Things that annoy you

[red circle]

Update. Ditherers,Dawdlers and people with all the time in the world when I'm in a hurry.

 

[Fred26]

As mentioned previously on this thread, noisy people in the quiet coach really get me wound up. Why do East Coast book large groups of people into this area knowing that they will probably make a din? I am writing this as we speak on the 0900 Newcastle to Kings X and having to put up with a gaggle of about 10 middle aged women on a jolly to London who have already started on the booze at 0930 making a terrible screeching racket
And as usual on East Coast the guard (J Johnson on this service from the announcements) is nowhere to be seen, in fact out of the last 20 times travelling with them I have had my ticket checked just once on board - but thats another rant.
Can East Coast not change their booking policy so that groups are not allowed in the quiet coach when other seats are available?

I thought that if you wanted to reserve seats in the quiet coach, you had to specifically ask for them. Meaning, basically, that if the clerk didn't specify Coach B (on East Coast), it would never issue reservations for that coach.

- Feet on the seats
- Bags on seats
- Sitting in the aisle seat, leaving the window seat free
- Not having tickets ready when approaching barriers
- Asking where the next train to X goes about ten times
- Fare evaders
- Young kids sitting on the train when there are adults standing

- 'Of' instead of 'have

That'll do for now.

 

[MCR247]

I thought that if you wanted to reserve seats in the quiet coach, you had to specifically ask for them. Meaning, basically, that if the clerk didn't specify Coach B (on East Coast), it would never issue reservations for that coach.

They'd have to if there wasn't room anywhere else...

 

[Fred26]

Aaaah.

 

[MCR247]

The fact that the Corby arrival from Kettering is at the same time as the Nottingham

 

[scotsman]

Trespassers.
People who refuse to move when I prove that their seat is reserved for me.
People who act shocked when I tell them they're sitting in 1st class, despite the compartment, and the signs on the windows.

 

[Sapphire Blue]

I wouldn't mind so much if they ever played decent music!

I am sure you didn't mean it Jim (with your smiley face thingy) but,

People who think that the music they prefer is in any way superior to the music someone else chooses to play. Pretentious twits.

and

People who type whatever they like on an internet forum, and just because they add a or a think they are immune from criticism.

Oh

 

[Dai.]

People who think that the music they prefer is in any way superior to the music someone else chooses to play. Pretentious twits.

That all depends on what they play -

If they play someone who mimes, has no real talent and doesn't actually write any song they've ever sung to, then I agree with Jim.

 

[TGV]

I agree on the music thing. It's like food - if you prefer fine wine and expensive restaurants, then yes, McDonalds will be inferior. Same with music. It doesn't mean that liking it is a crime or anything, but man-up and admit that you're listening to musical drivel. Music written by a "producer", composed on a computer and "recorded" on a computer with digital "virtual" instruments is NOT the same as something like the Dave Matthews Band (as an example) where they created the band as true enthusiasts - for the love of music - they compose the songs and lyrics themselves, even help produce the albums, but most of all, they are there on stage, 6 proper, real talented musicians at the top of their game playing LIVE. To compare that with miming wannabe fashion icons that could no more play an instrument or write a tune is insulting to true musicians.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
And to add to the post:
My biggest annoyance (railway related) along with people pushing past to get on when others are still getting off is when they sit in the aisle seat (loads of the buggers) with the window seat empty in the hope that nobody will ask them to move so they get the two seats to themselves the whole trip... NO. Bloody well move over or stop pretending to be asleep and hogging all the friggin' seats. Or sit in the window seat to begin with so you really can fall asleep and i can sit down. Morons.

Oh and I also get annoyed with people getting annoyed with things they need to get real about. Someone here posted that people pressing the door open buttons on the tube annoys them? For the love of god -why? What inconvenience does this cause you??!?! The doors will still open in the same amount of time. You will not be held up or delayed because of that. If that's the worst thing about your commute, you're doing bloody well.

 

[Sapphire Blue]

So lets get this straight then,
Sinatra and Elvis were rubbish because they mimed (not always, of course, but no-one does) and didn't write any of the the songs they sang. Or is it just the music listened to by people younger and better looking than you that gets such analysis?
As I said "pretentious twits" use musical snobbery. Music is ONLY what it means to the individual. I like my music, you like yours, the "chavs" (as they were referred to) like their's, and here's the rub; YOU ARE NOT RIGHT, THEY ARE NOT RIGHT AND NEITHER AM I. It is, after all, just people banging and blowing things to a certain tempo. Each to their own fella.
Perhaps you should realise that your music is rubbish to some people (just as I can accept this truiesm)

And a Dave Matthews Band fan thinks that music is only meaningful if performed just so? Perleaze!
I would imagine that each and every member of that band would tell you you were talking crap, the influences on their music being so varied its untrue.

 

[CarterUSM]

I like some music, hate other music, and am indifferent to the rest. I think Sapphire blue has made a relevant point however. I do find it annoying being forced to listen to any tinny mobile phone output whether i like it or not though! I also cannot stand synchronized clapping to music or song by audiences.

 

[jimrbrobinson]

Yes Sapphire, it was a tongue in cheek post by myself and hence the smiley. hock: In actual fact I don't care what someone's listening to, or how loudly, or how poor the quality of their playback equipment is. I'm one of those lucky people who can switch off to it. That said, though, the whole reason that MP3 players, walkmans, most mobiles I've had with music playback capability, etc. all come with earphones is because they're still being produced under the generic grouping of 'personal stereo'. The idea of which being that you listen to what you want and enjoy it, without the rest of the world having to.

Actually, on a couple of occasions I've been introduced to new music which I've subsequently come to enjoy by sitting next to someone on public transport whose 'personal stereo' wasn't quite to personal.

Oh, and I just like the smileys! :roll:

 

[Dai.]

So lets get this straight then,
Sinatra and Elvis were rubbish because they mimed (not always, of course, but no-one does) and didn't write any of the the songs they sang. Or is it just the music listened to by people younger and better looking than you that gets such analysis?

Here is the thing - If they don't sing, if they don't write their own music and songs, why are they being paid so much and why do they do that job if they have no experience in it? If this is the case I want to go out tomorrow and get the same job!

You wouldn't pay a bricklayer to build you a wall if he didn't actually build it and spent all day out there pretending to build you a wall..
(it's late and I can't think of a better example

If you have no talent for the job you're doing - then why do it? Especially in the creative arts (music, design, photography etc), it's ruining the industry as it is - Many people around the world deserve to be in the music industry but there are too many talentless slobs so they can't get in.

It's nothing to do with the looks - I don't like Mark Ronson but he's got the talent to be in the industry. The same with MNDR she has written all her songs and deserves to be the industry but I can't stand her.
Sinatra wasn't a culprit for miming was he? (I'm too young to remember either Elvis or Sinatra).

 

[Geezertronic]

While we're on the subject of music and the seemingly talentless cretins that seem to be manufactured today, they wouldn't get anywhere without the help of autotune. Problem is that you can really hear where it has been applied in the songs as well. They must go into a recording studio, screech like a cat, and it comes out of the "black box" all perfect...

 

[TGV]

So lets get this straight then,
Sinatra and Elvis were rubbish because they mimed (not always, of course, but no-one does) and didn't write any of the the songs they sang. Or is it just the music listened to by people younger and better looking than you that gets such analysis?
As I said "pretentious twits" use musical snobbery. Music is ONLY what it means to the individual. I like my music, you like yours, the "chavs" (as they were referred to) like their's, and here's the rub; YOU ARE NOT RIGHT, THEY ARE NOT RIGHT AND NEITHER AM I. It is, after all, just people banging and blowing things to a certain tempo. Each to their own fella.
Perhaps you should realise that your music is rubbish to some people (just as I can accept this truiesm)

And a Dave Matthews Band fan thinks that music is only meaningful if performed just so? Perleaze!
I would imagine that each and every member of that band would tell you you were talking crap, the influences on their music being so varied its untrue.

I'm just guessing here - that you're not a musician then?

If so, you don't sound like any musician I've ever hung out with. You sure don't know anything about DMB. They have an eclectic background, but that's true of just about any real band - doesn't make any difference to how well they play. Carter Beaford is one of the finest drummers in the world - the difference is someone like that CAN play things that your average chav in the charts couldn't even pretend to play. Musical ability - that's one key thing I'm talking about here. Something that gets nowhere near enough respect these days.

The fact is that manufacture pop crap is MUSICALLY rubbish. I'm not saying people who listen to it are inferior (I often enjoy listening to it myself), but it's like my analogy with fast food - I don't respect it. McDonalds is rubbish food. Are you arguing with that? The skill is in writing a brief little hook that'll be repeated on radio for the kids to buy. Great - they're the ones who are making money from it and fair play to them. But it's all 4/4, phrased in groups of 8 - verse-chorus, verse-chorus, middle 8, verse end... all the same in Major keys with the now obligatory key change about 16 bars from the end. Now that's fine once in a while, but as a musician - I get bored of that all the time. It lacks imagination, creativity and apart from the occasional bit of (often computer adjusted) singing that's tricky, there's NO SKILL in playing it. It's like the art of being a decent, proper musician is squeezed out of popular music and into Jazz, classical and (don't laugh) metal. Some of the finest guitarist and drummers anywhere play in heavy metal bands. Marty Friedman, Dave Lombardo et al...

But don't patronise me - modern computer-written music is NOT the same as a group of musicians creating a song from themselves. Elvis? Again, you're showing your musical ineptitude. He was a singer. Hound dog? Blue suede shoes? Love me tender? All shook up.... I can go on, but if you check, you'll find out he didn't write ANY of them. Not even the bloody words. In fact in most cases, he covered them - they were written AND recorded by someone else before - someone who created the music people love, but the guy with the ego got the credit. He was one of the first to sing in the style he did - but I'm not taking that away from him - he was the success then just as some artists are now. I'm not arguing success here - I'm arguing MUSIC. ABBA get far more respect from me than Elvis for example - genius songwriting. Probably the best there has been since those 4 scousers... oh but don't get me started on Ringo. "Not even the best drummer in the Beatles".

 

[Sapphire Blue]

I'm just guessing here - that you're not a musician then?

If so, you don't sound like any musician I've ever hung out with. You sure don't know anything about DMB. They have an eclectic background, but that's true of just about any real band - doesn't make any difference to how well they play. Carter Beaford is one of the finest drummers in the world - the difference is someone like that CAN play things that your average chav in the charts couldn't even pretend to play. Musical ability - that's one key thing I'm talking about here. Something that gets nowhere near enough respect these days.

The fact is that manufacture pop crap is MUSICALLY rubbish. I'm not saying people who listen to it are inferior (I often enjoy listening to it myself), but it's like my analogy with fast food - I don't respect it. McDonalds is rubbish food. Are you arguing with that? The skill is in writing a brief little hook that'll be repeated on radio for the kids to buy. Great - they're the ones who are making money from it and fair play to them. But it's all 4/4, phrased in groups of 8 - verse-chorus, verse-chorus, middle 8, verse end... all the same in Major keys with the now obligatory key change about 16 bars from the end. Now that's fine once in a while, but as a musician - I get bored of that all the time. It lacks imagination, creativity and apart from the occasional bit of (often computer adjusted) singing that's tricky, there's NO SKILL in playing it. It's like the art of being a decent, proper musician is squeezed out of popular music and into Jazz, classical and (don't laugh) metal. Some of the finest guitarist and drummers anywhere play in heavy metal bands. Marty Friedman, Dave Lombardo et al...

But don't patronise me - modern computer-written music is NOT the same as a group of musicians creating a song from themselves. Elvis? Again, you're showing your musical ineptitude. He was a singer. Hound dog? Blue suede shoes? Love me tender? All shook up.... I can go on, but if you check, you'll find out he didn't write ANY of them. Not even the bloody words. In fact in most cases, he covered them - they were written AND recorded by someone else before - someone who created the music people love, but the guy with the ego got the credit. He was one of the first to sing in the style he did - but I'm not taking that away from him - he was the success then just as some artists are now. I'm not arguing success here - I'm arguing MUSIC. ABBA get far more respect from me than Elvis for example - genius songwriting. Probably the best there has been since those 4 scousers... oh but don't get me started on Ringo. "Not even the best drummer in the Beatles".

Ok then, lets take this right back to the OP's idea, "Things that annoy you"

1. Self appointed purists.
2. People who reply to what they think they have read in internet posts, rather than what was actually written.
3. People who take Lennon's jokes as serious points.
4. Improvised jazz solos.
5. And, (this was the point of my first post on this thread) People (note I don't use the term "chav" as a lazy insult) who play their music audibly in public places. ANY sort of music whether it be R&B (using the modern terminology, bet that annoys you too TGV?), Gregorian chants or atonal modern jazz. Only the other day, on a train between Leeds and Scarborough, I could clearly hear a well dressed businessman with his i-pod phone, repeated playing John Cage's 4'33''. Nearly drove me mad the selfish b****rd!

 

[krus_aragon]

Im tempted to dress up in my most chaviest clothing and have Classical music playing out loud next time im on public transport...

In my (late) teenage youth when driving through town taking some friends home, one of them (for some reason) had the fantastic idea of suddenly winding down the windows and turning the radio on full to blare at somebody. I didn't try to stop him, knowing that my radio was still tuned to Classic FM!

 

[Wyvern]

4. Improvised jazz solos.

Improvisation is the core of real jazz.

 

[ert47]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYLKafe9uU0
Gotta say, bad cover bands annoy me (with good reason)

Is it possible for a group to be so talentless that they become hilariously impossible to emulate well? (have a look for "The Shaggs")

4. Improvised jazz solos.
5. And, (this was the point of my first post on this thread) People (note I don't use the term "chav" as a lazy insult) who play their music audibly in public places. ANY sort of music whether it be R&B (using the modern terminology, bet that annoys you too TGV?), Gregorian chants or atonal modern jazz. Only the other day, on a train between Leeds and Scarborough, I could clearly hear a well dressed businessman with his i-pod phone, repeated playing John Cage's 4'33''. Nearly drove me mad the selfish b****rd!

The "2000" classification of R&B annoys me so much because its just pop - its nothing like the tunes from the mid ninties unless I'm just blinkering myself.

Anyway, back to the OT (which Sapphire Blue just reminded me of), iPod earphones annoy me a lot, not because it shows everyone that you have an iPod, its because of their bad quality. The ones that I got with my iPod were sturdy enough, it was just that everytime you try to listen to some music, you have to turn the volume up so high to actually hear anything! Once you've done that, you find that everyone around you in a 5 meter radius can hear what your listening to because of all of the sound leakage =/

 

[Sapphire Blue]

Improvisation is the core of real jazz.

When I am eating a good apple I don't like the core then either.

 

[jon0844]

2. People who reply to what they think they have read in internet posts, rather than what was actually written.

I know, I told him that too when I saw Sandra outside the post office.

 

[321446]

Walking into my bedroom door, in the dark, stone cold sober and breaking my toe.

A week later, when toe returning to flesh colour and not being so swollen, banging it on a chair leg.

Really, really annoying.

 

[Wyvern]

When I am eating a good apple I don't like the core then either.

Maybe, but then among my favourites is the original New Orleans jazz.

Mind you, Mark Knopfler's improvisations on "Alchemy" are pretty good.

 

[321446]

Forum threads that degenerate from the original discussion, stories etc to "I'm right, you are wrong!" "No, I'm right, You are wrong" arguments.

 

[Wyvern]

Picture Galleries on the web where the pictures dont have any captions.

We are supposed to guess what they of and where they were taken and why.

 

[AndyJB]

Captchas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captcha)
I hate them. It took captchas just one or two years to become one of the worst online plagues. I want to comment on a blog or write into a guestbook, I want to log in somewhere or download something. I'm in a good temper, but suddenly a page comes up with a cryptical image of disfigured numbers and letters. I look at it for a few seconds and try to figure out what it shows. But as careful as I am, I fail to pass captchas half of the time. Am I just too stupid? No, that honor belongs to the people who conceived the captchas. Captchas rarely work the way they should for one or more of the following reasons:

Characters are not recognizable at all because the image lacks the necessary contrast or because the font is awful.

Numbers and letters look alike, such as "g" and "9".

Captchas may be case-sensitive, but many capital and small letters look alike, such as "C" and "c".

The orientation of the letters is not clear, so "z" may look like "N".

With letters and numbers all over the place their correct order is not clear.

I have to solve an additional puzzle by only typing a certain selection of the barely visible characters.

In some cases I suspect the displayed image does not even belong to the expected input.

I loathe them!

 

[jon0844]

They do serve a purpose though, and you can adjust settings to make it easier for real people to enter codes (while still, hopefully, stopping automated systems). I have seen some set to be far too difficult, but most are okay and I'm proud to say that I have a near 100% success rate. Re-captcha seems the best in my experience.

Without them, forums and blogs would be FULL of SPAM. That would annoy you even more, or at least as much!

Fortunately for you, though, there are more sites that let you log in with your own personal Twitter, Facebook or OpenID account. That means you'll only have to endure the extra secure registration process once and can then be deemed trusted by all the other sites you visit.

 

[me123]

I don't have a problem with them to be honest. You can always refresh the image if you can't make it out.

 

[jon0844]

Re-captcha will also offer an audio option for the visually impaired.