We all have pet peeves. More often than not, such pet peeves focus on the actions of other humans; about the little idiosyncrasies of the members of our fellow species; about the things that we detest, or “Can’t stand!”, or admire and still say we dislike from a place of burning jealousy. Regardless, we all have pet peeves. I have a few.
These include:
- the current lack of chivalry in the world;
- people who don’t smile when passing in the street, opting to instead stare out the ground and act like I don’t exist;
- incessant, unnecessary complaining in a “woe me!” sort of manner.
Generally, I find myself getting frustrated when a person that I come in contact with–regardless as to whether that person is a friend, a complete stranger, or my aunt–pull what I like to refer to as a “boob move.” [boob move: noun = a term used to describe a particularly stupid action that may be caused by a serious lack of forethought, sheer idiocy, or ceaseless inappropriate behaviour, thus associating the individual in question as a “boob” (a.k.a. weenie, numbnut, silly person, dork).]
photo by riley
One boob move that I have a hard time dealing with is when people text and walk, text and walk, walk and text…and bump into other people.
It just seems a little odd, for starters. Why walk and type words when one could “walk and talk” (hence the terminology), or–even better–sit and text. Is it that tough? I don’t know. I didn’t think it was, but apparently a large majority of working individuals, self-absorbed teenage socialites, and other mobile-phone-owners seem to think otherwise (is “mobile phone” still a widely used/socially acceptable term?).
Here’s the cherry on top, though.
Today, I became that person.
It was only for a split-second, I swear. It was raining, and I was walking back from afternoon tea with Hooles*; I was carrying a paper bag with two cupcakes in it, and my umbrella was a smidge too small. (Do any of these increasingly specific details make up for the action? Why am I including so many details? Your guess is as good as mine.) I was walking up over the hill, my umbrella had fallen in front of my face as I was typing a reply text to Purp* and then BAM! There was another human being. I didn’t see her coming. I didn’t turn around and watch her go. I stopped in my tracks, uttered a feeble “Sorry!” and suddenly felt like I had just pulled a major-league boob move. Because, let’s face it, I had.
If only for an instant.
I quickly stuffed my phone back into my purple raincoat pocket (again–unnecessary specificities? I don’t know. Let it be.) and kept walking. I didn’t take my phone out of my pocket again until I was in the home stretch of my house.
So here’s the revelation I had. As much as we try, we all pull boob moves. And sometimes, the boob moves we pull are exemplifications of the very pet peeves we detest. Our pet peeves are generally exemplified when we’re a little frustrated or have had a bad day. But sometimes, people who act out our pet peeves are equally as frustrated or have had a bad day. (In my case, I was/had neither, but let’s pardon it anyway.) We should be a little bit easier on each other and focus less on pet peeves and more on the things that make us happy (tomorrow’s post? Yep. I think so), right? Maybe that way, there will be less things to get peeved about.
Because when it comes down to it, you might just pull a boob move that makes you feel like a total fraud.
And that’s okay.
Just make up for it by being a little easier on those who do the same.
R.
(*Hooles is one of my dear friends. *Purp is also one of my dear friends. See “About” for more information!)
that/which she wrote 