Random rants--Ten things that annoy me.



Image courtsey:Freedigital photos


Mostly this blog is about positivity, laughter, living life to the fullest and all good things. Rarely, very rarely, do you find rants here.
I am no Buddha even though I have learnt to smile Buddha-like at most things. Yeah, sixteen years of marriage, two kids, one husband and a very large dog does that to you. :)

But myths must be shattered and so I thought I'd post ten of my pet peeves--stuff that makes me see red and takes away that cloak of Buddha-ness and turns me into a shade of the colour you get when you cross a Cruella de Vil with Miranda priestly, mostly in a non-lesbian sense. (Stop salivating, all you men out there and some women too. Heh heh)

Here are ten things that irk me in no particular order really.(but hey, they had to be numbered and arranged in some order). And fortunately for me at no point in time do my one husband, two kids or one very large dog indulge in any of the following :-)


1.People who talk loudly and pass comments while watching a movie at a multiplex.

I told off a burly looking Sardar who couldn’t keep his mouth shut when I watched ‘Ladies versus Ricki behl’ and to my surprise he cowered down and obliged by stuffing his mouth with pop-corn and not speaking for the rest of the duration of the movie. I should have done it sooner. Had the  offender not listened to me, there was nothing I could have done—except maybe put him in a book and killed him.


Ha! I knew it—there has to be some advantage of being a writer.

2.Gluttony and bad table manners

It somehow puts me off. People who eat with their mouths open and some people who eat like there is going to be a famine in the next few hours and some other people who seem to have the appetite of Ghatotkacha and a bulging belly to match are a big turn off for me. Eat to live not live to eat—that is what will score you brownie points—which will be taken away if you gobble all the twelve brownies ;-)

3. SMS lingo

Ppl hu cnt b bthred 2 type prply do nt dsrve 2 be rd.

Aaaaargh! I have worked myself up trying to type the above! Use the T9En option people! I got  mails, full bodied e-mails written in the above lingo. I refuse to even read them. You want to me reply, at least make that effort to write properly.

4. People who say “I have been soooooo busy. Let me see if I can catch up with you in Feb/March or maybe June” (substitute a date which is 3 or more months later) when you invite them over.

If you have been busy, I have been busier! Go take a hike! Fact is all of us are equally busy. If something is important to you, you WILL make time for it, no matter what. If someone does not call you or someone does not want to keep in touch, it is not because they are soooooo busy—it is simply because you aren’t important enough for them to ‘make time’ to talk you. I refuse to buy the “I am too busy” excuse.

 If you are so busy, so be it! There are some of us, less busy folks ;-)

5. People who break promises or do not keep up their word.

Call me childish or old fashioned but I do think keeping up one’s word does mean something. I hate people who promise to be there for you but tuck their tail and run at the first hint of ‘trouble’. I hate people who do not mean what they say and who just say it for the sake of saying it.

6. Bad body odour and personal hygiene.


Gosh! What can I say?  You do not have to use an expensive Versace (ooh, I do love that fragrance) but people who smell are a huge turn off for me. Can’t you bathe (even with an ordinary Hamam soap is ok!) and wear clean clothes? My house help (who is an elderly lady who must be around fifty) turns up everyday for work in pristinely clean clothes and neatly combed hair and a smile on her face. I do appreciate it hugely.
So when I see people who sometimes turn up for work with gunk in the eyes and eye crusties—that is a gigantic YUCK from me. I will definitely run a mile. Actually twenty miles.

7. People who make remarks about my accent or way of speaking and then try to ‘guess’ which part of India I am from.


I constantly moved as a child and have studied in various Kendriya Vidyalayas all over India. I speak seven languages and I can read and write in three of them. When a person listens to me accent and then says ‘Oh, your accent sounds like you are from ___________” (insert whatever state they presume), I truly feel like slapping them hard and telling them that making a personal comment like that is downright rude! Respond to whatever I am saying instead of commenting on my accent! (and yeah if you want to hear what I sound like you can listen to my radio indigo interview)
I am unapologetic about my accent. For the record, I can do a Brit accent and an American accent too but I prefer my own :-) My Brit friends have no problems understanding anything I say in my own accent and I will stick to it till the day I take up a job in a call centre :P :) .


8. People who do not take care of books and people who ask to borrow my books.


I do not lend my books. If I have to borrow books, I borrow only from the library and I have no qualms about refusing to lend. I do take very good care of my books. I value them, I treasure them. I detest people who handle books badly, use their saliva to turn pages (YUCK) and fold the pages instead of using bookmarks. They truly should be banned from reading! How dare they?!

9. People who judge others without ever walking in their shoes.

I know some people who pass judgments on others without ever really trying to look at it from the other person’s point of view. Of course apart from obviously heinous crimes there are so many shades of gray in life. It is never black or white. There is never ‘completely right’ or ‘completely wrong’. No matter how thin you slice it there are always two sides.

10. People who steal and copy and also people pass off good lines as their own on social networking sites.

Some people put famous lines from books without even mentioning the book or author and pretend they made it up. Recently someone used a line from the book Shantaram without mentioning it was by Gregory Davids or without even mentioning the book.
I have a problem with dimwits who do this.I love quotes and I don’t mind someone putting up an inspiring quote provided they mention who said it or which movie it is from.
I also abhor plagiarists and if you say imitation is a form of flattery I would rather not be flattered!

So these are my pet peeves.  What are yours? :)
 ____________________________________________________________________
ps:  My third book will be out in Feb. Follow my FB page for details. 

Addendum: Totally loved this comment by Suma:

Preeti, uff the perks of being an author, people don't want you to have peeves any more...

I see from the comments, that there are a few who don't agree with your rant, but as far i understand, this post was about something which YOU disliked.

it's like saying that you hate the color green and you have 10 people insisting that you should like green because it is such an environmentally cool color!

erm..coming back to the post, most peeves are mine too, I also hate it when i tell people my name and they mostly extend it to more than it is!



Comments

  1. 8. People who do not take care of books and people who ask to borrow my books.
    That too turning pages ,yayyyyyy yuck !!!!!!
    I have experienced it many times!!!!!

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  2. Same here!! I hate people who ask to borrow my most treasured books!! But somehow I can't deny properly and instead I lie that I have put all books at my mom's place or something like that ;)

    I completely agree with all of the points u mentioned, especially 1,3,4,5,6. I'm still learning to gather the courage to speak out to them whatever I feel, ON THEIR FACES! :)

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  3. I was smiling throughout while reading this post (love your writing style)....great list!

    I'm soooooooo glad I escaped the cell phone revolution in India....the SMS lingo irks me so much, but thankfully I don't have to deal with it here.

    I personally don't mind lending books. I borrow if its offered to me, and its always someone very close to me (my uncle who is an author always let me borrow from his collection).

    Judging people - I think all of us are guilty of doing that from time to that, but I've been very cognizant of it and rarely do it now. Never knowingly or intentionally.

    The rest - I simply concur with you :).

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  4. My Own addition:
    1. I do wear specks and I HATE IT TOOOOOOO MUCH when people want to know how much power do I have!! Who the hell they are to ASK me such questions!

    2. Even I've met people who bluntly ask u about how much u earn!! By hook or crook, they want to know your salary! So irritating and disgusting. :-/

    Though it seems funny, but seriously, sometimes I think that such people should be sent to some school/college/courses where basic etiquette can be instilled in them.

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  5. You're bang on with the bit on bad table manners, body odour (yuck) and ill treating books. I find it tough to say 'No' to lending books... but it's heart wrenching to get them back with corners turned down or worse still not get them back at all. I'm like Shylock with my books.. hate to lose any one of them even it's a 'Cinderella' I read decades ago. Nice post.

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  6. Agree with most of them, and quite a comprehensive list, :), but just to add to it, I am really peeved when someone (restaurant / cafeteria / any where else) asks me to tender exact change. I mean, I oblige most of the time, but there have been times, when those vendors have been so annoying. :) I once had to part with a treasured 10 rupee coin (so rare these days)...

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  7. Crisp list!
    some of them are in my 'beyond tolerance' list too..
    also, I am totally annoyed by hypocrites and cannot stand those who talk a lot unnecessarily. & this is when I consider myself a highly tolerant one, a good listener & since I am generally a quiet person I love to be surrounded by ppl who talk(intelligent, soft, sensible, humorous or even philosophical etc) well & lot.
    Cheers
    Tara

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  8. My takes :-

    1.Oh yeahh!!Totally agree...

    2.Bad table manners- Yes!! But Iam a foodieee.. I lourveee food, even if I believe in taking small bites at a time. I love experimenting with various cuisines.


    3.I have seen a lotta people of the older generation having a problem with it. Most of the younger gen seems to be cool about it. Though it ruins the language, it definitely saves a lot of time and money too, so I don't find anything wrong in that. But I don't like to use it in formal contexts.


    4. Well.. some people are ACTUALLY busy, and they are not making excuses all the time. And not everyone is great with time-management. So when they say there are busy 1) they are really busy, in which case we shouldn't make a big deal out of it. 2)they are lying cuz they dnt enjoy ur company, thn stop inviting them. It is as simple as that.

    5.Agree

    6. Agree

    7. I heard the interview. Ur accent is OK. And I cudn't 'guess' where u belong to :D

    8.Well.. even I dnt like using saliva to turn the pages.But as long as its their book, I dnt care what they do with it :)


    9.True

    10. Ha ha ha... sometimes people do it so that they get the credit. At other times, they know there is no need to give credit cuz its already known. And its just social networking site, and not a newspaper article. So we need to give only that much importance. I remember reading that u dislike when people don't put up their own pix in facebook profile. But u see, fb and the likes are just for fun. Its not like ur putting up a coupl-y pic on a pan card or passport, so there is no question of losing ur identity.

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  9. The soooo busy is favourite dialogue of all I think, I am yet to remember someone not saying it , Icall anyone back home on a weekend and if I dare to ask how cum no calls .. Oh I have been soooo busy and I HATE IT ..

    and smelly OH NO , reminds me of one of my collegues he wud eat onions at lunch and oh my if he was to stand next to you afterwards .. Whyyyyyyyyyy

    I seem to nod on all points

    Bikram's

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  10. BOOKS...I had given a book to my college friend, and guess what she lost it, and on top of that she was like "Book hi toh tha, sona nahi na".(Its a book, not gold). For me, my books are everything. I don't even fold a page.

    SMS lingo...everyone these days uses these...and they find it pretty cool...but even i don't like it. there are times when I do use it (when I don't have balance and have to type long SMS).

    I liked the way you used the Buddha concept:)

    Take care:)
    Gayu

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  11. BOOKS...I had given a book to my college friend, and guess what she lost it, and on top of that she was like "Book hi toh tha, sona nahi na".(Its a book, not gold). For me, my books are everything. I don't even fold a page.

    SMS lingo...everyone these days uses these...and they find it pretty cool...but even i don't like it. there are times when I do use it (when I don't have balance and have to type long SMS).

    I liked the way you used the Buddha concept:)

    Take care:)
    Gayu

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  12. Gayu: same pinch!

    Bikramjit : :-)

    PointblanK: You missed the point!

    Tara: me too! :)

    Bharath: Have never come across a restaurant which does that. maybe its their way of 'insisting' on a tip?

    OM: thanks :)

    Bhavika: yeah I have come across the 'how much do you earn' brigade too!

    ArvindM: They should be banned from reading~! They don't deserve books!

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  13. Bad table manners for me also include picking up a serving spoon with the soiled hand and leaving your curry/food imprints on the serving spoon.

    Another thing which irritates me is when some people do not use the serving spoon to transfer the food item, rather they prefer to just slide the food along the side of the dish onto their plate.

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  14. ouch ! in the two yrs I have known/read you this is the first time I am seeing a rant :P - but can relate to almost all of the above and they totally put me off too ! Infact this post has inspired me to write a post on office etiquettes (or the lack of them!) :)

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  15. Great Post!! My top two pet peeves are
    Competitive Motherhood- working v/s stay at home..Both feel life is easier for the other. The stay at home moms especially feel working moms have it easy and stone-hearted to leave kids away from them. And that they are not career oriented and " Family is Priority" for them. Majority of the cases these women have just the basic skills and cant find a good job anyways. I have also seen some extremely talentd people giving it up all away to be with kids 24/7.Its a matter of personal choice. I have been in both roles and exactly see the pros and cons of each role. Its a personal choice and passing judgement on the choices of others is unacceptable!

    North-Indians bashing South-Indians..Its so funny that even outside of India...one chooses to identify themselves as North or South Indian. The stereotypes!! South Indians are ugly but brainy and North Indians are fair skinned. My friend got married recently and my "Hindi Friends" complimented him by saying " Arey yaar sahi kismat hain south Indian hoke bhi itni gori biwi mili hain...ek dum North ki lagti hain":) WTF!!

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  16. Pooja: I so so so agree with our rant about south Indians and north indians--seriously WTF!!

    Ruchira; Why ouch?! And of course I am perfectly entitled to my rants! :) I am not always 'nice and accepting' :)

    Aathira:I second you on that!!

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  17. I can't stand when people ask me to think about having a second baby

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  18. Anonymous10:03 PM

    Preeti you are a great writer and I am a big fan of yours. At the same time I feel you have used the word "Sardar" in a wrong way.

    My point is:

    1. Is it only 'Sardars' who pass comments during movies?

    2. None of your points are about any particular incident then why the first one.

    3. It was "burly looking Sardar" who was more annoying or was his behavior? What if he was smart looking hunk?

    I would again say, that I love your books and follow each of your blogs. I may be wrong or may be my personal reading choice but I do not like to see any community to be addressed like this. May it be Sardars, Tamils, Gujratis, Biharis... whatever, try to keep this out of your writing.

    I am sorry if this offends you or anyone, but your blog offended me.

    Your Fan
    and a Sardar too :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. //People who break promises or do not keep up their word//

    Yes, they annoy me the MOST.

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  20. Sundari: i agree!

    Jagdip: I have never said it is only sardars who pass comments. I have never said the sardar wasn't smart or handsome!
    In fact, there are so many sardars I totally admire and they are extremely good looking too. It so happened to be a sardar who happened to keep passing comment after comment very loudly that day .
    My Last point is also about a particular incident.Point seven is also about a very specific incident .

    Apologies if saying it was a sardar offended you, but I stand by what I have written.

    If you follow my writing, you would know I totally believe in being INDIAN (the reason why I dont even say which state or place in india I am from). I am proud of my country and hate division based on casteism.

    And funny how you did not notice anything else written in the post, instead latched on to one word 'sardar'!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Preeti,
    Ha! So you can rant too - and how!
    I totally agree with you on the body odour part. That is something I can't stand and can't understand either. Some of the so-called modern, urban people (who I'm sure have access and the means to buy deos) go around stinking. Why?
    Another thing I want to say here is that I'm frequently guilty of being on the other side of No.7. I love languages and try to guess which part of the country a person belongs to based on their accent. I've found that it acts as an icebreaker when meeting someone for the first time. I never realised that it could be offensive or annoying to them. THanks for opening my eyes to this. Will be more sensitive now. :-)
    BTW,I hate folding the page corners of books too.

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  22. Hi Preeti,

    I had to stop by..

    I do not see why someone else's gluttony should turn off anyone! It's their wish.. If you specify about table manners I would still buy it, because bad table manners, soiled spoons being passed around, talking while your mouth is stuffed with food might gross out some people.. If not everyone.. you may eat to live.. but there may be many more people who live to eat .. I am not sure if I live to eat.. But I love my food.. I cant stay without it.. a good food makes my day.. I love to cook, experiment.. because I love to eat.. If I go to my favorite restaurant.. I devour.. so much.. and with such excitement.. that almost entertains my hubby.. and that does not make me any less of an interesting person at least to my own people.. They love to cook and feed me.. and I do the same to them :)

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  23. I am not sure why did it appear as unknown.. My name is Manasa :)

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  24. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  25. I really moved a bit , almost all should be accepted.


    One thing, loathe me is, it's very common in India, the small kids begging alms. I really abhor the person who encourages these kids giving money. Rather to that ,atleast they can provide some eatables for their empty stomachs. The ombudsman’s of the govt has to notice such children’s and educate them until they become mature enough. But these gullible politicians and top honchos ,having lumpsome money ,they even don't care about these children .

    Point 4, every person makes some priorities among friends and it is very difficult to maintain the contacts with everyone. One thing I can tell is, I have my friends who I did not even talk them from the past four or five years, does not mean that he is not my friend. We never complain when we meet again saying that he does not make calls showing the reasons as he is busy with something. We will enjoy the present moment reminiscing the past.

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  26. Many common ones... let's see

    Loud Talkers..... all i can say, is Pls give me a BREAK!

    GLUTTONY.....u can do it in your own home but not in Public for God's sake!

    BOOKS: i too am very possessive of books and dislike people who borrow and don't have the courtesy to return on time. If i simply have to lend, i give them a time frame for return. As a collection is a collection!

    JUDGING Very true. you got to step into someone's shoe, try to see things from their point of view instead of just passing sweeping comments.

    and the last one. give CREDIT where it is required.

    A thoughful post :).....err.... a rant :)

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  27. Aabha: and a superb comment too.Thank you m'am :)

    Shaik: i too have friends whom I can pick up where we left even five years back--but what I meant was using "i am too busy" as an excuse to NOT meet people.

    Manasa: Bon Appetit! :D

    RajK: Yeah I guess each person has a few quirks--all my life I have faced comments about clothes and accents--totally irks me!

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  28. I missed the point? But how??? I was just responding to each of ur points. But I think u didn't get my point! :D

    I just wanted to take it easy and was reading thru all the comments her. I saw this response.. "Shaik: i too have friends whom I can pick up where we left even five years back--but what I meant was using "i am too busy" as an excuse to NOT meet people"... I have used it many times myself. When someone invites me over, I say am busy or out of town if I don't enjoy their company . But they invite me over next time again. And I wonder why they don't get the message!!! So u said u get offended when someone says they are busy. So would u rather prefer if they tell you openly that they are not interested? What do u suggest?

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  29. Anonymous10:18 PM

    Hi Preeti, read your book 'Life is What You Make It' recently and Im here.

    Totally agree with the 'Lending Books' issue. Finally learnt to say 'NOOOO....' after losing a dozen books. Also....when people say 'Im busy' the msg is clearly understood too....!

    Nice post, Preeti.

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  30. Hey Preeti.... Puhleeeeeez dont call me Ma'm!!!!

    Just Aabha!

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  31. Oh preeti, my list goes longer. How about bad breathe? You forgot that one! ;) How about people who stuff pop corn or food in their mouth and talk! That nom..nom..nom or chop..chop..chop.. sound garsh! It's irritating! and people who try to impress others by not being themselves! Loud ringtones that anoounces the whole world that you've got a call! People who laugh extremely loud that bwahahahaha in a public place! Blowing one's own trumpet, I hate to lend books too or anything for that matter when you know you need it why don't you get one for yourself! I hate people who tag me "South Indian" or a "Tam bram!"I would want to say, "Excuse me!! Don't tag me." The list would just keep growing! :)

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  32. Oh preeti, my list goes longer. How about bad breathe? You forgot that one! ;) How about people who stuff pop corn or food in their mouth and talk! That nom..nom..nom or chop..chop..chop.. sound garsh! It's irritating! and people who try to impress others by not being themselves! Loud ringtones that anoounces the whole world that you've got a call! People who laugh extremely loud that bwahahahaha in a public place! Blowing one's own trumpet, I hate to lend books too or anything for that matter when you know you need it why don't you get one for yourself! I hate people who tag me "South Indian" or a "Tam bram!"I would want to say, "Excuse me!! Don't tag me." The list would just keep growing! :)

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  33. Preeti, uff the perks of being an author, people don't want you to have peeves any more...

    I see from the comments, that there are a few who don't agree with your rant, but as far i understand, this post was about something which YOU disliked.

    it's like saying that you hate the color green and you have 10 people insisting that you should like green because it is such an environmentally cool color!

    erm..coming back to the post, most peeves are mine too, I also hate it when i tell people my name and they mostly extend it to more than it is!

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  34. ok.. every one of these - I totally agree.. and especially the SMS lingo... I'd written a similar post a while ago here - (way back in 2007) http://dipsiyerblogs.blogspot.com/2007/11/wats-wid-de-english.html

    So cheers girl !! I'm yet to read your books but I think I will buy them this week, as a new year present to myself :)

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  35. Hey Preeti..a very well written post. I would like to add one more thing o the list - people who comment in your looks & weight specially for girls in the marriageable age..... It is not only annoying beyond a point it hurts also.

    Just completed reading both your books in one sitting - loved your writing!

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  36. Preeti ,
    Liked your posts..I so agree with your "I was busy " comment from people...it totally irks me all the time...Yes you are the only busy body on earth we are just waiting to hear how busy you have been...

    I agree with your accent comment too...I get it all the time and to say the least I get very irritated ,its none of their business how I speak,

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