All of us have at least a couple of pet peeves...right? You know, those irritating little actions or habits or "tics" that we are bombarded with that tend to send us from "smiling happy camper" to "murderous maniac" in under a nano-second. (OK, maybe you don't have the same reaction to your "pet peeves" but let me share one or two of mine that honestly make me "bat-crap-crazy").
The first one, I'd call "Don't confuse me with the facts, I've already made up my mind..." This one sends me into bat-crap-crazy in a flash. When I was younger and working around a variety of people, I often found myself in the trap of trying to educate the "ignorant" individuals who exhibited this behavior. What I found was that regardless of the documented research, incontrovertible evidence, and irrefutable facts, these individuals held to their preconceived erroneous beliefs as they would their own skin. Today, since I don't have to "bite my tongue" and am not concerned with keeping a job to earn a paycheck, I tend to simply turn a walk away from the source of my ire. Unfortunately, when "flight" is not possible, the other option in my "fight or flight" reflex comes into play.
While my "fight" tends to be verbal, I've also learned that the individuals that prove to be the source of my major pet peeve also pull me into a second pet peeve: "Entering into a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent." These two are probably related. If one is clinging to ignorance, clearly they are incapable of logically defending an argument...therefore, this one is primarily on me.
OK, peeve number 4 (last one...for now): I like to entertain. I recently overheard part of a conversation whereby one person was complaining that they rarely entertain because it is just too much work. I disagree...I love to entertain and the preparations are part of the fun. So, you might ask, what is the problem? The problem is that while I love to entertain and try to anticipate what food, drinks etc that my guests will enjoy, "bat-crap-crazy" stems from my invited guests not responding to my request for an RSVP. If you've ever been to one of my "functions," you know that there is food and drink "aplenty" and it is more than chips and dips and a couple of beers. Entertaining is expensive, it seems to me that it's only courteous to inform the host whether or not they should expect you...but maybe that's just me.
As I reread this rant, I realize that each of the peeves identified are really my problem. The ignorant people who irritate me are themselves, blissful in their ignorance. The slow drivers are probably enjoying their "drive in the country" while having extensive discussions with the voices that only they can hear; and my non-responding invitees are probably so busy in their day-to-day lives that they simply forget to respond, they probably are the ones most in need of one of my "get-togethers." So, while I'd like to take the high road and tell you that I'll change and that these irritants will become like so many others, "water off of a duck's back," I hate to lie. I know me well enough to know that these will be with me until my final gasping breath...let's just hope that my last breath is not the result of a lethal injection administered as a result of a murderous rage that was perpetrated by someones final sentiments: "Don't confuse me with the facts, I've already made up my mind."TTFN,
Lois
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