One of my pet peeves about the internet is when I am forced to watch a video to get a news story. That’s bad enough. But first, I have to sit through a 30 second advertisement about cat food that I don’t want, or a security camera that I already have. And then, when I finally get to the news story, it gives me sappy music and subtitles which barely tell the story. I really used to appreciate CNN’s reporting, but these days, I find myself growing increasingly exasperated with all their newsy choices.
It happened again this morning. The headline read “Father and child found dead after family camping incident” Basically, the video told me the same thing as the headline. The last line finally said, “The cause may have been faulty equipment.” That was it? What faulty equipment? How? Why? The cat food ad was more informative.
First of all, I am very sorry for their deaths. The remaining family members must be in a sorrowful state right now, and I feel terribly for them. On the far away side of that, I warn people against camping all the time, albeit tongue in cheek. But I’m always interested when things go awry, as then I have fuel for my waggish reasoning.
But back to the peeve. If I want to “watch” news, I will turn on the TV. When I am on the internet, I want to read my reports. Most of the time I will completely skip a news story if I have to watch a video. The same goes with learning something new. I need to read words and have visual diagrams I can study — in my own time — if I am learning something. Watching a video leaves me completely mystified. Brain works. I know many people are the complete opposite.
I guess I need to know “why” things work the way they do. Not just the “how.”
Back to those pet peeves. Aren’t we a funny bunch that way? We all have pet peeves.
Which brings up another pet peeve of mine. I have a pet peeve that they are called pet peeves. It makes no sense, really. I’ve looked up the origin of the phrase. Of course peeve is obvious. It comes from peevish, meaning irritable, cross, petulant, querulous. But the pet part originates back to the 16th century, when “pet” took on the meaning of most cherished, or favored. So pet peeves are our most cherished irritations. I don’t dote on mine.
Anyway, we have them.
The extraordinary thing is, one person may come totally unglued over a certain behavior. Completely wonkers. And someone standing next to them could not care one bit. Crunching, or picking, or humming. Long lines, half-filled containers, lane cutters. Gum on the sidewalk, dog poo in the park, trash on the road.
The pet peeve knows no prejudice. It will strike any victim, any where, any time, without any regard to age, race, gender, or religion.
I’ve read the online “advice” when it comes to dealing with pet peeves. Most of the counseling guides us toward gentle confrontation, and removal of the annoyance. But most of the “advice” is structured toward peeves in a relationship, or in the workplace. Really, those aren’t pet peeves. Those are more like balls and chains.
As for me, I’ve written emails to CNN about my dissatisfaction. Not that it has done any good, but at least I know I’ve tried to do something.
For the rest, I truly hope your day is pet-peeve-free.
And, I’ve just decided the next little dog I get is going to be named Peeve.
That way, I can introduce her to people as, this is my pet, Peeve.
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“I don’t have pet peeves like some people. I have whole kennels of irritation.”
― Whoopi Goldberg
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“I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.”
― Noel Coward
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“When angry, count four. When very angry, swear.”
― Mark Twain
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