Fall has arrived in my neighbourhood and I’m so thrilled. That beautifully orange tree at the bottom of the photo was the first one to change and it’s my favourite.
I’ve been working on some characterization using one of those ubiquitous character worksheets from the internet. One of the questions was, “What is the character’s pet peeve?” I had a few characters to do, so I pulled in some of my own pet peeves. Because of this, they’ve been knocking around in my head lately. Here are some of mine:
- People jamming the baskets anywhere in the pile of other baskets at the grocery store, instead of stacking them neatly.
- People who don’t put down a divider behind their groceries at the checkout. People in Calgary usually put down a divider, but in Toronto they don’t bother until they’re nearly paying – it drives me crazy!
- People who are perfectly capable of opening their own doors, but insist on pushing the button for the automatic door and stand there waiting as it slowly opens.
- People who won’t open their own doors in general.
- Cashiers who don’t say hello back to me, or who thrust my receipt and change at me without saying a word.
- Our society’s reliance on escalators. Not just that, but standing on escalators. It’s actually slower than walking up the stairs!
- When people charge into elevators before people have gotten out (someone did this with my mom and I at St Lawrence Market a few days ago. My mom uses a walker so it made me very angry).
- When people wear baseball caps or sunglasses in restaurants.
- People who invite strangers along to parties or gatherings without asking if it’s okay first.
- The “drop-by” (I know most people don’t mind this, but I do. I like being prepared to receive visitors).
- The increasing preponderance of American spelling in Canada.
- Various spelling & grammar things that just come with being a writer/editor.
- When older people assume I haven’t heard of any movie/song/band that existed before 1980.
They seem to be mostly related to politeness and manners. How very Canadian I am!
What are some of your pet peeves?
12 Comments
SLOW WALKERS WALKING SLOWLY IN FRONT OF ME
Oh man, that’s a good one!
People clipping their nails on public transit has to be the most disgusting and irksome thing I’ve ever seen (and never saw until I moved to Toronto).
Yes! Recently, I sat next to a pile of toenail clippings on the subway and just stared at them in disbelief for several minutes. Gross.
GREAT list, Sam! Each one absolutely bothers me too. I would add people who do not say ‘thanks’ when you hold the door open for them. In Calgary, they usually do. Most of the time they do here too in Van, but in the neighborhood I used to live in, there were plenty who didn’t. They were also the same types that stood in the elevator, tapping on their stupid Blackberry, pretending you didn’t exist. I’m usually quiet and don’t feel the need to strike up a conversation with everyone in the elevator either, but at least I smile when you get on.
And what you said about people charging in the elevators before you can get out, except I’d also include the bus/train. I hatehate that. How can I let you on when you can’t let me off?
I agree re: saying thanks. And I too at least smile when someone gets on the elevator, though elevator small talk rarely works well for me.
When I moved to Calgary, the little differences amazed me. In Toronto, people are good about waiting for people to exit the subway and they line up for the bus, but in Calgary, people hold the doors open for others much more!
And of all the spelling / grammar ones (and there are many) ‘your’ versus ‘you’re’ wrecks my head the most.
Such a good list! Two that really get me the most are the mashing of baskets in the grocery store and people who push the access buttons for doors when it’s not necessary.
Another door-related peeve o’mine: there are two doors with people exiting through the left door, and the people trying to enter will STAND and wait for people to file out instead of, you know, PULLING the right side door open. AUGH.
Something I’ve noticed in Toronto are people who don’t acknowledge a narrow sidewalk and will continue to walk abreast with their companion, essentially forcing me on to the street or someone’s garden. Where is the common courtesy in this town?
Another! Cyclists who don’t use signals. I know they’re not always necessary, but in the very congested bike lane on College in the morning, I need to know if you’re stopping in the middle of a block so I don’t ride in to you! If you’re turning right, it’d be nice to know so I can go around you!
And, a pet peeve I’ve just discovered as I study at the library: there’s a dude at the desk that faces mine and he has his legs stretched out to the point where his feet are under my table! I just kicked him and said sorry but c’mon! He is in my space! I understand that people have long legs, but dude could push his chair out further and keep to his own study carrel.
Wow, I really needed that vent session. Thanks for such an awesome blog post, S!
Hah, yes, the people standing and waiting for people to file out bugs me too – it wasn’t obvious, but that’s what I meant in my point about people not opening their own doors.
With narrow sidewalk blockers, I’ve just started saying Excuse Me not meanly, but not sheepishly either. They always move, and usually apologize. I also find that people walking toward you in a group here will move aside at the very last second. Torontonians are weird – they’re not exactly rude, but they push limits of manners sometimes!
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people who walk and text. i did it too. it’s happening more and more where i almost get walked into. i recently noticed how much i hate this. people, look up! there’s so much more to see!
Oops, I do this! I try to pay attention to my surroundings, though, but it’s just a matter of time before I fall into a hole.