Little things that annoy the hell out of you

[Ed Oscuro]

To get off the city bus, the door at the rear has a sign on it that clearly says "touch here to open door" with a picture of a hand underneath. I don't know if people are illiterate or something, but I swear I've seen this a dozen times while riding the bus: instead of touching the clearly marked area to activate the sensor, people just stand there waving their hand at the picture of the hand with a dumbfounded look on their face wondering why the door won't open.

What's the chances somebody with poor eyesight can't read a sign at the back of a dimly lit city bus? Jus' sayin'.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

What's the chances somebody with poor eyesight can't read a sign at the back of a dimly lit city bus? Jus' sayin'.

Apparently not as good as the chances someone will assume that a) the bus is dimly lit, or that b) these always occur at night. It's not like the sign's illegible; you would have to be considered legally blind in order to miss it. When I said I've seen this a dozen times, I wasn't exaggerating either. I've seen people of all sorts of ages do this, so it's not like this is limited to just a few people on a daily basis (including people who were looking at their phone and/or communicating with someone else in perfect english a second before).

Back on topic, I'm also annoyed we don't have time machines yet so we can give contraceptives to the people who really should have used them. "As it turns out, your kid ends up being a child molester/genocidal maniac/starting a global war/etc. in the future, so on behalf of humanity here's a trillon condoms and please never ever reproduce, ever."

[gabe]

Back on topic, I'm also annoyed we don't have time machines yet so we can give contraceptives to the people who really should have used them. "

Are you trying to prevent John Connor's birth? If so, someone already tried that and it didn't work.

[neorichieb1971]

It annoys me that if every Christmas song is about "happy this" "happy that" and "having fun".

More like Traffic Congestion, long queues, running out of money fast, Crappy Christmas food (I don't like Turkey much, Christmas pudding etc), having to sit with your family all day that you avoid the other 364 days of the year. All the preparing, hard work.. Geez, its worse than any time of year.

I could write a song about Christmas. But it would have different lyrics lol.


And here it is Merry Christmas, everybody's shooting guns.
Sitting around the TV watching Eastenders where everyones looking glum.
My bellies about to burst and my arse is already numb.
I should be having fun but this holiday is just so fucking dumb.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas/Happy holidays everyone

[Lord Satori]

countries that spell words like "armor" with a "u" in it.

[neorichieb1971]

countries that spell words like "armor" with a "u" in it.

You mean countries that use proper English? US English is a bastardized version. I think of it as simplified. It does away with spelling silent letters.

I didn't much like the idea of Americans saying things like "slaw" (Coleslaw) when its not that hard to say it is it?

You say things like "auto insurance". That seems weird saying that when you mean "car insurance".


I figured it all out though, thats the main thing.

[trap15]

countries that spell words like "armor" with a "u" in it.

Please learn the more colourful variants of English, sir.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Back on topic, I'm also annoyed we don't have time machines yet so we can give contraceptives to the people who really should have used them. "

Are you trying to prevent John Connor's birth? If so, someone already tried that and it didn't work.

As a misanthrope, I'd just like to prevent births period. I know at least I'm doing the world a favour by not reproducing. :p

[Lord Satori]

countries that spell words like "armor" with a "u" in it.

You mean countries that use proper English? US English is a bastardized version. I think of it as simplified. It does away with spelling silent letters.

I didn't much like the idea of Americans saying things like "slaw" (Coleslaw) when its not that hard to say it is it?

You say things like "auto insurance". That seems weird saying that when you mean "car insurance".


I figured it all out though, thats the main thing.

wow, I totally saw responses like this coming. I suppose thats part of the reason I said it. *trollface*

anyway, nobody I know says "slaw". that's just stupid. and I've heard car insurance said both ways. those are really poor examples.

a better example is how people pronounce "guillotine" GILL-uh-teen when it should be GEE-uh-teen. no its NOT pronounced both ways, there's just a ton of people that say it wrong.

there are a lot of things that bug me about language.

[trap15]

a better example is how people pronounce "guillotine" GILL-uh-teen when it should be GEE-uh-teen. no its NOT pronounced both ways, there's just a ton of people that say it wrong.

Are you saying "armour" and "colour" is wrong? Because that's how it originally was, until it was bastardized in the United States. If that example is still accurate, then GILL-uh-teen must be the correct way to say it

[BareKnuckleRoo]

there are a lot of things that bug me about language.

I suppose thats [sic] part of the reason I said it.

no its [sic] NOT pronounced both ways, there's just a ton of people that say it wrong.

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/apostrophe

Also, I'm not sure people who never use capital letters at the beginning of sentences are allowed to make language complaints.

[null1024]

Shorting USB cables. Especially annoying because I bought a new microUSB cable a month ago after losing one [fell out of my pocket somewhere], and it's giving trouble.

Actually, cable shorts in general, but metal stresses ensure that it will eventually happen. Still annoying as fuck.

[Skykid]

Tortilla.

That's Tor-Tee-Uh.

Not Tor-Till-Ah.

Bastards.

[Bee Cool]

You mean countries that use proper English? US English is a bastardized version. I think of it as simplified. It does away with spelling silent letters.

I didn't much like the idea of Americans saying things like "slaw" (Coleslaw) when its not that hard to say it is it?

You say things like "auto insurance". That seems weird saying that when you mean "car insurance".


I figured it all out though, thats the main thing.

It bothers me when people fail to realize that languages are fluid and that there is no correct version of a language, as every (non-dead) language is changing.

[Lord Satori]

a better example is how people pronounce "guillotine" GILL-uh-teen when it should be GEE-uh-teen. no its NOT pronounced both ways, there's just a ton of people that say it wrong.

Are you saying "armour" and "colour" is wrong? Because that's how it originally was, until it was bastardized in the United States. If that example is still accurate, then GILL-uh-teen must be the correct way to say it

um... no.

how'd you get that? there's a major difference between pronounciation and spelling.

Also, I'm not sure people who never use capital letters at the beginning of sentences are allowed to make language complaints.

okay, you're just being dick. there's a difference between talking about regional spellings/pronounciations and bitching about one persons posting style.

[Skyline]

Deep down, we all hate humanity's ability to think, to reason, to form opinions.

It's our desire to be right, to win.

Maybe the fact that we have to share this planet with other beings, who collectively take away one's ability to be right all of the time, that annoys everyone.

[nZero]

countries that spell words like "armor" with a "u" in it.

The forum happens to be hosted in one of those countries, actually. Guess you'll just have to leave and go find the Americentric equivalent of Shmups Forum before you get annoyed to death.

[Skykid]

there's a difference between talking about regional spellings/pronounciations and bitching about one persons posting style.

Grammatical errors aren't a posting style, they're just grammatical errors.

If you can explain why Americans drop the 'H' in Herb, I might reconsider your annoyances about the silent letters present in the the language you adopted.

[powersoul]

I am in no way racial intolerant or insensitive to religions, but this muslim colleague of mine has a habit of singing his prayers at the top of his voice in the office DURING OFFICE HOURS. It isn't as if he was doing prayers, but simply reciting it while working in his cubicle.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

this muslim colleague of mine has a habit of singing his prayers at the top of his voice in the office DURING OFFICE HOURS. It isn't as if he was doing prayers, but simply reciting it while working in his cubicle.

And of course, noone's willing to say anything for fear of him complaining about religious prejudice or inciting someone to bomb the place, right? Ugh.

If you can explain why Americans drop the 'H' in Herb, I might reconsider your annoyances about the silent letters present in the the language you adopted.

When someone's name is 'Herb', they seem the pronounce the H. Maybe that has something to do with it.

[linko9]

If you can explain why Americans drop the 'H' in Herb, I might reconsider your annoyances about the silent letters present in the the language you adopted.

From the OED:

"In Middle English usually erbe, < Old French erbe (11th cent. in Littré), modern French herbe (= Italian erba, Spanish yerba, Portuguese herva) < Latin herba grass, green crops, herbage, herb. In Old French and Middle English occasionally spelt with h after Latin; regularly so since c1475, but the h was mute until the 19th cent., and is still so treated by many: see H (the letter)."

So the pronunciation with the initial h is a recent innovation created by people who had never heard the word spoken and guessed based on the spelling.

Of course that doesn't mean that the new pronunciation is "bad." As someone else noted, language is constantly changing, so it's silly to complain about the completely natural process of language change.

[Skykid]

From the OED:

"In Middle English usually erbe, < Old French erbe (11th cent. in Littré), modern French herbe (= Italian erba, Spanish yerba, Portuguese herva) < Latin herba grass, green crops, herbage, herb. In Old French and Middle English occasionally spelt with h after Latin; regularly so since c1475, but the h was mute until the 19th cent., and is still so treated by many: see H (the letter)."

So the pronunciation with the initial h is a recent innovation created by people who had never heard the word spoken and guessed based on the spelling.

Cool, many thanks.

[Ex-Cyber]

If you dig into the "bastardization" of American English, you'll often find that it was the UK/Commonwealth usage that actually changed, while we stuck with an older variation.

[njiska]

there are a lot of things that bug me about language.

The only thing that bugs me about language is when people try to get super pretentious about it. Language is a living, ever evolving thing and if society is willing to accept a pronunciation, spelling or grammatical structure en masse that is technically incorrect, than it is no longer incorrect. At least with in that group.

Case in point, the tedious bitching that always comes up about American English vs. British English. First of all you're forgetting other versions of the language like Canadian English and Australian English which both have their own specific rules, but you're also forgetting that both Americans and Britons are speaking bastardized versions of the joint language they shared 300 years ago.

If you dig into the "bastardization" of American English, you'll often find that it was the UK/Commonwealth usage that actually changed, while we stuck with an older variation.

That's not strictly true. Yes, the current American accent is closer to a 1700s British Accent, and yes, the British pronunciation or accent did change from one closer to the US pronunciation with the rise of the upper-middle class in the 1800. However both accents have still changed from their original form.

[Lord Satori]

the tedious bitching that always comes up about American English vs. British English.

I forgot about that part. next time I'll keep my mouth shut

That's not strictly true. Yes, the current American accent is closer to a 1700s British Accent, and yes, the British pronunciation or accent did change from one closer to the US pronunciation with the rise of the upper-middle class in the 1800. However both accents have still changed from their original form.

I don't think he was talking accents.



this doesn't annoy me, but its a funny thing I noticed. many languages have different words for yes, but the same word for no. (ie: spanish and french) what's the deal with that? I guess languages are pessimistic.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

this doesn't annoy me, but its a funny thing I noticed. many languages have different words for yes, but the same word for no. (ie: spanish and french) what's the deal with that?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_languages

[neorichieb1971]

I suppose the only gripe Britons have is that they don't have a choice of British English when setting up Windows

My spell checker says "colour" is wrong. So in some ways these issues are being forced.

Also, whats the point going to school if someone is going to end up talking like ...

"I bounced round my mates yard yesterday and got panned, went for bubble and I now I don't have a bluey to my name"... Which is the lingo that I hear from my brothers friends quite often.


In contrast, my wifes family in the Philippines talks proper English. During sex education class with my step daughter I asked "do you know what sex is?" She replied "Yes uncle, its the union of the male and female genitals". I nearly shat my pants when I heard that.

On top of that I find some foreigners are talking like they think we talk in Britain. All proper. Less they know that half the people in England don't speak anything like that at all.


As for accents. Really weird. I hate accents. In America I can understand everyone. Come here to the UK and I can't understand some Irish and Scottish people. Its just too fast, slangy and abbreviated. Just a wee bit anyway.

When in Texas 15 years ago, my girlfriend called her son Todd. But to me it sounded more like TARD. As in the way you say "retard".

Like Ross, sounds more like RARSE.

I think Hip Hop/Black American culture has a lot to blame for all the changes. Rap music etc. Why is the slang "mother fucker" so bad? I've been one for years. Wouldn't bother me if someone called me one, although in the context it was used I probably upset someone a lot.

[Klatrymadon]

To everyone sending me Merry Christmas emails opening with "Dear Valued Customer": http://t.co/x6pABO65

[dcharlie]

a better example is how people pronounce "guillotine" GILL-uh-teen when it should be GEE-uh-teen. no its NOT pronounced both ways, there's just a ton of people that say it wrong.

Are you saying "armour" and "colour" is wrong? Because that's how it originally was, until it was bastardized in the United States. If that example is still accurate, then GILL-uh-teen must be the correct way to say it

Pretty sure it was the British under the Anglo-french who introduced OUR to replace OR in a slew of English words in England - there's a little about it in Wiki but i'd assume there is a more comprehensive document on the web somewhere.

As someone else mentioned though - language is always evolving. It's really not a big deal.

think Hip Hop/Black American culture has a lot to blame for all the changes. Rap music etc. Why is the slang "mother fucker" so bad? I've been one for years. Wouldn't bother me if someone called me one, although in the context it was used I probably upset someone a lot.

lol - i assume when someone calls you a mother fucker they are talking about you fucking your mother and not just someone who is a mother.

[Hagane]

When people don't respond to my calls or messages if I'm calling them to do something at a certain date/time. Just tell me if you can or can't do the thing, but RESPOND. Don't leave me waiting in uncertainty till the last moment (or later...) so I don't have any backup plans.