Small but massively irritating things people do in public

[PuppiesProzacProsecco]

Thread Sub- Heading: things people do that make you want to punch them

I'll qualify this by saying I'm autistic and have misophonia so am probably more easily wound up than the average person!

Right now I'm sat in a hospital outpatient department waiting for my orthopaedic appointment and the others in the waiting area are driving me nuts!

One seat over- Youngish (late 20s) female who has huge, pointy, fake nails on and is using the ends to tap her phone screen - ARGHHHH! She's also sniffing A LOT.

One seat further from her - middle aged lady (wearing gorgeous knee high boots) who has the touch tones switched on on her phone - that awful bubbling noise at high volume - ARGGHHHH!

Other side of the room - 30s ish lady who is getting almost constant messaging alerts (again, volume is UP) on her phone - ARRRRRRRGHHHHH! She's also foot tapping like crazy.

Reading this back, the main issue seems to be bloody phones though!

Tell me your stories of things you didn't murder people in public for (but could've claimed justifiable homicide if you had). Make me feel like less of an evil cow 🙈

Persistent sniffing in my commuter train carriage, my mum would have asked them where their hankie was

I agree with all these but it's not just men who do the first- I have an acquaintance who does it. I was at a funeral recently, sitting in the same row as her and her husband, and both of them were snorting and swallowing snot loudly throughout the service. It was making me feel sick.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the supermarket queue.
People who are taken by surprise that they will need to (optional) produce a clubcard and then (mandatory) pay. Only when the cashier has rung everything through do they start to rummage for their clubcard and credit card/money. Hurry up!!!!
And then they ever so slowly put everything back in the correct pocket in their purse and bag and then very slowly pack their shopping.

Also as mentioned above, people who then need lotto/cigarettes so the cashier has to head off to the other counter to sort that out and ring it through.

When watching telly and somebody else in the same room decides to play videos on their phone. Arsehole behaviour

Ringtones that are song lyrics. Get in the sea.

Listening to tiktok, films, music, news, or whatever, in public on your tablet or phone, etc, without headphones on.

Ditto, talking loudly whilst on the phone and/or having b the other person on loudspeaker 😤🤬

Both are the height of rudeness, entitlement and inconsideration.

People who stop doing things while they talk about general rubbish. For example bartenders, supermarket assistants, DH while washing up. I have done all of these jobs and could always carry on doing something whilst speaking.

Fair enough if its an important subject that needs full attention. Otherwise just fucking carry on with your work.

People who email you expecting immediate responses when 1- it’s not my working day and 2- I sent an email yesterday saying I was on leave until x date in mid December with no access to emails (yes I lied obviously I CAN log in. I just don’t plan to)

people walking 3/4 abreast with no plans to let you pass

people who spit out chewing gum onto the floor.

people who block bus doors - I’m not saying when it’s stupid busy but those who do it when there’s room

people who leave their mess lying around/ don’t wash up behind themselves

people who use my things and then lose them/ move them so I can’t find them

If people do that to me, I step back suddenly and "accidentally" bump into them, then give them a suspicious look and grab my bag. They usually step back a bit.

Oh another strangely niche one. Teenage boys that have to "crack" their joints. I've been invigilating this week and my candidate would crack his neck by twisting it with his hands, then twist his body to crack his back, then his knuckles. It wasnt just him, when I taught id get boys standing up at end of lesson to crack their backs. In year 11 there was even a favoured"cracker" one boys who would pull them about until things popped. Ugh. Made me feel ill. And couldn't be good for them.

Incredibly busy tube station, woman stops dead for no reason and just stands there. Disorientated, fair enough, move to the wall out of the way of others.

Standing still at the bottom or the top of an escalator

A small thing, but people whoe walk round narrow circular routes in an anti-clockwise direction. I cannot tell you how much this annoys me even though I know it (probably) shouldn't. If everyone walked in the same direction it would meant no-one would have to step off the path to allow others to get past, or gather in their kids/dogs/whatever. Life would be so much easier.

People who seem surprised when the traffic lights turn green and then faff about putting their car in gear and then move off ssslllooowwwllllyyy, meaning that instead of 15 cars getting through the lights only 7 do. Red is stop, amber is get into gear and be ready to go on green. This was drummed into us way back when we were learning to drive.

People at work who put their dirty dishes in the sink, fill them with water to let them steep, and walk off.

Yes and then not willing to bunch up when somebody comes in the opposite direction so expecting them to walk in the road.

A few times now I've just carried on walking on the edge of the pavement and they've walked into me. Huge shocked look on their face.

When you stop to wave someone to let them cross the road in front of your car, then they look down at their phone and cross extreeeeemely slowly while they’re looking at it!!!

People walk at different paces so even if walking the same direction they would still need to move aside for others unless they are very rude

People who rub the outside of their nose to alert you to the fact they are about to prod around inside it

I'm female and only 5ft 2in, people always seem to expect me to be the one to move over when I'm walking along the pavement towards them, especially men. When I'm feeling particularly grumpy with my 45 year old peri life, I decide not to move over and see how close the other person gets before they admit defeat and move over for me.

(Edit to add, don't try this in Europe of they will just knock you over 😆)

The flip side to taking up the whole pavement is people who make a thing about walking in the road when it's just you and them on the pavement and there's plenty of space for you to pass on the pavement. They act like they've done you a massive favour. Reminds me of covid where people actually believed that in the seconds it takes to pass someone walking in the opposite direction covid could be passed on so they'd really dramatically flatten themselves up against a wall.

That's a little harsh. I'd settle for an hour in the stocks.

People who stand on the left-hand side of the escalator on the Tube.
People who start posts here 'Kindly, OP...' or 'Gently, OP...'.
People who send Gentle Reminder emails at work. I don't work now, thank god, but when I did, this was guaranteed to set me off.

I got mildly chastised by a colleague for ranting about another colleague for chasing me twice on the same day he sent an email asking for information with a deadline of two days later. First colleague apologised profusely after he'd been chased three times later the same day the email was sent. If you need the information earlier don't set a deadline of two days time.

Also pretty much anything my husband does today but I think that's peri rage.

This thread is cathartic, thank you @PuppiesProzacProsecco

Adult women who talk really loudly and believe that they invented oration or enunciation of the English language.

people who stand really close behind you as you pay at the till/ speak discreetly with the doctor’s receptionist / at the chemist

women who grab their bags as you walk past them (it’s London love, people are everywhere).

shop workers in the EU who don’t just let you go in a browse. They want to know what you are looking for.

people who lick their lips as they give a talk or speech, maybe as they search for words I am assuming.

Dear Lord, I could go on and on, it’s Friday

Of course they do, but it wouldn't be so often and you could adjust your speed a bit to keep the gap open if needed.

Drivers that refuse to let you change lanes on the motorway.

people that play videos on their phones in public, without using headphones.

Groups of people who crabwalk along the pavement when you’re trying to pass them.

Phones and the way they've turned people into zombies. It's as if most of the population has had brain implants. You can't hold a proper conversation with anyone anymore. They've got to be scrolling on their phone, or answering a message that you just know could wait five fucking minutes until you finish your sentence. They block super market ailes talking to their "bestie" about their nails for christ sake. It can wait until you get home or back to the car! It's a worldwide addiction and I don't think it's doing the human race many favours.

Pavement parking. I live in a cul de sac and rather than look for a space ( there’s a car park) they park on the pavement blocking it and making it difficult to get out. There’s a lady in my street who doesn’t drive and has 4 children under 10 and she has to walk in the road 😡

also, people who stand in one spot with their dog on extending leads looking at their phones. Take the dog for a proper walk ffs!