Here are some real-life examples:
- I am annoyed by people who complain and mope and are just so negative all the time. I think it's okay to complain as long as that's not the end of it. I mean, complain but then do something to change the situation. If it's something you can't change or don't want to spend the effort to change, then don't waste your breath and energy even talking about it. It's not worth it. Do you really think people enjoy hearing all the depressing things that happen to your life ALL THE TIME? No!! We all live in the same depressing, unfair world. There's no need to remind us of this dreary fact everytime we hear from you. Seriously, who wants to be depressed all the time?
- What annoys me even more is when people complain about other people, saying how they are mad at them, and trash talk them so much behind their backs. But when they are together, they act so sweet and nice towards that person that they were just gossiping and complaining about not even a minute ago. Hey, what do you think I as a bystanding witness would think? That maybe you do the same to me too! That kind of two-faced cowardice irks me to the core! Either stay true to what you say or don't say anything at all!
- IMPERITENT is not a real word!! What is my boss thinking? I can't even pass it off as a typographical error because I see it in almost all of her URGENT or authoritative email. Neither could I pretend that it's merely misspelled because it's not even close to any correct word. I know she probably means IMPERATIVE, mixed in with IMPORTANT, judging by the context; "It is imperitent that you do this...." And she has her bosses and even clients copied in some of these email. I wonder if she has heard of spell-check? I wonder if I should clue her in on it? hmmm...
- A trainer (a self-proclaimed US culture expert) at my previous company in the Philippines was discussing the shipping rules on an infomercial product. When asked why we didn't accept P.O. boxes as mailing address, she answered, "Oh, it's because those boxes are usually away from the people's homes and are usually by the roads. We don't want he products to freeze in the cold or get too hot." (I think she was thinking of mailboxes). It was all I could do to keep my laughter in check.
