View Full Version : Trivial bugbears
This thread is partly influenced by the popular thread 'Trivial things that annoy you intensely' on Digital Spy, which, for better or worse, is now only available for historical 'archive' viewing.
Two of my personal biggest bugbears right now;
A. People who refer to the Celsius temperature scale as 'Centigrade', which is actually a misnomer, as the former is the correct term, but I reckon many people (especially the older generations) have been erroneously quoting the latter because both terms begin with the same letter C, and of course, usually stylised with the 'C' abbreviation, prefixed with the small ring 'degrees' symbol, which is no doubt where much of the confusion has arisen over the years.
B. The plethora of brand names in circulation, particularly in-store ones at retailers like Aldi, Lidl and Argos.
The latter retailer has been known to use 'historical' brand names that left the mainstream several years ago that (allegedly) have no relationship with the original firms bearing the same names, with such products now being BINO (Brand in name only).
I often find the in-store brand names at Aldi, Lidl, etc rather confusing, let alone obscure, as they're often notorious for chopping and changing stuff every so often, plus the former often sell 'lookalike' products under their own brands (e.g, crisps whose packaging and flavour colour-coding is modelled on Walker's).
Finally, when many people still refer to brands as 'makes', as in probably a large majority of cases nowadays, the 'brands' are no longer the actual product manufacturers, and just BINO!
Does anyone wish to share any of their minor irritations of life?
This thread is partly influenced by the popular thread 'Trivial things that annoy you intensely' on Digital Spy, which, for better or worse, is now only available for historical 'archive' viewing.
Two of my personal biggest bugbears right now;
A. People who refer to the Celsius temperature scale as 'Centigrade', which is actually a misnomer, as the former is the correct term, but I reckon many people (especially the older generations) have been erroneously quoting the latter because both terms begin with the same letter C, and of course, usually stylised with the 'C' abbreviation, prefixed with the small ring 'degrees' symbol, which is no doubt where much of the confusion has arisen over the years.
B. The plethora of brand names in circulation, particularly in-store ones at retailers like Aldi, Lidl and Argos.
The latter retailer has been known to use 'historical' brand names that left the mainstream several years ago that (allegedly) have no relationship with the original firms bearing the same names, with such products now being BINO (Brand in name only).
I often find the in-store brand names at Aldi, Lidl, etc rather confusing, let alone obscure, as they're often notorious for chopping and changing stuff every so often, plus the former often sell 'lookalike' products under their own brands (e.g, crisps whose packaging and flavour colour-coding is modelled on Walker's).
Finally, when many people still refer to brands as 'makes', as in probably a large majority of cases nowadays, the 'brands' are no longer the actual product manufacturers, and just BINO!
Does anyone wish to share any of their minor irritations of life?
As a disclaimer, I wish to make it clear that I have absolutely no personal beef with specific individuals who still routinely use the term 'Centigrade'.
Dr JC does regularly on his YouTube videos, but I try to just let it go in the sense that he generally means well and virtually all other aspects of his presentations are excellent, even if a little 'off the wall' at times.
But that kind of adds to it being so special, spontaneous and more 'personal', as distinct from videos from others that are over-produced.
I say Celsius myself but I've heard others say centigrade before. What about centigrade is wrong?
I've noticed those "brands" in shops too where you try and look them up and they don't actually exist. It doesn't stop me buying them though because a lot of the time they're still really good. :D
The first two pet peeves of mine that spring to mind are both driving related. Lane hogs and people who don't indicate on roundabouts. You end up having to drive all the way around the lane hog (or just pass them on the left if you fancy it) or you end up sitting at the roundabout expecting them to cross you but they turn just before you instead. What a waste of 5 seconds! ;)
Pamplemousse
10-04-21, 22:54
I say Celsius myself but I've heard others say centigrade before. What about centigrade is wrong?
Nothing whatsoever. It denotes - correctly - a hundred gradations in the range from the freezing point to the boiling point of water. It's only fairly recently that Anders Celsius has been honoured by the adoption of his name and it should be noted that Celsius's scale originally went from 100 (freezing) to 0 (boiling).
I still say "centigrade"!
See https://www.britannica.com/technology/Celsius-temperature-scale
Does anyone wish to share any of their minor irritations of life?
Why?
FMP
WiredIncorrectly
10-04-21, 23:48
Where does "bug" and "bear" come from in the word "bugbear"?
ankietyjoe
10-04-21, 23:50
Why?
FMP
+1
Maybe try and be less annoyed by trivial stuff.
+1
Maybe try and be less annoyed by trivial stuff.
:yesyes:
FMP
MyNameIsTerry
11-04-21, 07:08
Where does "bug" and "bear" come from in the word "bugbear"?
I remember playing Dungeons & Dragons RPG many years ago and one of the monsters was a Bugbear.
Nothing whatsoever. It denotes - correctly - a hundred gradations in the range from the freezing point to the boiling point of water. It's only fairly recently that Anders Celsius has been honoured by the adoption of his name and it should be noted that Celsius's scale originally went from 100 (freezing) to 0 (boiling).
I still say "centigrade"!
See https://www.britannica.com/technology/Celsius-temperature-scale
I think it's more that both terms are often used interchangeably which I have always found confusing. However, if you're accustomed to the term 'Centigrade' then that's entrely your choice!
Another one for me is that I got used into a mammoth disagreement with a classroom assistant at school back in the early 90s who always spelt 'potato', 'tomato', etc with an 'e' on the end, and when I told her it was incorrect she said 'how dare you!' and got extremely arsy with me over it!
Pamplemousse
11-04-21, 12:23
Another one for me is that I got used into a mammoth disagreement with a classroom assistant at school back in the early 90s who always spelt 'potato', 'tomato', etc with an 'e' on the end, and when I told her it was incorrect she said 'how dare you!' and got extremely arsy with me over it!
I believe that one turned up with a US Presidential candidate.
There was an incredibly fearsome maths teacher at my secondary school - quite the "character" but actually okay in classes.
He once gave us a maths test (this be what I'd call my first year) and he got an answer wrong. NONE of us dared challenge him, so I only got 19 out of 20 in that test - well, it was 20 but you know where I'm coming from.
Pamplemousse
11-04-21, 12:25
I remember playing Dungeons & Dragons RPG many years ago and one of the monsters was a Bugbear.
From Google:
5337
Pamplemousse
11-04-21, 12:26
Why?
FMP
+1
Maybe try and be less annoyed by trivial stuff.
:yesyes:
FMP
Because most of us aren't perfect (or think we are).
Because most of us aren't perfect (or think we are).
Yeah, stuff that one person may be concerned about is likely to pale into insignificance as far as another is concerned (and vice versa).
Pamplemousse
11-04-21, 13:15
"Potatoe"
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/june-15-1992-dan-quayle-misspells-potato-48017343
ankietyjoe
11-04-21, 13:20
Because most of us aren't perfect (or think we are).
Trying to be less annoyed by trivial stuff isn't being 'perfect'.
"Letting something go" when you're on the autistic spectrum is tremendously difficult
ankietyjoe
11-04-21, 14:17
"Letting something go" when you're on the autistic spectrum is tremendously difficult
Is somebody here autistic?
Yes-Lencoboy is on the spectrum.
Trying to be less annoyed by trivial stuff isn't being 'perfect'.
Exactly... but I guess it's comes down to poTAYto/poTAHto thing. Life is too short to let trivial things, whatever they are to you, ruin your day is all.
Positive thoughts
Exactly... but I guess it's comes down to poTAYto/poTAHto thing. Life is too short to let trivial things, whatever they are to you, ruin your day is all.
Positive thoughts
Obviously not such a big deal now some 30 years on, but a person working in education, particularly with impressionable kids, should ultimately know better when it comes to spelling, though in fairness, that 'know-it-all' classroom assistant was still fairly youngish at the time, and might very well had been a student-in-training, either on work experience from college or even training to be a teacher herself.
ankietyjoe
11-04-21, 17:20
Yes-Lencoboy is on the spectrum.
Gotcha
Pamplemousse
11-04-21, 17:45
Obviously not such a big deal now some 30 years on, but a person working in education, particularly with impressionable kids, should ultimately know better when it comes to spelling, though in fairness, that 'know-it-all' classroom assistant was still fairly youngish at the time, and might very well had been a student-in-training, either on work experience from college or even training to be a teacher herself.
Either way, she should still have known how to spell "potato". I once proof-read a manager's letter of complaint to a manufacturer and corrected it for him because if I were to receive a letter of complaint full of spelling, punctuation and grammar mistakes I simply wouldn't take it seriously.
What really gets me is the number of signwriters out there who either cannot spell, cannot punctuate or both - and the people employing them seem to know no better either, and pay good money for this.
Worse still, complaining about such things in shops to be brushed off with "no-one cares". There's a very cocky little shop manager round here like that and only my nature prevents me from dragging him over the counter and giving him a righteous slap. In my teens I wouldn't have hesitated to do so.
Obviously not such a big deal now some 30 years on, but a person working in education, particularly with impressionable kids, should ultimately know better when it comes to spelling, though in fairness, that 'know-it-all' classroom assistant was still fairly youngish at the time, and might very well had been a student-in-training, either on work experience from college or even training to be a teacher herself.
I have to admit, spelling and grammar is something I do take notice of, especially on social media and news sites. Someone will be calling a person or party affiliation stupid and the spelling, grammar and punctuation are non-existent ;) That said, I get more a chuckle out of it and by no means does it annoy me.
Positive thoughts
I have to admit, spelling and grammar is something I do take notice of, especially on social media and news sites. Someone will be calling a person or party affiliation stupid and the spelling, grammar and punctuation are non-existent ;) That said, I get more a chuckle out of it and by no means does it annoy me.
Positive thoughts
Obviously speaks volumes about their general levels of intelligence then!
'Txt spk' seemed to be all the rage during the very late 90s and much of the 2000s, and really used to do my nut in, especially as many school teachers back then seemed to have a more cavalier and indifferent 'oh let's just leave them to it' kind of attitude, but thankfully we don't seem to see so much of it nowadays!
Pamplemousse
11-04-21, 19:19
I have to admit, spelling and grammar is something I do take notice of, especially on social media and news sites. Someone will be calling a person or party affiliation stupid and the spelling, grammar and punctuation are non-existent ;) That said, I get more a chuckle out of it and by no means does it annoy me.
Positive thoughts
For me, the humour in such things comes from British people claiming to be "patriots" for whatever reason (Twitter's a good place to see this, especially when the user name is surrounded by Union flags and St. George crosses): the irony for me and the cause of much mirth is that the more patriotic they claim to be , the worse their grasp is of the language of the country they love tends to be :roflmao:
Either way, she should still have known how to spell "potato". I once proof-read a manager's letter of complaint to a manufacturer and corrected it for him because if I were to receive a letter of complaint full of spelling, punctuation and grammar mistakes I simply wouldn't take it seriously.
What really gets me is the number of signwriters out there who either cannot spell, cannot punctuate or both - and the people employing them seem to know no better either, and pay good money for this.
Worse still, complaining about such things in shops to be brushed off with "no-one cares". There's a very cocky little shop manager round here like that and only my nature prevents me from dragging him over the counter and giving him a righteous slap. In my teens I wouldn't have hesitated to do so.
What really does my head in is when shopkeepers/workers constantly complain about rude and disrespectful customers, but often at the same time have the nerve to treat us customers with contempt, even when we haven't had a pop at them first!
A while back some dozy pillock had defaced the exterior of a local shop not far from where we live, and when I alerted the woman behind the till she replied with something like 'well so what, that's the way of the world today, so get over it, sir', as if she simply couldn't care less, and she gave me dirty looks as if to say 'just get lost, I don't want customers telling us how to run our store'!
Makes my blood boil, especially as it smacks of double standards and of course, giving in to those losers who tagged said shop front!
After all, acts of vandalism against shops are a form of abuse, but strangely the staff and management of that store didn't seem in the slightest bit bothered!
WiredIncorrectly
11-04-21, 21:47
Spelling and grammar are a big deal for me too. I'm a writer and I'm not that good both. Good proof readers are rare. In casual settings like NPM it's not important, but reading a poorly written document is like listening to nails down a blackboard.
Another one for me is that I got used into a mammoth disagreement with a classroom assistant at school back in the early 90s who always spelt 'potato', 'tomato', etc with an 'e' on the end, and when I told her it was incorrect she said 'how dare you!' and got extremely arsy with me over it!
My top set English teacher took offence when I politely pointed out that she'd spelt something wrong on the whiteboard. I purposely pointed it out in a way that wouldn't embarrass her or act like I knew more but she still didn't like it. She even told me to grab a dictionary to check for myself and made me out to be a cheeky little sod. Half the class said "she's the teacher, she knows" and half the class agreed with me. I told her I didn't need to check the dictionary and she checked herself and found she was wrong. I don't remember her apologising for trying to embarrass me in front of the class. It's funny the little things we remember isn't it?
Either way, she should still have known how to spell "potato". I once proof-read a manager's letter of complaint to a manufacturer and corrected it for him because if I were to receive a letter of complaint full of spelling, punctuation and grammar mistakes I simply wouldn't take it seriously.
What really gets me is the number of signwriters out there who either cannot spell, cannot punctuate or both - and the people employing them seem to know no better either, and pay good money for this.
Worse still, complaining about such things in shops to be brushed off with "no-one cares". There's a very cocky little shop manager round here like that and only my nature prevents me from dragging him over the counter and giving him a righteous slap. In my teens I wouldn't have hesitated to do so.
If you haven't already, you might really enjoy Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss. Regarding your signwriters grind, the companies that actually make the signs DO know how to spell but will charge a fee for "spell checking" a lot of the time. If you pay them to write "Toilet's" on a sign and don't pay the fee, they'll print Toilet's knowing full well that apostrophe doesn't belong. That might explain it for you. :P
WiredIncorrectly
11-04-21, 23:39
My top set English teacher took offence when I politely pointed out that she'd spelt something wrong on the whiteboard. I purposely pointed it out in a way that wouldn't embarrass her or act like I knew more but she still didn't like it. She even told me to grab a dictionary to check for myself and made me out to be a cheeky little sod. Half the class said "she's the teacher, she knows" and half the class agreed with me. I told her I didn't need to check the dictionary and she checked herself and found she was wrong. I don't remember her apologising for trying to embarrass me in front of the class. It's funny the little things we remember isn't it?
Ha! Take that teacher!
When I was at uni I had a web development class. During this time I was already working in web development so it was easy credits. One of the assignments was to develop a website. Easy peasy.
Anyway, after submitting I lost a couple of marks because the tutor required all students write their HTML in uppercase. He required it because he was convinced this is what the HTML specifications stated. This was absurd to me, and incorrect. So I write my HTML in lowercase, like every other sane person.
He refused to give me my marks. So when it came to presenting our work to the class I put in a slide that quoted the HTML specification that showed HTML doesn't require it to be written in uppercase.
And then I showed him the source code to the top 10 websites on the internet. Non used uppercase.
Every student went back and removed the uppercase and to the embarrassment of the tutor I got my marks back.
Did he ever apologize? Did he heck. If you've been following my previous thread on my books you'll notice the book on Operating Systems. I won that book for this project.
Ha! Take that teacher!
When I was at uni I had a web development class. During this time I was already working in web development so it was easy credits. One of the assignments was to develop a website. Easy peasy.
Anyway, after submitting I lost a couple of marks because the tutor required all students write their HTML in uppercase. He required it because he was convinced this is what the HTML specifications stated. This was absurd to me, and incorrect. So I write my HTML in lowercase, like every other sane person.
He refused to give me my marks. So when it came to presenting our work to the class I put in a slide that quoted the HTML specification that showed HTML doesn't require it to be written in uppercase.
And then I showed him the source code to the top 10 websites on the internet. Non used uppercase.
Every student went back and removed the uppercase and to the embarrassment of the tutor I got my marks back.
Did he ever apologize? Did he heck. If you've been following my previous thread on my books you'll notice the book on Operating Systems. I won that book for this project.
I've not been following your threads but I did see that OS book and I kind of wanted to be cheeky and see if there was a way I could have a peek inside it. ;) I find the idea of designing your own OS fascinating. I assume it's more for bespoke systems like labs, factories, infrastructure rather than teaching you to design an OS to work on home computers. Congrats on winning it. How funny that the two threads have been linked like this.
I wish more people were able to admit and apologise when they are wrong. I don't mean expect people to admit they're wrong when faced with evidence, as they may still believe they're right. But once they understand and agree that they were wrong, why not show a bit of decency and admit to it? Some are too proud I suppose, but never mind. I wonder where your teacher got the idea that HTML had to be in uppercase, I've never heard of that either and surely a look at literally any website would show that it's not the case (pun unintended).
How did your classmates change their code from upper to lowercase? Hopefully not by hand as that would've been a right pain. Good on you for standing your ground on what you knew was right and providing evidence to support it, and good on your teacher for rewarding you your credits as a result.
WiredIncorrectly
12-04-21, 01:11
I shall get some images for you tomorrow and pop them in that book thread :)
Pamplemousse
12-04-21, 04:59
Spelling and grammar are a big deal for me too. I'm a writer and I'm not that good both. Good proof readers are rare. In casual settings like NPM it's not important, but reading a poorly written document is like listening to nails down a blackboard.
I used to write articles for a collector's society magazine and later, proof read articles for same: I think the highlight for me was learning that one article I wrote was later cited by a German university. Another one won an award for the best article of the year as voted for by the members.
Ive been asked to write for that magazine again; I'm not sure I have the patience any more.
If you haven't already, you might really enjoy Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss. Regarding your signwriters grind, the companies that actually make the signs DO know how to spell but will charge a fee for "spell checking" a lot of the time. If you pay them to write "Toilet's" on a sign and don't pay the fee, they'll print Toilet's knowing full well that apostrophe doesn't belong. That might explain it for you. :P
To me that is 'dumbing down' of the highest order!
And of course we will always get those sad cases who assume they have a god-given right to typo and any attempts to correct them or point out their spelling/grammar mistakes amounts to blatant censorship and stifling free expression!
Substituting the letter Z for the letter S at the end of words to indicate plural is another one that has become so trite and hackneyed over time (e.g, 'Boys' vs 'Boyz'), which still luckily hasn't made me act in ways that could cause me to be sectioned!
In order to reassure our American friends on here, I don't have any issue with Americanised (or Americanized) spelling differences in such a fashion though. Nor say, colour vs color either.
Ditto for petroleum vs gasoline, aerial vs antenna, tap vs faucet, etc, though they are transatlantic name differences for the same items/objects rather than spelling differences.
My top set English teacher took offence when I politely pointed out that she'd spelt something wrong on the whiteboard. I purposely pointed it out in a way that wouldn't embarrass her or act like I knew more but she still didn't like it. She even told me to grab a dictionary to check for myself and made me out to be a cheeky little sod. Half the class said "she's the teacher, she knows" and half the class agreed with me. I told her I didn't need to check the dictionary and she checked herself and found she was wrong. I don't remember her apologising for trying to embarrass me in front of the class. It's funny the little things we remember isn't it?
Just shows how some teachers themselves can present as self-righteous, spoilt brats, who are incapable of reasoning and have massive ego problems.
Pretty much every school has always seemed to have at least one such teacher, which in turn often brings down the 'decent majority' of teachers!
To me that is 'dumbing down' of the highest order!
And of course we will always get those sad cases who assume they have a god-given right to typo and any attempts to correct them or point out their spelling/grammar mistakes amounts to blatant censorship and stifling free expression!
Substituting the letter Z for the letter S at the end of words to indicate plural is another one that has become so trite and hackneyed over time (e.g, 'Boys' vs 'Boyz'), which still luckily hasn't made me act in ways that could cause me to be sectioned!
In order to reassure our American friends on here, I don't have any issue with Americanised (or Americanized) spelling differences in such a fashion though. Nor say, colour vs color either.
Ditto for petroleum vs gasoline, aerial vs antenna, tap vs faucet, etc, though they are transatlantic name differences for the same items/objects rather than spelling differences.
You see, I don't like Americanisation. Hearing Brits refer to the bonnet as a hood or seeing color instead of colour on hair products does wind me up. I'm torn because I know that language naturally evolves and English wasn't always spelt the way we spell now so there's nothing abnormal about our language evolving to use American words and spellings but I can't help but be that little bit irritated when I see it. Hearing the pronunciation of English swear words or place names butchered by an American accent also gets me - of course I understand it's not actually bad or personal and all that sensible stuff. It's just another thing that I pretend to not be bothered by! :D
Just shows how some teachers themselves can present as self-righteous, spoilt brats, who are incapable of reasoning and have massive ego problems.
Pretty much every school has always seemed to have at least one such teacher, which in turn often brings down the 'decent majority' of teachers!
You find it in a lot of authority figures. So many with authority can't stand to be questioned on anything, not least the thing they're supposed to have authority over. Teachers with education, police with the law, parents with parenting! They almost take it like it's a personal insult to be corrected or challenged.
You see, I don't like Americanisation. Hearing Brits refer to the bonnet as a hood or seeing color instead of colour on hair products does wind me up. I'm torn because I know that language naturally evolves and English wasn't always spelt the way we spell now so there's nothing abnormal about our language evolving to use American words and spellings but I can't help but be that little bit irritated when I see it. Hearing the pronunciation of English swear words or place names butchered by an American accent also gets me - of course I understand it's not actually bad or personal and all that sensible stuff. It's just another thing that I pretend to not be bothered by! :D
You find it in a lot of authority figures. So many with authority can't stand to be questioned on anything, not least the thing they're supposed to have authority over. Teachers with education, police with the law, parents with parenting! They almost take it like it's a personal insult to be corrected or challenged.
And you forgot doctors and nurses with medical-related stuff?
Typical 'I'm always right and everyone else is always wrong', delusions of grandeur!
Another one for me is a few people I know (or knew) whom I alerted to their shoe laces being undone whilst they were walking around, and they got really touchy and arsy with me as if they didn't even want to know. They all have untouchable 'hard man'-type tendencies anyway, and seem to revel in looking/ acting 'ard!
One of those was a male staff member at my old day centre who would woe betide us service users for breaking rules but he was notorious for breaking rules himself, especially driving their mini-bus like a lunatic, talking on his phone whilst driving, and even smoking whilst driving said vehicle with us service users in the back and other staff members (all of which were/are non-smokers) never even challenged him over it, and this was even as late as 2015!
When I mentioned that staff member's misdemeanours to the manager of said day centre, she said about 'trying to be more forgiving to people as times are hard right now'.
Sorry, but I'm sick to death of people using 'hard times' as a feeble excuse for bending the rules.
A 'cover-up' and 'can't be bothered' instance of the highest order!
Another one for me is a few people I know (or knew) whom I alerted to their shoe laces being undone whilst they were walking around, and they got really touchy and arsy with me as if they didn't even want to know. They all have untouchable 'hard man'-type tendencies anyway, and seem to revel in looking/ acting 'ard!
One of those was a male staff member at my old day centre who would woe betide us service users for breaking rules but he was notorious for breaking rules himself, especially driving their mini-bus like a lunatic, talking on his phone whilst driving, and even smoking whilst driving said vehicle with us service users in the back and other staff members (all of which were/are non-smokers) never even challenged him over it, and this was even as late as 2015!
When I mentioned that staff member's misdemeanours to the manager of said day centre, she said about 'trying to be more forgiving to people as times are hard right now'.
Sorry, but I'm sick to death of people using 'hard times' as a feeble excuse for bending the rules.
A 'cover-up' and 'can't be bothered' instance of the highest order!
I reckon the then-manageress of my old day centre must have had 'shy criticism' tendencies as it never seemed to be in her nature to chastise or reprimand anyone, be they service users or other staff members.
But she did come across as a bit of a softy but still seemed to grant that aforementioned loser of a male staff member carte blanche to chastise and reprimand us service users verbally and sometimes even physically, (disguised as 'physical restraint') sometimes willy-nilly, all in the name of 'zero tolerance'!
Simply because he was the resident 'hard man' of the day centre staff!
And you forgot doctors and nurses with medical-related stuff?
Typical 'I'm always right and everyone else is always wrong', delusions of grandeur!
Quite right. I'm one to trust medical professionals most of the time but I'm not too shy to get a second opinion if it's something I'm worried about. I feel quite relaxed when the doctor or nurse is happy to discuss possibilities with me or politely explain why my own suspicions are wrong (which I'd want them to do). I find it quite unprofessional when they're sharp or treat you like you're an idiot or only there because you're a MeNtAl CaSe! I have a little story you'll like:
I went to the doctors and told her about a problem I had with my ears, I think they were hurting or something. She was huffing and puffing the whole time I was trying to speak, she was making it very obvious that she wasn't happy I was there and she couldn't be bothered doing her job properly. So she used the ear light thing and looked in my ear for a split second, it didn't even go all the way in then did the other one and confidently announced "no holes in your ear drums or anything". Well I do, in fact, have a hole in my ear drum that I've had since a young age. If she bothered to actually look properly she would've seen it as every doctor does when checking my ears. I told her I do have a hole in my ear drum so she looked again (actually looked this time) and saw it for herself. I have no idea what her problem was, why she didn't have the time for me or why she wouldn't take me seriously. I'd like to think that moment of embarrassment would help her take patients more seriously in future, but I somehow doubt that's the case. I worry how many other people she'd done this to who ended up being misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all.
Another one for me is a few people I know (or knew) whom I alerted to their shoe laces being undone whilst they were walking around, and they got really touchy and arsy with me as if they didn't even want to know. They all have untouchable 'hard man'-type tendencies anyway, and seem to revel in looking/ acting 'ard!
One of those was a male staff member at my old day centre who would woe betide us service users for breaking rules but he was notorious for breaking rules himself, especially driving their mini-bus like a lunatic, talking on his phone whilst driving, and even smoking whilst driving said vehicle with us service users in the back and other staff members (all of which were/are non-smokers) never even challenged him over it, and this was even as late as 2015!
When I mentioned that staff member's misdemeanours to the manager of said day centre, she said about 'trying to be more forgiving to people as times are hard right now'.
Sorry, but I'm sick to death of people using 'hard times' as a feeble excuse for bending the rules.
A 'cover-up' and 'can't be bothered' instance of the highest order!
The kind to not wear a seatbelt without a good reason. I agree with you that people are using the pandemic as an excuse a little bit too much now. I understand the precautions most all take and that people are working home so that I don't take issue with. Half the time they blame the pandemic it seems completely irrelevant. Plus companies that have always had poor customer service suddenly have the perfect excuse for it.
Ah! Should that be American-isation or American-ization? A load of etymological hoo-ha has been going on forever about the use of ‘ise’ or ‘ize’. But, Anglo, I agree that the Amirkins have been subverting the English language since Daniel Webster rewrote the dictionary in 1828. Antsy Vee, Fishmanpa, Noivous, et al… please feel free to make polite comments and contradictions.
“Britain and America are two nations divided by a common language.” said (possibly) George Bernard Shaw – an Irishman.
I speak to Americans quite a lot and I'm surprised at how many "British words" weren't used in the US or had a different meaning.
Another thing that really jars on me is when people incorrectly refer to certain West Midlands' towns as part of Birmingham, e.g, Solihull, which despite bordering said city, isn't and never has been part of it.
A few people over the years have also incorrectly suffixed my town (Tamworth) with Birmingham or West Midlands instead of Staffordshire in written addresses, which really made me want to flip out, especially as some of the original senders were actually Midlands-based, so therefore appeared to be living under a rock!
Ditto for neighbouring Lichfield, which has also been known to be suffixed incorrectly with Birmingham or West Midlands, again instead of Staffordshire in written addresses.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not hoity-toity or anti-Brummy in any way, but I just happen to have a bit of an obsession with people not getting the facts straight in such cases.
MyNameIsTerry
01-11-21, 11:59
Another thing that really jars on me is when people incorrectly refer to certain West Midlands' towns as part of Birmingham, e.g, Solihull, which despite bordering said city, isn't and never has been part of it.
A few people over the years have also incorrectly suffixed my town (Tamworth) with Birmingham or West Midlands instead of Staffordshire in written addresses, which really made me want to flip out, especially as some of the original senders were actually Midlands-based, so therefore appeared to be living under a rock!
Ditto for neighbouring Lichfield, which has also been known to be suffixed incorrectly with Birmingham or West Midlands, again instead of Staffordshire in written addresses.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not hoity-toity or anti-Brummy in any way, but I just happen to have a bit of an obsession with people not getting the facts straight in such cases.
We do this as do many around here. It's because Brum is a big city so we tend to say "that's Birmingham isn't it?" but we know it's a separate entity.
Many will call us Stoke not realising that's one town with SOT. An old, neglected smaller place that's died off as Hanley became the new CBD over decades.
The same with Newcastle except that retained its status. Overshadowed by the big Newcastle everyone will know.
As pulisa explained in the other thread these inaccuracies get to you but try to remember people don't always do it out of ignorance and it may be more a local cultural thing. You won't be the only one they upset in some way either, Geordies are all lumped together despite local rivalries e.g. maccams. People sometimes think I'm a Scouser because of a (perceived) similarity in accents despite them being nothing like us in how we talk.
Another one of mine of late is old signage being left up that's no longer relevant, such as at certain premises of whom previous occupants have long since vacated, but the old signage (often complete with phone numbers, website addresses, etc) still remaining fully or partially intact, even when and where the same premises have new occupants.
Also road signage pointing in the direction of places/facilities that closed down years ago (e.g, certain public toilet blocks, 'So-And-So' Hotel/pub, shop, etc) really jars on me.
Just down the road from where we live there's a big banner attached to some railings at a set of traffic lights advertising an event that took place at the beginning of August, and it still remains up now in early November, 3 months after the event concerned came and went.
Ditto for those who leave up For Sale/Sold/To Let boards for ages after first moving into their home/premises.
My dad just dismisses these concerns of mine with clichés like 'people are people' and 'everyone has a right to make mistakes', etc, especially when they're stressed out.
Whilst I totally understand the stress 'epidemic' in today's society, what about those who aren't actually stressed (or skint) but simply have a 'can't be bothered' attitude?
what about those who aren't actually stressed (or skint) but simply have a 'can't be bothered' attitude?
That's my attitude. I can't be bothered by such 'Trivial Bugbears'. There are much more important, valuable and positive things to life than irrelevant trivial bugbears and trite things for they are just that. To concern yourself with them is your issue.
FMP
That's my attitude. I can't be bothered by such 'Trivial Bugbears'. There are much more important, valuable and positive things to life than irrelevant trivial bugbears and trite things for they are just that. To concern yourself with them is your issue.
FMP
So you basically don't care about things like obsolete signage (and sometimes false advertising) then, which signifies unprofessionalism for many businesses, organisations, etc, and may cause confusion for persons who may not be aware of the fact that they're no longer in existence, etc?
But hey ho, that's the way of the world today and I should therefore simply 'get a life'!
So you basically don't care about things like obsolete signage (and sometimes false advertising) then, which signifies unprofessionalism for many businesses, organisations, etc, and may cause confusion for persons who may not be aware of the fact that they're no longer in existence, etc?
But hey ho, that's the way of the world today and I should therefore simply 'get a life'!
Exactly!
FMP
On my record player when the auto-return cycle sometimes randomly fails to function at the end of a record side with the stylus staying put in the locked groove and the deck still rotating, though it's only occasionally and not really a fault with the unit.
[QUOTE=Anglo;1999712]You see, I don't like Americanisation. Hearing Brits refer to the bonnet as a hood or seeing color instead of colour on hair products does wind me up. I'm torn because I know that language naturally evolves and English wasn't always spelt the way we spell now so there's nothing abnormal about our language evolving to use American words and spellings but I can't help but be that little bit irritated when I see it. Hearing the pronunciation of English swear words or place names butchered by an American accent also gets me - of course I understand it's not actually bad or personal and all that sensible stuff. It's just another thing that I pretend to not be bothered by! :D
Whilst I am never intentionally racist (and I totally deplore racism in general), nor do I have any beef with Jamaicans as a whole, 'Jafaican' patois talk by certain White British teenagers really grates on me, especially those who are trying to look and sound 'ard and 'street'!
I don't seem to hear it from the local yoof in my area so much these days, but some 15 years ago, especially at the height of 'chav' culture, such lingo seemed almost ubiquitous from youngsters, despite their not being many Black persons in my area.
Also makes a mockery of and does a blatant disservice to 'genuine' Black/Jamaican people IMO, who far outnumber the 'bad 'uns'.
Also, 'chav' culture in general and the moral panics associated with it appear to have lessened over the past decade or so, which I think was largely hyped up by the media at the time.
However, I seriously reiterate that this isn't intended as an insult to Black/ Jamaican persons.
The kind to not wear a seatbelt without a good reason. I agree with you that people are using the pandemic as an excuse a little bit too much now. I understand the precautions most all take and that people are working home so that I don't take issue with. Half the time they blame the pandemic it seems completely irrelevant. Plus companies that have always had poor customer service suddenly have the perfect excuse for it.
I remember many people did similar things during the Global Financial Crisis, especially those who always had a 'can't be bothered' attitude anyway, but suddenly had the perfect excuse and justification for it from 2008 onwards, and of course 'it's the cuts wot made me do it', blame game thing, etc.
There were (and still are) many adamant that the GFC was caused by Gordon Brown and Co, and as some kind of 'cover-up' for perceived incompetence during the then-govt's first decade of office, when in actual fact it was a 'global' crisis that actually affected some other countries far worse than the UK, nor did said crisis actually originate in the UK, despite numerous conspiracy theories that have abounded.
As I've already said before in other threads on here, Blair and Co also got it in the neck over the Foot and Mouth Crisis in 2001, with numerous myths and conspiracy theories also abounding at the time that they allegedly 'concocted' said crisis to put farmers out of business (and inadvertently businesses in the worst affected rural communities that were in lockdown at the time due to said crisis) plus the usual BS about 'controlling the population'.
And the latter was still before social media became a thing, but still proved that misinformation, fake news and conspiracy theories in general were already a thing long before the latter half of the 2010s, but most ordinary folks just seemed indifferent towards a lot of it prior to many of the infamous events that have happened from about 2016 onwards.
Why do I call everyone DUCK?. Thank you duck, hello duck, cherio duck. I must stop it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! x
You come from Stoke don't you? Yes duck. ohhhhhh
Why do I call everyone DUCK?. Thank you duck, hello duck, cherio duck. I must stop it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! x
You come from Stoke don't you? Yes duck. ohhhhhh
Terry is from Stoke. I am from Tamworth, though I was actually born in West Bromwich, which borders the city of Birmingham.
Terry is from Stoke. I am from Tamworth, though I was actually born in West Bromwich, which borders the city of Birmingham.
I was born in West Bromwich too ... and it really bugs me when people lump me in as a Brummie. I am from the Black Country - different region, different accent and different language at times. At some point in the 1970s the local council tried to re-brand the area as Sandwell - no-one local has ever identified with it (it was the title of an aristocratic estate-owner and said estate fell into abeyance in the nineteenth century). If it 'aint broke don't fix it I say!)
Local councils just like to tinker ... and spend inordinate amount of public money to no end.
I was born in West Bromwich too ... and it really bugs me when people lump me in as a Brummie. I am from the Black Country - different region, different accent and different language at times. At some point in the 1970s the local council tried to re-brand the area as Sandwell - no-one local has ever identified with it (it was the title of an aristocratic estate-owner and said estate fell into abeyance in the nineteenth century). If it 'aint broke don't fix it I say!)
Local councils just like to tinker ... and spend inordinate amount of public money to no end.
As I'm sure you already know full well, Sandwell is the name of the metropolitan borough which collectively covers the towns of WB, Wednesbury, Tipton, Oldbury, Smethwick, etc, and also (presumably) named after the Sandwell Valley, which is a mini-stretch of green belt that technically meets up with Barr Beacon which is in the neighbouring Metropolitan Borough of Walsall.
On a different note I visited Sutton Park on Sunday afternoon with a couple who are great friends of our family and it was like two different worlds, stepping from the mass built-up area of the West Midlands conurbation straight out into the sticks. Quite surreal in fact.
I was most surprised but encouraged to see quite a lot of people still toing and froing around said park, even at dusk when we were about to leave and drive back home.
But I guess it's an attraction for all times, whatever the weather, day or time of year, and I'd forgotten what a great amenity it is.
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