#33: People Who Don't Turn Off Their Cell Phones (When They're Supposed To)

I was at a conference a couple of weeks ago...and EVERY STINKING SESSION was interrupted by someone's obnoxious ringtone. What the...?

Here's one that really bothers me: I don't think I have been to a single church service in the past year that didn't include at least one cell phone ring. For crying out loud, Jesus wants you to turn your phone off!!!!

And probably 3 out of the last 5 movies I've been to have included someone receiving a call during the film. One time, a person flat out answered the phone and started having a conversation with the caller--during the movie! That's beyond rude.

Come on, people! Put your phone on vibrate for crying out loud. Or better yet, turn the darn thing off. You can live for two hours without a phone call. This may come as a shock to many of you, but before cell phones were invented, we all survived for hours at a time without talking or texting on the phone (insert old fart comment here.)

Phones in the movie theatre really piss me off. Ya know, it costs so much to go to a movie these days. Between inflated ticket prices and the ridiculous cost of popcorn, candy and drinks, it's expensive! Add to that the cost of a babysitter (if you need one) and you could easily drop $50 just to go see a movie. Ya know, I don't want to spend $50 to listen to you talk on the phone. I don't want to spend $50 to have the glow of your cell phone interrupting my movie-watching.

Let's be honest: Technology is great. We can communicate with pretty much anyone at anytime. But just because we can, doesn't mean we should. Have a little respect for others. Put your phone on vibrate. Then, if it rings during a church service, movie or conference session, you can walk out quietly and take your call. This isn't rocket science folks...this is common courtesy.

People Who Don't Turn Off Their Cell Phones When You're Supposed To: You Suck!

#30: BlueTooth Headsets

So I'm in the airport at a restaurant a few days ago and, as I've been known to do, I do some "people watching." The airports are great for people watching. Funny, a lot of people say that, but I wonder if they ever want to be the one who's being watched. Anyway, my focus turns to this family sitting at a table near me. It's a mom, a dad and two kids--both girls. One of the girls tells her mom that she needs to "go potty." The wife turns to her husband and asks:

"Do you know where the restroom is?"

"I don't think it's necessary." He responds.

She, thinking he misunderstood the question, asks again.

"No honey, the bathroom. Do you know where the bathroom is?"

"No, no, no." He insisted. "We've been through all that. I still don't think it's necessary." Then he, realizing she was talking to him, says in a rather annoyed tone:

"Hold on a sec. What? I'm talking to someone here."

Then I notice, protruding out of his ear like some sort of robocop headgear attachment is one of those dreaded bluetooth contraptions. Ugh.

Let's be honest: New technology is great. In my lifetime I have seen a massive proliferation of new technology: the internet, the laptop computer, the cell phone, DVDs, plasma TVs...etc. But none of them has annoyed me more than those ridiculous little wireless earpieces. And I gotta tell you, I think they just plain look ridiculous.

I'm not saying they're absolutely worthless. I can understand using it while you're driving...or while trying to take notes during a conference call. But at the dinner table with your family? C'mon!

I bet you too, that EVERY SINGLE PERSON who has worn one, has pretended to be talking to someone when they really aren't. Whether it's because they're trying to avoid someone, or trying to "look important", I gaurantee they've pretended to be on the other line with someone at some point.

Blue Tooth Headsets: You are pretentious...rude...and downright unattractive. And, oh yeah...You Suck.

#16: Bad Drivers

As I've said in an earlier post, I rarely like driving. Partly because of road construction, stop lights and speed traps. But mostly it's because there are a lot of idiots out there. Bad drivers suck.

There are all kinds of bad drivers. Here's a list of some of my biggest peeves that people do when they get behind the wheel:

• Drive slow in the fast lane. If another driver has to pass you on the right, you're holding up traffic. Move over already.


• Riding your brakes through a green light..."just in case it turns yellow." Ugh. This pisses me off to no end. But so many people do it. I will never understand it. If the light's green...GO!


• Not paying attention when you're at a stoplight. Listen, if you are the first car in line, it's your responsibility to watch the light. I shouldn't have to honk my horn to tell you that it's green.


• Shaving or putting on your makeup while driving. Seriously? Listen, spend 5 more minutes at home and get your makeup and shaving done. And trust me, the lighting in your car is nowhere as good as it is in your bathroom mirror. When you put your makeup on in your car--it shows. And not in a good way.


• Trying to talk on your cell phone while driving. Most people don't realize this, but the second they pick up their cell phone, their foot goes on the brake. People slow down or even ride their brakes while talking on the phone. Trust me...you can't do it. You're not a good enough driver. Stop trying to talk on the phone.
  
• And even worse, texting and driving. This should be illegal. My wife was just involved in a car wreck last week, when a girl rear-ended her because she was texting and not paying attention to the traffic in front of her.


• Tailgating. (Now, first let me say that if I'm holding you up in the fast lane, then maybe I deserve to be tailgated. But if I'm in the slow lane, minding my own business...get off my ass!) The right lane is for people who want to drive slower. You should know that. You have no right to harass them. But if you're going to tailgate, be prepared to eventually meet someone's bumper. And it is ALWAYS your fault when you rear-end someone.
  
• Riding with your dog (or cat) in your lap. Are you kidding me? What...there aren't enough distractions on the road that you need to worry about whether Fido is going to try to lick you in the face while you're doing 70mph? Get your *&^%$# mutt in the back seat already! Or better yet, leave pets at home.


• Staying in my blind spot. Either pass me...or drop farther back so I can see you in my side mirror. But riding along side my back tire is unsafe for both of us.
  
• Talking and driving. Not everyone is bad at this, but some are. My wife is a good example. She can't talk to you without wanting to use hand gestures and make eye contact. So, the second she starts talking, the foot lets up off the gas. If it's a long sentence, we're coasting!

Let's be honest: We're all bad drivers to some extent. Something you do in the car is likely to annoy the hell out of me. And something I do is surely going to drive you crazy. So, as far as that's concerned, I guess we all suck. But these are some basic things that we can all be better about. Driving can be dangerous. Why add any more tension to it?

Bad Drivers: You Suck.