Pet Peeve: Clapping at the Movies

Last night I went to see a screening of the flick Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. No spoilers -- It was really good and fun and you'll probably like it if you enjoy the Potter series. Let me tell you something though; there are some real nerdlingers that go see Potter movies when they first come out. Not judging... just an observation.

While I completely support someone's unabashed glee and geekdom over something they love, something that I can't stand is when people clap at movies. I understand people's excitement when a new movie starts to play, or when it comes to an amazing conclusion, but can we all please be reminded that a movie is not a play or live-action presentation and there is no need to applaud because no one can hear you! Plays - Clapping. Movies - No clapping.

Not only were the Potterheads clapping at the start and finish of the film, but they couldn't help but burst into cheers every time a familiar face came on to the screen. Again, the actors can't hear you, but everyone else in the theater can, so please keep your elation to yourselves.

Maybe I'm being Grinchy, but I feel the same exact way when people applaud after landing in an airplane. Don't clap for a successful landing! That is supposed to happen! Every time! Now, if people were booing while the plane was crashing I would completely understand, but that's another story.

What do you think? Do you get annoyed when people clap at the movies? Or are you a clapper yourself? Leave a comment!

Pet Peeve: Over-Exaggerated Pronunciations of Foreign Words

I can't write this post too loudly or I may get berated by my coworker again, but I can't stand when a normal, American-English speaking person feels it necessary to take their tongue on a trip abroad while pronouncing everyday words with foreign origins.

I'm not trying to be offensive or foreign-ist or anything, but there is no need to suddenly sound like you've just arrived on Ellis Island when saying words like "mozzarella," "bruscetta" or "quesedilla." (I'm lookin' at you, Giada.)

I'm all for education and the preservation of language. Heck, I still say certain words differently around the Italian side of my family, but when engaged with the general public you just sound a little pretentious when you say certain words with an accent. Just accept our dumbed-down Americanized versions of certain words and move on with your life.

Pet Peeve: Child Authors

Kids who write books are such d-bags. OK, not all of them, but most of them. I mean... do you think you're better than me, child author?! Because you're not (you might be.) I doubt you actually wrote a whole book by yourself. I mean, I can barely even read one and I'm 26. You're not fooling anyone.

10-year-old Alec Greven has written three books about "How to Talk to" girls, moms and dads. He's mostly adorable and only moderately annoying.

This other kid is a total d-bag, though. I feel bad saying that about a 14-year-old, but it's true. Jonathan Krohn is known as the "pint-sized pundit" and he is already just the worst type of person.

Turn off CSPAN and go play outside, OK?!

Pet Peeve: Strollers and the Parents Who Push Them

Dear parents of children who are unable to walk on their own- Stay at home. When you push your kid around in a stroller everyone hates you. Especially me.

Ok, I guess this stroller hatred doesn't apply to places were strollers are acceptable, like around neighborhoods, parks and other wide-open places, but when it's rush hour and I can't get out of the subway because your stroller is blocking the doorway it makes me think some pretty terrible things.

Also, did you know that there are signs that say "Please collapse your stroller before boarding the train?" I bet you didn't. WELL THERE ARE.

The worst is when the baby isn't even in the stroller! It's just a childless obstruction for everyone else who is obeying the rules of humanity.

This non-stroller rule also goes for crowded streets, malls, department stores, busses and basically anywhere that is not meant for babies. Just leave 'em at home, OK?

Pet Peeve: Stuff on Seats

Monday morning I was at an undisclosed location for work. It was a big waiting room-type space where everyone involved has to wait their turn. There were 3 huge couches, a long leather bench and more than a few individual chairs for people to sit, yet I had to stand.

Not because there were so many people there that there weren't any seats open, but because everyone's STUFF was taking up all the space. Literally there were maybe 3 people sitting in 20 seats and every other space was filled up with bags, jackets and purses. RUDE. You just can't do that, people!

The same situation goes for public transportation like buses, trains and subways. I get it -- It is everyone's life's goal to never EVER have to sit next to another human being, but let's be decent here. Especially in New York City, you just CAN'T take up more than 1 seat per person. If you have some carry along items with you please put them on the floor or on your lap, you jerk.

Thank you.

Pet Peeve #7

Scooped-Out Bagels

I eat a bagel every single weekday morning before work, and I'm pretty selective about my bagels and how much I'll pay for them. Everyone has their own personal preferences, but I really don't understand the people who get a bagel and rip out all the soft insides, just leaving the crust. What is that about?!

Do people scoop to remove excess calories? If so you should probably just get something else and stop wasting delicious bagels so you can just eat the crust. I mean... don't people normally hate crust???

Is it to make a bowl-type thing to hold a condiment like cream cheese or jam? Do you really need SO MUCH cream cheese that you actually need to hollow out the bagel so all of it can fit? If so, I think you have bigger issues to conquer.

And at the cafeteria where I get my bagels everyone just leaves their bagel innards lying on the counter in front of the bagel station. I mean, that's just rude and wasteful. Think of the millions of pigeons (or homeless, whatever) that would kill for those bagel guts!

Those who scoop are obviously stup[id].

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Pet Peeve #6

The Soy Joy Lady

This bitch really gets on my nerves.


Take your weird hair and your little satchel and your jump rope and go play in traffic.

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Pet Peeve #5

Jumping the Seasonal Gun

Today is a much cooler day in New York City; down around 76 degrees instead of the recent 85. While the air is slightly less oppressive than it has been, there is NO NEED to start breaking out the sweaters, cardigans and scarves just yet. I saw several people who were completely layered up and really rushing the Fall fashions already. Relax, people. The dark, cool days of Autumn will be here soon enough.

These are probably the same folks that jump into their cargo shorts (gag) and flip flops in March just because the temperature rises above freezing. Also, there's already Halloween costumes and candy in some of the drug stores. IT'S AUGUST. It's just annoying.

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Pet Peeve #4

Speaker Phone

Here's my philosophy on speaker phone use: It should basically never happen. Well, the only time it should happen is when you are alone in a sound-proof area, or when everyone in earshot (and I mean everyone) needs to hear the conversation. Or, maybe if you need your hands to disarm a nuclear weapon or something, but other than that I can't really think of a need for it.

It most DEFINITELY should NOT happen when you're sitting in a very public office space and you have nothing stopping you from holding the handset up to your face. You should definitely not be using it to talk to the IT Help Desk when you're having problems using Excel. I'm pretty sure that helping you learn the most basic of computer programs is not their job, anyway. *death stares across cube*

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Pet Peeve #3

Food Smells In Non-Food Smell Appropriate Places

Sometimes eating food on the go or at your desk is unavoidable. We're all busy and sometimes need to chow down on the run, but you know... at least make appropriate food selections when your eating is going to effect other people.

Someone around me today ordered a pot pie or some other meaty/vegetable-y/potato-y masterpiece that has been stinking up my already cramped and windowless work area for the past few hours. Everyone loves a good pot pie, but I don't wanna have to stink of it 2 hours later while I'm trying to work.

Please think about your fellow humans when choosing stinky foods in the office, on public transportation or in other tight or confined spaces.

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Pet Peeve #2

Asking for "No Ice"

Just went to McDonald's and had 2 different people in front of me ask for "no ice" in their drinks. Actually, they didn't ask... they just said "no ice!" Who do these people think they are?!

You "no ice" people should be happy that I don't work at your favorite fast food joint, because if you told me "no ice" I'd tell you "how about no drink, asshole?" and punch you in the mouth.

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Pet Peeve #1

I love a good complain every know and again, so I'm gonna start writing my biggest pet peeves in my blog. Why? Because I can. Here's the first one:

Unrotated Photos
I find it so annoying when I'm looking through someone's photo album and they have unrotated photos. It takes 2 seconds to give them a spin. Better yet, just don't upload them until you have the time to rotate. Thanks.

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