Everyone has a pet peeve, right? Something that just hits the exact nerve that makes you completely lose it. We all have something, some say it’s the way people chew with their mouth hanging wide open, for others it can be the slightest way someone sneezes. But personally, the one thing that sets me over the edge is people who say things they don’t mean. Now, don’t go off thinking I’m a mean person who doesn’t believe in saying ‘sorry’ or ‘thank you’ or anything. To clarify, I just so happen to be not entirely fond of the people who say things they don’t mean, thus not contributing to the conversation, and if you don’t get input out of the convo, then what are you really getting from talking to this person, other than a reflection of what you already know?
Being a writer, it’s no surprise that I just so happen to really like words. So when people say things they don’t mean, it not only sends a confusing message, but it makes me have to think about what they’re really trying to say, and c’mon who really has time to descramble a message that could have just been said flat-out. When talking with someone, you should put your ideas and thoughts out there (in a respectful format) and then have the receiver respond to the topic, and when I say ‘respond’ I mean give input back that makes you think more about the issue and makes you expand your view. We can only learn from the information, and if someone isn’t giving you anything new to think about, then are you really gaining any new knowledge?
The feeling of talking to a wall is tedious, but what’s worse than that is someone who refuses to tell the truth. Honestly, why lie? I don’t see the point in spreading false news to gain the attention of others, there is no benefit in it. What, someone gives you the time of day for a mouth full of nonsense? Eventually it gets worse, you have to keep up with the lying and in the end the bad really outweighs the fifteen seconds of fame. Besides, if you really have to stoop so low to the point of not telling the truth, then is the person really all that special to you? By lying, you’re not only spreading a fake story, but you’re also stealing the truth from them.
Lastly, the big winner, the one and only type of word-spreading that drives me over and above the edge of insanity: chronic apologizers. You know who I’m talking about, the person who says ‘sorry’ after anything. It’s one thing to mess up and apologize (like an understanding person would), and another to constantly be fondling for someone else’s peace of mind. If I could give advice to anyone out there, I say that if you want to strengthen your backbone, stop thinking that you have to apologize for everything you say or do. If someone has to move, just say excuse me, if someone doesn’t agree with you, be respectful of their opinion and listen to what they have to say. It’s not just polite, but that’s just the way we’re supposed to talk to each other.
Maybe it’s because I’m a communication major, or maybe it’s because I really like to talk — either way, my biggest pet peeve goes out to the people who know how to speak their mind but choose not to. I don’t know how you guys handle your ‘little ticks’ but don’t let (whatever it may be) get to you. We all have to deal with them and when doing so, you get a little bit of self-control and patience out of it that you may not have even realized you had in the first place. So instead of socking them in the face, close your eyes and count to 10, go buy yourself a slushy, and pat yourself on the back. Each little victory counts and don’t you forget it!
