Pajiba

The decriminalization of marijuana.

Costs for law enforcement and those warehouses we call prisons go through the floor. Tax revenues go through the roof.

Government oversight means reliable quality control. Lots and lots and LOTS of people get lucrative employment to meet the demand.

Everything in American society--entertainment, the food industry, fashion, waiting in line at the DMV--would instantly get cooler and way more pleasant.

'Course, we'd all get even fatter than we are now; but it's likely we wouldn't care nearly as much, since we'd all be getting laid a lot more.

Don't even fucking get me started.

P.S. For the record, I haven't sucked a spliff since the Reagan administration...okay, okay, Bush 1. But I would be getting happy every weekend if it was legal.

Heh. My dad always said that the lottery was "A voluntary tax on stupidity." I'll be back to get my Bitch on later tonight. Worky-worky.

Welcome back sir. Feeling feisty?

big picture: people who self righteously cling to ignorant or damaging beliefs in the face of a mountains of evidence to the contrary, then claim the I am the dupe for accepting the proof- see anti vaxers, 911 truthers, etc. Or make up some bullshit, pseudo-scientific "evidence" to support their claim, like that unspeakable dipshit that was dismantled by Rachel Maddow a few nights back who claimed to have a cure for homosexuality. Like it was some kind of fucking disease in the first place.

small picture:
people who don't pick up their own dog's shit. Congrats on looking after your animal, but part of the owner's obligation is to show some fucking courtesy to the rest of us. I need a new toothbrush now you cockwallet.

The place I work at is one of those resto-bar combinations, and part of the job is waiting on a pair of tables next to the bar, as we all people who actually sit at the bar.

Anyway, I had a couple come in who, on top of being incredibly rude (Is it too much to ask that when I say "Hi! How are you?", you respond with a greeting instead of "Half a rack of ribs with fries"?), they ordered a huge meal, didn't even eat half of it, then refused to take it home with them, instead making me throw out an ungodly amount of food.

So yeah, that pisses me off: DO NOT THROW OUT YOUR PERFECTLY GOOD FOOD, YOU FUCKING INGRATE. Holy fucking GOD, is it too much to ask that instead of ordering a bunch off food that you'll make me throw out (because apparently, we're not allowed to give food to those who might need it), you either order, I don't know, LESS food? Or maybe just bring it home with you and either eat the rest of it or give it to someone else?

FEIST ANGRY! FEIST SMASH!!!

I think it's laudable that we all feel so vehemently about the lottery as a means to exploit those who are so poor they're dumb (or vice versa), but at the end of the day it seems like a vice we collectively accept. It would be interesting to see who pays, how much of their discretionary income it sucks up, etc. Is it more acceptable to permit gambling of the Las Vegas variety because it's glitzier? When's the last time you saw a documentary about a guy strung out on Lotto? I mean there's plenty of shit out there to get pissed about, I just don't see the lottery as some gigantic blight on the world.

P.S. Seen-yore Banks, hope all went well on Wednesday.

7) I hate being an asshole. I really do. I hate the feeling of it. I don't want to be obstinate and offensive. i want to get along with people.

So really....

8) I hate this Diversion.

"Nice Guy" syndrome. Every time I hear a guy saying "I should just stop being a nice guy, I never get anything out of it. Women only want jerks, I should act like a jerk" I lose my shit. If you say that - nay, if this thought even occurs in your brain - guess what? You were not a "nice guy" to begin with. A real nice guy is an all around good dude NOT because he expects something out of it - he was just brought up right and gets that you treat people with respect if you want to be respected. And THAT guy is the guy who gets the girl, not the guy who pisses and moans about how he never gets any return on his investment of good behavior.

The Nice Guy Persecution Complex is what cowardly little snots use to defend themselves when ladies see through their bullshit and, rightfully, avoid them like the plague. It is similar to White Guy Persecution Complex ("I'm unsuccessful because PC America wont let a white man succeed anymore, not because I am lazy or legitimately less talented than the competition! BOO HOO!"). This is equally guaranteed to raise my hackles.

MCDONALDS, and all the other fast-food joints. They are single-handedly destroying the world. They are seriously the evil nemesis that superheros try to take down in movies.

They exploit illegal aliens (and promote them coming into the country) in the slaughterhouses and farms that grow and kill the meat and produce used in the food served in the restaurants.

They have so much money they influence farm subsidies, which hurts small farmers and makes it virtually impossible to profit off any crop other than corn, cow and chicken. And potatoes to a smaller degree (gotta have your french fries).

Because farms can only grow these four crops, it's destroying our agricultural system.

They promote factory farm systems that are, basically, the homes of the WORLDS SADDEST COWS.

They produce so much food so fast that food safety standards have to be lowered, which they can get away with because they financially control the USFUCKINGDA. This is why so many kids get salmonella and whatnot from eating at fast food joints.

The food is fucking awful and fucking awful for you.

Most things I just let go as shit out of my control. But, I'm a bart commuter (see SF subway/over ground tain system) and lately people just don't get the concept of moving aside on escalators or even complying to the words, "excuse me." One day I was so fed up with it I pushed past two people who left a wide enough gap to let me through but didn't actually move when I asked. I usually hold my messenger bag so it doesn't smack people as I pass, but guess what? I let it smack the bitch who refused to move to the same side as the gentleman. It's no wonder people treat each other like shit since they can't get common decency down.

Those god damn cell phones that play music out loud. I don't even know what the person who came up with that idea was thinking, because it seems expressly designed to be abused by idiot teenagers playing awful music. It's bad enough when I can hear their music from their headphones, but every single time I ride the tram after 11 PM I have to listen to some Nickelback or Lady Gaga song through crappy cell phone speakers, complete with drunk Hungarian sixteen-year olds singing along. And then I realize that the existence of such evil technology has turned me into a curmudgeon at the ripe of age of 23. Bah.

I seriously want to find that inventor and light him on fire.

Also, being told that I'm selfish for not wanting to have children biologically. I'm a primary school teacher! Obviously I love children. Not wanting to pass on genetic illnesses or contribute to the planet's horrific overpopulation, rather wanting to adopt a child that otherwise wouldn't find a home... clearly, I am a selfish bastard. God, the lack of logical understanding on this one just burns me. I have actually gotten screamy on this topic. I'm not a screamy sort of a person, either.

This thread makes me feel icky. All the ugly sides of people are about to be unleashed and will clash violently with one another.

*bows deeply* I'm out. I'll be watching some season one Northern Exposure while y'all go at it.

Old People.

I hate them. I hate everything about them. I hate that they expect special privilege by virtue of living a long time. Why should you get my seat old person? Because you are old? That isn't a reason! Just because your frail ass wants to sit down doesn't mean my young ass is obligated to let you.

I hate that they constitute a powerful voting bloc that will support social security until the country is actually bankrupt, just so that they can support their televangelist donation habits.

I hate that they can't hear, get offended by goddamn near everything, and that they smell funny.

I hate that they are screwing up the financial health of the country by sucking up every damn tax dollar to pay for their 5th hip transplant so that they can live to 103, as opposed to just "92".

Don't get me started on old people.

I hate that they expect special privilege by virtue of living a long time. Why should you get my seat old person? Because you are old? That isn't a reason! Just because your frail ass wants to sit down doesn't mean my young ass is obligated to let you.

Most of them don't expect it. I give up my seat because I'm a young healthy person who can stand it. Besides, if they can get around on their legs at that age, give them some respect you asshole.

*Deep Breath*

Parents that give their fucking kids every fucking thing they ask for, have NO rules or boundaries, are completely oblivious to their (and their kids) obnoxious behviour, kow-tow to little Sally's every god damn whim because not to would be mean and believe that I should have to sit here and tolerate that kind of fuckery! Honey, your pussy of a son crying does not automatically mean that he gets what he wants.

I'm glad that you think Daddy's errant squirt is a gift unto the masses, but if your fucking kid shrieks one more time because you're not paying attention to him/her I will put YOU over my knee and thrash you until you actually believe you were in a violent S&M porno. Think about what you're doing to the kid. How you're not teaching them any values or respect and how they will have to depend on you doing everything for them until they are sixty-fucking-five. Enjoy your crack addict, bitch!

And, I'm done.

I hate that they expect special privilege by virtue of living a long time. Why should you get my seat old person? Because you are old? That isn't a reason! Just because your frail ass wants to sit down doesn't mean my young ass is obligated to let you.

Most of them don't expect it. I give up my seat because I'm a young healthy person who can stand it. Besides, if they can get around on their legs at that age, give them some respect you asshole.

Posted by: What the Fuck at December 12, 2009 7:36 PM

Bullshit. There are a great deal of old people, or even middle age people who will cough at you, glare at you, or demand your seat out of a sense of entitlement. More importantly, you missed the point. There is a difference between capacity to do something and an obligation to do so. I certainly am capable of giving up my seat. I just don't see why it is disrespectful not to. It is only disrespectful if you think that the world should act in such a way as to make old people's lives more comfortable. My point, is that WHY should we feel obligated to make old people's lives better solely because they are decrepit? All they've done is age. Everyone ages! Awesome people, asshole people, and average people age. Being old doesn't make you special and worthy of respect.

It is appropriate to respect those who have actually done things. Like, veterans who served our country or doctors, who saved lives.

Being some random old person does not merit automatic respect. And old people who feel entitled to automatic respect because they are old, and not because of what they did piss me off.

How bout accommodating them because they're simply not in prime health, jagoff?! You feel the same way about invalids and children?

If you're trying to provide cause to hate old people, how bout just admitting you're a biased prick.

It is only disrespectful if you think that the world should act in such a way as to make old people's lives more comfortable.

Keep trying to rationalize the fact that you're a rude asshole, it's cute.

Posted by: What the Fuck at December 12, 2009 7:57 PM

Keep trying to ignore the fact that you don't have an actual justification for your opinion

Oh, and last time I checked, the response "but most people believe x too, therefore, i'm right" isn't a very good argument. Most americans just believe that gay marriage is an abomination but they sure as hell aren't right.

Yeah, this "old people" debate is starting to sound a lot like the other persecution complexes I mentioned above. I am, admittedly, overly sensitive when people start throwing the word "entitlement" around. It tends to smack loudly of "I didn't get what I want, so it must be because of someone ELSE'S entitlement."

Not denying that there are self-important asswipes who will give you the stink eye if you don't cough up your seat for one reason or another, but as a daily rider of New York City public transit, I live by this rule: if you don't look like you can comfortably stand on the subway as well as I can, you can have my seat. This goes for anyone with a cane, a walking apparatus, a small child, or someone who is super pregnant. It's not a matter of feeling like I "have" to give up my seat, it's a matter of knowing that I can. So I do.

See "nice guy" rant above.

Tammy, despite being a straight girl, I want to propose to you after that post. Oh, hell, I live in Canada (yay us and our managing to recognize that gay marriage isn't a holy terror), so I think I will.

My God, the "Nice Guy" makes me want to scream. Though I do love the funny part, where the guy turns on you after you see through his falsely agreeable bullshit. ("Yeah, well, I didn't like you anyway - you're stupid. And ugly.") They don't seem to get that it isn't women wanting bad boys or jerks. People (a lot of people) can be simultaneously kind and interesting - they're just neither and bitter about it.

Gambling is the finest thing a person can do...if they're good at it.

My current number one peeve: those who use the phrases, "you must" or "you probably" when discussing and/or debating a topic online.

For example, I say I don't believe in capital punishment. The standard online retort is usually something like "YOU MUST be one of those flaming libs", or "YOU PROBABLY want to coddle those criminals like all bleeding-hearts". These assumptions and sideways leaps of ass-tarded logic drive be totally batshit insane. It is as if stating any opinion on any topic automatically assigns you to one "team" or the other, with no exceptions. If you believe in one thing, you must therefore believe in everything else your "side" endorses. It's a way of thinking that is killing this country. It makes any serious discussions impossible and totally thwarts any attempts at realistic compromises.

That is my peeve and if you disagree with me, you must be a child-molesting pervert who probably secretly fantasizes about Sarah Palin. See how annoying it is??

"whatthefuck" your name is appropriate.

1) The thread was designed to be about ranting about things. You are the one who randomly started attacking someone's rant. I wasn't required to write a damn thesis to justify my "don't get me started point"

2) It is rather odd that someone who is so focused on etiquette randomly chooses to pick fights on a thread that is guaranteed to offer different viewpoints. Oh, and is someone who thinks it is totally cool to "let [his messenger bag] smack the bitch who refused to move to the same side as the gentleman. Yeah, you are an ethical prophet...guy who hits people with his bag because they won't walk down the escalator fast enough.

3) Ignoring that, after you attacked me, I DID give you an argument why I ranted about old people. Since you are incapable of understanding basic logic, i'll break it down for you.

Premise 1: Respect must be earned through positive actions.
Premise 2: Growing old isn't a positive action.
Conclusion: Old people don't automatically deserve respect solely for being old.

Your "logical" response. "it's cute that you are trying to rationalize" my biases.

That would be an ad hominem attack (I too, can throw around logical fallacies, the difference between us is that I actually know how to make arguments) that does not address any element of my argument. You COULD have argued that respect isn't earned from actions, and that it is a social construct that attaches to entire swathes of the population (attacking premise 1). You COULD have argued that growing old is a positive action because you learn all sorts of valuable knowledge about the world (attacking premise 2). What did you "argue"?

"Most of them don't expect it. I give up my seat because I'm a young healthy person who can stand it. Besides, if they can get around on their legs at that age, give them some respect you asshole."

Translation =

"I can give up my seat, therefore you should, you are an asshole for not doing that.

That doesn't address a damn thing I said. If you are going to randomly pick fights on the internet you should at least learn how to argue.

Go troll somewhere else.

I'm going to mention this one hyper-specific point, because 1-it points out what an absolute asshole I am and 2-it's a little more specific than hating the elderly. Althugh I do hate them-just for the hell of it. Anyway-the word forte. Do you know how it's pronounced? Do you? Because it's pronounced fort. Like the thing you make with pillows from the couch.
You know how it's NOT pronounced? FORT-AY. That is wrong. No, shut up, it's wrong. wrongwrongwrong! No, it's NOT an alternate way of saying it. The word comes from the strength of a piece of music. Using it in it's ORIGINAL meaning, you can pronounce it FORT-AY. If you are talking about a person's strength, then it's fort. FORT I SAY!!! Over the years some dictionaries with low standards will accept the FORT-AY pronounciation, but get a real fucking dictionary that does not compromise, and it's FORT GODDAMNIT!!! FORT!

Sigh-for the longest time I carried the page in the dictionary with the forte entry, because I'm just that much of an asshole. Look, I'm working on it okay?

A couple of people may have noticed whenever religion is brought up on the site that it really grinds my gears. Seriously, is there anything in the world both as dangerous and stupid as religion?

*Chances are it isn't true, I could get into discussions of celestial teapots or my invisible pink unicorn friend Stever (who also created the universe and just try to prove me otherwise).

*If the only reason you're a "good" person is because you believe that otherwise your invisible grandaddy in the sky will bitchslap you down to eternal torment, you're not a good person.

*Morality is more complicated than religion makes it out to be. There are plenty of good religious people and bad atheists, and vice versa. But anyone who says that they're a good person because the bible tells them to be should really spend some time comparing what the bible considers moral behaviour and what they do. You're acting good according to secular society asshole! It has nothing to do with the bible!

*As far as I can tell there are only 2 things that the average person will kill for (well, self-defense, but that's sort of justifiable). Their god and their country. Personally I believe that this makes religion and patriotism the 2 most dangerous human behaviours in the world.

On an unrelated note, because it's christmas: women who have prams in shopping centres. Seriously, it's fucking christmas and the aisles are full! Leave the kid at home with a sitter, especially if you're there with a bunch of you friends and all want to walk next to eachother (frequently all with prams). Thankfully I got my christmas shopping done early this year because I really don't want to be that guy that kicked a baby.

The weight wars. I get caught up in it because I'm on the skinny side, and I hate having to get up on my soapbox about it because it makes me look defensive (I want to gain a few pounds, but otherwise I'm happy with the way I look). But just because I'm skinny doesn't make it OK to make comments about my appearance. It's not OK at work, and it's not OK if you're meeting me for the first time. You don't do it to fat people out of politeness, and I deserve the same courtesy.
The media/health "experts"/FUCKING FASHION MAGAZINES need to stop defining what a "real woman" is, it's stupid, hypocritical, and offensive.

Also I hate how the word 'anorexic' is used to describe anyone who is even slightly underweight. I don't even think people know what anorexia is anymore.

I shut down completely when any homosexual slur is used by anyone near me. If I am free to, I will remove myself from the area. If not, I will enter my happy place and not come out until that ass has left the area. I walked out of a class this semester and waited outside the professor's door to ask what I missed when he let students start defending "gay" as the new word for "retarded." Oh, so that makes it all better? You're not mocking someone for what you presume their sexuality to be, but for what you presume to be their mental deficiencies? That's ok? And permitted in a history classroom? It's beyond frustrating. It's disgusting.

And you think that's angry, I'm not even getting into abuse of punctuation. I'm liable to wind up in the emergency room over that one.

Robert my happy place is between a woman’s legs or her butt cheeks.

There!

Guess Who!, I prefer using my imagination to playback Gremlins in my mind as a happy place, but I suppose that would work, too.

Just as luck would have it Robert I’ve got a naked broad upstairs in bed. Let me see if thinking about Gremlins is more satisfying……hold on a sec……hmmmmm, you know Robert I must admit Gremlins are interesting to think about, but for now I’m going to stick with this big booty Spanish chick upstairs.

I've got another timely one for folks in NYC, just because I am full of piss and vinegar: SANTACON. (for those who haven't had the pleasure of witnessing a fleet of assholes wearing Santa suits as they bounce from bar to bar: http://nycsantacon.com/)

Seriously, adding Santa suits to a pack of obnoxious, privileged, drunk, fratty trust-funders does not suddenly take them from "skeevy" to "festive." I was on the N train today with at least 30 of them, and I'm pretty sure the only thing Santa's bag has to offer is a hefty dose of roofies and a raging STD.

That doesn't address a damn thing I said. If you are going to randomly pick fights on the internet you should at least learn how to argue.

As someone has already pointed out, he is merely fulfilling the last part of the initial post. He doesn't have to argue you point for point, really.

Morality is more complicated than religion makes it out to be. There are plenty of good religious people and bad atheists, and vice versa. But anyone who says that they're a good person because the bible tells them to be should really spend some time comparing what the bible considers moral behaviour and what they do. You're acting good according to secular society asshole! It has nothing to do with the bible!

But isn't that simplifying morality as well? I mean, you are assuming quite a bit out of the statement "The Bible tells me so". Are you somehow able to discern the circumstances that brings certain people to religion? Or how they interpret it?

And what is "good according to secular society", anyway? Communism is considered a secular society, one self-described as for its people, and yet Communist countries are often the front-runners for oppression, torture, and censorship, three very "not good" things.

*As far as I can tell there are only 2 things that the average person will kill for (well, self-defense, but that's sort of justifiable). Their god and their country. Personally I believe that this makes religion and patriotism the 2 most dangerous human behaviours in the world.

Um, what about Europe during Wold War II? Was that not self-defense against the Nazi threat? Oftentimes it is a case of self-defense when it comes to killing for your country. I mean, where are these people's families? In their country. Their property, their livelihood, the very things that they hold dear? In their country. They kill to protect those things from a threat from the outside. Is that not self-defense?

Same with their god. Not just their beliefs, but their very right to believe could be under threat. they could be attacked solely because they believe something that others do not. Does this mean he is somehow less deserving of a chance to survive?

It seems like you are the one oversimplifying things. It is fine to disagree, but to take on the very tact you claim to abhor in others deflates your argument considerably.

This is what I meant by how I hate statements like that. Because it is intensely dismissive, and is just as closed-minded as any fundamentalist screed. When you actively decide to ignore any and all positive aspects of a position in order to focus on the negatives, all so you can prove your point, how can you honestly consider yourself rational?

7) The notion that there is a difference between democrats and republicans or that voting in a national election changes matters at all. If voting did anything to change the system, it would have been made illegal decades ago.

So either you are happy with the system, or we should expect you to blow up Congress any day now. Because the only folks who think that working within the system doesn't work are either the ones holding back progress, or the ones who want to destroy the system.

Then again, you could just be a loudmouth who just wants to complain without actually doing anything.

Don't forget your Guy Fawkes mask!

What Tammy said. The 1st and 2nd times.

In addition, people that are not from Los Angeles who come here with stars in their eyes seeking fame and fortune on a modicum of talent, only to take up the so-called "Industry" kind of lifestyle and act like an extra from Entourage or douches in general, and fuck up the rep of my beleloved city.

REAL LA natives are decent, nice people:

If we say we are coming to your party, we show up.

If we live on the Westide we don't complain about how far the Eastside is, because we are smart enough to know that 10 miles is not "too fucking far". And vice versa.

We don't mind traffic on the 405 because we're not too good to drive (much faster) the streets.

We realize that paying $3000/month to live in a sub-section of the city with the word "Beach" in it is moronic when we can live in the adjacent city (also within walking distance) for a quarter of the price.

We know that it's OK to wear red or blue whenever we want, that haggle-shopping downtown (with the Hispanics! and Arabs!) is smarter than preening at the Beverly Center, and that you are more likely to get jacked by the homeless dudes in Santa Monica than by some random Black or Brown person in Inglewood.

We are overrun with fake-ass jerks out here, all claiming to be natives. Look bitch, if you got here after 1st grade, you ain't a native. But these muthafukkas claim LA all damn day. Then they act like goatblowing assclowns. Fuck the fake ass "LA people". Stop fucking up my city! Go back to Kentuckwisconisota or whereeverthefuck you all from.

Hey, my comment got cut off (ooh, new peeve!). That should have read:

"RIP meaux!!!! UR 1 of GODs angles now!!!!" pages. *shudder*

Yeah, that would turn me into one pissed-off zombie....

luker dude, youre doin fine, dont get all defensive, stick to the thread, man, i mean, what the fuck?

oh and i hate people who believe in anything, especially just because theyre so self centered and self concerned that it just couldnt possible that the beautiful process that they, themselves are could end without some ego gratified purpose or afterlife or understandable explanation; of course i do have motivation troubles

Diablo, if you can explain the difference between a child and a 'fucking child', or an adult and a 'fucking adult', I'll concede you have a point.

And I'm aware that language changes and evolves - the word 'bloody' in England has undergone a similar transformation to what is happening to 'fuck'. I'm not complaining about its use, I'm complaining about its power becoming diluted. Swearing can be very effective, used sparingly and thoughtfully.

But when fuck is just a fucking adjective used for no fucking good reason, and other fucking adjectives get fucking forgotten, it's a fucking shame.

Posted by: The Hands Team (formerly Vermillion) at December 12, 2009 9:27 PM

I'm quite willing to admit that there were quite a few oversimplifications and generalisations in what I said, but that's bound to happen when you try to condense a massive argument into a few short points. Also when the entire point is to expound on what annoys me about the subject, not talking about the few things that aren't so bad about it isn't ignoring them, it's just not relevant to the topic at hand.

Maybe arguing back against it is kind of against the point of the thread but I'll do it anyway. "Secular Society" was maybe a poor choice of words. Instead I offer "Cultural Zeitgeist" which I think does a better job of capturing what I was trying to say. Obviously peoples' beliefs inform their morals, but it seems to me that religion has to be dragged kicking and screaming (gay marriage and abortion come to mind).

Obviously war is a complex subject, but WWII wouldn't have begun in the first place if the idea of the German state didn't exist. Wars seem to me to begin when a politician whips up their base against another group, in the case of germany it was the Jews, but other religions and states are often used also.

Those "preachy" self-righteous vegetarians/vegans for so many reasons.

Pretty much anyone who thinks their opinion is the only right one and can never just accept people for who they are. I'm a good person. When I am made to feel bad for any choices I may make (whether it is to eat meat, raise my daughter Catholic, or buy someone a Snuggie for Christmas - cause they wanted one) there is something wrong with that person.

It infuriates me when people have to be negative just for the sake of "voicing their stance" on something. Anything.

Someone recently ACTUALLY shit all over my idea of buying someone a Snuggie for Christmas. My little bro wanted one. I took note of that. I made the mistake of mentioning it to a certain someone and they impose their negative position on Snuggies as if it was so damn controversial or something. Its a SNUGGIE! Not a bottle of Vicodin. You don't need a "stance" and I didn't ask for your bitter-ass opinion. If someone wants a blanket with arms, I'm going to try to get it for them. Whats the problem?? ....

(breathes)

Ok. I gotta stop before I get too ranty.

Anyway, I'm a big fan of kindness and mean people who THINK they're nice and love themselves for it but really they're assholes just suck huge,wrinkly rhinoceros balls.

like you know anything about why someone gambles and enjoys it, anything at all, for that matter

On a totally unrelated-to-anything-else note, I can't believe no one mentioned that duck-face/pouty lipped pose people make on their Facebook pics. Is there anyone who doesn't hate that?

I hear you furtherbeyond, like you wanted to get busted for holding something for a friend and your so called family turns their back on you and want nothing to do with you. No matter how much you apologize they still look down on you with their noses in the air.

Vermillion is that really what you got out of what I wrote? Once again, actions start out as thoughts, those people that were beaten and attacked by dogs started out “Voicing” their displeasure with a system that was both brutal and demeaning. They went from voicing their opinions to acting on their displeasure. You will not be taking seriously if you’re going to sit here and browbeat someone simply for a having a different view about the political process. Sometimes Vermillion I don't know which is greater, your arrogance or your ignorance.

Chugga, WWII started because a bitchslapped and humiliated Germany thought they deserved some payback from WWI.

I think it's sadder that WWI ever began, because that's where the goddamn bloodiest century in human history started, and it all came about because a small number of uninformed leaders let themselves be convinced that not rushing to war was tantamount to failure of the nationstate.

Speaking of which, don't get me started on the kind of cowardice in leaders that precludes admitting one's own mistakes.

As a college student who will be giving her thesis presentation in less than a year, nothing makes me want to start yelling quite like people who come to a symposium to see their friend give a paper and then leave once said friend is done, usually right when the next person is starting to give his thesis. OH MY GOD. These presentations are ONLY 50 MINUTES. They take place during class time, so in order to have come to see your friend's speech, you must have skipped your class anyway so it's not like you can use getting back to class as an excuse. Not only is it incredibly rude to the people who still have papers to give, you're shortchanging yourself by leaving early and missing out on really interesting presenations.

The worst was last week. A couple of kids who are involved with the campus's catholic student ministry gave presentations, and some of their friends came. They all left after their friends gave their paper, INCLUDING A PRIEST. I was so close to yelling "WHAT WOULD JESUS SAY ABOUT THIS" to him. I'm pretty sure Jesus wouldn't have been so rude as to leave while another girl was talking.

(When I give my theis, I am making the professors lock the doors. Fuck fire hazards.)

Once again, actions start out as thoughts, those people that were beaten and attacked by dogs started out “Voicing” their displeasure with a system that was both brutal and demeaning. They went from voicing their opinions to acting on their displeasure.

And my point was that you can think or say whatever you want. It is when you act on those thoughts that things change. So why would I consider a guy who sits back complaining in any way as effective as someone who is actively doing something to change things?

Words are words. They only make a difference when people do something to enact them. So as soon as whats-his-face goes and does something to back up his words, then I will consider his view with more validity. But as long as he can complain about other people who ARE acting on their words or thoughts, he gets jack from me.

YES, I got called a cunt by a troller. Now them's some Pajiba cred, ya'll. (Thanks to the rest of you who have kept the thread going. Bring on the fresh rants!)

Posted by: The Hands Team (formerly Vermillion) at December 12, 2009 10:28 PM

My point is not so much that religion makes people do evil things, it's that religion is easily manipulated by people to make others do "evil" things. People are the problem, but religion is a powerful tool.

I'm quite happy to discuss this further, but given that the whole point of the thread was to lay out things that annoy you and turn you into an asshole, I didn't really worry too much about presenting it as a strong begining to an argument. This thread really isn't a good place to argue it but you're welcome to email me at chuggga at gmail, if you're interested in taking it further. I promise I'm less of a dick than I seem when I actually bother to lay out an argument instead of just a rant.

Posted by: Johnnyboy at December 12, 2009 10:55 PM

I can't say I disagree with any of what you said there, but it doesn't seem all that contradictory to what I said anyway.

Tammy I resent you accusing me of calling you the c word. I don’t use that word and I wish that deplorable word was stricken from the American lexicon. I’m simply stating that these threads can take a life of their own.

Dude, Guess Whookie, unless you are posting under two names, I wasn't talking about you. Dude up the thread dropped the c-bomb with regard to me.

Chalk that up to rant number...I've lost count: Oversensitivity on the InterTubes.

I promise I'm less of a dick than I seem when I actually bother to lay out an argument instead of just a rant.

I am sure you are not a dick (unlike some commenters). And I understand the the irritation, believe me I do. And yeah, it is a thread about pet peeves, so it is kinda fitting you happened to hit one of mine. Still, thanks for entertaining my ramblings.

No, The Hands Team, I am not some petty little wannabe anarchist.

Glad to hear it. And I respect your service to our country.

I suppose any talk of voting being pointless is another pet peeve of mine. Seeing how people died for it over and over again, I just can't see it as being useless. I may never pick up a gun to defend this nation, so the least I can do is try to get the right people in place, so that when people like you do go, you have the support you need to get back.

I understand the frustration with the system. And I agree, it has come to a point where the two supposed sides are near indistinguishable. And I definitely agree that we get the government we deserve. Too many people let themselves be distracted by nonsense to understand how they are going against their own interests, not to mention those for the good of the nation.

I also can't stand it wen ppl rite 2 u n ..it takes twice as long to decipher it! Please, oh please, write complete words.

Texting in general, but especially on goddamn cell phones. I don't have, nor want to have, a data or text plan on my cell account. And I don't like trying to tippy-type on that keyboard to respond. You have a phone right there, CALL ME AND USE YOU VOICE GODDAMMIT!

Johnnyboy, I wasn't really singling out Germany and I personally am a big fan of the country. But the alternatives countries that spring to mind for me are the US and Israel, and I really, really didn't want to open that can of worms.

hmmmm ... I wanted to make a funny haha, but it's too late. Plus we essentially agree. G'nite, Chugs.

I live in the Middle East and I HATE it when I mention something I'm eating to somebody back home and they say "Oh my gosh, they have that there?". I don't live on the motherfucking moon, bitches. Don't be shocked when I'm eating Easy Mac or Cheetos or Tuna Helper (I'm a real health nut). The prices are marked the hell up, but totally worth it to have some stuff that reminds you of home (except the Tropicana orange juice, I won't even pay the money they want for that).

I know how you feel, Lainey annoys the hell out of me too.
Posted by: BarbadoSlim at December 12, 2009 9:56 PM

Quiet, YOU!

I can't really comment on the lottery thing, as I won $100,000 on a scratch ticket that was given to me as a gift a couple years ago. I never told the giver (she's a penny-pincher who would just about shit herself if she found out), and me and the Mrs paid off a third of our new house, bam, just like that.

As far as don't get me started rants, I've got a few: religion, immigration, stupid racism, ridiculous jingoistic 'patriotism', and the lack of a fucking R18+ rating for video games in my stupid country.

I work in a vet clinic part time and my biggest pet peeve is when people don't stay while their animal is being euthanized.

Hell, pet peeve? It's more like being filled with such an odd combination of rage and sorrow that I want to reach across the desk and throttle the person while bawling my eyes out.

Because you know what happens when you don't stay? I have to be the one who holds and comforts your pet while the needle goes in and no matter how soothingly I speak to them and how gently I pet them they are still fucking terrified. Because they're in a strange smelling place with strange people holding them and they can't figure out why their person isn't there.

And that look in their eyes? That look of terror and confusion haunts my fucking dreams. All because you weak motherfuckers can't "handle" it. Well guess what... it isn't about YOU, you stupid dumb shit. You're supposed to be there for your pet for everything and that means being there at the very end. As difficult as it is for you to watch your pet die, believe me it's a thousand times worse for them.

So suck it the fuck up and be there. Or simply stay with them until they're sedated and asleep and then leave. You don't have to watch the actual death but they get to go to sleep while their person holds them. Is that too much to ask?

Apparently it is because the sheer number of people who leave is mind boggling. And the moment they choose to walk out of that room because they can't handle it I lose any sympathy for them.

I want to punch them right in their stupid, fucking faces.

God I hate people.

--Overage Twilight fans. Grow the fuck up. I almost punched a girl in the face when she told me they were "well-written books". Seriously. I quarter-cocked my fist (pause on that). These people have replaced 45 year old Harry Potter fans as the bottom rung of the literary world.

--Bible Nazis. Christian Morals = Good. Christian Truthiness = Bad bad bad.

--And Sarah Palin voters. I used to be more liberal, recently moved center left. And I completely understand people who are fiscally conservative, support gun rights (it's hunting country out here), and I do UNDERSTAND the anti-abortion issue. But how you can vote for this dimwitted twat is further proof that Idiocracy is a more accurate depiction of the future than standard sci-fi. This lady is just not intelligent. Period. You cannot vote for someone who is not smart. It's in the Constitution, just read the fine print.

All of this falls under a category of stupid I have recently dubbed "Argumentative Ignorance". Which isn't a persons inability to win an argument, it is more a person's inability to acknowledge logic pertaining to the opposition's side.

These people are the one's who really piss you off, because no matter how simple you try to put things, or how many "trap questions" you use, they will always revert to some confounded belief they have converted in a universal truth. So by labeling them as "argumentally ignorant" I can skip a little frustration, and put a smart spin on the word "dumb".

My recent favorite exchange. Please imagine someone channeling Louis CK;

Lady: "You know, Jesus died for you sins!"

Me: "Well...then Jesus was pretty god-damn retarded..."

Lady: "EXCUSE ME!"

Me: "Hey, lady, I wouldn't die for my sins. My sins are fun and full of zany hijinks, drug-induced meditations on existentialist ideas and funny stories! They're great!"

Lady: "(gasping)"

Me: "Oh! And sex! Man, Jesus could die, like, a thousand deaths and it still wouldn't make me feel bad about having an orgasm in another person's body!"

Oh, that was fun. Used up all of my wit for the week in that conversation.

Lack of originality and the inability to try new things. Those right there...deal breaker.

In no specific order,

1) I work in a hostel in Canada. Thousands of people come here from all around the world. In Canada we are all grown up and have our own dollar. We don't take USD, euros, or pounds... You can exchange your money IN THE AIRPORT! Why are people so surprised when we don't take their money??

2) Vanity pets.

3) Defending somebody's crimes because of their "contribution" to the world/society/culture... *cough* Polanski *cough*

4) I don't eat red meat and I have a strong sense of faith/spirituality. I don't "preach" it or even talk about it often. Please don't be angry with me because of my beliefs. They don't affect you in anyway. You would have no idea unless I told you.

5) "That's so gay."

Fashion.

I hate the fucking thing with a passion. It's the most overrated industry in the world. No, I don't need some asshole on T.V telling me what I should and should not wear. Just because you're following the masses you're not being fashionable. You're a sheep who can't think for yourself. Fashion is just a fad in the minds of people. Get this, everything is fashionable. What goes around comes around and what you're wearing today will be fashionable again tomorrow. Who cares what you're wearing? You don't even know anything about the HISTORY OF CLOTHES. Real changes in clothing happened throughout the ages because of different needs and not because some hip designer came up with some cool idea. Unless the needs change (like for example from being a woman who lives around the house in the 18th century and doesn't do much because there's a maid to being a working, driving , soccer mum) clothes don't change significantly. You know when you wear a mini-skirt in mid winter even though it's ten degrees celsius because it's supposed to be fashionable? You DON'T LOOK SEXY. You just look like a shivering idiot who didn't bother checking the weather before going out. And dear, just because the T.V said something is fashionable, it doesn't mean it suits you. It's made for people of different dimensions so don't bother wearing it.

And what about beauticians and fashion gurus who give you advise on what to wear and do to your body? STUFF THEM! They're sapping away your hard earned money to give you their personal take on your look. You are beautiful just the way you are. I genuinely believe this. Mother nature made us all beautiful. I'm not saying we shouldn't do anything at all to change our own image. You want to cut your hair or put on some make-up? Fine, but after going to the beautician most people come out looking worse than when they went in. Why? Too much artificality. Personally, I think one of the best ways of looking at someone is as soon as they wake up. We are beautiful in our nakedness with all our faults showing. There's nothing wrong if you're a bit overweight or whatever. There's nothing wrong with having greying hair. No, you don't need a boob job. Your tits are just fine. You are great and you sure as hell don't need botox.

Fuck you fashion. Fuck you big time. And people who give in to every advert or every current craze in the way you should look are SUCKERS.

Go on. Call me a prick but deep down you know I'm right...

NOW DON'T GET ME STARTED ABOUT STEREOTYPES...

Nice work on this thread. Just read all of them

Someone commented about the use of 'can not' and cannot. These are two different things and are (or at least should) be used differently. Can not means you have no obligation to do something. Cannot means you are not able to do something.

Example: I can not come to the party but I'm still coming.

I cannot come to the party because I have an appointment with the doctor.

People who buy/breed pets instead of adopting. It just doesn't make sense. Adopting is usually cheaper and you get to make a difference in the homeless pet population. Buying/breeding is an act of animal racism and is a big waste of money.

Oh and if a breed is just that important to you, find a rescue group of that breed, they're fuckin everywhere. That is if you can't find it at a shelter/adoption group. I adopted a bengal cat for 100 while my friend bought one from a breeder for 800. How does that make sense???

*Note I didn't know Cesar was a bengal at the time I just thought he was uber cute. Turns out he is a full blood bengal who wasn't show material so he and his sister was abandoned to a cat colony before getting rescued. But he's the best pet ever.

Ahhhhh NOTHING warms my heart and remaining cocklestone like Jibs bringing the bitchy! I thank you one and all!
---
Posted by: spoobnooble at December 12, 2009 8:05 PM

Me too. Another blog I visit had a post about a sick little boy (leukemia or something) whose name was Genre. Before I could think twice I launched into some intemperate remarks directed at his parents that (rightfully) got deleted by the blog host, and for which I apologized later. I'll let you all imagine what I wrote, but it included the words "Bad enough ..."

Down on the list of minor peeves: When did everything become an "event"? You notice? Stores don't hold "sales" or "grand openings" anymore, they hold a "sales event" or a "grand opening event." Given that "event" is among the most-generic, least-descriptive words I can think of, what is the point? To make your pathetic little sale seem more important than it is by being redundant?

Pretentious buttholes.

(BTW, I am reigning in my casual cursing for the moment in a nod to those who mention it as a peeve.)

"Nice Guy" syndrome.Tammy Despite the slinging that came after. word to the A, Girl.

Hey Nice Guy. Maybe you're fucking boring. Maybe you think buying shit or taking me out is buying your way into my pants. Maybe you think the courtship ritual is a socially approved prostitution dealie.

Maybe you're too much too soon, maybe you get on my nerves. Maybe you have no idea how to honestly evaluate yourself to know what your "league" is and you think you need to constantly overreach and get bunted down.

Maybe you need to take badass lessons from Diablo. Cause he burns britches.

Amanda, thanks so much for representing!

I don't make a big deal out of my personal diet/religious choices, as they are just that -- personal. You can eat whatever you want! It's your choice! I'm not a hater, yo. Someone wants to ask me why I've made my choices, sure, yeah, I'll tell them. But my job isn't to preach or convert, and, frankly, it makes me very uncomfortable when other people behave like that, because I believe that people have the ability to make their own decisions. Not all vegetarians are assholes, I swear on a stack o' bibles with cherries on top!

The ones that are assholes do make me cringe, though, and tend to give the rest of us a bad name.

funtime42, I feel ya. My guy doesn't like a lot of veggies - mushrooms, onions and zucchini, peppers, and squash to name a few. When I make a meal for the both of us, I don't try and change his palate and force him to eat something we both know he doesn't like -- I try and make something we both want to eat. And if I need a little more green on my plate, I steam me up some extra veggies, and we're both happy. He's a grown man, he knows what he does and doesn't like, and I'm not his mother.

Guess who, read all of my comments. I don't judge. I don't preach. I don't force people to eat what they don't want to eat, nor do I try and sneak it onto their plates. I enjoy eating food, and like others to enjoy what they are eating too. If that's directed at me, you're on the wrong track.

And if my mere, steamed-veggie eating presence is considered to be an act of passive aggressiveness, then you can go fuck yourself with a carrot stick.

Guess Who!, this motherfucker has said that. A man can't have a yen for steamed veggies or hot tea?

The whole Tiger Woods saga. The guy is a jerk...but to read sportswriters proclaim that he owes his fans an apology for messing up his personal life... No he doesn't. He only has to apologize to his family...no one else. John Daley is a self destructive, gambling alcoholic yet no jackass from some shit hole paper has demanded that he apologize for showing up to an event drunk off his ass.

Also, lets pretend for one moment that instead of Tiger receiving the violence from his wife, he was the one chasing her down with the golf club. He would be the next OJ Simpson, with no hope of rehabbing his image or having a career. It doesn't matter how justified someone feels, spousal abuse is wrong. If your going to rationalize that, you may as well do the same for child abuse.

Also, why are people so shocked? He was pulling in a billion dollars a year, traveling all over the planet, and women came out of the woodwork to fuck him. Hell with that much money, I wouldn't be surprised if he and a bunch of fellow billionaires were hunting homeless people for sports in the streets of Detroit...wait a minute.. wasn't that a Wesley Snipes movie?

The guy was paid to play golf. If people believed him to be some perfect person...they are an idiot and it's not Tiger's fault that he can't live up to the standards of their fantasy world. (To be fair and completely honest, if it had been my sister he cheated on and my nieces...I would have buried a golf club into the base of his skull, but since it's not, its really none of my business).

And besides...golf is fucking stupid...how the hell do people watch that crap?

Tammy, your nice guy syndrome rant was absolutely perfect. Similarly, I cannot stand people who are fake or pretend to be a certain way to fulfill an agenda and I consider those guys to fall under both of those categories.

Also, I will admit I'm a grammar bitch. YOUR and YOU'RE mean two entirely different things. One is possessive, one is a contraction for you are. Is it really that difficult?! That gets me going. Every. Single. Time.

Robert, I don't leave when gay slurs are used, but I do give people my most effective death glare for the remainder of whatever conversation is going on. In my head, though, I leave and go spend some quality time with Nathan Fillion. It really bugs me too.

And Diablo, stupid questions are the WORST! One of my roommates can't seem to use her common sense properly, so situations like this often arise:
Her: What are you up to tomorrow?
Me: I've got a paper, due, so I'm not making plans except writing.
Her: So you're not going out, right?
Me: No...I'm writing a paper.
Her: OK, because I don't want to miss out on what you're doing. So let me know when you make plans for the evening, OK?
Me: I'M NOT MAKING PLANS FOR THE EVENING!
Her: I'll be working all day, so can you let me know if you're going out?
Me: I'LL BE WRITING A FUCKING PAPER ALL DAY! I'M NOT GOING OUT!
Her: OK! Jeez, I was just asking *storms off tearily*

WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE? Sometimes things are obvious, like when you say "We're having a movie night tomorrow if you want to join" and the person says, "OK, but I'm not free in the morning, so can we do it sometime after lunch?" USE YOUR FUCKING BRAIN!

Finally, I wish people would stop confusing "less" with "fewer." Things you can count=fewer. Things you can't=less. For instance: "Less sand." "Fewer grains of sand."

In other news, this is my favorite thread ever.

linny, that made me chortle. Also, points for giving me an excuse to use the word "chortle."

Of course, now the zucchini in my crisper is giving me an uneasy feeling. Mainly because "Zucchini in my crisper" now sounds like an unsavory euphemism...

Affirmative action and Prop 8 & co can send me into a fury.

When people go "That's ignorant" in response to everything they don't agree with.
THAT'S NOT WHAT IGNORANT MEANS! I think South Park effectively covered this though

Although not as major and anger-inducing, double exclamation marks frustrate me (ex: Wow!!) Just use one or go overboard with 3+. Two just looks ridiculous, like a typo, or they had a stroke in the middle of expressing their excitement.

Sicky McSickerson that I am, I missed the diversion yesterday. So hold on while I hack into a tissue and think of something.

Current and most annoying thing? My job. Granted, it's a temp job, but they are so inefficient and ass-backwards (the company as a whole) it's no wonder shit ain't going right. People on shifts falling asleep or watching YouTube instead of working? Awesome. Little no-nothing incompetents put in charge of "proofing" but actually fucking it up more, thereby putting me in a proofing loop of hell? The fact that I'm doing the work of the position ABOVE me and getting paid jack shit?

And yet, I still want a permanent position with this company. They have such potential.

And the other thing that bothers me is when people tell me that if I have kids, they'll be gay. Um ... my parents are straight and I came out a little less than straight, so I don't understand that argument. In fact, the parents of MOST gay people are straight. And then I'm told that if I have children I'll teach them to be tolerant of "that sort of thing." Guess what, I would have taught them that anyway! It's amazing how even if I had decided to marry and have children with a man, I still would have found a way to be a decent person who taught my kids good lessons. Shocking, I know.

Add me to the growing list of women who are now in love with Tammy.

As for my 'flaming arsehole' subject...
Smokers who keep at it despite being diagnosed with a condition caused by smoking. It's partly why I gave up clinical research. I kept getting the urge to punch some fag-breathed fucwit in the face to stop them bitching about their doctor 'not doing enough', and that just wasn't good for my state of mind. Or my chances of staying out of jail.

I'm such a flaming arsehole on this topic that I believe that if you have a heart attack, cancer, stroke, develop COPD, or whatever, and you're still smoking a year later, you should no longer covered for that condition. No insurance, not even health care. You want to kill yourself, go right ahead. If you don't like that idea, you can shell out $80,000 a year to stay alive instead of sponging off the people who aren't fundamentally stupid.

You know what I hate? People who eat meat but can't own up to the fact that they are eating an animal.

I'm a dedicated carnivore myself, but it drives me CRAZY when people can't eat meat off of the bone because then "its too much like an animal". If you have to pretend that your steak came off of the steak-tree, just go be a damned vegetarian, will you? Because you are giving carnivores a bad name.

Wow, what bunch of haters.

*fistpumps*

OH YEAH! OH YEAH!!! IN DA CLUB!!!

/FISTPUMPIN'

I work on a cardiac unit where the majority of my patients are obese, middle-aged smokers who are content to be cut open, stitched closed, and sent home without any intention to end the habits that led them to me. They complain of the low fat/low salt diets, cardiac rehab, and our smoke-free policy. They refuse teaching materials and pay no attention to any education or their discharge instructions. Poor guys can’t wait to get back to their grease, smoke, and recliners.

Sorry, but I’m not going to take your complaint of “constant crushing chest pain” seriously when you keep leaving the floor every couple of hours to smoke, pushing your IV pole with one hand and carrying your chest tubes in another. I am documenting every time you go and every time I educate you about the dangers of your actions. You want to leave? Meet me at the desk. I’ll have your AMA papers ready. I’m not going to fight for you when you won’t lift a damn finger to help yourself.

Occasionally I’ll have the patient for whom this visit was a wake-up call, and this person will receive all the help he or she needs to prevent any future visits and live a longer life. The rest can go to hell.

Diana, let us bask in our shared hatred!

My favourite patient (sarcastic) was the woman who, when I told her I was a researcher, spent ten minutes telling me how science was a lie and I should have to work on Sunday and Christmas day because 'people shouldn't benefit from something they don't believe in'. Ten minutes after that, we're going over her background (including the seven different drugs she was on, because, obviously, it's only wrong when somebody else is benefiting from something they don't believe in), she's trying to tell me the two triple-bypass operations she's had were because of a 'genetic thing', and not her pack-a-day smoking habit and being morbidly obese.

My (honestly) favourite patient was the guy who came in for a study and asked if we wouldn't mind giving him a cholesterol test, something we did anyway as part of the research. He told us he was trying to get it low enough that he wouldn't need to take one of his drugs and, with justified pride, said he'd been so sick 18 months before that they'd told him he'd need a heart transplant, and it had scared him into taking care of himself.
In the end, his results were so close to those of our healthy controls, they screwed up our overall results.

Posted by: havalina at December 13, 2009 9:53 PM

I know exactly what you mean. And then you eventually give up on replying "good thanks, you?" and just answer "Hi" because they're just going to talk over you anyway. As soon as you start doing that you inevitably get the snarky bastard who says something like "you're hi?" It's a total lose-lose situation that used to annoy the shit out of me.

People who tell me I'll change my mind about having children. My husband and I made the decision to not have kids long before we got married. No I am not "depriving him of the joy" of having a child. Mutual. Decision.

The worst are women who have told me either A. It was an accident or B. They were worried because they ran out of things to talk about with their significant other. Yeah, great reasoning for procreating. Have fun living vicariously through your offspring!

OH MY GOD YES Moi.

People who eat meat (and almost universally disparage vegetarians for their choices) but reveal themselves to be absolutely, utterly hypocritical when they recoil at the thought of eating, say, dog rather than cow, or say they could never actually kill anything, or refuse to touch raw meat. WTF?! That shrink-wrapped chicken you buy was once covered in blood and feathers, and before that, lived in a tiny cage in a factory feedlot. If you ignore this, you're an idiot.

The Internet. Really.

That whole "long tail", "new, new thing", thing & don't even get me started on "social media" Most people suck. Even the best people suck some of the time. Now they have a megaphone.

- Sup?
- Nothin. U?
- Nothin.
- OMG, I just saw Miley on MTV.
- Let's put it on U-Tube.
- LOL!

Can I please be left the hell alone?

Crowdsourcing, because now you can? Dummies, every idea we depend upon now was at one time mocked and abused by the wad, and ever "common knowledge" of the past has been overtaken by the events. Crowdsourcing tells you what the mass thinks, but what the hell do they know about, well, much of anything.

Common knowledge & conventional wisdom are neither.

The 90% of everything that's crap is now available to everyone, aggressively pushed into our maws. I mean, really. Facebook? Twitter? The only two useful things about twitter:

1) Near real time communication for the masses during when there's a cork-up, like during the Iranian non-lection & aftermath.

2) Valleywag's daily most inane / crazy twitter stuff article, but god help the poor sot who has to comb through all that.

Seriously, some half-educated trendista with messenger bag & ultra-thin Mac starts spouting off about how the communication revop-fucking-lution has changed humanity, blah, blah, blah. Dude, humanity hasn't changed, we're just matrixed in to each others babblings.

The most powerful communication mechanism since television and we're doing no better, demonstrably worse.

Seriously. For the oceans of "content" being produced, you can still keep up with the dozen thoughts a year that actually matter without putting the slightest dent in your drinking.

Diana and Science Geek, my grandma is totally one of those people. When I was 14 she had a lung collapse due to her emphysema and a pack a day habit. My mom and I had to travel south to see her (I'm from NY). When we get there and she's well enough to have visitors, she spent most of her time trying to bum cigarettes off people. Fast forward to when she gets out of the hospital and we're at her house with her and she fell right back into her smoking habits. I used to have pretty bad asthma and cigarette smoke was the biggest trigger of an attack for me, so of course I had one while visiting her. My mom came out and told her she needed to stop smoking while we were there so I didn't get anymore attacks... her response was that it must be something in the Southern air, it's thicker than in the north. Seriously. I was apalled. It's sad what people will do to justify their unhealthy lifestyles.

Parents of kids today. They effing suck. They're so worried about Johnny having low self-esteem that they have made school sports an all-inclusive thing, with no tryouts. They don't want Susie to get teased, so she gets a nose job at age 15. And don't get me started on all the ADD, ADHD, Autism, Hyperactivity, Bipolar, (insert name here) Disorder, etc. While these things do exist, it makes me nuts when kids are over-diagnosed (or diagnosed and medicated by a family doctor without seeing a specialist) and parents cling to these as excuses for why their children are not functioning normally. Parents blame schools for their kids being assholes. They're assholes because you're asshole parents.
I read an article today about a school who suspended a student for cyber-bullying. Apparently some little asshole posted a video on YouTube calling another student a slut, making up rumors, etc. The victim went to the principal for help and the asshole was suspended for a few days.
While I'm not arguing that the school may have overstepped its juristiction a bit(which is arguable considering that this was being talked about in school, causing distress and disruption), my beef is with the asshole's parents. Instead of disiplining their child, they took the school to court for suspending their perfect child. Instead of taking the time to explain that being a little asshole has its consequences, they sued the school and won, teaching the little asshole a lesson that if you do wrong and somebody calls you on it, you can just take them to court and get your way.
I'd be too busy with my foot up my kid's ass to be paying for a lawyer to sue the school for providing the parenting I was too lazy to provide myself.
Assholes.

Really late to the game, but here's mine: Capital Punishment. I haven't read all the comments to see if anyone else commented on this, but here is my rant:

If you are convicted of a violent crime...and I mean CONVICTED, with really good evidence (DNA, what have you) showing that you are irrefutably guilty, why the HELL are my taxpayer dollars paying for your medical care, college education, 3 hots and a cot, cable TV and the occasional butt-loving? I am generally a very liberal person, but when it comes to capital punishment, I think Judge Roy Bean had it right....hear 'em, and hang 'em. And I do mean hang 'em. Bring back public execution. Lethal injection is for pussies. Literally, for pussies. Your cat gets the heebie-jeebies and you take it to the vet...what does he do? Give it a shot to put it to sleep. Bubba Dipshit rapes and kills (or in reverse order) some 10 year old, and he gets to live on the National tit for 25 years while appeal after appeal clog up the court system, then, IF he finally gets to walk the Green Mile, he lays down on a cot and is put to sleep JUST LIKE FLUFFY!! What the hell did Fluffy do? Maybe hack up a few hairballs, shred the sofa, or knock over Grandma Rose's vase, but did Fluffy deserve the same punishment as Bubba? Hell no!

Public hangings. That's what I'm saying. If not that, take a tip from that book so many like to thump...an eye for an eye. You rip somebody's guts open and watch them bleed out, one of their family members gets to do it to you. And make sure it is publicized, televised, whatever. You want a deterrent? Watching some mofo "hang from the neck until he is dead" just might make some of these a**holes think twice about committing a violent crime.

People have asked me, "But, could you throw the switch or pull the trigger on someone?" Bet your ass. If they did what they were convicted of, I could watch 'em swing and sleep like a baby. They are sucking up oxygen good people could be using.

My friend loves it when I get on this rant. She says its my Republican side coming out. I don't know about that, but.....well, anyway, thats my biggie.

Posted by: dammitjanet at December 14, 2009 10:03 AM

Normally I would agree dammitjanet, but studies have actually shown that due to the (quite necessary in my opinion) system of appeals in place, its actually much more costly to execute someone than imprison them for life.

I understand there is a chance of an innocent person being convicted. That's why I stated compelling evidence would be needed. As for the appeals, etc. and it costing more to execute someone than not....I don't get that.

Ok, if we're gonna house 'em, lets put 'em to work. Lets ship them to Afghanistan, or whatever other hell-hole we may be engaged in at any given time. Or, better yet, just make 'em watch reality TV ALL THE TIME. That's plenty punishing.

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