What's Your Pet Peeve?

[DoubleJ]

We all have our pet peeves, you know, those things that just piss us off to no end. It could be big, it could be small, it could be outrageous or just anal. Let's air 'em out...

I'll start this one - the cell phone. To me, the cell phone is the scourge of the 21st century

I am 46 years old now. I got my first phone when I was 34 when my wife (at the time) was 7 months pregnant with my first daughter. She actually got it for me. She insisted I have one in case she needed to call me in an emergency. It seemed like a sensible idea at the time, so I agreed. In those first few years, it was okay. I didn't get many calls and texting was a task on the best of days. As the technology developed (I don't want to say "improved" because that's a subjective argument all by itself), so did my disdain for them. And today, I just can't stand the things.

It's not that I'm uncomfortable using them or slow to figure them out. I'm adept enough at using them. My beef is what they've done to people.

I'll give a few examples, as I think of more, I'll add them to the thread, should it progress.


Example 1. - Do you own your phone? Or does your phone own you?

I am self employed contractor, and as such, do a lot of shopping at the DIY centers - Home Depot, Lowes, Rona, etc... It's pretty much a daily routine for me. And like everyone else I line up at the cashier to purchase my goods. And how often is that person in front of me, or second in front of me, at the cashier doing their business, and his/her cell phone rings (usually with some ridiculous ring tone) and they just have to take the call right then and there...? Really dude? You had to take that call? So now I have to wait for you to finish your call, so you can complete your transaction. Thanks, man. I see you're getting paid by the hour, because I'm certainly not...


Example 2 - Texting

I understand the premise and the potential convenience of texting. It does in a way keep a conversation focused, but I think a lot of people now think it is a primary form of communication. Nope. To me texting is informal, and subsequently, needs to be regarded that way. You may very well send me a text, but that doesn't mean I'm obligated to stop my life for you and respond. If it really was that important, why are you texting me? Call.... Just saying....


Example 3 - Voice Mail

Calls will inevitably get missed. Sometimes the reasons are deliberate, sometimes they are not. It doesn't really matter. All phones now have call logs on them, and usually caller ID. I see everyone who calls my phone - sometimes as they call, sometimes after they call. Either way, I usually make every effort to call back when I can. I don't have voice mail on my phone - I have never activated it. As far as I'm concerned, my phone is for my convenience, not everyone else's. I am not interested in listening to long winded messages, nor do I have the time. And why - because more often than not, when I call you back, I'm going to have to listen to the same message again. Thanks, but no thanks.


Example 4 - Dinner Table Insensitivity

How often are you at the table - eating, socializing, conversing - and the cell phone is merely inches away from its slave? And that inevitable text or call comes.... You know what happens next. I don't need to explain this one. To me, it's just insulting. It's insulting to every other person at the table. And the reason? The message being sent to every other person at that table is that they are not important and don't matter. That phone and whatever message is on it, at that moment in time, is more important than every other person around you, who have given up their time to be with you.

This one was a biggy with my current wife. She was extremely guilty of this behaviour. A little under a year ago, we were in India on vacation. Out for dinner one night, her phone was front and center on the table, and didn't that damn thing start buzzing. And being the good slave that she was, picked it up and answered it. I lost it... I had voiced my opinion on the subject to her many times previously. This time, though, was the proverbial straw that broke the camels back. I told her twice to hang up the phone. She didn't. I then put my fork and knife down, threw my napkin cloth on the table and walked out of the restaurant. I went for a walk for a bit, actually got some food somewhere else (I was still hungry). She found me about an hour later, and proceeded to tell me how much I embarrassed her. I told her I didn't care, and that I would never be disrespected like that again. The phone is nowhere near the dinner table these days.

My wife has a 19 year old daughter. She doesn't live with us, but comes over from time to time for dinner. And doesn't that damn phone end up on the dinner table when she does come over.... I just look at my wife and ask her where she thinks her daughter learned that behaviour from? The next time you're out for dinner, take a moment and look around at the other people around you. Take a closer look at the cell phones. I hate to say it, but it's really a sad sight....


Example 4 - Cell Phones in the Bedroom

My phone when I'm not using it at home sits on the kitchen counter. It's there if I need to use it. The bedroom is a personal space. I want that space for me and my wife. No one else needs to be in there, which ironically, the cell phone does an excellent job of inviting everyone you know into the bedroom. When my wife and I first started living together, and we introduced a semi-blended family. She actually told me, she wanted the bedroom just for us. She didn't want my daughter's in the room. I understood this, and respected it. It made sense. But she kept bringing her cell phone into the bedroom every night... I finally challenged her on it and asked her why my girls weren't allowed in our bedroom, but it was okay for her phone and everyone she knew to be in our bedroom? She really couldn't give me a valid reason and tried deflecting by saying she used her phone as an alarm clock. I called bullshit on that and pointed to the alarm clock sitting on my night table. Her phone now sits near mine at night time.


I know this rant has gone on for a bit, and some of you may think I'm completely anti-cell phone. Trust me, I'm not. I like my phone (sometimes). I like the conveniences it has to offer. What I don't like about the cell phone is what it has done to the user. It, based on my observations, really has made the person a lesser individual. And that truly is sad.