Those everyday annoyances

Hope A. Smith
Published: April 3, 2008

OK, so I'm usually a very positive person, most of the time looking at the glass as half full.

     My optimism sometimes gets me in trouble.

     However, today's column takes a look at what I'll call "irritations." You know, those little things that really "grind our gears."

We're talking about those little things that we generally let roll off our backs.

How many times have you been in Wal-Mart when a fellow customer ahead of you in the "20 items or less" lane has at least 40 items- Do you say anything to them-

It's my opinion that there should be a cut-off alarm that beeps at the register saying, "I'm sorry, you have just met the 20-item limit. You'll have to go to the back of the line to begin another transaction for the balance of your items."

And yes - I'll be the first one to gripe to myself, but of course I don't have the chutzpah to say anything out loud.

Here's another one for you - you're sitting in a parking lot with your blinker on, "claiming" a parking space that's come open or is about to come open, when someone just flies in and takes your space! Again, do you say something to the space thief- Probably not.

Quite honestly, in the big scheme of things, it's not worth it. But it still ticks you off, not unlike someone parking in the handicapped spot without the proper placard or indication on their license plate.

Or when someone pulls into an area that is clearly not a parking space, or a curb at a shopping plaza.

     On the rare occasion when I've called people out on this, the response is usually, "Oh, I'm only going to be a minute." If you're there for a minute or an hour, it's still not a parking space!

Rude people - it goes without saying that no one enjoys dealing with them. Just last weekend, I was shopping in Charlottesville. We had a good bit of merchandise and the young man working the register had an attitude that nearly made us walk out. We probably would have if we hadn't found such great bargains!

As he was ringing up our merchandise, he was sighing and saying, "God, I need help bagging. Ugh. This one doesn't have a price tag on it, do you still want it- Whew."

I felt compelled to ask him if it was really that bad. God forbid we help keep the job you hate secured.

Part of me felt like asking him if he'd ever had the chance to do serious manual labor, like working on a farm or mowing lawns as a job.

Continuing on the rude people path, which really includes all of the above, don't you feel that rude people start out as rude kids- And rudeness and lack of respect for others paves the way for a lifetime of misery, both on the giver's end and the receiver's end.

Generally speaking, when someone is polite enough to hold a door for another person, they should be thanked. When I've held the door for someone who doesn't respond with a "thank you," I'll still say, "you're welcome!" as a little reminder to use their manners. And I would like to require a thank-you wave from anyone you were nice enough to let into traffic.

Depending on how you look at it, cell phones are either a blessing or a curse. Yes, I've been known to turn around and frantically retrieve my cell phone when I've left it at home.
Fifteen years ago, we didn't have cell phones and somehow we survived.

When you're in a meeting or a public place like the movies or the library, have the common courtesy to put your phone on vibrate or turn it off. None of us is that important.

There's been more than one occasion at our weekly Weight Watchers meeting when someone's cell phone has rung. It's not the ringing that is irritating, it's the fact that someone answered it and carried on a conversation! Guess what- That's rude! That tells the leader of the meeting that the information she's giving is not important, at least that's the impression it gives.

It's often not the meaning behind a rude act, but it's the perception.

Thank you for allowing me to vent. I know, I'm welcome.

Hope A. Smith is an
independent columnist and
resident of Orange County.
Her column appears on Friday.
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