Several months ago, reader Nadine Joubert sent me a note about her pet peeve.
“Why can’t news reporters from our local channels and other public speakers hold still while they speak?” she asked. “I can’t concentrate on anything they are saying because I’m so distracted by their arms flying in the air and their hands chopping up and down.”
She mentioned I might want to write a column about pet peeves. The thought intrigued me because in 20 years of columnizing, it’s a topic I’ve not tackled.
Joubert wrote in June. It’s awfully hard for me to feel peevish in the summer sun. However, autumn’s darkening days seem a good time to consider life’s annoyances.
Currently, my peeves are parking-related. For example, folks who ignore directional arrows in busy, crowded lots create ire for those of us who follow directions.
Also annoying are those who hold up traffic by backing big rigs into small spaces.
When I invited folks to weigh in on social media, I discovered others were also bewildered by this while several defended the practice.
One commenter mentioned that law enforcement advised her that backing in allows for a quick escape in case of a dangerous situation. Another replied, “Exactly. When the zombie apocalypse comes, we gotta go! No one has time to back out.”
She’s probably right, but as someone who can barely back out of her driveway, I think I’ll leave this maneuver to the experts.
For ease of reading, I’ve sorted people’s peeves into categories below.
Driving
Nina’s gripe about merging traffic prompted some controversy. Her peeve? “When one lane is closed, and people zip up to the lane closed sign and then push their way into the single lane of traffic, stopping the traffic flow for those of us who already moved over.”
Pia explained the zipper merge complete with a diagram.
“You’re supposed to merge at the sign … not a mile before,” she said.
Jill agreed, saying she’d asked a traffic engineer who confirmed the zipper design is intentional.
“But this town just doesn’t like the zipper, she said. “Leading by example hasn’t seemed to help, but we’ll keep trying.”
Additional traffic peeves included tailgating, driving below the speed limit, speeding, driving too slow in the passing lane, and failing to use turn indicators.
Karen added, “The driver at the four-way stop who suddenly turns into traffic cop waving people to go. Dude, we have traffic laws already; we don’t need you.”
Shopping
Taryn and I both dislike it when grocery stores rearrange everything. It’s frustrating for those of us who organize our grocery lists by aisle.
Laura’s peeve is people who stop dead center in a grocery aisle. “You can’t get around them even when you loudly say excuse me!”
People who aggressively and speedily push their giant carts through Costco, as if they are surgeons on the way to the ER, annoy Kathleen.
Kerri wonders why stores place price stickers on the front glass of picture frames where they’re difficult to remove.
Judy is bugged by businesses that don’t have their address large and easy to see from the road. Nearsighted me heartily concurs. I also don’t understand restaurants that don’t have a phone number posted anywhere.
Etiquette
My sister and my friend Lerria are annoyed by people watching videos on their phones in public waiting rooms with the sound on full blast. Another commenter included FaceTime calls in public areas. “Take it outside or call back when you are not in a public area,” she said.
Folks who cut their fingernails in public make Taryn cringe, and Heather abhors lateness as a habit rather than an incident. “It’s really disrespectful,” she said.
And Julie’s peeved by aggressive gum chewing.
Words
“I dislike the reply, ‘no problem,’ ” said Tina.
Cecile is bothered when folks say “Have a nice day, guys,” or “Can I help you guys?” And any salutation to women that includes “guys.”
Gary is irked when someone says “Only in Spokane” for things that happen everywhere.
“Bad-driving move? ‘Only in Spokane’! Potholes, crime, businesses closing, oafish behavior … “OIS!”
He’s not sure why people feel the need to indicate their hometown is especially awful. “Perhaps they never travel,” he said. “Which, of course, would be “so Spokane!”
Miscellaneous
Flavored licorice peeves Karyn. “Licorice is already a flavor. It’s not strawberry or lemon!” she said.
Gillian bemoans the lack of functional pockets in most women’s wear.
Terry’s peeve is oddly specific: “People who try to give my cats middle names.”
Listen. If you’re going to name your male cat Rose, you should be thankful when a friend gives him dignity by referring to him as Rose Henry. At least that’s my opinion.
Please note I didn’t say my “personal opinion.”
I can’t because that’s another one of my pet peeves.
