10 Things That Really Annoy Me

Ten things that annoy me? Piece of cake, I said before attempting to write this piece. Then I realised just how difficult it is to pick *only* ten... still, here’s my best attempt at what really gets on my nerves.

10. Being 18.
Everyone who’s younger seems to want to be 18 so they can get drunk, have sex and leave home. Everyone who’s older seems to want to be 18 again... for the same reasons :P But how many 18 year olds actually want to be it? I mean really, we’re in the worst demographic range. Companies still look down on you (try getting any form of insurance!), people blame you for everything (and I mean everything, someone wanted to report me to the manager in a store saying I was a bad worker… if only I’d actually worked there!) and you have no rights. Well, except to vote... which is top of every 18 year olds list… or not. Really, roll on 21, now that I’ll look forward too, but I’ll probably get there, hate it, and (you guessed it) wish I was 18 again. Oh well... which leads me on to...

9. People who say it was much better when…
Yes, it was much better then. Fair enough, you were treated differently. Unfortunately, back then is exactly that... back then. Please, PLEASE, stop telling me how you could get so much change. I’m a student, I can’t even remember what change looks like! And why oh why will people go on and on about corporal punishment (oh, if they’d given you a good hiding you’d have turned out much better, you need to learn some respect you cheeky whippersnapper) and yet complain that’s there’s more violence on the streets… so it’s okay in your own home? Jeez...

8. Following on, violence
In any form, any shape, hitting another person will never EVER make them better. It does not solve *ANYTHING* so just stop it. Try using your brain for something other than hand-eye co-ordination and just talk it out. Or get some outside help, or take it to the police. But going round with mah baseball bat to sort ‘im out… what are you? A failed movie star? Get some sense.

7. Customers
An interesting one, but... if you’ve ever done shop work, you’ll agree. I’m not blaming all customers, just the ones who seem to think the world revolves around them. It’s not my fault if something's out of stock, or if your product broke and you lost the receipt. Really, I’m not collaborating with a secret mafia to steal your batteries and receipts at night. And fair enough if your child pulls some toys off their shelf, we expect that. But you ought to know better now. Remember we’re people too, and if you’re just going to rant at us for something out of our control, go shout at a pillow. You’ll feel better, and we won’t have to put up with it. Niceness begets niceness.

6. TV adverts
Ever watched Sky recently? It’s amazing how much pointless spam we receive through our TVs and don’t care about, but how much fuss we kick up over one email. No programme is safe from this scourge; it’s unsightly, annoying, and always about loans or ring tones. I don’t want either! Adverts about upcoming programs I can tolerate, but if that woman from Yes! Car credit tells me once more I can I’m going to scream. We wouldn’t let that many salesmen call round, we wouldn’t accept that many emails, so why are we so lax over the plethora of garbage we’re tormented to every time we turn on the tube. *shakes head*

5. Internet grooming
Let me say now, I hate every single one of these perverts who tries this, but for this rant I’m aiming at the parents. You *seriously* let your child go on random chat rooms with no supervision, haven’t warned them not to meet anyone they talk to online whilst unsupervised, and don’t check their emails/chat logs to be sure? Sure, they are a problem, so let your children know. It doesn’t matter how you say it, bad men or criminals, but for god’s sake tell them and make sure they’re safe. You wouldn’t let them chat with a dirty old man in the street, so why online?

4. Bill Gates / Microsoft
Don’t get me wrong, I use Microsoft products and consider them (now) to be quite good. Room for improvement, but that’s true of anything. What annoys me is just how rich they are. Trillions of dollars, and all the problems in the world, it just really gets on my tits (well, if I had any). Forget antitrust, and all that, just make him give a percentage (any percentage, even 1% is still a whopping amount) to charities. Please. Think of all the good that could be done with that money, just being wasted on one person – there is no conceivable way he can spend it all on himself.

3. The Upper Class
Keep the rich rich, and the poor poor ‘ay? I don’t think so; we need a Robin Hood to sort out this lot. If you’re so rich that you can afford to buy a thousand pound dog house for poochy, but can’t give a few quid to someone who needs it (like me… just kidding :P) then quite frankly I consider you one of the poorest people in the world. Money does not buy happiness, something which is very true. You can’t take it with you, it’s not going to do much sitting in a bank, and if you could make someone smile it’s always worth it. Give generously and the rewards are always far greater, cause there’s no price on a friend. (Aww...)

2. Putting something down for 2 seconds and losing it
It happens to everyone, I’m sure. You put down your keys, and two seconds later they’ve disappeared. But I’ve found the reason – a band of pixies who steal them to give to their queen in exchange for... uhh... sweets. Yup. The only conceivable way to find them again is to get new ones, or wait till you no longer need them, and they reappear (it’s probably quantum). Still, when you want to get inside your house, there’s nothing more annoying.

Aaand number one on my most annoying things…
1. Public toilets.
Ugh. Ugh, ick and bleuch. I mean really, what the hell happens to perfectly normal people, when they enter a public loo, which reverts them to the stage of animals. Or worse, cats and dogs can be trained not to make that much mess; they just can’t turn the handle. I have yet to be in a public toilet that doesn’t resemble a medieval torture chamber. The lovely notes to future inmates... users on the walls, the faeces smeared floor, the lovely yellow patterns everywhere. Here’s what I advise. Everyone take out a pen, and get some paper and go to the loo in your own home. Write down exactly what you do, and then stick it to your forehead with a large nail and plenty of duct tape. Whenever you’re out and feel the need, stare ahead and read. Maybe, just maybe, we can stop this problem. I hope.

Well there you are, my pet peeves (well, a short listed selection). Hopefully, you’ll read these, recognise some, and mend your ways… ;)