9.27.2010

Pet Peeves

I've been meaning to share one of my pet peeves for some time now but then it just struck me as I thought "Why share just one? I have plenty I can share!" lol. So here goes. My top pet peeves - in no specific order.

1. The (I feel) misuse of the word "icon"
Fashion Icons?
Okay, this is actually a big pet peeve of mine. People/media throw this word around sooooo casually now and it annoys the heck out of me. Ashley and Mary Kate, Victoria Beckham, Sienna Miller, the girls from Gossip Girls etc. are NOT fashion icons! Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga (much as I love her) are NOT pop icons....I could go on and on naming people that others call "icons" who are not. My definition of an icon? Well, first, they have to have some kind of longevity. If they've only been "known" for two or three years - they're not an icon. I'm thinking you need at least 20 years in whatever industry you're in (unless there's an unfortunate untimely death - which often leads to icon status. Think James Dean. Marilyn Monroe. Marvin Gaye...). And that's just the beginning...some kind of official award/recognition would be nice. And the ability to appeal to a wide audience. And some kind of long lasting impact - whether it's cultural or humanitarian...something. And, this one is hard for me to explain, but they should kind of...be a voice...or something...of a generation, a group of people, an idea, a movement, a decade, an era....Sure I think some of the above could be on their way to becoming an "icon" - but as of now? Nope. So who DO I consider icons? Hmmm Michael Jackson = icon. Madonna = icon. Jacqueline Onassis Kennedy = icon. Iman = icon. Bob Marley = Icon. Maybe it's just my thinking though...

2. People who stand on the wrong side of the escalator.
One side is for standing, the other is for walking.  Don't get mad at me when I say "excuse me" to get by you when YOU'RE standing on the wrong side.

3. People who don't say thank you (by a wave of the hand or some kind of acknowledgement) when I let them in while I'm driving.
Self explanatory.

4. The word "epic"
I'm getting tired of seeing everything described as and referred to as "epic."

5. Multiple use of LOL
Unless you're really laughing out loud all the time....(I'm guilty of using this too much as well)

6. When I'm listening to a song on the radio and the announcer doesn't say who the artist is.
I've been hearing this one song over and over again and not once have I heard the name of who actually sings it! Ugh!

7. When people constantly use the wrong there/their/they're
Once or twice, or on occasion, I can understand. ALL THE TIME, that's another story. I just had a quick review of this with my 18 year old brother. Reading his facebook updates were becoming painful....

8. When people say something silly about Canada/Canadians
But that could just be ignorance. Or maybe some people really just don't know....

Hmmm that's all I can think of right now...but I'm sure I could come up with some more if I give it some thought.

What about you? What are your pet peeves?

17 comments:

Lindsay @ Hattan Home said...

piggybacking on icon and epic, is brainchild and phenomenon. A phenomenon is something that can not be explained in a million years,no matter how you try. An actors performance is not a "phenomenon", and Brainchild is just annoying way of saying you have an idea.

kay* said...

@Lindasy - LOL (and i can type that because i literally DID laugh out loud ;)

emily said...

i totally overuse the word "epic." but sometimes, weekends with friends visiting from out of town just are! suggestion(s) for a new adjective?!

however, i am in complete agreement with you about #3 and #6, esp #3. whenEVER i have to go in front of someone (quasi cutting them off) i make sure to do an extra friendly wave so they have no excuse to get on whatever high horse they might want to mount. that, and i'm totally grateful for a little room ;) i am still waiting for the day when the people who drive really nice cars that i let in, take the time to wave. so far, it has never happened. boo.

Mandy said...

You forgot Barry Manilow in your list of icons. =) I over use LOL but I do tend to really laugh out loud a lot at things I read or in conversations.

Tonia Lee Smith said...

I have a lot of pet peeves, I'll touch on a few that we share from your list. I hate bad grammer. PERIOD, and the use of the word ICON when they have the person hasn't reached like you said at least 20 yrs in the industry.

###### said...

all of yours are mine to be honest...i am on the fence about beyonce though right now..but she will be an icon..i actually think she has made it there.

K said...

I have so many pet peeves:
- people who cough or sneeze without covering their mouth.
- people who don't say please or thank you.
- ladies who don't wash their hands after using the toilet (this makes me rage!).
- bad grammar, text speak, bad punctuation, etc...
- people who litter in crowded areas.
- people who don't pick up after themselves.

I can go on. I will stop now.

Frederique said...

You should come to DC if you are into the escalator rule! They are very strict about it (signs everywhere!). Re: #6 if you have a smartphone you should download Shazam. It's an app that can recognize music and tell you what song it is! V. useful!

My pet peeve is bikes on the sidewalk! If you're too chicken for the roadway, then start walking! Oooooh! That gets my goat!! Really!

Anonymous said...

You're number one is on point....

My pet peeves:

1. When you compliment a person, whether it be in person, on a FB photo, a blog, whatev, and they don't say "thank you."

2. When people get over in front of me without putting on a blinker... a blinker asks for permission!!!!

3. When I put something in a specific place and cannot find it because someone else has moved it!!!!!

4. Strollers in the mall or anyplace crowded (you can tell I am not a mama, right????)

DaVida Chanel said...

YES!!! I agree w/so many of these (except the escalator one b/c I don't see those often enough here to be peeved. YOu've inspired me to do a list of 'em today on my blog.

Michelle... said...

2. YESSSSS...this also goes for sidewalks. Walk to the right (or I guess left if you're in the UK?) and get out of my way! My normal walking pace is faster than most people's speed walking.

6. I <3 Shazam on my phone. Turn it on, hold it up to your car speaker and get the name of the song!

7. Also your/you're, and it's its.

One of my big ones is when people don't say thank you when I hold the door for them. I know it's awfully childish, but it makes me wish I'd just let the door whack them in the face!

And then I have silly ones that most people won't get but I correct them on anyway and they probably hate me for it:

-calling all wood floors "hardwood". Pine and fir are not hardwoods, they are softwoods :-)
-calling vinyl flooring linoleum. Linoleum is an all natural non-petroleum based product.
-calling high fat foods like avocados "fattening". Nope, eating more calories than you burn is fattening. I want to write that on cards and hand it out to people when I see things like "a fat free food" written on my package of frozen blueberries.

jessica obrien said...

the "their, there, they're" as well as "your, you're," mix-ups are so painful! i don't understand why people aren't more ashamed to not have yet mastered a concept they were taught in elementary school + absolutely should have nailed down by high school. i can't respect anything people say when they use the wrong version.

as for the song - google the lyrics! i've found so many songs that way!

Maggie Rose said...

I had no idea there was an escalator "rule" - I don't think we do that in Washington state?

My biggest pet peeves: Drivers not using their blinker, when people say "anyways" instead of "anyway", the people who "like" every. single. photo. in an album on facebook, and the latest teen trend of spelling everying with extra letters. As in "OMG Kay I loooove this possssst u r ammazzzzing lol". I can't even do it right, but check your younger siblings fb walls for evidence! Oh, and add to my list the absence of punctuation - ESPECIALLY in business messages!

gia said...

I loooove it! I love how you are putting yourself out there with your opinions, way to stand up for something! lovelovelove it. I hope Ashley and Marykate are watching!!!!! I love their style, but I would like to see something more than fashion, because why not?

Amanda said...

I love #7 and #8. And I completely agree with both. I absolutely love the Molson Canadian speech about Canadians. "No we don't live in igloos" ;)

Roxa said...

Overusing "literally." "OMG, I literally DIED when I saw that!" Um, you died? Really?

San said...

Totally agree with #6 and #7...

my other pet peeves, drivers who don't use their blinkers, bikes on the sidewalk, people who try to make a "green light" when I am already braking because it's turning red (mmh, looks like I have a lot of traffic pet peeves ;)), people who order something at a restaurant and change every little thing in their order and people who are constantly on their phones (even in restaurants when they're with other people).

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