Things that annoy me but shouldnt, part 2

Unless I'm missing something, these two statements seem contradictory?

 

For the latter, I guess I was thinking about publication of the shooters' 'manifestos' and non-stop press coverage about the crime for days on end. I assume the public has a right to know who the perpetrator is and the essential details about the crime.

 

I’m sure some muck-raker will be able to make an even bigger mess of it than it already is.

 

Apparently there is a large enough number of viewers who don't hate advertising as much as I do that Netflix thinks it can offer an ad-supported tier (4-5 ads running 15-30 seconds each per hour) for only three dollars a month less than their basic no-ads tier.

 

Yep, I'm cheap and won't pay for no ads.

 

I think this might be a legitimate gripe, but the NHL sure seems like this isn't supposed to annoy me.

The new season has only just begun, and I am already tired of the ads. The new jersey and helmet ads aren't very distracting. They're ugly, but they don't really affect my viewing experience. What does bother me is their brilliant new plan of having all the ads on the boards to be digital for the broadcasts. This allows them to change all the ads on the boards at intervals throughout the game, meaning more advertising sales.

It's extremely distracting. No matter how hard I try to focus on the play, whenever there is this enormous change of scenery in the background, my eyes are automatically pulled towards this activity. To ensure that I am paying attention to the ads. I know it's intentional.

I can't imagine I will ever get used to this as I watch more games. I've already ruled out boycotting all companies that participate as there are simply too many involved. I hope they have some mercy and decide to only change the board ads during stoppages of play. Having them change in the middle of action is obscene. Okay, enough ranting for now, I suppose.

 

Yes, and don't get me started on the ads superimposed on the pitcher's mound during baseball games.

 

My sister of a different family is engaged, and while I'm provisionally happy for her (not her first time around), she's spamming social media with her love for her betrothed like she's pushing fifteen, not fifty.

I don't even make a point of my anniversary to anyone but Mrs. A because it's our thing.

 

They say the biggest reason for divorce is marriage.

 

Public display of affection is a curious phenomenon, especially as immortalized and memorialized on social media. The milder forms ("Happy anniversary, Sweetheart" with accompanying photo) don't bother me, but day by day proclamations of passion and undying love soon become tedious, discomforting, and bring to my cynical mind Shakespeare's line about protesting too much. Do you suppose some folks only feel real if they can post their lives online and elicit commentary on the same?

 

This didn't involve me directly so I guess you can say I shouldn't have been annoyed but I feel justified. Grabbing a bite to eat at a restaurant. They're busy and clearly understaffed. No big deal, I'm having a glass of wine and relaxing. A couple tables down there is apparently some problem with the food that came out of the kitchen and the customer is a complete ass to the server, not just about the mistake on the order but starts throwing in how slow things are. Makes such a jackass of himself that the server has to go get the manager to take time out of whatever he's doing to mollify this guy.

And while all of this is inexcusable already, as soon as the manager shows up the guy turns into a meek lamb full of "thank you" and "it's OK." I don' t know, maybe they comped something on the bill, I couldn't hear. But are you going to sit there and be a complete ass to the poor server who is stuck with you and then suddenly do a Jekyll and Hide routine when the manager shows up? Really?

 

the question: "why do you need to go to the gym? (you're so skinny!)"


because its not about "being skinny".... its about being fit and healthy

(since the weather has gotten colder and i hate outdoor activity when its cold, i'm starting back at a weight lifting gym after work or before work when I can)

 

Internet search would become considerably more useful if Google would get over its infatuation with 'Top 10' sites.

 

And, now that Yahoo Answers is in its much-deserved grave, delete frakkin' Quora.

 

I saw this on a YouTube video the other day, and it happened to me. The video was ranking s*it things that people say to disabled people. "You're so brave" ranked as "I know you're trying".

I agree, it depends on how it's said, but please don't say it to me. I'm not being "brave" - there's nothing to be brave about. I'm just doing my best to get on with things - I don't have a choice in the matter.

Not buying my girlfriend a birthday present - that's being brave (or it would be if I currently had a girlfriend).

 

When faced with adversary, one has a choice between a permanent pity party and getting on with life . Since way too many people pitch a fit over any little bump in the road, an individual who copes well with a remarkable change in life's circumstances attracts respect. Sometimes people express that respect with the word "brave" because they aren't writers and don't spent hours perusing Roget for just the write term.

 

That's why it falls in the "I know you're trying" category (according to the YouTuber). The person saying is indeed trying to show their respect, and they're being complimentary. The person who said it to me certainly was trying to express that.

I'm sure I've used the wrong words or an inappropriate term to express the same, on more than one occasion.

I'm pointing out though it is mildly annoying, to me anyway. It shouldn't be, but it is, more so when it comes from random strangers - I have no idea how to respond to them beyond awkwardly mumbling "Thanks" and moving on.

 

I would guess that as authors we're all very used to being judged on impact, not intent. If you write a piece that doesn't connect with the audience, sure, you can say to yourself "Well, they just didn't understand" and not do anything differently next time. But is that helping you become a better author?

Likewise, if you say something to someone with the best of intentions and yet they find it annoying, you can say to yourself "Well, I know I'm a good person" and go on with your life and not do anything differently. Or you could use it as an opportunity to learn something and maybe grow as a person, if you can decenter yourself from the situation for a moment.

 

Years ago I worked as a live-in attendant for two guys who were quadraplegics. It took me awhile to get over the "brave" concept, but living with them in everyday life taught me that they were coping and adapting and accepting and strong-willed, but wanted to be seen for what they were, guys dealing with disability, not heroes.

 

I was playing devils advocate in the post above. It pisses me off to no end for a random stranger (or a casual acquaintance for that matter) makes a personal remark about my appearance or supposed abilities/lack thereof. In my family, we learned to not make personal remarks and to politely ignore personal remarks directed at us. Well, I was supposed to learn to politely ignore those remarks, but as I got older, I was occasionally driven to reply (most courteously, of course), "Goodness, imagine you noticing that," followed by a brief but baffled stare and an abrupt change of subject: "How 'bout them Broncos?" is always appropriate.

 

Before I had the full amputation, I had a partial amputation of my foot, and I wore a moonboot to enable me to walk - the same kind you wear to support a broken leg. It always amused me when taxi drivers asked me when my leg was going to get better. I'd tell them my foot had been cut off and it wasn't going to get better. This was usually met with an awkward silence or a wince and an expression amounting to "I wish I hadn't said that".