Pet Peeves!

[tripperfunster]

I'm bored and must rely on others to entertain me!

Tell me little things that aren't BAD things, that piss you off anyway.
Co-workers, S.O.'s, children, customers, in-laws. Anything goes!

Here are a few assorted of mine, and I'm sure, as you guys all weigh in, I'll remember more.



1)People who don't say thank-you. I don't mean when you donate a lung or something, but when you let someone cut in line in traffic, or stand to open a door and let others in before you, etc. A little wave or quiet 'Thanks' is in order. SAY IT PEOPLE!

2) Put the toilet paper on the roll!
I swear to god, I am the only being in my house capable of doing this.

3) Customers who expect a 'deal.' This is not some street bazaar in Bangladesh. This is not a used car lot. This is a fucking family run pet store that ALREADY has lower prices than all of the box stores. People claim they are 'really good customers' and I don't recall ever seeing them before. People claim to know Tripper, the owner, and HE is a really great guy. *g* If you are buying a shit-ton of stuff, or are ACTUALLY a really good customer, I will probably give you a deal. If you are buying $15 of pet supplies, you can pay retail like the rest of the world.
A fish tank is not an essential item. If you can't afford to set one up/maintain one, perhaps you should find a cheaper hobby.

4)Customers who expect a ton of 'free' advice on things that they have bought elsewhere. I don't mind trouble shooting, and I'm pretty good at it, but when you spend an hour of my time asking about the best filter to buy, and then you get one off the internet because it was $10 cheaper? You suck. Or when you buy fish from another store, and they are sick and dying and YOU CALL ME AND ASK ME WHAT TO DO? (and you admittely do this because the people at the other store don't know what they're talking about?) You suck.

5) ex-employees. Man, this is probably fodder for a whole 'nuther post, but something happened recently to remind me of this, and I gotta bitch about it. In our 15 years of owning a business, we've had our share of people come and go. We REALLY try to be good and fair employers. I don't knock off 15 mins if someone is late, and I always pay extra if someone has to stay longer because we are busy, etc. I really treat my staff like I would want to be treated.

That said, we've had some ugly firings and ugly quittings etc. One time I let a girl go because she REPEATEDLY did not show up for her shifts. No phone call. Nothing. This sometimes happens, when people write the schedule down wrong or just forget, and I give them a warning the first time. THIS CANNOT HAPPEN AGAIN OR THERE WILL BE REPURCUSSIONS.

So with this girl it happened again. And again. She was a nice girl, and worked hard when she DID show up, but we don't have a big staff, and when someone fucks off it really screws us over. I told her that if it happened again i would have to fire her. She said she understood. And did it again. I felt sorry for her. I suspect she had a drug problem, but she never seemed high at work, and I had no proof, but I called her on the phone and said "I really like you, but I cannot have this happen ever again. Can you promise me it will never happen again?" And she replied "no." So I let her go.

Two weeks later I got a call from a lawyer. This girl was accusing us of firing her because she was pregnant. ????
Nobody knew she was preggers. She never mentioned it to me or any other staff. I suspect SHE didn't know until after I fired her. Long story short, she didn't have a legal leg to stand on, because she was fired for 99 reasons, and being preggers was not one of them.

GUESS WHO SHOPS AT OUR STORE? Her. Seriously.

I've had ex-employees stomp thier feet and promise to put our store out of business. Months later, they come around to buy stuff. WTF? People have no shame!

We even had a young woman accuse my husband of being inappropriate with her. (which I took to mean that he got her alone and said dirty things to her and maybe touch her???) She did the no-show at work, and I couldn't get a hold of her for two days. Hubby was out of town and I was really relying on her to take those shifts. I ended up left alone at the store with my kids! She finally calls (while I"m working my ass off with customers) and tells me that she was SO UPSET she couldn't even call to let me know, but she needed to tell me that my husband had been inappropriate with her, and she felt unsafe etc.

This is the one thing you never want to hear about the person you love! My husband is a terrific guy, fantastic husband, amazing father, and concerned boss. Part of me did not believe her, because I KNOW my hubby and that is not him. The other part of me realized that most women don't think their SO would be capable of something like that, and yet it happens all the time. I was sick to my stomach at the very thought of it. This could well be the end of my marriage.

When I talked to other staff who were there during the 'incident' it turns out that hubby (who was behind the counter, standing with two female staff) said to this person (who was on the other side of the counter) that she had 'sexy hair' and that 'boys must really like that.' This girl really did have sexy hair! Sort of curly afro-ish, a little wild, but not out of control.

Anyhoo, this was the incident that made her feel so unsafe that she couldn't even CALL about not showing up for work. I wasn't there, but both staff members that were there were flummoxed at her reaction. Hubby wasn't leering at her or being gross, he was trying to compliment her. And I believe them because my husband does not leer! For realz. *I* leer! I have been GROSSLY INAPPROPRIATE with both male and female staff. (anyone on my flist who has met me in rl will attest to this.) Our entire staff generally jokes around in a sexual manner, it is a very casual work environment. *I* had said way more rude joking things to her than this.

I will add a disclaimer here to say that she is allowed to feel unsafe. Only she can decide what is offensive to her and she needs to do whatever it is that makes her feel safe.

EXCEPT THAT SHE HAS BEEN BACK TO SHOP AT OUR STORE! ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION! What the ever loving fuck?
I brought this story up because she was at our store two days ago, and my hubby was totally unsure as to what he should do. Kick her out? Confront her? Act like nothing happened? I didn't really have an answer. I would assume that she has some sort of personality disorder that creates drama where there is none? I figured that doing nothing would be safest.

Okay, that sort of went off the rails, didn't it? :D My point being: I HATE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO SHAME! When I act like a complete arsehole, I generally have the brains to not go back to the scene of the crime. OR, I might apologize when I go back.

WHAT BUGS YOU??

Comments

[evilmissbecky.livejournal.com]

1. Turn your fucking cell phone off at the movie theater. And do NOT check for messages halfway through the movie and light up the entire area around you because of your fucking screen.

2. A big YES to people who don't say thank you when I hold the door for them, or the elevator.

3. Do not leave your fucking shopping cart in the parking lot, conveniently placed between two cars. Especially if you had to walk past the cart corral to reach your car! There is a reason stores have those cart corrals. I have actually called out a lady on this. She left it next to her car. I was walking past. I took the cart and said, "This is not where this belongs" and proceeded to walk it to the corral.

4. And your stories remind me of when I worked retail. And you'd always get that one asshole who walked in at 8:55 although the store closed at 9:00, who then proceeded to casually saunter through the ENTIRE STORE and finally left at 9:30 without buying anything. Even though you deliberately left a cash register open for them, just in case.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

OMG Yes to #4!!

Add to that, the people who call 5 min before closing and ask if we can stay open late for them. BECAUSE THEY ARE SPECIAL SNOWFLAKES. We are open 8 and a half hours per day, seven days per week (and this is into the evenings.) We keep hours that are similar to our competitors.

Fuck off. ;)

[sra-danvers.livejournal.com]

OMG Dear. I was about to tell you that I have problems with number 2 too XD But really, after hearing the staff problems you have... Really!!! And I work with in the personnel department!!!

Especially the woman with your husband. Really, people don't have a mind? If you were not the thoughtful person you are, it would break your family! For a shit thing!!!

I can't believe people either...

*Hugs*

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Well, #2 is annoying, but yeah, that woman was crazy!

[mieronna.livejournal.com]

To be honest, I'd consider comments about the sexy-ness of my hair (or any other part of my appearance) completely inappropriate in a work environment... but then I'd never go back to the place either if I stopped working there, so... that's weird?

My... mum has a couple weird habits that drive me up the wall. To begin with, she nibbles on her cuticles. Not in a biting-her-fingers-bloody kind of way or anything, but I'm someone who's really after having nice nails, always wear polish and use lotion regularly and seeing other people worrying their nails/hands irritates the hell out of me. Also she always clears her throat in a terribly loud way that sounds completely horrible - like she's got pneumonia and is hawking up half a lung, only not caughing but... I don't even know how to describe it. I just really, really hate that particular sound - it's up there with scratching over a chalk board for me. And she does this all the time in the mornings...

Also, I absolutely agree with you about people not saying thank you.

In general people using public transport piss me off more often than not. How about you don't stand in the open door when people are trying to get out? Step out to the side and then you can get back in. It's not rocket science! And don't put your shit on an empty seat and then scowl at anyone who might want to sit down there. Seats are for people, not bags. And don't turn up your music so that half the train can hear it. Having too loud earphones is one thing, but actually using the speakers? WTF, you're in a public place! What if everyone were doing it? Some people... Or and the best bit - running to catch a train in one of the busiest stations in Germany is apparently unheard of. At least according to all those idiots who insist on moving around at a snail's pace or - better yet - park their ten thousand bags in the middle of the passage and then scowl at anyone who's in a hurry and runs into them. It's a damned train station, not a promenade!

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Oh God! I live outside the city now and so I pretty much always drive, but I do not miss public transport. Not at all.

Also, I totally chew my cuticles. I would drive you crazy too. :D

[veridari.livejournal.com]

People with advice on something they know nothing about? Let me explain.

It's no secret (in RL on in my journal) that I have a daughter with a severe anxiety disorder and OCD. She's come a long way in the last two years with an amazing team of our family therapist and a great child psychiatrist who has found a good combination of medication for her. But no lie, she's a challenge. We have good days and bad days. She will continue to have this disorder into adulthood and she will continue to grow and learn how to manage, as will the rest of the family.

The closest people in our lives have reacted in troubling ways. From my best friend who just came and stayed with me for four days and who is her legal guardian should something happen to her father and I (and who had been her "aunt" since the day she was born) said, "I don't know how you deal with this." If you can't deal with this, how the heck are you going to be her guardian? This scares me. The other best friend who posted publicly about it on her FB page in such a callous way that we had an argument about it, and she's now the "ex-other best friend." Her grandmother who won't come visit anymore, because her OCD is "too stressful to be around." (I won't tell her this, as it would break her heart).

Her music teacher works with her so amazing that I want to kiss the man every week. Her MUSIC TEACHER gives her more attention than her grandparents.

Mental illness is so misunderstood. It's also scary and the big elephant in the room, so people run away from it. Also, I understand people giving advice because they care; honestly I do. And sometimes I get some good advice. But if one more person tells me to just "make her do something that gives her high anxiety because she'll eventually get over it" I'll just scream. Or punch them. Maybe both.

If you haven't walked a mile in someone's shoes, PLEASE don't judge their choices. That's all I'm asking. Ask them why? Sure. But judge? No. I get judged frequently and I'm just fed up.

Rant off.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

My father has told me to my face (well, over the phone) that he does not like my older child and does not enjoy spending time with him. Not to mention that I'm doing a shit job of raising him and that I spoil him rotten. *sigh*

I think my only goal in life is to be a better parent than mine were.

Yeah, my child is difficult. He also has anxiety issues and some OCD stuff. Not as much as yours, but like you, we are working on it and doing the best we can.

If spankings worked, me and my brother would be much better people than we turned out to be ;) So STFU people who don't know better.

I know that many people who do not have difficult kids will benefit from your answer.

[veridari.livejournal.com]

I understand this whole subject perplexes people who have never dealt with a family member who has moderate to severe anxiety. While I homeschool, my kids do take classes at a co-op school and issues with my daughter pop up there from time to time. It's no secret amongst many of the parents or her closest friends she has this. One morning we almost didn't make it last month because she woke up having an anxiety attack so severe she could barely make it out of bed.

I have the therapist on speed dial. Thankfully, those are rare these days. We did make it, late. One of the moms in the know asked, 'Can't you just be extra firm and strongarm her into getting her act together?" Riiiight. Verbally beating up anybody having an anxiety attack works wonders. #sarcasm

Do you know who gets it, strangely? Her closest friends. They give her space when she needs it, seem to grasp when she doesn't. Most have seen Emma Watson in 'Perks of Being a Wallflower' and they understand and embrace the kid who is slightly different. I hope they continue to do so. Because for all that, my daughter is brilliant and full of jokes and loves to learn and has a gazillion positive traits. Unfortunately, we all sometimes get 'judged' by our quirks at times, don't we?

Family members suck. Don't get me started...another rant. ;)

[veridari.livejournal.com]

Seems I need to make a clarification, because someone just read this and pointed something out to me. They are reading into this that I think people "judge" others with mental illness and that wasn't the point I was trying to get across at all. The frustration I feel was the judging of myself and the decisions I make regarding my daughter. That's all.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

I got that you meant people judging YOUR decisions, not your daughter, but thanks for clarifying.

[forest-rose.livejournal.com]

1) Judgemental people. I had a consultant at work tell me I'd never succeed as an emergency doctor because I have a history of mental health issues. This, I might add, is a man who has never worked with me on the 'shop floor'. I had a mini-rant about this to another consultant who I like and trust, and it turns out he has bipolar disorder and does just fine at work, and he also thinks I'm a good doctor. He's friends with Consultant 1 and is going to tell him what he thinks!

2) Entitled people. 'I've waited 2 hours to see a doctor and why are you not coming to see me now? That man got here after I did!' 'That man is in cardiac arrest, sir.' - an actual conversation I have had.

3) Being called 'nurse' all the time when I wear scrubs, a stethoscope and a large badge that says 'Doctor'. Hey, I have breasts AND a medical degree! How is that possible?!

4) Getting bloody well sick on my annual leave :-(

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

WORD! I am the owner of our store. When we first opened it, my husband had a job elsewhere. Once we had kids, he left that job to work with me so that we could be home on alternating days with our kids.

If I had a NICKEL for every time someone asked for the 'owner.' Yes, that's me. "No, the REAL owner. The man."

My standard line is that we (women) are now allowed to both vote AND own businesses.

Also word! to the entitled people. It seems that EVERYONE has a very inflated sense of entitlement these days.

[sumsumlovesyou.livejournal.com]

How do you even respond to that when someone says, 'no, the man' ???? I mean, without punching them in the face, that is.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

I LITERALLY say; "I don't own a penis, but I DO own the store."

Many of these comments come from Philipino customers, many of which seem to be more 'old school' about that sort of thing, but yeah, I get that a lot from good ol' Canadian boys too.

My fav is "No, the REAL owner." Like I'm just playing at it.

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

1. Men who think the only important thing about a woman is what she looks like.
2. Not having a car. It takes an hour and a half to go from Oakland to San Francisco on public transit. i could drive there in 10 minutes.
3. Most current music. i want one of those buttons that says "It's not just that I'm old; your music really does suck."
4. Comedians who are not funny. Especially Tim Conway and Gilbert Gottfried.
5. People who don't hear you when you talk in a normal tone of voice and then accuse you of screaming when you repeat yourself in a slightly louder voice.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Ha! to #1. Especially UGLY guys that somehow think they 'deserve' a really hot girl. DOUBLE STANDARD MUCH?

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

I've too many faults *sighs*

Okay not replacing the toilet paper roll but putting the new one next to it after unwinding the amount they wanted. A few extra seconds to take the old roll off and put the new one on.

People who drop their trash wherever while walking from place A to B even though there's a trash basket right there. There is one teacher that if you did anything like that in her room... but she's can't take that step to drop a paper towel into the trash on her way out of the bathroom.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, people who litter. Or throw stuff out of their car windows! WTH? Wrappers and cigarette butts and stuff. grrrr

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

My #1 pet peeve this week is people who pee on the seat of public toilets. DON'T DO THAT. I don't want a wet butt because you don't understand how disease transmission works. SIT YOUR ASS ON THE SEAT OR WAIT UNTIL YOU GET HOME. (Or at the very least, wipe up after yourself, sheesh.)

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Ha! No kidding! The reason they don't sit on the seat, is that they know how gross THEY leave it! Jerks.

[schemingreader.livejournal.com]

This is really a pet peeve, because it's so minor. I do not like people who use the word less instead of the word fewer when referring to numbers of people. People aren't liquid filling two containers, one of which has less people in it. NO. Fewer people.

I also really dislike people who pedantic about petty shit like when to use less and when to use fewer, so I almost never tell anyone how much that annoys me, and that also drives me crazy.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Hee! I love how you totally contradict your own pet peeves!

Honestly, I'd never thought of the difference between less and fewer. I thought they would be interchangable! Look at me learning!

I can't stand when people use the words 'borrow' and 'lend' interchangably. As in "Can you borrow me that book?" grrr! Or people that say 'un-thaw.' *tears out hair*

[schemingreader.livejournal.com]

I'm such an outspoken person on many issues, but I don't want to make a big deal about this because it's too boring. I don't like to bug people about grammar and usage in general, unless they are asking me for an edit. Or unless I gave birth to them. There are fewer people in the latter category. <==see what I did there?

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

:D Well, in THAT sentence it makes sense, but if someone asked me about a football game (not that anyone ever would) I might say that there were less people there than the year before.

BUT NOT ANY MORE! :D

[turynn.livejournal.com]

I'm so guilty of number 1 (;___;) in my (weak) defense I'm so embarrassed of my horribly butchered pronunciation that a lot of times I just can't. I do the wave or nod or whatever though. But you're right. Not thanking is a pretty dick move. No matter how dumb I might sound, the other person would probably appreciate it, so it needs to be done.

I can understand the lady feeling uncomfortable about her hair being called sexy (even if it was a compliment). Maybe she is more reserved or had a bad experience in the past. If someone I didn't know well said it to me, I might not like it either. BUT. To come back to your store after? That's um... kind of funny. It makes me wonder if she was -really- that offended after all or just likes making a big deal of stuff.

Hmm pet peeves:
TAILGATERS - Tailgating at 100kph is so ridiculously stupid and dangerous that there are no words. Wait 30 freaking seconds til you are able to use the other lane to pass me. Or, you know, maybe try just respecting that I'm already going way over the speed limit to avoid having you on top of me and SLOW DOWN. I don't want to see anyone pulling this shit unless it's an accident because they're so emotional about the fact that they got someone in the car with a baby hanging halfway out their lady parts they don't realize it.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Well, she may have had a bad past experience, but she wasn't terribly reserved. We'd had a conversation about femmslash, and when I asked about the strange leather ankle wraps she was once wearing she told me they were bondage gear.

Regardless, she really led me to believe that my husband had done something HORRIBLE, which was just not true. At the very worst, she could have called him out on it right there, with a "Don't be a jerk" or something, or had a conversation with me, saying that she didn't think what he said was appropriate.

And even, regardless of all of that, if she really was as traumatized as she claimed, she has no business shopping at our store! God knows, if someone creeped ME the hell out, I would avoid that place like the plague!

Amen to the tailgaters. Or even the people who change lanes every five seconds, just because one car is slightly ahead of the one in their lane. This isn't NASCAR!

[sumsumlovesyou.livejournal.com]

Oh me oh my do I relate to ALL OF THE ABOVE! I work for a small business owner, as in owned by literally one tiny woman (she's about 5'1.) I've worked for her for a little over 6 years. We are, like you, a tiny staff as well.

1. People who "know the owner." Yeah. That's great. I know the owner too. And I will be glad to tell her what a colossal douchebag you are. Also, if I don't know your name and I don't recognize you, I'm pretty sure that, no, you DON'T know the owner. Oh and please mispronounce her last name a few more times.

2. People who think they know everything about wine and dismiss me because I'm young. I hold tastings every Monday. I've sampled about 70% of our entire stock and I've had all kinds of wine from all countries, all varietals from Cristal to Boones Farm. I've had spirits so expensive we don't carry them and craft beer so allocated, we don't even sell it to the public. I know a fair amount but I have never been snobby or condescending EVER about it. So why do people feel the need to do that? I will never understand. There are spirit snobs and beer snobs, but wine is the worst.

3. Men that won't let me help them carry out product because I'm a woman only to have them drop half their product outside and expect me to just replace it outright. I lift kegs for a living. Let me hold your freaking 20 pack of bud light, you ox!

4. Anyone who writes me off like I'm just some young stupid blonde girl that works the register right off the bat before even taking a moment to talk to me. I wish I could tell you how many times a week this happens. My store is in a rather affluent area and the looks I get and things that have been said to me... *shakes head* it's a wonder I haven't backhanded some bitches. My best revenge is to give them amazing and knowledgable customer service and listen to how thoroughly they thank me as they leave. Okay, so, that's not really revenge, but whatever.

5. People who use their welfare program cards designated for BUYING FOOD FOR THEIR CHILDREN to buy booze or lottery tickets for themselves. Guh. Guh. This makes me so angry I can't see straight.

6. People who are mean, rude, or argumentative when they get carded. I am constantly baffled why that even happens. Or parents who get mad when I ask their not legal drinking aged 18 year old child to step out of the store when it's becoming apparent that the parent is letting them pick out products. A second party sale is still a sale. We can lose our jobs. We can lose our own licenses and go to JAIL for sale to a minor or a second party sale. I just don't get why it's so hard for people to understand that. *shrug*

Okay. No more work ones, I swear. 7. When my husband and I decide on something and then when I do whatever the thing was, he gets all angry and suddenly has selective amnesia. WTF? This also goes for selective hearing. My husband has trouble remembering things that I told him had to be done.

8. People in fandom who makes nasty entitled comments on authors pages, almost insinuating that they are personally affronted by something and make it as if the author somehow owes them something. People need to be respectful and thankful, because honestly, no one has to post anything and we could all sit around bored with no fiction. What a sad world that would be...

9. Authors who have authors notes longer than their freakin story!

10. The way it seems that neither my in laws or my parents are able to change my daughters diaper before I am supposed to pick her up. It's always beyond full to where I'm constantly having to ask the last time she was changed. They always tell me that she was not long before I arrived, but I'm sorry, after every visit, that story ain't workin.

And lastly, 11. Friends that are are 'poor' and can never do anything or go out but yet always seem to have brand new stuff like cell phones or tablets and when you do finally go to a restaurant with them, the entire staff knows them by name and their orders from memory. To be fair, IHOP is a relatively inexpensive restaurant but STILL!

Well... I've just vented my whole day to you. Hahaha. Thank you! I feel so much better! :)

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

I love how inclusive and well thought out your list is! Like you already had it all typed out and were just waiting for an excuse to post it!!

2) believe it or not, there are 'pet' snobs too! People who only use the latin names of fish, or brag about the types of filters they have or what breed of dog ,etc. *eyeroll*

3) Ahaha! yes so much to this! I have men tell me they have a HUGE aquarium in the car and is there a guy around that can help them carry it in? We only have a couple of guys, and they're not always on shift, so I go out and see that it's like 25 gallons, which I can more than handle by myself, so I grab it and carry it in, and they're all "Woah little lady, don't hurt yourself!" Whatevs, moron. I don't think I'm much stronger than other people my size, but because I lift stuff all the time, I have a VERY good handle on how much I can carry.

[sumsumlovesyou.livejournal.com]

I WAS ready! I had had a ten hour shift of nothing but douchebags and snobs. I came home, put the kid to bed, chugged a beer, and saw your post. You were speaking to my SOUL! :P

[sumsumlovesyou.livejournal.com]

Also, if it's any comfort, I work with all males except the owner. It's a pretty inappropriate curse-filled work zone. I literally had a twenty minute conversation with the other manager about the merits of Ron Jeremy, why even though Max Hardcore is in prison, I still don't think his work was necessary that bad, and why a girl who lets you hit that from behind while you eat chicken wings off her back might have daddy issues. Yeah... I don't even thinking I'm regarded by them as a female anymore except when we dress up for work events and I have the girls out. Then I get openly oogled told exactly how good the girls look that day. But in a brotherly kind of way. Haha.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Hee! See? That sounds very similar to our work environment. We all joke around and say rude things, EXCEPT MY HUSBAND! He seriously was SO DAMN MAD that HE was the one accused of this, when I am CONSTANTLY slapping people's asses, touching my own breasts and talking about blow jobs. He is a fun guy, but is not a loudmouthed jerk. (like his wife) :D