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Original poster

Things that grind your gears

103 replies

Imicola · 15/10/2023 10:58

What are those things that just really annoy you? Whether bad design, overused phrases, or unaware people.

Here's a few of mine that I'd like to get off my chest...

Hooks, usually in UK public loos, which don't remotely resemble hooks and are actually just a small stump incapable of holding a bag. Why would you design that, it's shit.

"Good morning, good afternoon, good evening" as an intro from every single participant on an international remote meeting. I'm so over it, why not just say hello?

"Uptick". Seriously, I'm a statistician and I never came across this term in relation to data before the pandemic. Why?

Back to the public loos, but cubicles which are so small you end up pretty much sitting on the sanitary waste bin. Then if you want to actually use said bin you need to be a contortionist. Ouch. Clearly those bins were designed by men.

While back on the subject of public loos...i don't get the thought process for the design of some air fresheners. "Oh, you know what would be great? If we could design something that would freshen not only the toilet with a loo freshener smell, but also cover the people using the loo with said freshener at frequent intervals... let's just spray it into the air above their heads so it lands in their hair add they wash their hand". NO FFS.

That was cathartic... who's next?

OP posts:
listlovers · 15/10/2023 11:01

“Just that really.” Posters who start with this phrase and then write a long post explaining the point. So, not “just that”.

Peepshowcreepshow · 15/10/2023 11:01

The phrase 'grinds your gears'.

FKATondelayo · 15/10/2023 11:07

People who go on about Posh Spice not really being posh.

People who pretend not to know who very famous people are so they can look intellectual and superior. "What's a Kardashian? Beyonce WHO?"

These are the pressing issues that keep me awake at night.

Original poster
Imicola · 15/10/2023 11:09

FKATondelayo · 15/10/2023 11:07

People who go on about Posh Spice not really being posh.

People who pretend not to know who very famous people are so they can look intellectual and superior. "What's a Kardashian? Beyonce WHO?"

These are the pressing issues that keep me awake at night.

Ha, indeed, we have a lot of pressing issues to lose sleep over!

OP posts:
FKATondelayo · 15/10/2023 11:10

OP have you ever worked in the US? A country where everyone works in cubicles with 8 feet high partitions and you can never see or chat to or form relationships your colleagues but where toilet cubicles have a 2 feet gap at the bottom and you can see your colleagues rolled down trousers around their ankles while having a pee.

KateyCuckoo · 15/10/2023 11:12

Shit drivers.

People who don't reply to messages.

Late people.

Indecisive people.

Original poster
Imicola · 15/10/2023 11:12

FKATondelayo · 15/10/2023 11:10

OP have you ever worked in the US? A country where everyone works in cubicles with 8 feet high partitions and you can never see or chat to or form relationships your colleagues but where toilet cubicles have a 2 feet gap at the bottom and you can see your colleagues rolled down trousers around their ankles while having a pee.

Never worked there, but I did study there and you are right, those toilets are bizarrely un private. How odd!

OP posts:
43ontherocksporfavor · 15/10/2023 11:14

On the public loo subject:cubicle doors that are so wide that there is no space to stand while you close the door without having to practically drape your coat over the loo.

43ontherocksporfavor · 15/10/2023 11:15

Yes, US toilets! The first one I used was in JFK airport on arrival and I thought it must be a security thing but then noticed it everywhere in NYC.

CesareBorgia · 15/10/2023 11:16

People who pretend not to know who very famous people are so they can look intellectual and superior. "What's a Kardashian? Beyonce WHO?"

People who assume everyone has the same tastes and frames of reference that they do, and can't accept that someone might genuinely not be interested in celebrity culture.

pinkyredrose · 15/10/2023 11:17

FKATondelayo · 15/10/2023 11:07

People who go on about Posh Spice not really being posh.

People who pretend not to know who very famous people are so they can look intellectual and superior. "What's a Kardashian? Beyonce WHO?"

These are the pressing issues that keep me awake at night.

Ooh I hate that too. These people also apparently never watch tv and haven't heard of most programmes that are public knowledge whether you watch them or not.

HakunaMatiłda · 15/10/2023 11:19

Casual sexism ‘grinds my gears’.

E.G. phrases such as “Clearly those bins were designed by men.”.

xogossipgirlxo · 15/10/2023 11:23

I’m not from the UK so windows opening to the outside annoy me, whilst door in toilet cubicles open to the inside. Why? I suppose windows is fire safety and cubicles for courtesy, but it should be the other way round 😕

FKATondelayo · 15/10/2023 11:31

CesareBorgia · 15/10/2023 11:16

People who pretend not to know who very famous people are so they can look intellectual and superior. "What's a Kardashian? Beyonce WHO?"

People who assume everyone has the same tastes and frames of reference that they do, and can't accept that someone might genuinely not be interested in celebrity culture.

Those people wouldn't be pretending and my comment would not apply.

CesareBorgia · 15/10/2023 11:31

FKATondelayo · 15/10/2023 11:31

Those people wouldn't be pretending and my comment would not apply.

Show quote history

How do you know if someone is pretending?

FKATondelayo · 15/10/2023 11:32

I know it's a cliche but hot and cold taps. My MIL had her bathroom redone recently and had separate hot & cold. No mixer. Why FFS?

TigerRag · 15/10/2023 11:32

The lack of hooks in some public toilets

People who answer a post they either don't understand, haven't read or don't know the answer to

CesareBorgia · 15/10/2023 11:35

FKATondelayo · 15/10/2023 11:32

I know it's a cliche but hot and cold taps. My MIL had her bathroom redone recently and had separate hot & cold. No mixer. Why FFS?

Mixer taps are a faff in my opinion - I replaced the mixers in my bathroom with separate ones.

43ontherocksporfavor · 15/10/2023 11:36

How is one tap a faff?

CesareBorgia · 15/10/2023 11:37

43ontherocksporfavor · 15/10/2023 11:36

How is one tap a faff?

It's harder to clean.

Jewelspun · 15/10/2023 11:46

People trying to change lanes on roundabouts.

People standing at the till after unpacking their shopping and waiting whilst the customer in front goes through, and not making any attempt to locate their payment method so that when their shopping has gone through, those behind have to wait whilst they search every pocket or if it's a woman, watch whilst she roots around what appears to be a bottomless bag.

People not indicating when pulling out.

Not picking up dog poo is obviously wrong g but even more annoying are the ones that pick it up but then fling the bag into a tree so that after awhile you get a bunch of them suspended from the branches as it encourages others to do the same!

Potholes.

M&S no longer selling plastic bags and asking for 40p for a paper bag that will disintegrate the moment you walk outside and it's raining.

Self service tills. I refuse to use them.

Original poster
Imicola · 15/10/2023 11:48

Jewelspun · 15/10/2023 11:46

People trying to change lanes on roundabouts.

People standing at the till after unpacking their shopping and waiting whilst the customer in front goes through, and not making any attempt to locate their payment method so that when their shopping has gone through, those behind have to wait whilst they search every pocket or if it's a woman, watch whilst she roots around what appears to be a bottomless bag.

People not indicating when pulling out.

Not picking up dog poo is obviously wrong g but even more annoying are the ones that pick it up but then fling the bag into a tree so that after awhile you get a bunch of them suspended from the branches as it encourages others to do the same!

Potholes.

M&S no longer selling plastic bags and asking for 40p for a paper bag that will disintegrate the moment you walk outside and it's raining.

Self service tills. I refuse to use them.

I agree on all of these, but particularly the dog poo bags... this morning i spotted that someone had chucked one into my neighbour's front garden. Disgusting.

OP posts:
SM4713 · 15/10/2023 11:51

Peepshowcreepshow · 15/10/2023 11:01

The phrase 'grinds your gears'.

This ^

Just say 'what things annoy you!'

hamstersarse · 15/10/2023 11:52

The word ‘peeps’

Bad lighting

The noise from extractor fans

People who are unable to be concise in their speech

C1N1C · 15/10/2023 11:53

Double standards