Pet Hates

[Silver_Shiney]

My pet hate - packaging that you cannot get into, especially toiletries that you are tying to open in the bathroom when you don't have your glasses on

I hate that blister-packaging that is unopen-able without a sharp implement, with which you invariably cut yourself!

.. on the sharp implement that is inside the packaging, that you're trying to get out!!

[GillD46]

I have decided I've become a "grumpy old woman"

[Boris+]

I have a pet 'hate' - I don't feel that strongly about it, but I just don't like it when I pitch up at check-in (airport, cruise terminal or hotel etc) and then the check-in person uses my first name.

I really do think that having paid a fare I am entitled to some sort of 'respect' from the person behind the counter - whose wages I indirectly pay by virtue of the fact that I am paying albeit indirectly for his/her service - and I think it is impolite for the check-in person to simply use my first name without asking first.

Once onboard a ship it doesn't happen - crew onboard don't do it, so why do the check-in people do it?

Em

[Wina G]

I have decided I've become a "grumpy old woman"

Me too Gill, it's a good job Romig's a "grumpy old man" even though he's not old

[Dancing Queen]

I have a pet 'hate' - I don't feel that strongly about it, but I just don't like it when I pitch up at check-in (airport, cruise terminal or hotel etc) and then the check-in person uses my first name.

I really do think that having paid a fare I am entitled to some sort of 'respect' from the person behind the counter - whose wages I indirectly pay by virtue of the fact that I am paying albeit indirectly for his/her service - and I think it is impolite for the check-in person to simply use my first name without asking first.

Once onboard a ship it doesn't happen - crew onboard don't do it, so why do the check-in people do it?

Em

I've never had this happen, that really surprises me

[GillD46]

I've not had it happen at check-in anywhere, but a while ago I had a financial appointment and was asked what they should call me, I was quick to reply Mrs D******!

[Boris+]

It's happened three times now at Southampton - we'll see what happens next time! Then there's another thing - when somebody writes to me and despite the fact that the author of the inbound mail has access to a file which will show my title and name the letter I receive will be addressed to Ms - or even worse they completely mismanage a mailmerge and the opening line of the text is 'Dear Ms Firstname Surname' - not good enough really.

I don't blame GillD for getting in her requirement of being Mrs D at the outset - it enables GillD (in this case) to take the upper hand (in the game of p a c, that is).

Oh well, I'll make a note of what happens at next check-in.

Em

[oldbluefox]

people on phones at check ins or check outs
ignorant gits, if it was me I would refuse to serve them till they switched the sodin thing off

Even worse for me are checkout staff talking to each other

Quite right too, Wina, for complaining. I once stood at the checkout with a big basket of goods for the longest while whilst the checkout staff had a conversation about tea breaks, days off etc. I got so fed up I interrupted them and told them ina very quiet, gentle voice, 'When you've finished your conversation perhaps you would like to put my groceries away.' I then walked away. The look on their faces was a treat to behold!!!

Add to the list impatient people who sit behind you in their car whilst you wait to get out of a junction and keep hooting. Out I gets........ "Your hooter's working. Now try your lights!!!" or in the case of a breakdown, "If you would like to get my car started I'll sit here with my hand on the hooter!!" My wife cringes but I rather enjoy it.

[The Tinker]

I hate it when checkout people carry on as if you are invisible but the scourge of the mobile phone astounds me - the number of people who have answered their mobiles whilst I am interviewing them for a job vacancy seems to be increasing - needless to say they DO NOT get employed!!

On the question of being called by your first name and not Mrs or Mr - I think this is a sign of the times and the latest generation do not use your titles anymore - I actually dislike it but if I started saying my name is Mrs ............. , I think my work colleagues would think I had definitely lost the plot.

[oldbluefox]

I wish more people would treat those who answer a mobile phone when talking to you with the disdain they deserve. If I were serving them in a shop I would move their things over and serve somebody else. It's the height of bad manners but it seems to happen more and more.

[wolfie]

If some younger than me jobsworth dares address me by my christian name, without me having given them the go ahead to do so, look out!!!

I don't assume that I can call any new acquaintance by their first name, so, how dare they!!

[JohnTheDog]

I get called lots of things, I respond as appropriate to the form of address.
On a cruise for instance I introduce myself & my wife by our first names & if anyone replied you can call us Mr & Mrs whatever I would think them a bit odd...

[Silver_Shiney]

When I worked in a forex bureau, I addressed all men as "sir", irrespective of age. My young colleague, however, addressed every man as "mate", irrespective of age. It used to drive me nuts.

[Romig1]

When I worked in a forex bureau, I addressed all men as "sir", irrespective of age. My young colleague, however, addressed every man as "mate", irrespective of age. It used to drive me nuts.

I always referred to customers as "Sir" when working at a builder's merchants too. I think it was appreciated in most cases.

[JohnTheDog]

I find it a bit embarassing on ships when the staff who know you have to call you ''Mr or Mrs whatever'' but you can only really refer to them by their name on the badge.

[Romig1]

I find it a bit embarassing on ships when the staff who know you have to call you ''Mr or Mrs whatever'' but you can only really refer to them by their name on the badge.

That may be true John, but there's more to the passenger/employee relationship than just names. There is scope for a closer interaction, despite the formality of surnames.

I was asked for my "cell-phone number" in addition to my signature on a bar-bill...unfortunately it was a bloke that asked me!

Those who have met the wonderful Fernando will not be surprised by that.

[wolfie]

As you say R, a cruise is akin to meeting friends of friends, well you didn't say that but that is how I saw it. You would never introduce a friend of a friend as, Mr. or Mrs whatever, neither do we do so on a cruise with our dinner companions.

However, Mr. Consultant at the hospital should address anyone as Mr. or Mrs, whatever, unless it's turns out to be a long term assocation. So should anyone that I do not know personally that I speak to on the phone.

[Kendhni]

Outside of very very few professions the use of Mr and other titles is very old fashioned ... Sir and madam only need to be used when you do not know the persons name or have any way of finding out, or in situations where reciprocal name references are not part of the process (e.g. buying something in a shop) ... unless you are American when 'dude' and 'guys' seem to be acceptable.

I will always endeavour to use peoples first names and will always introduce myself as 'Ken'.

I am now waiting for the day when someone insists on me referring to them as Mr or Mrs, so that I can let them know that I am a Lord (and have a certificate of owning 1 foot of land in Scotland to prove it) and insist on them referring to me as 'your lordship' or similar.

[Boris+]

Wolfie - I like your way of thinking.

On the other hand, if I introduce myself using my first name, that's a different matter. I do hope you are careful with your 'party trick' Ken involving your ownership of one square foot of land in Scotland - you never ever know when the (almost) stranger you are talking to could possibly be something other than Mr or Mrs.

However, I think that Mrs is a smashing title - it shows that I am loved and that I belong; and I like being loved and I like belonging. Aw just off for some pre-Valentines romantic breakfast then!

Em

[Kendhni]

Romig, that could result in an interesting conversation I hope I never have to use that line ... most people these days accept that the norm for exchange is via first names.

[HK phooey]

It makes me cringe when people say World War 1, or World War 2. They're not bloody films! It's the first and the second world war. Am I becoming an old git?

[towny44]

Or ladies (usually) who stand in the queue and wait until their goods have been checked through. Then they decide to start looking for their purse, followed by fumbling around for the right credit card, trying to remember their PIN number, then reversing the process putting their credit card away, purse away etc (and probably standing in the doorway putting said purse away!!). Meanwhile the queue gets longer. Why don't they sort out their purse and card while they wait in the queue?

I am definitely in agreement with you on this OBF, only the female of the species seems to make paying by card such a long drawn out process.

[Mummykins]

I hate it when someone is dealing face to face with a customer, the phone rings so they answer it and deal with that person. I was in a Thomson travel agent when this happened I had to sit there for 10 minutes as we were in the middle of a booking while the telephone customer was dealt with. I asked the agent if I telephoned and someone came in would he abandon the call to deal with the customer? No of course not!

[Dancing Queen]

It really annoys me when I'm in the Bank just wanting to pay a cheque in or something and the teller wants to sell me a mortgage, insurance, a new credit card, what annoys me even more is if I'm at the back of the queue and they are trying to do the same with everyone in front of me

[Wina G]

It really annoys me when I'm in the Bank just wanting to pay a cheque in or something and the teller wants to sell me a mortgage, insurance, a new credit card, what annoys me even more is if I'm at the back of the queue and they are trying to do the same with everyone in front of me

When I worked most of my lunchtime was spent in a queue if I needed to use the bank, I ended up getting so cross one day that I told them how frustrating it was to their customers when we were queuing out to the door ... after that I used the machine to pay in