You Know What Really Grinds My Gears?

[AndyC]

To offer a slightly different perspective, when we see a story about a celebrity freaking out on a papparazzo (papparazzi is plural), that represents a tiny fraction of the interactions between that celebrity and the press. They understand that media attention is part of the job, and they generally welcome publicity, because each celebrity is a brand, and brand awareness means more money.

On the other hand, there are journalists who have a serious problem with boundaries, even among their peers. There are some who are under the gun to produce something, and when a great opportunity presents itself, they act without thinking. There are some who are just stupid or obnoxious, same as in any other profession. I don't think anybody gets punched just for sticking a camera in somebody's face. There's more to the story that we aren't hearing. The typical account we get of an altercation between a celebrity and a photographer is either going to come through the same photographer, the publication they work for, or some other media outlet with just as much of an interest in protecting their licence to pry. Journalists always want more access, and they'll stick up for each other to protect themselves. Plus, they all want to put the most sensational spin they can on the story, and someone getting justifiably angry isn't as exciting as a huge overreaction. So, we don't get a detailed account of the circumstances, or any background or context that might actually help us to understand what happened.

I've seen plenty of not-so-famous people (city officials and the like) who have developed a serious beef with the press, and it has nearly always been because of consistently unscrupulous or unprofessional behaviour on someone's part. Very few journalists would tell you that, but it's true. And in every case, the reporter responsible will firmly believe that person's grudge will be due to any number of negative motives, but never once consider that they might have provoked it unnecessarily by being a prick.

[ghouck]

To offer a slightly different perspective, when we see a story about a celebrity freaking out on a papparazzo (papparazzi is plural), that represents a tiny fraction of the interactions between that celebrity and the press. They understand that media attention is part of the job, and they generally welcome publicity, because each celebrity is a brand, and brand awareness means more money.

On the other hand, there are journalists who have a serious problem with boundaries, even among their peers. There are some who are under the gun to produce something, and when a great opportunity presents itself, they act without thinking. There are some who are just stupid or obnoxious, same as in any other profession. I don't think anybody gets punched just for sticking a camera in somebody's face. There's more to the story that we aren't hearing. The typical account we get of an altercation between a celebrity and a photographer is either going to come through the same photographer, the publication they work for, or some other media outlet with just as much of an interest in protecting their licence to pry. Journalists always want more access, and they'll stick up for each other to protect themselves. Plus, they all want to put the most sensational spin they can on the story, and someone getting justifiably angry isn't as exciting as a huge overreaction. So, we don't get a detailed account of the circumstances, or any background or context that might actually help us to understand what happened.

I've seen plenty of not-so-famous people (city officials and the like) who have developed a serious beef with the press, and it has nearly always been because of consistently unscrupulous or unprofessional behaviour on someone's part. Very few journalists would tell you that, but it's true. And in every case, the reporter responsible will firmly believe that person's grudge will be due to any number of negative motives, but never once consider that they might have provoked it unnecessarily by being a prick.

These are some very good points. No matter what the situation, there seems to be someone from the media there to try and distort the facts or create a reaction. I wonder how many times some dickhead p**ses someone off intentionally just to get a new camera or some money for getting punched in the face. IIRC, Tommy Lee paid MUCH more than what any pictures were worth for breaking a camera which also bashed the guy in the eye. As litigious as people are, it seems that it would be easy to make a living off that sort of crap.

I do remember a press conference early on in Desert Storm where some weaselly little butt-plug was asking Stormin' Norman questions and it was obvious he was looking for negative answers. He was a whiny little turd, i personally wanted to punch him. He kept asking the same questions disregarding the answers and trying to twist them around. He asked, in the whiniest, wormy voice "Is it true that we are running out of targets for our troops to attack"? The General looked at him pretty sternly and said "No, THEY are running out of targets for our troops to attack" and gave him a stare that just about made him cry.

[Jack]

I hate having to confirm things on the computer.  "Do you want to quit the game?"  Well duh, I just hit "quit" didn't I?  This crap is to save you the inconvenience of accidentally doing the wrong thing - but if I have to confirm my decisions dozens and dozens of times over a period of weeks, it's a hell of a lot bigger inconvenience than the inconvenience it's meant to save me from, isn't it?

[Mr. DS]

I hate having to confirm things on the computer.  "Do you want to quit the game?"  Well duh, I just hit "quit" didn't I?  This crap is to save you the inconvenience of accidentally doing the wrong thing - but if I have to confirm my decisions dozens and dozens of times over a period of weeks, it's a hell of a lot bigger inconvenience than the inconvenience it's meant to save me from, isn't it?

For me this irks me at work.  Every program I work with has to counter interact with you asking if you REALLY mean to do it.  Kind of an insult if you ask me.

[ghouck]

I hate having to confirm things on the computer.  "Do you want to quit the game?"  Well duh, I just hit "quit" didn't I?  This crap is to save you the inconvenience of accidentally doing the wrong thing - but if I have to confirm my decisions dozens and dozens of times over a period of weeks, it's a hell of a lot bigger inconvenience than the inconvenience it's meant to save me from, isn't it?

I think there's a way to disable that.

[ghouck]

People that get offended when I say the metric system is better than SAE. I really don't care which is used, but it does suck having 2 of every toolset. It seems like older people are the worst about it, as if not completely hating the metric system is un-American or something. I see it as being a pretty decent way of doing things: a 10 CM cube is one liter, and one liter of water is one kilogram. Considering that specific gravities are based on the weight of water, they are pretty useful conversion. It takes quite a bit of the math out of engineering, and THAT seems to be a point that people bring up when arguing against it, as if we're all going to lose all our math skills. The most common argument is "you can't divide 10 by three and have an even answer". What makes the whole SAE system suck IMO is the use of fractions AND decimals, it makes things a PIA. Considering that in surveying they use feet and tenths of a foot, and tenths of a tenth it's obvious the SEA system is kinda a PIA at times.

[Psycho Circus]

People in supermarkets that stop in the middle of an aisle to conduct their social life, and leave their carts/trolleys at awkward angles. Just get your stuff and GET OUT! 

[JaseSF]

People who take all day to get checked out...you know stop to write a check, chit chat, joke around, can't find their debit or credit card, insist on arguing about the price on everything...and all this while a line backed up seemingly around the block waits on...

[AndyC]

People who take all day to get checked out...you know stop to write a check, chit chat, joke around, can't find their debit or credit card, insist on arguing about the price on everything...and all this while a line backed up seemingly around the block waits on...

Or waiting in a long line because a store with a dozen checkouts only has two cashiers on duty.

[Mr. DS]

People who take all day to get checked out...you know stop to write a check, chit chat, joke around, can't find their debit or credit card, insist on arguing about the price on everything...and all this while a line backed up seemingly around the block waits on...

Or waiting in a long line because a store with a dozen checkouts only has two cashiers on duty.

Ditto to both. 

New one I realized today.  Kind of an offbeat one that only may apply to me.  I don't like when little boys get whiny and start crying.  Not sure why to be honest but it make me mad often.  With little girls I don't react that way but little boys, I feel myself getting irritated.  My two boys do cry from time to time and I do my best to curb those feelings. 

Maybe its something in my psychological imbalance that makes me feel that way.  Oh perhaps its because I don't ever recall acting like that.  Matter of fact I asked my mother once if I was one to get emotional at a young age and she said "no". 

[indianasmith]

Tomorrow is an Indian Artifact Show of which I and my best friend are the organizers/hosts.  We use the sanctuary of the church he attends because it's large enough to set up 20 tables and they let us use it for whatever amount we choose to donate - which is way cheaper than our $800 a day civic center.  So I drove over there tonight to set up tables and get everything ready for tomorrow - and they are setting up for an overnight youth event!  Apparently the pastor did not look at his calendar correctly; he thought our show was today instead of tomorrow and we would be out of their building before any kids arrived!  Both events are well publicized and long-planned, so neither can cancel.  The compromise is that they will clear out a couple hours early and we will start an hour and a half late . . . but I'm still ticked!  learn to read a calendar, dude!!!!

[AndyC]

Tomorrow is an Indian Artifact Show of which I and my best friend are the organizers/hosts.  We use the sanctuary of the church he attends because it's large enough to set up 20 tables and they let us use it for whatever amount we choose to donate - which is way cheaper than our $800 a day civic center.  So I drove over there tonight to set up tables and get everything ready for tomorrow - and they are setting up for an overnight youth event!  Apparently the pastor did not look at his calendar correctly; he thought our show was today instead of tomorrow and we would be out of their building before any kids arrived!  Both events are well publicized and long-planned, so neither can cancel.  The compromise is that they will clear out a couple hours early and we will start an hour and a half late . . . but I'm still ticked!  learn to read a calendar, dude!!!!

On the bright side, when you show up bright and early, you can help yourself to some of their breakfast.

[Leah]

I can't watch one of my fav. music vids on Youtube because of this reason:
"The uploader has not made this video available in your country.
Sorry about that."
The hell? If I wasn't able to watch it, then how the hell was I able to put it in my fav's list then and know it's good?
to make matters worst, I have to watch it under Vevo  f**kin channel puts commercials on the vid. before you say about adblock, everytime I use it, i can't view the vid. it's a lose lose situation for me.

[Mr. DS]

Tresspassers.  I can't stand people who think a sign that says, "Keep Out" applies to everyone but them. 

[Rev. Powell]

Ratings inflation.  I swear, there are so many people who never score anything under a 3 on a 5 scale that it's almost useless to look at their ratings.  I rated something 2.5/5 on another site and someone wrote me saying, "so it's awful?  Too bad, I was looking forward to it."  No, you nincompoop, 2.5/5 is about average---do the math!