Pet Peeves That Drive Me Up the Wall

Pet peeves: we all have something that annoys us a lot. They don't intend to get on our nerves automatically, but once they do something that irritates us on a regular basis, that's where we have to draw the line. In this story, I'll go over some of my biggest pet peeves that infuriate me. Maybe, you can relate to at least one of all of the following entries.

1. People using improper grammar or spelling

I don't like to be a nitpicky English teacher, but people who don't know the difference between certain words and use them in the correct context is a huge turn off for me. For example, I see many people online not knowing how to use the word woman/women correctly. Woman is singular, meaning one individual while women mean more than one female individual. I'll use these examples in sentences.

• Singular: The woman is headed to work this morning.
• Plural: These women are strong and independent.

Another example is people not knowing the difference between your and you're. You've probably seen that Friends episode. Also, lose and loose. Your means belonging to or being associated with the person while you're is a contraction of you are, as in you're welcome. Lose means not winning something, while loose means something is detached, like shoelaces. I wouldn't date someone who uses improper grammar, and I understand people from the South talk differently from us, so that's not who I'm talking about. However, I'm talking about those who frequently misuse the aforementioned words. If you have graduated from high school, then there's no excuse for you to not use words in the correct form and context.

2. People eating and talking on camera, plus other things

If you're going to talk to us about something, please don't eat on camera. I consider that as rude and disrespectful. Not only that, but people who constantly smack and moan while eating. If you're a content creator who loves food, trying out a new item from a fast food restaurant, or a chef, you get a pass. However, if you're munching on food while telling us something, you need to put the food down and wait until after you post a video. Can we also please normalize closing our mouths while we eat?

3. Subtitles in every freaking video

Before you jump on my throat about this, let me be clear that people who are deaf or hard of hearing do need closed captions while viewing videos. However, if you're a content creator who has subtitles or closed captions in every single video, it's a huge turn off and distracting to me. If I can understand what people are saying or what you're saying, why do you need to have subtitles? First of all, I can read and understand what people are talking about and saying. We're not at a karaoke bar.

4. People who say "bro" in every sentence

I've noticed that people saying bro is commonplace these days. However, people who say this word either every sentence or every other sentence are not making their points clear. Your points are null and void. The same logic applies when girls and women use the word like in every sentence. Also, girls or women who call each other bro is a huge no-no for me.

5. Crying children in restaurants or at any other place

This next entry on my list is the reason why I don't and will never have kids. Parents who are unable to discipline their own children in public are horrible people. If I'm at a restaurant, the last thing I want to hear are children crying. I paid for my own food and I don't want children running around and screaming their heads off. I don't dislike children, but I believe there's a time and a place.

6. The ridiculous censorship on YouTube

I've noticed in the last several years that many YouTubers are censoring certain words or using alternate terms in their videos and in the titles of their videos. They claim that they're doing this to make sure their videos "align with YouTube's community guidelines", a reasoning that I refuse to believe or buy. They are simply coddling their audiences. For example, a YouTuber would censor or refuse to say words like rape, sex, or suicide. Also, why are they also censoring profanity, when everyone curses? I'm not an idiot. I'm a realist, so let's call these words and terms for what they are.

7. People who have horrible hygiene

Maintaining hygiene is important to me, because I used to struggle with smelling good once upon a time. When I left home for college, I started to take my hygiene more seriously and never looked back. Now, I shower every other day in order to save water and ensure that I smell good. I wouldn't date or be in a relationship with someone who is careless about their own appearance and has horrific body odor. I used to take public transportation and there was an obese man who smelled so bad that I had to cover my nose the entire trip until I was dropped off or he was. This would happen several times a week for a few years. I would describe the smell as a overflown dumpster. I haven't taken public transportation since and have no plans to do so in the future.

8. Grown adults snatching foul balls from children's hands

I love baseball so much, especially participating in daily fantasy contests. I've been watching videos on YouTube of these grown adults at baseball games taking foul balls away from the hands of children, resulting in many of them being in tears. The rule is that if a foul ball comes your way and you catch it, give it to a kid. If you're a grown ass adult who does this, you're a jerk. You don't have the right to made a kid cry after you selfishly took a baseball away from them. Foul balls and home run balls are souvenirs to them, but please, don't be that jerk who ruin's a kid's day at the ball park.

9. People who don't respect the time of others

I have a hectic, yet balanced daily life. I've had men who would ask me to hang out with them, but it was on the days that I work. They never asked me the kind of schedule I had or if I was available on certain days. I have a boundary when it comes to this, but they almost always never respect it. I always respect other people's time, but others expect me to stop what I'm doing and hang out with them. Make it make sense.

10. People who force you to communicate with others

I was a shy kid growing up and became an introvert later in life. Being on the autism spectrum, it's difficult for me to communicate with others. The worst advice I received was from a counselor and she said that I need to communicate in the workplace. While this advice isn't terrible, because it's a skill that's essential for a career. However, as for me, I choose to talk to people on my own terms, because forcing me to talk isn't going to make me converse with you. I go to work, get paid, and go home. I don't tell coworkers every single thing about me, especially my personal life, because I value being a private person. It's not about me being rude. I mind my own business at work and nothing more. It's about setting reasonable and clear boundaries. It's not to say that I dislike talking to people. I'm more selective of who I choose to communicate with and the things I chose to discuss. Growing up, I was criticized for not talking enough. I've dealt with an amount of trauma dating back to childhood and chose to be private and introverted once I've reached my thirties. The less I share, the less people would know about me.

What are some of your own personal pet peeves? Sound off in the comments below and be sure to like this story. Also, follow me on my socials. Finally, please send me a one-off tip at the end of this story to support my work as I continue to write and publish more stories.

One last thing, thanks to Vocal for recognizing yours truly for being on the Vocal Bonus Leaderboard for the week of 05/14/2025. This was the first time receiving this honor and very blessed. I thank my loyal and faithful subscribers for supporting me.