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My big one...
Off of..... As in 'I got the book off of the shelf' Why?????????????????
Also nationality - British. No, I'm English thank you.
News etc organisations using 'homosexual' rather than 'gay' and in a manner that suggests its a dirty word and they'll need to wash afterwards.
Clients who think they can just provide their info whenever it suits them and you'll drop everything to attend to it.
People who won't take no for an answer
I could be here for hours......
Drivers who don't indicate when turning ..... 2 thanks
... but leave you to guess where they are going next (a bit like daring you to play Russian roulette, OR, you sit patiently waiting and then realise they are not coming your way after all!)
ps. I can see this thread being the most read, most posted, and most popular thread ever!!!
Your write Becky ...
... ewe must of had a proper education like what I did!
Thanks Shirley, I wondered what that sticky thing coming out the side of the steering wheel did!
The biggest 'wind up' merchants of all .....
The hypocrites with double standards .....
ie. do as I say, not as I do
I've sacked two clients recently for similar behaviour. They cause too much frustration, and there is absolutely no job satisfaction dealing with people like that!
Following on
from Shirley - people who indicate AFTER they've started turning leaving me sitting there going 'well I'd worked that out now you ..... insert offensive word or words of your choice'
and from taxhound - those automated messages that force you to wait until they've given you 20 options before they'll accept that you wanted the first option and have been beating the crap out the keypad ever since
And the Royal Mail's website giving you a number to ring to track your parcel when their website won't work all weekend but which is actually an automated number asking for the tracking reference and which then tells you that 'sorry, the system is down, do try again' oh yes and at the start of the message I'd been forced to listen to them telling me that the quickest way was to use their website!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The package still can't be tracked, hasn't arrived but luckily Amazon have now sent me a replacement. Amazon I rarely need to rant about - they know what customer service means.
Inconsiderate drivers who drive too fast on wet roads and soak me and my dog when we're ambling home in the rain.
Yes!
Nice one, Shirley, that's one for me as well. Grrrr. I always yell something along the lines of "it's ok, indicating is not compulsory, I'll figure out where you're going via telepathy, [insert finale expletive]".
Taxhound, you reminded me of one: keying in your card number when you call only for them to ask you for it again when you get through to a person! Arghhhhhh
Men & women
The men who go all 'jellified' when a pretty women looks at them, and they bend over backwards to hold open the door for her (while letting the door slam on the old fellah with crutches), and the women who play the helpless female, or sex siren, so men will behave in that way!
I know it's a game ... maybe I'm just jealous 'cos I couldn't play at being a helpless female, nor am I a sex siren ..... although I did get used to get a few advances when I went around in jodphurs & riding boots and a whip in my hand ;)
Grrrrrr
The busker about 200 yards from my office at the moment playing the bagpipes and knowing only one tune which he's been playing badly all smegging morning and is still at it now.
The street-preacher-type guy who regularly preaches at the same spot which the bagpiper is currently occupying, who shouts and shrieks at passers by in between giving his 'sermons' (although he did make me laugh out loud one day when I heard him say "If Jesus was alive today he'd be turning in his grave").
Tourist families who walk slowly along, side by side, taking the whole pavement and refusing to budge, and forcing you to walk on the road to get past them.
Tourists who come to Wales and complain about people speaking Welsh. If you don't like the language then don't come to the only country in the world where it's spoken!
David Cameron.
People who don't say thank you when you hold a door open, or when you move to the side on a narrow pavement to let them pass.
Oh, and rants.
Indicating
from Shirley - people who indicate AFTER they've started turning leaving me sitting there
I think this happens because as you start to turn the steering wheel, you can touch the indicator at the same time - two birds with one stone! The other advantage is that if you subsequently crash into somebody, they can never say you didn't indicate. NB: I don't do this....
Related to this, I regularly suffer similar behaviour at a mini-roundabout on the way to work, where people don't think to indicate BEFORE arriving at the roundabout. That means when I am approaching the roundabout, I slow down but don't come to a complete stop - I continue straight onto the roundabout, assuming they aren't going to turn across me. But the person who failed to indicate properly is then infuriated because I didn't come to a complete stop, which I should apparently do to check if they are going to actually indicate once they arrive at the roundabout and decide what the f they are doing. Maybe it's me who has this wrong... who knows....
Agreed
Tourist families who walk slowly along, side by side, taking the whole pavement and refusing to budge, and forcing you to walk on the road to get past them.
People who don't say thank you when you hold a door open, or when you move to the side on a narrow pavement to let them pass.
THIS!!!! I'm glad I'm not the only one who gets this.
Similar to Flash ...
... why do people drive 10 foot from my bumper at 70mph when they can see there is a line of safely spaced vehicles ahead and to the side of me.
70mph = 102.9 feet per second, and from the highway code data (see below) the safe stopping distance is 315 feet, so by driving safe they will arrive 3 seconds later - is it worth the risk?
The average reaction time from seeing an emergency situation to actually placing your foot on the brake pedal is 0.7 seconds At 30mph, 44 feet per second, you will have travelled 30 feet before you even take action, and a further 45 feet before the brakes bring the car to a halt. On motorways, marker posts are set up at 100 metre intervals - about the stopping distance when driving at 70 mph. So if the car in front is passing a post, you should not have passed the previous one.
CAR STOPPING DISTANCE (Highway Code)
Fig. 1
| Speed | Distance to Stop | Feet per Second | Car lengths |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mph | 12m 40ft | 29.4 ft/sec | 4 |
| 30 mph | 23m 75ft | 44.1 ft/sec | 6 |
| 40 mph | 36m 120ft | 58.8 ft/sec | 10 |
| 50 mph | 53m 175ft | 73.5 ft/sec | 14 |
| 60 mph | 73m 240ft | 88.2 ft/sec | 20 |
| 70 mph | 96m 315ft | 102.9 ft/sec | 26 |
The other bug bear, is why drive in lane 3 when 1 nad 2 are free? Coming round the M25 at 10.30 on Wednesday there was a long line all doing that, and no one in lanes 1 and 2 at all!
At the risk of being sexist ...
... related to the tourist point,
I get irritated round shop by women who stop dead with out warning, or worse, veer suddenly slack jawed at an acute angle upon seeing some piece of tat in a shop window!
Not sure
... why do people drive 10 foot from my bumper at 70mph when they can see there is a line of safely spaced vehicles ahead and to the side of me.
70mph = 102.9 feet per second, and from the highway code data (see below) the safe stopping distance is 315 feet, so by driving safe they will arrive 3 seconds later - is it worth the risk?
The average reaction time from seeing an emergency situation to actually placing your foot on the brake pedal is 0.7 seconds At 30mph, 44 feet per second, you will have travelled 30 feet before you even take action, and a further 45 feet before the brakes bring the car to a halt. On motorways, marker posts are set up at 100 metre intervals - about the stopping distance when driving at 70 mph. So if the car in front is passing a post, you should not have passed the previous one.
But that logic assumes your car might come to a complete stop immediately, requiring them to leave the full stopping distance between vehicles. In reality, your car can't stop any faster than the car behind you - therefore it is relatively safe to travel 10 foot from your bumper. Of course, you might be involved in a collision which makes you stop quicker than the ordinary stopping distance - but that's unlikely, it's more likely your car will roll over or career across the road into other innocent drivers.
I'm not saying I don't agree with you about tailgating - I do 100%, but I'm not sure your logic holds up!
OGA
It annoys me too when people just veer off in the supermarket. It also annoys me when they stop to chat with someone and block the whole aisle with themselves and their trolleys, and look at you as if you are being rude if you gently push their trolley to one side so you can get by ;)
Another hate of mine ... cars with boom boxes and all everyone else can hear is the monotonous bang bang bang of the base speakers, and they park outside houses and offices with windows open. It's like chinese water torture!
Surprised nobody has mentioned.....
People who come to meetings and leave their phones on AND take a call rather than apologising and switching the bloody thing off;
People at the theatre, cinema or even in centre court Wimbledon, who are more interested in their iphone or ipad than what's in front of them;
Virtual lives;
People in the supermarket queue who go through the entire exercise of packing and ignoring questions or pleasantries from the cashier with their bloody phone wedged between their head & shoulder; So love it when the cashier has the balls to sit & do nothing till they have answered "are you OK to pack?"
People who think that, because the person they are speaking to on their mobile is 20 miles away, they have to shout as if they don't have a phone to help them;
People in supermarket queues who don't get their cash, cards, vouchers out ready (or at least check they have them!);
Out of breath now....whoops there's the phone...bye
Oh this could run and run
I also get really annoyed when people don't say 'thanks'. My boyfriend is terrible at this, never says thanks to other drivers for allowing him through, it really winds me up, I find myself doing it on his behalf, and then he has a go at me saying 'I was just about to do that'. He never does that.
And more - prompted by above posts
When you let another driver through (and you have right of way) and they don't acknowledge you (oops sorry Becky, that'll be your boyfriend I've sworn about multiple times!!)
When another driver barges through regardless and you have to swerve for your life
Bus drivers
Women with pushchairs who walk next to each other on a pavement and expect you to walk in the mud (men rarely seem to push their kids together)
Shelf stackers who don't use deodorant and stink - why don't their bosses point it out (or get HR to) - it's a place where people go to buy food to eat for crying out loud, is the stench of old sweat really going to make me want to stop and buy things???
People on tills who chat away to customers while a queue builds up behind
People on tills (usually young lads who look bored) who chuck your shopping along at a rate of knots - I always go really slow at that point so they run out of room to continue.
Receiving unwanted help packing my shopping - do I look like I need help putting the three items I've bought in a bag? Really?!
When I've had a big shop delivered and they've put my chocolate cheesecake slices upside down under a large box of whiskas. (that merits hanging!) Or Jaffa cake bars under cat litter. Is it that difficult to pack a bag so that a, it can stand up and not collapse outwards in a heap, b, keeps food and non-food separate, c, has heavy items on the bottom and things that squash on the top? Are these people completely stupid?!
Sky & BT's 'customer service' departments
They learnt me how to ................
When people mix up "learn" and "taught" - it just winds me up.
The inability of the female of the species to pass a shoe shop.
Opposition MPs telling us how everything would have been wonderful if only we'd elected them ............ yea right.
Pointless health & safety rules.
People who whine about "global warming" then fly all over the world causing pollution to gather so called "evidence".
Cyclists riding side by side like mobile road blocks.
Parents who let their horrible kids scream and run riot in shops & supermarkets.
Idiots who ring and try to convince you they are from Microsoft and your computer is infected.
In fact all salesmen who ring or knock at your door - usually when you're in the middle of a meal.
Companies who, once you trade with them, spend the next 20 years bombarding you with leaflets & refering to you as a "valued customer" when you've only once spent £3.20 with them.
"Baby on board" signs in car windows - I feel like putting one in mine saying - "next time use contraception".
Women who think that picking their child up from school entitles them to park anywhere.
Thisistibi
Did you not read what you quoted, mine holds up as well as yours?
"The average reaction time from seeing an emergency situation to actually placing your foot on the brake pedal is 0.7 seconds At 30mph, 44 feet per second, you will have travelled 30 feet before you even take action"
At 70 mph this will be about 75 foot so that is the minimum distance. This assumes you are paying attention and not chatting on the phone (hands-free or other-wise), checking your make up, shaving, text/e-mailing, eating, chatting to your passenger, and all the other things I have observed in my rear-view mirror, which very action again will add to the reaction time
Ok, you belt round a bend and stop dead as you plow into a jack-knifed lorry/land-slip/grandad doing 80mph the wrong way because he got confused on the roundabout - 10 feet doesn't seem so far now does it?
Funny how there is never a day goes by without at least one disruption from a shunt on the M25!
As to Coldplay, they have done a few passable songs, but on the whole pretty bland and very much a one trick pony.
EDIT - also, a Micra with one person and no luggage is going to stop a damn sight quicker than a fully loaded Range Rover with 2 adults, 3 teenagers, a brace of Golden Retrievers and all their baggage!
Supermarkets ...
... some people seem to go every day, so they know where everything is: write your list (assuming you can write) in order so you can go neatly up and down the aisles without going against the flow.
Which leads on to, stop moving things around, it annoys the shoppers intensely, and can you not put related products near each other, I don't want a 5 mile trek with my mighty white to get my flora!
As why oh why are there abandoned trolleys full of chilled/frozen goods always standing blocking the aisles, it is no wonder more people don't get food poisoning and means my fruit pastille lollies get covered in ice crystals with the constant freeze/thaw regime.
And finally, Oi, Tesco, can't you put contraceptives in the blue and white strippy stuff and do us all a favour!
Children in restaurants
Children who run around in restaurants - there are chairs provided for a reason, get your *** on one and don't make a sound until your parents are leaving, then follow them quietly out and don't come back
Parents who own the above
Sexism
Viva La Vida
Is a great song. Just saying...
That aside, I emailed Sky to ask when they would be connecting my telephone after my move. I got a stock email back telling me to ring them.
a) wow, so caring,
b) ring you how? You are taking forever to connect my 'phone...
I don't think I can be so restrained as you all so I will just keep quiet, lest I rant until my boss comes in and sacks me.
At last! 5 thanks
A "Friday afternoon" thread that doesn't end in tears ;)
My one, pathetic, gripe - folk's that keep putting needless apostrophe's in plural's.
We've a sign nearby that reads "Caution - pedestrian's crossing". I've tried to contact the Council to find out how I, as a pedestrian, can get my hand's on one of their crossing's but no reply yet.
Personally ...
... I prefer Violet Hill from Viva La Vida (I presume you meant the track, not the album - I know you get confused!), but Life in Technicolor ii froms Prospekt's March is better still.
Ah BKD ...
... alas Keith Waterhouse and the AAAA
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1054453/KEITH-WATERHOUSE-Apostrophes--AAAA-fights-back.html
#Shudder#
A "Friday afternoon" thread that doesn't end in tears ;)
My one, pathetic, gripe - folk's that keep putting needless apostrophe's in plural's.
We've a sign nearby that reads "Caution - pedestrian's crossing". I've tried to contact the Council to find out how I, as a pedestrian, can get my hand's on one of their crossing's but no reply yet.
A shop near me is called:
Your's
apostrophes 1 thanks
Good call BKD.... I had a (serious) conversation with somebody recently about whether CD's or CDs is the correct terminology. I didn't realise somebody might actually try and defend their bad grammar, I just assumed it was sloppy...
BKD - no tears????? 2 thanks
I don't know .... I might bop OGA on the head for making a sexist comment (only teasing OGA), and Spartacus, too.
Men shop and pick kids up, too (the non-sexist ones who don't believe everything to do with home & kids is womens' work, do anyway), but I think we've already covered this many times before.
Ok ... let the battle begin ;)
(were the apostrophes ok, BKD?)
I'm useless at grammar
.... but I thought an apostrophe after meant 'belonging to'.
... but I may be wrong!
Well spotted, thisistibi
The correct version is women's.
As for your point about CDs/CD's, I confess to being slightly ambivalent about that. I guess the correct version is CDs, but I can see the argument for an apostrophe, to ensure that the 's' is not seen as part of the acronym (since some acronyms are a mix of upper and lower case).
You're correct Shirley
.... but I thought an apostrophe after meant 'belonging to'.
... but I may be wrong!
'belonging to' or to denote a missing letter. But there is no such word as womens (not in my vocabulary, at any rate). Women is already plural, so if something belongs to a woman it's the woman's, if it belongs to a group of women, then it's the women's. Likewise, in the case of a marriage, if it belongs to the man, it's the woman's.
Not a typist
.... but I thought an apostrophe after meant 'belonging to'.
... but I may be wrong!
No, it just means some smartass actually knows where the apostophe key is hidden on the keyboard.
EDIT- [ sorry I mispelt apostrophe - someone hid the rrrrrrrrrrrrr key. ]
The apostrophe key
No, it just means some smartass actually knows where the apostophe key is hidden on the keyboard.
It's usually found at the opposite end of the keyboard to where the 'r' key is ;)
EDIT - beat me to it
Ah Shirley ...
... pay attention, I said how men shop, they know what they want, they have a list if necessary and plan the most ergonomic route accordingly, avoiding the drifting up and down with a dazed look, except for that twice yearly annual hell of finding a birthday or Christmas present for their partner (thank God for Amazon and Play!)
As for school the run, I do the taking as it is on the way to work, as do many Dad's. The drop off is in a cul-de-sac. The residents park on the right as you go down, the school has two entrances on this side which make good passing places, there is a free area of 30 or 40 yards on the right after the parked cars. You know whats coming next, the Dad's drive to the end turn round and park in the free area on the right (their left) as they come back out, thus ensuring free flow of traffic and minimum disruption. The Mum's, almost without exception, stop on the left going down opposite the gates thus entirely stuffing up any flow of traffic entirely. Not passing judgement of course, just sharing observations :oP.
Its & It's
So am I right in thinking if I mean 'it is' I can use 'it's' and if I am referring to the property of it I should use 'it's' also? This is the only apostrophe I'm never too sure about and I tend to put one in or not depending on whether Word or Outlook highlights it (purely as I detest seeing the highlight)
Is there actually a time to use Its i.e. without an apostrophe?
Which just goes to show that I was right all along ...
... I am rubbish at grammar :)
OGA - please don't get me started on school runs. I have to pass 3 schools on the way to the office :(
its possessive ...
... has no '
Your don't say your's, why say it's
It
So am I right in thinking if I mean 'it is' I can use 'it's' and if I am referring to the property of it I should use 'it's' also? This is the only apostrophe I'm never too sure about and I tend to put one in or not depending on whether Word or Outlook highlights it (purely as I detest seeing the highlight)
Is there actually a time to use Its i.e. without an apostrophe?
No - that's the English language for you, full of anomalies. Referring to ownership, the correct version is "its".
Dodgy pronunciation
People that say "axe" when they meant to say "ask". This makes me become a little unhinged. Along with "pacific" instead of "specific". Grrrr.
A minor niggle rather than a rant
People writing 'I should of...' when they really ought to be writing 'I should have...'
There will be more to follow I'm sure :)