Stupid things that instantly piss you off

[shootingstar]

Traffic. As in, driving five hours on the freeway and being able to use the cruise control and/or listen to music for maybe two of those hours. And the antecedent to this kind of traffic, the absence of a viable rail system in the USA. .

Well, Amtrak network travels a little abit more throughout the vastness in the US ..compared to Canada.

If one checks VIA Rail in Canada, which is our only cross-Canada rail system, it's very thin and limited in terms of its geographic coverage. Really spartan coverage in the hugeness of Canada.

Of course both Canada and U.S. have problems in certain trains arriving on time. It continues to amaze me how pinpoint accurate the European trains are...but then I don't know about their lines in snowier areas.

[Jolt]

Here are a few of my pet peeves...

-loud cell phone conversations in public (especially on the train)
-people walking in groups and taking up the whole width of the sidewalk or hallway so I get stuck behind them until there's an opportunity to go around
-people behind me in line at the store who stand too close while I am still checking out (instead of standing back and giving me some space)--it's like they're afraid somebody is going to take cuts if they're not right on top of me
-littering in general but especially on trails
-parents letting their kids misbehave and not even trying to correct them
-drunk yahoos on the T/commuter rail (usually this occurs after a Bruins game...)
-solicitation of any kind on the street etc.--these people can be SO intrusive and I don't appreciate being approached by random people when I am just minding my own business and trying to get somewhere

[marni]

people I have just been introduced to who get all touchy feely,patting my shoulder, giving me shoulder or closer hugs and then insisting that they must say grace over dinner. I'm ok with people taking a moment of silence but since I am a non believer in god as most of them perceive, I find it presumptious of them to assume that after less than 30 minutes, they know me well enough to have prolonged physical contact or dictate my needs and wishes to who or whatever they believe in.

Company party over the weekend. Met a bunch of men my husband, the engineer, works with, many a good bit younger, who instantly assumed that I would just love dancing up close and tight, being addressed as young lady and "cuddled" despite all I did to discourage them. I finally sat down, begging off with a headache and we left early. Then I had to spend a while calming my husband down and convincing them not to complain and try and get them fired forthwith. Even in their 40's and 50's some people just need to grow up.
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marni

[Tuckervill]

You must be pretty cute to get all that kind of attention!

Karen

[Laterider21958]

I have to grit my teeth when my dentist begins a sentence 'You know Laterider, people of our age .....' and then goes on to describe the problems that are to come. It's 'people of our age' part of the conversation that gets me & hey, why should I just lie down a wait for and expect all the cr@p to unfold. I'm 51, not decrepit.

[Laterider21958]

Here are some that I forgot:

- the kiss on the cheek/s greeting from those that you don't really know and aren't family. Please just say a friendly 'Hello' with or without handshake.
- pedestrians who don't keep to their own side of the crossing resulting in people dodging each other when they meet in the middle. Stick to the appropriate side as if in a vehicle.
- over-packaging of products and then not being able to open it without hacking it up
- electrical items designed to be thrown away rather than repaired
- same items ending up in landfill

[marni]

You must be pretty cute to get all that kind of attention!

Karen

Gee Karen, thanks for the vote of confidence but I am just an average looking 61 year old with a bikers buzz cut, a farmers tan, white forehead and rings around my eyes from dark glasses, with lots of wrinkles and sags- it's the instant intimacy and familiarity that make me bonkers, and the stupid stud act.

marni

[Bike Chick]

Here's one I thought of today:

Hearing a man refer to his wife as "the ole lady." It sends me into a tailspin

[tctrek]

The waiter or waitress who keeps walking past you and won't make eye contact. You're waving your arms around and they are oblivious.

Seeing people texting, putting on makeup, completely not paying attention in traffic.