Random peeves

[Dannyalcatraz]

I didn't realize this until recently, but I get really, really ticked off when I encounter people who insist on contradicting those who have superior understanding of a situation by virtue of their profession or education.

I'm not talking about experts with differing views on a subject, but (to use me as an example) laymen who think they know more about entertainment law than I do, and continue to argue against my position even after I cite real data. "INTERPOL's numbers on music piracy can't possibly be right- they're just pawns of the RIAA!"*

Or, in my buddy's (with a Masters of Music) case, people who tell him he's wrong when he tells them why one song is technically better than another.

Or people who tell my Dad (an MD) that he's wrong about a particular new "herbal cure."

Etc.

People who work to gain expertise just shouldn't have their assertions ignored out of hand.

*As a tangent, recent reports show that China- international safe harbor for all kinds of piracy- is experiencing a bit of an internal backlash as the pirates are going after Chinese IP. That's right! Chinese IP pirates are killing Chinese businesses with their piracy! Its as if the Chinese gov't never read the parable of the Scorpion and the Frog at the River.

 

[Ralts Bloodthorne]

Right now?


I hate everyone and everything.

 

[Morrus]

The ones who yell at me when I push past them (while saying "excuse me") are even better. I have a gun. I'm carrying someone elses money. I don't stand around in crowds, folks.

From your description, they have a point. I wouldn't accept "I'm carrying someone else's money and I have a gun" as an acceptable excuse for being rude to me.

What happens if you run into someone else who is also carrying someone else's money and has a gun? Do you have a shootout?

 

[Tinker Gnome]

People who knock REALLY loud on my door. I mean, it sounds like a horde of orcs is trying to knock it down and all they want is something trivial.

People who wake me up when I am taking a nap.

When my legs itch and wont stop itching no matter how much I scratch them.

When water in the shower is either too hot or too cold and I can never seem to get it the right temperature.

 

[Piratecat]

Oops, almost forgot. Folks with an inflated sense of self-importance tend to bother me, especially when its job-related instead of being linked to their personal accomplishments. For me, realizing exactly all laughable we all are and keeping a sense of humility about it makes the world a lot more enjoyable place.

As one example, I met a local politician my age the other month. He shook hands and made small talk exactly as you'd expect him to. It was... odd.

 

[MavrickWeirdo]

"sleep is for the week."

Fixed it for you

 

[cybertalus]

Right now?


I hate everyone and everything.

I have a special name for times like that. I call them "mornings".

Which leads me to my biggest peeve: alarm clocks. When it takes a noise as loud as the average rock concert to wake up in the morning, that's probably a sign that humanity wasn't actually meant to be up at such an insanely early hour.

 

[Harmon]

People who knock REALLY loud on my door. I mean, it sounds like a horde of orcs is trying to knock it down and all they want is something trivial.

On Jan 29 we had a baby, shortly there after my Dad and his wife moved in so they could get their old rental in order to live in. My Dad refuses to do as I ask related to the alarm, and the use of door locks, so I did not give him a key or the alarm code. So what does he do- sits on the porch with the back of head against the door bell (did I mention that we had a new born?).

I let him in then disconnected the door bell while he watched.

After that he just knocked really loudly- even when I reminded him that we had a new born. I suppose that is one of the reasons why he's not invited into my home and why I have not talked to him in a month.

People who wake me up when I am taking a nap.

I hear you- did I mention the new born? I understand completely. Naps are a vital part of life.

 

[Chimera]

From your description, they have a point. I wouldn't accept "I'm carrying someone else's money and I have a gun" as an acceptable excuse for being rude to me.

What happens if you run into someone else who is also carrying someone else's money and has a gun? Do you have a shootout?

This would be a good example of Assuming the Worst (and then seeking to punish the other for it). Step back there, Mo'.

I'm not intentionally rude. But if you walk in front of me and stand there, I have to get around you. Sometimes that involves unintentional contact. Sometimes that involves putting my hand out to stop you. Sometimes that requires me to nudge you to get your attention.

Unfortunately, on very rare occasions, I am required to be rude. If I say "excuse me" several times and you ignore me, I need to take firmer steps to get you to pay attention and move. (You may be intentionally distracting or obstructing me in order to help someone else approach and/or rob me.)

In no case have I ever resorted to violence. Period. But I can be verbally rude when required.

You want to understand why?

Take anywhere from $200 to $250,000, put it in a black bag and go take a walk through a crowd. (I've carried as much as $40 million in checks at one time.)

That's what I do every day. 35 to 55 times a day. On downtown streets.

For $11.30 an hour.

And yes, I have had people try things on me. Been followed into banks by serious scumbags, threatened with death or robbery more times than I can count, had people brush directly against my gun or my money, put their hands on my money bag, had people want me to show them what I have, or ask to hold it (yeah, right), had people try to get into my truck when I'm in it. Heck, in my first month on the job, I had a team of four people try to con me out of the truck with a fake bike accident!

 

[KenM]

When a major company lies to its paying customers.