for one table where all the guests had their phones out for most of the dinner. One older lady even had one of those cases that also serves as a stand, so she propped her phone up and was watching videos or something for a lot of the evening. We were also out to lunch and there was an older couple who looked to be out with their grandchildren who were on their phones for a lot of the time. I'm glad we've drummed into our kids not to do that.
- Too much perfume, cologne. Yes strong smells like that give me a headache and nausea.
Yes, to the bag/feet on seats and not standing up for older people. Although now I'm getting older, I feel like I occasionally make a gaff standing up which they take as an insult. Like "I'm not old!"
- Smokers yes. I hate all the people smoking at the outside tables at cafes in Europe. We also had it once in the UK. In Victoria, smoking or vaping is illegal in public enclosed speaces or workspaces, on public transport or at trainstations, bus stops and tram stops, in outdoor dining and drinking areas, within 4 metres of the entrance to schools, indoor play centres, hospitals and community centres, within 10 metres of playground equipment, skate parks and under-age sporting events, the grounds of pools and within 50 metres of the flags on patrolled beaches so we are hardly ever forced to put up with other peoples smoke.
Haha! I would rather get up and give my seat to someone who doesn't feel old than not give it to someone who is old or needs it. Even in different countries when I don't speak the same language I always make eye contact and get up and gesture for them to sit. I did it with a lady with a kid where there were not two seats together, and I got up so that they could sit together. I am still young enough to stand, and one day I won't be and I really hope that I will get the same courtesy. Also, side note, I feel like in other countries besides the US, there are a lot of older people on the public transit. There are some in the Bay Area, but I think mostly older people drive? Or are driven?
DeleteRe smoking, I don't know our actual rules, but I think they are similar to yours. Definitely you can't smoke within a certain amount of feet of a building, you can't smoke in the airports (usually) anymore, etc. I guess I didn't realize how nice it was until I did not have it!! Definitely the Balkans, Türkiye, Georgia and Armenia are worse than Western Europe when it comes to public smoking though!
Oh, I really enjoy a good pet peeves post! I have so many LOL
ReplyDeleteUntrained dogs is on my list, or should I say, careless dog owners? And I agree, it might be worse in other countries, but I encounter A LOT of dogs on my runs where the owner doesn't have control (and let's just say I don't enjoy being sniffed, jumped up at, or when I have to "hurdle" over rogue dogs).
Another huge (runner) pet peeve: when cars don't stop at intersection stop signs and just casually roll through without even looking.
Yes! As a runner, I have an entire separate list! I hate large groups (or even just two or three people) who take up the entire path and even if you are running TOWARDS them (hi, they can see me!) they don't move over! Leashless dogs, long leashes, not picking up poop (I even saw this at Crissy Field in San Francisco, what the what?) etc. So many peeves! I almost got run over in Brooklyn because it was winter and I came to an intersection just as a car rolled up and I decided to stop just in case but I slipped on some ice/water and fell on the intersection. Luckily in this case the guy stopped (and even asked me if I was okay!)
DeleteI Love your list! We peeve so many of the same things!
ReplyDelete1. Wet mouth noises. - I have never noticed this! It sounds awful.
2. Playing music, listening to your phone, talking on the phone out loud in public. - YES to much of this EXCEPT... talking on the phone while walking...? is that annoying? I find it annoying if the other person is on speaker phone but if someone is walking in a park and chatting with a friend then I don't find it annoying. Unless they are having an annoying conversation, and then I *do* find it annoying.
3. People getting too close to me. - Yes yes 100% yes. Especially middle aged dudes (or my aged dudes, waah)
4. Sitting with my back to a restaurant - does not bother me
5. People who watch TV or look at their phone when you are out together having a meal. - YES! But also, I have so much trouble not looking at a screen when it's on. I have to ask my friends to turn off their TVs when I visit because I almost can't not watch. HOWEVER, My husband built a device that turns off most TVs and it's great when we are out together because we can usually shut off the TV. Not 100% sure it's legal though so not sure I should be posting about it here.
6. Dripping faucets or running toilets. - YES awful.
7. People who say "I wish I had the time/money to do what you are doing" - YES change to "someday I will prioritize what you are doing, right now it's not my priority." Side note I had a small disagreement with my husband over tidying up an office space and he said "well I have had no time to do it" as he got on the Peloton for a 45 minute ride... I did say "you mean you aren't prioritizing it, which is fine, but you clearly have time if you're hopping on the peloton"
8. People who wear too much perfume/cologne - yes, yuck
9. Untrained dogs. - YES! My son often says loudly "that's not a bad dog it just has a bad owner" lol.
10. Extreme tardiness. YES
11. Flakes. YES
12. People who write "hello" as their first text message and then don't say anything else until I respond. -YES I never reply to this untill they say something else.
13. Overly confident males. - Obviously yes
14. People who put their bag/backpack on the seat next to them (or their feet!) on the bus/bench and then pretend they don't see that someone is trying to sit down. - Okay, caveat, what if there are other free seats but the other seats are next to men and there's a middle aged man trying to sit down next to me...?
15. People who don't give up their seat when an older person gets on the bus or needs a seat. - Of course!
16. Sand. - I'm like 40% pet peeve and 60% "the hoover will get it soon"
17. Non-cold drinks when it is very hot out. - I had to get used to this in the UK where they don't believe in ice and drink hot tea on hot days to cool down.
18. Loud talkers. - Yes, except also I am a loud talker, so I remind myself to be less loud.
19. Smokers. - Gross.
20. Fidgeters. - Yes if it's affecting my space!
Let's hang out so I can talk quieter and also we can be annoyed at the same things.
Haha! So what I glean from this is that you have issues with middle aged (aka your age) men! For the speaker phone thing, I don't care if you are on the phone while in public if you have earbuds on or whatever, but don't put it on speaker, that is just rude. Don't put ANYTHING on speaker, be it music, audiobook or phone call. Earbuds were made for a reason, use them. Or put the phone on your ear and use the regular speaker (not speaker phone). Re the bag on seat, if there are a ton of empty seats, it is okay, but if the seats start to fill, I would move it to my lap, or at the least, I try to be aware if someone is standing looking around, even if seats are empty, I will move my bag. (usually I just put it in my lap from the get go though). If a middle aged man wants to sit with me, I just give him my RBF, and I usually wear my earbuds on the bus to keep people from attempting conversation.
DeleteOh my gosh....
ReplyDeleteyes! Everything for #2. It drives me nuts. We now live at a bike rode and you can not image the number of people who are unable to enjoy the sounds of nature but need to noise pollute this world.
#3 and 5 I second too.
#6 too. My migraine brain really gets set off by it. Like the washing machine beeping when done. My oven makes this sound when the temperature its set for is reached but then I have to go over there and open the dorr so it stops even though whatever I am making is already in. It makes me crazy.
#7 yes. #8 partly y- depends on the perfume but again my migraine brains has issues
#9 most definitely. Maybe my biggest peeve.
#12 I don't even acknowledge that so it wouldn't appear on my list.
#13 don't we all. Sigh...
#14 yes kinda. I do this too when I am traveling and want to work to be honest but I usually check if someone needs it and move my stuff. Specially when the train is full.
#15 yes. So rude. But once someone asked me if I wanted to sit down because the y thought I was pregnant... Not a nice feeling.
#17 I guess we disagree here. Ha. European through and through. I get it though it should be cold. keep the ice. health wise though the lukewarm bottle is best... but who cares.
#18 Sigh. I feel you.
#19 YES!!! I don't know how I survived before they put up the law of forbidding indoor smoking.
#20 Ok, now that might be the biggest one for me. Mainly because I live with it. Daily. The husband has this tick and is always moving is legs. Drives me nuts and I gently but firmly but my hand on it. I can feel it under the table. Argh...
I probably should have started my post with what I am not agreeing with.
Re the ice, I actually like to drink my water room temperature, and often when I am running or cycling or whatever, I am drinking it at outdoor temps. However, some days when I am super hot, I just want a COLD drink and Europe just doesn't do it cold enough for that instance. And re fidgeting, if I can't see it, hear it or feel it, I don't care, but if I can, I can't stop focusing on it!
DeleteHere are the ones that bother me:
ReplyDeletePeople getting too close to me.
People who say "I wish I had the time/money to do what you are doing"
People who wear too much perfume/cologne - also garlic breath, coffee breath, onion breath, B.O. or sweat.
Untrained dogs.
Extreme tardiness.
Smokers.
And then we get to:
20. Fidgeters.
Uh oh. I'm a fidgeter. Big time. I will annoy you and everyone else. I'm so sorry. I'm sitting here bouncing my leg as I write.
Hah! I don't hate the fidgeter, just the fidgeting!! Actually it's not that I hate it per we but it's so distracting. But clearly I don't like loud noises or movements, so that's just me! If it makes it better, as a backpacker and cyclist, I probably often have stinky feet and BO, so now we are even!
DeleteHmmm, I tried to comment, but it disappeared!
ReplyDelete