What is your pet peeve? mine is drivers not using their turn signals. How about you? EDIT--people in the house leaving 1

[debm55]

Last edited Sat Jan 10, 2026, 11:14 AM - Edit history (1)

teaspoon of ice cream in the container.

[CrispyQ]

1. People who leave their grocery cart askew in the aisle so you can't get by without adjusting it.

Second are the ones who park the cart parallel to the shelves & then stand exactly opposite it, blocking the pathway through. WTF? Turn on your fucking brain! You aren't the only person trying to get things done on the planet.

[debm55]

2. Agree, Thank you CrispyQ

[hlthe2b]

5. I share all those...But especially the distracted parents who let their kids go nuts in the grocery

store, bumping into everyone with those toy carts (or occasionally the big ones), screaming, running and generally making it almost impossible to avoid hitting them or conversely the big display, knocking many scores of cans or other objects on display and then having to explain to exasperated staff why it happened and wasting all my shopping time trying to pick up everything. (Sorry for the run-on sentence). I do have empathy for stressed parents of multiple kids, but this is why I shop at 6 AM. Admittedly, problem solved (for me, at least).

[CrispyQ]

17. My mom dropped me off at the magazine rack, where I read Archie comics, & picked me up on the way to the checkout.

Guess what? Our new King Soopers doesn't have a mag rack & they took it out of the old one we still go to. I haven't bought a mag in years but I did like looking through them once a month. Several years ago I noticed the old news & smoke shop in Boulder was gone. We always dropped a wad there on payday when we both worked in town, & grabbed a pizza on the way home. Fun times.

[debm55]

21. I know what you are talking about, hIthe2b. Going shopping early is a great way to deal with that.

[DBoon]

3. Q "What is the most useless job in the world?"

A In Bavaria on the BMW assembly line, someone has the job of installing turn signals

[debm55]

6. That is so true, Thank you so much, DBoon.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

4. Turn signals! For sure.

I remember that bumper sticker altercation: one sticker said, "Visualize world peace." Another said, "Visualize using your turn signal."

You can watch people driving like they're a hockey player. They make a sudden left. They cut in front of you. They change lanes as if that tractor trailer didn't exist. No signals, just road hazards.

[debm55]

7. Thank you discntnt_irny_srcsm, Very dangerous driving any more.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

16. My top advice to anyone driving...

1 DON'T DO ANYTHING SUDDEN.
2 Drive predictably, don't be indecisive but but drive so other drivers can predict your path.
3 Watch out for people doing the wrong thing at the worst time.
~~ Years ago I stopped at a light and watched as someone coming in the other direction wasn't slowing and, apparently, didn't see the light change to red. I hit the gas and started around corner. I got away with a dented fender. A Buick and a Volvo that began driving across the intersection were mostly destroyed. Folks in the Buick were taken by ambulance on back boards with collars. Volvo driver mostly unhurt but car was 11 days old.
Being stopped at a light isn't time to check email or play candy crush.

[debm55]

24. Totally agree with you, discntnt_irny_srcsm.

[3catwoman3]

28. I trust no one in a car. Not the people next to me.

Not the people coming up behind me. Not the people in front of me. And definitely not the people coming toward me.
And half the time, not the person in the driver's seat - my husband. He follows much more closely at high speeds than I am confortable with.

When I get the green arrow for making a left turn at an intersection I always wait for the 3-5 cars that I know are going to run the red light.

[debm55]

30. Same here, 3catwoman3, Same here. Thank you.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

68. In college I used to get a ride with my friend Steve.

He explained it like this: "Light turns red, 3 - 5 cars blow the light then it might be safe to go."

[Ocelot II]

107. I remember when I was learning to drive, my Dad said,

"Always assume that the other drivers are idiots."

[debm55]

109. And that is correct informantion.

[3catwoman3]

112. "Always assume that the other drivers are idiots."

All of whom assume that they are the most important person on the road, if not the planet.

[CrispyQ]

18. During the Bush years I saw one that read Visualize Impeachment.

That's almost ironic, now.

[pandr32]

8. Starting a sentence with 'So', and ending a comment with...

"let that sink in." I find both irritating, but the second off-putting.

I also can't stand it when people don't use their turn signals, like you.

[debm55]

11. Thank you for sharing, pandr32

[hlthe2b]

9. Well, more than that is the drivers (typically young & aggressive) who think Avenues & Boulevards

i.e., 4-lane city streets with or without medians are equivalent to interstate highways in that anyone in the left lane is supposed to get over to the right so they can speed 20 or more mph over the 40 mph speed limit. I have been nearly rear ended and have had to deal with aggressive drivers who are apparently unable to recognize these mixed residential streets have left hand turn lanes throughout--making it necessary to travel in the left lanes.

Uggh. I-25 and I-70 are full of aggressive drivers in recent years, but now the city streets too?

[debm55]

14. Oh, that is very dangerous. hIthe2b. Thank you for sharing.

[Emile]

10. People with road rage, who think they are the only

ones who know how to drive.

[debm55]

15. Thank you Emile. I see that a lot around here, too

[Shellback Squid]

12. parking in handicapped with no plates or placards showing, I've confronted people over that

I was wrong once and felt hugely embarrassed so I'm less confrontational

[debm55]

31. Thank you very much, Shellback Squid. That is a pet peeve of mine, too.

[Grim Chieftain]

13. This is really petty

but I can't stand it when football players skip after making a touchdown or a good play. Grown men - skipping? Really?

[Srkdqltr]

20. Seriously?

[Grim Chieftain]

22. Yep

The only time I've seen a grown man skip is on the football field.

[mjvpi]

105. Huge football fan here, but the whole concept of grown men getting millions for playing a game.....

…… is pretty upside down. Some of these guys make in a day what a teacher makes in a lifetime. Skipping and celebrations in general are annoying.

[debm55]

32. HAHAHaHA. Thank you Grim Chieftain.

[Niagara]

98. I can't stand football period

I live in Buffalo Bills country and so it's all about "The Bills".

I'm surprised that I haven't had an epileptic seizure with how many times and how hard I roll my eyes with every Buffalo Bills conversations that start. I change my radio station frequently and I'm also telling the DJ's to shut the f%#& up! when they start their "The Bills" talk.

[debm55]

99. I don't like football either. Try living in Steeler land and admit that.

[Niagara]

106. I'm so sorry, Debbie

I understand completely!

[debm55]

108. Thank you my friend. Thank you. But you can't get away from it around here. It's a constant thing

[Srkdqltr]

19. My pet peeve is people who nit pick other people and don't stop.

People who,,..........don't use a turn signal.....leave lights on, TV on, doors open/ closed etc, etc

Always what someone else does. When the real annoying is having to hear a litney
of it.

[debm55]

34. Especially in the summertime. Thank you Srkdqltr.

[justaprogressive]

23. The balanced

milk gallon bottle on the trash

[debm55]

36. And it never stays there. I pick it up off of the street and put it in my trash bag.

[Bluestocking]

25. People who clean up after their dog

and then leave the bag of poop on the spot where the dog pooped.

[DBoon]

33. you can hose off the bare poop

but you actually have to pick up the bag

[debm55]

37. Or people that don't Bag their dog's poop. I hate that.

[perfessor]

40. Our neighbors down the road

… do that, but it’s because it’s early in the walk, they have three dogs, and they pick up the bags on their way home. No worries.

[GreenWave]

26. Those f-ed up off color flags all black or all blue, etc, It just pisses me off.

[debm55]

39. Thank you GreenWave. I understand. And the tRump flags still up.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

27. Mine is idiots trying to draft off the back of my trailer,

they get so close that I can't see them in my mirrors, If I have to make an emergency stop, someone, one day, is going to end up being a part of the rear of my trailer.

[debm55]

41. Yep that is very dangerous. Thank you MarineCombatEngineer.

[HappyH]

62. Yeah I do that a lot when I'm on the interstate

But here's the thing: no need to get close to the truck as you can ride the draft from 300 feet at highway speed. And I let the trucker know he can get in front of me to pass slower traffic or pull back into the outer lane in front. I appreciate the extra 5 mpg.
My pet peeve is people cutting in between me and my trucker.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

64. When some idiot 4 wheeler gets too close to the back of my trailer,

I'll gradually slow down and make them pass me, it sometimes pisses them off, but I'm actually looking out for their safety.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

69. Tailgating, another example of evolution at work. n/t

[HappyH]

73. That's a good thing to do

That's what I taught my daughter to do to deal with tailgaters. I'm not the idiot you're looking for, my Subaru would not look good with an 18 wheel hood ornament.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

88. I don't mind is someone drafts off me as long as I can see them in my mirrors, so no,

you aren't the idiot, you're one of the more responsible, its those that get so close that I can't see them that just irritate the crap out of me.

[LogDog75]

85. I do that too but sometimes the idiot behind me doesn't get the message

During the day when they don't get the hint that I'm slowing down because they're tailgating me I turn on my headlights. The tail lights will come on and the driver thinks it's my break lights. It works more often than not.

When I was stationed in England in the mid-80, I had a Volvo 264GL European spec car. I was driving on the motorway and a Mini Cooper was tailgating me. I slowed but he kept on my tail. Since the motorway had no traffic, other that myself and the Mini Cooper, I floored the Volvo and saw the Mini Cooper get smaller and smaller in my rear view mirror. I slowed back to the speed limit after about a mile.

[ret5hd]

29. i just leave my turn signal on...

i’m gonna take ONE of those exits up ahead.

i hope this helps you!

[debm55]

42. But people really do that and it is unsafe.

[ret5hd]

51. i've got that figured out too...

i just drive very slowly.

[debm55]

65. But that is unsafe too.

[ret5hd]

86. all i know is...

that —i— never have a wreck…

but i look in my rear view mirror and see all these idiots running into each other, fires, overturned vehicles, etc.

so i think my methods work just fine!

[debm55]

87. Thank you ret5hd,

[choie]

35. Mine is people talking loudly on their cell phone.

Really people talking loudly in public period. Shows complete disregard for the people around them. Especially in an enclosed space like a train, bus or airplane. Or movie theater. You get the drift!

[choie]

38. Oh and people using "like" all the time.

[Mark.b2]

46. I'm with you, but your use of "like" above...

Was actually acceptable, so you’re good!

[choie]

48. You know like, what I mean, like...

[Mark.b2]

53. Haha! For sure! I'm almost daily annoyed by a "like"...

Although, with age, I’ve chilled on it some…thankfully.

My newest annoyance is what I recently learned is called a “glottal stop.” It’s common with younger people. And once you hear it, you in can’t stop! Examples would be dropping the middle t in “important”, where it sounds like “impor-unt” or “button” sounds like “bu-on”, “certain” is “cer-uhn”. I notice it most on the local news broadcasts. I wonder if journalism schools are teaching it

[nocoincidences]

74. That is one of my big peeves!!

I started noticing it a few years back and I hear it a lot because I have a two syllable last name with that t sound in the middle

[3catwoman3]

75. Don't move to England. The glottal stop is very common...

...in a wide variety of British accents. We watch a lot of English Premier league soccer, and hear this all the time in the post-game interviews.

[Mark.b2]

82. I let the British slide on this one lol nt

[3catwoman3]

84. I actually find it rather charming.

There is also a common substitution of "f" for "th" and we hear a lot of players do this - "I fink we played really well today," and so forth. It's a bit subtle, but once you know about it, easy to detect.

I learned that it is called "th-fronting."

I'm a word nerd/language nut.

[Mark.b2]

90. As a Britcom fan, I love the accent.

And I love how we use different words for different things!

I always liked provoking an eye roll from my son by calling shopping carts “trolleys” and garbage cans “rubbish bins”.

And don’t get me started on the things I learned growing up watching the great Benny Hill!

[debm55]

66. I agree choie

[debm55]

63. Yes, sometimes I feel like joining the conversation.

[Iwasthere]

43. PEOPLE THAT DONT KNOW HOW TO MERGE AND SIMPLY STOP, WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO LET THEM IN.

AND PEOPLE THAT REFUSE TO TAKE THEIR FREE RIGHT. ALSO PEOPLE THAT SLOW TO 2 MPH TO TURN OFF THE STREET.

[MIButterfly]

49. OMG! MY mother used to do that going onto the FREEWAY!

She would completely stop on the ramp and then turn around to look at the oncoming traffic before proceeding. It drove me crazy. I'd tell her there's no stop sign or red light there and stopping like that is dangerous. It took a long time, but I finally got her to stop doing it.

My mother never liked to drive. She never wanted to learn and she was always in a state of anxiety doing it and it showed. She was overly cautious, convinced that every other car was out to hit her. I think the day she sold her car was one of the happiest days of her life. Mine too!

[debm55]

67. I hate to admit this---but I do that, I am afraid the cars woun't let me in. so i wait.

[Iwasthere]

110. OmaGosh! Don't do that... soooooo damgerous

It's critical that you get up to speed quickly THEN merge in. Worse case scenario is if someone doesn't let you in you might have to go into the shoulder for a few feet. But it'll problem never happen. Stopping WILL one day cause a fatal accident.

[debm55]

111. I have been driving since I was 15--I am 70. For a long time, I thought merge and yield were the same.I am am afraid the

other cars wouldn't let me merge in. The road is one lane each way and the cars come flying over the top of the brim.Not being snarky , but what if they don't let me merge in?That's why I stop.

[Mark.b2]

44. People that don't know how to use an on-ramp on the interstate...

They ease onto the highway rather than making sure they are matching the speed of cars already on the highway. Rather, they are at only at 50 MPH by the time they finish the on-ramp. Meanwhile, there are five of us who know how to use an on-ramp all bunched up behind them!

These people are almost as bad as those who block traffic by just cruising in the passing lane on the interstate

[debm55]

72. I have to admit I do that. I have been honked at, given the finger and screamed at.

[Mark.b2]

76. Well, it wasn't me! :-)

I don’t honk, flip off, brandish weapons, etc. I just internalize! Haha

[debm55]

78. Thank you Mark.b2

[Borogove]

45. I have too many to list, but one that really ticks me off is other drivers who ride my rear bumper.

[debm55]

47. Agree with you Borogove. Even when the roads are snowy.

[Niagara]

50. I have a mile long list of pet peeves

Driving: In Buffalo, generally other drivers will turn on their turn signal to let you know that their changing lanes. The problem is they don't give anyone time to react or give any room to do this maneuver. They'll nearly clip your front or back of your vehicle performing their lane changes.


Another changing lanes maneuver that seems to be popular with morons in Buffalo. If there's 2 lanes of traffic going one way and another 2 lanes of traffic going in the opposite direction, the person behind you will pass you and then make a right hand turn slowing me down because they couldn't wait 10 to 20 seconds. I've learned when someone is behind me and they pass me to get in front of me to get in the passing lane ASAP or to pass them back before they take a right hand turn.


Tailgating. If one can't see the tires of the vehicle in front of you, you're too close. It's unsafe to tailgate and I'm NOT driving faster because the tailgater can't leave their home or wherever location in a timely manner. I can't afford a speeding ticket. I do find that turning on the windshield wiper fluid does sometimes help deter tailgaters but not always.


No one in Buffalo knows who has the right away either. They don't know that person going straight at a stop light always has the right away over the person taking a left.


Idiots who dangle their limbs out of the side of their vehicles. I always told my kids when they were young that fingers, hands , toes and feet and faces belong inside the ride at all times. This is a good way to have a limb amputated if one is ever in an accident.


As a Caregiver:

People who try to force feed me during my fasting times. People who get upset that I don't eat their gluten, high in sugar and high carb contaminated food. And people who talk about food all the time. I wish I had a real life filter to block these topics like on DU. It's super annoying to me.


Going into other people's homes and seeing a dirty silverware tray with clean silverware in it. 0.0


Much older people who walk in the store bent over on their shopping cart. I always want to tell them they're going to regret that one day and to encourage them to stand up straight. I don't say a word about it but I really, really want to.


In general:

People who whine about non-imperative topics like commercials, songs and movies. There's dials/buttons on the television remote and vehicle radio that can be turned off/on, dials/buttons that change channels and dials/buttons that change the volume. There are people here on DU that have serious concerns about their chronic health and chronic finances and worry about if their going to make it and how their going to make it. And to have other members who whine about stupid shit that can be adjusted or controlled just completely blows my mind.


I'm sure that I have more pet peeves that I could mention but I need to get chores done today.

[debm55]

71. Thank you very much, Niagara.

[Keepthesoulalive]

52. People who don't leash their dogs or their kids

A little humor.

[debm55]

57. HAHHAAHHah. Thank you Keepthesoulalive, Dogs should be in a gated yard or leashed

Last edited Sat Jan 10, 2026, 01:21 PM - Edit history (1)

[3catwoman3]

83. We were at a small New Year's Eve gathering where one couple brought their 3 kids - 6, 3, 18 months.

Partway into the evening, the 6 yr old daughter started running in circles thru the house - from the kitchen, into the dining room, into the entryway, back into the kitchen. Again, and again, and again, shrieking at the top of her voice the whole tie. This went on for about 10 minutes, with her younger siblings joining in.

I thought this was incredibly rude, and there is no way I would have let our kids do this at someone else's home. A friend of ours once said that one of your main jobs as a parent is to civilize your kids so other people can stand to be around them. There is a certain amount of truth to this.

[LogDog75]

89. In most instances, kids shouldn't be allowed at an adult's partyu

One exception I experienced was a going away dinner for one of the guys in our shop. He and his wife brought the 4-year old daughter. The little girl was well behaved, a couple of the guys would make faces at her and she'd mimic their face causing everyone to laugh. When the little girl finished her dinner, she climbed out of her high chair and sat on my lap for the rest of the evening. No one complained about this little girl being there because she was a little charmer.

[ProfessorGAC]

54. Impatient Drivers

This morning, I had a young guy driving about 2 feet off my rear bumper for 3 blocks.
30mph zone, I'm going 30.
After 3 blocks, he passed me! In a 30mph zone, with double yellow lines.
Big hurry to get somewhere at 6:30 on a Saturday morning.
Geez, leave the house 2 minutes earlier!

[debm55]

70. Thank you ProfessorGAC, That is very dangerous.

[crud]

55. This just kinda bugs me

When you see a car waiting for traffic to go by so they can turn on to the street. And, the car keeps inching closer to the street as I approach. I'm always worried that they will pull out in front of me and I will have to slam on the brakes.

[debm55]

61. Agree with that. crud. especially if they are backing unto the street.

[GiqueCee]

56. I lived Massachusetts...

... for many years. Both my younger brothers still do. Mass drivers consider the use of turn signals to be a sign of weakness. There was even a funny beverage commercial a few years back that confirmed it in those exact words.

[debm55]

59. Oh my. Thank you GiqueCee.

[no_hypocrisy]

58. People who talk to me like:

1. They think I’m stupid, and
2. Because of #1, they must be superior to me

[debm55]

60. you got that right, no_hypocrisy.

[LogDog75]

91. Best way I found to handles those types

I'd listen to them with a blank expression on my face. When they finish, I tilt my head slightly and look at them for about five seconds. Then I turn around and leave with out saying anything. If it's a one-on-one encounter the person talking gets the message. If you're in a group, chances are a couple of the people in the group will laugh or snicker at the person.

One other way to shut that person down is to say "That's very interesting, but please be quiet" and either walk away or start talking to someone else. They usually don't know how to respond leaving them dumbfounded or if they get upset them make a fool of themself in front of others.

[Sneederbunk]

77. Fast-talking radio commercial disclaimers.

[debm55]

80. Oh yes . That is so annoying, Thanks, Sneederbunk.

[LogDog75]

92. Another related to commercials is

The fine print at the bottom of the screen is too little to read or it will be white letters on a light background making it almost impossible to read.

[debm55]

97. I hear you , LogDog75 . I don't know if it is me, but the information on my med bottles are so hard to read. too

[Endlessmike56]

79. People who come out of stores and step into the parking lot without looking

I have no problem letting people walk in front of me but at least have the intelligence to look both ways before stepping out into traffic.

[debm55]

81. Agree with you, Endlessmike56. And drivers going through the store parking lot with the lane pointing down and they are

Last edited Sat Jan 10, 2026, 03:07 PM - Edit history (1)

driving up the lane.

[Mad_Dem_X]

93. Driving without lights on when it's dark and/or raining!

[debm55]

102. Agree. I flash my lights at them

[LogDog75]

94. Other drives seems to be the predominant complaint

My pet peeves on drivers are:

Dive bombers: Drivers who cross two or more lanes at high speed to take the exit.

Where I live, we have a Navy base in Coronado with thousands of civilian workers. When they get off work, they drive toward the bridge on a 3-lane road. Between the base and the bridge is one stop light and it causes traffic to back up. There are "Do Not Block Intersection" painted on the intersections but when you try to cross that street cars are in the middle of the intersection blocking the intersection.

People entering a supermarket or department store who literally stop just inside the doorway to check something their purse or bag.

When you're stopped at a 2-way stop sign and you're going straight ahead a car pulls up to the stop sign opposite of you. You start to go straight and the other car begins turning left in front of you without using their turn signal.

[debm55]

95. Thank you very much for your selections of peeves, LogDog75.

[legallyblondeNYC]

96. Tailgating.

Just drive around me, asshole. Go ahead, you've got space. I'm just doing the normal thing in the middle lane. So, go.

[debm55]

100. Thank you very much, legallyblondeNYC.

[electric_blue68]

101. 1 teaspoon?! Oh, that's cruel!

[debm55]

103. I know, You get the bowl and spoon out and then the ice cream out of the freezer and it is empty except for the one

Teaspoon. I have told them to just finish it, No one remembers.

[electric_blue68]

104. Lol Sheeeesh!

Maybe leave a note on the Freezer part.
"Finish the darn thing!"
😉