In a recent phone survey, adults in the US were asked what phrase annoyed them most in conversation.
The winner? “Whatever” — pronounced “WHAT’-ehv-errr” — annoyed 47 percent of the people surveyed.
I can see that. Depending on your tone of voice and the context, “whatever” can be rude and dismissive and very annoying.
But “whatever” didn’t just appear at the top of the poll. Respondents were only given five phrases from which to choose. The other four were:
- “Anyway”
- “It is what it is”
- “You know”
- “At the end of the day”
Who was drinking when they came up with this list? It seems like the deck was pretty well stacked for “whatever” to win most annoying. The other phrases don’t have any attitude at all, and would only get annoying if used repeatedly. For instance, if I heard “you know” too many times in one conversation, that would get on my nerves.
(FYI — the survey was conducted by pollsters at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York…which could explain a lot.)
If you ask me, the phrase with the ultimate ability to annoy that should have been included on this list is “like.” I know so many people who use this word multiple times in each sentence, let alone in each conversation. I am tempted sometimes to secretly tape them and play it back so they can hear how idiotic that one word can make them sound.
Like, no matter, like, what you’re saying, like, it makes you sound, like, stupid, like, you know?
Man…I just annoyed myself.
When Sarah (Lauren Graham) and Mark (Jason Ritter) initially began dating, I was thrilled. Is there a cuter couple in TV-land? I challenge you to find one. Their engagement was the only logical conclusion.
Picture this
It’s vacation photo time, and the debate rages on –
Are you in…or are you out?
I am firmly in this camp.
Others seem compelled to place themselves and their traveling companions in every single picture. These lines of two or three or sometimes ten people or more are proof-positive of their presence at each location, but often obscure their very surroundings.
So, what’s your picture preference? Which side do you snap on? If I grabbed your camera phone right now, what would I find…before you had me arrested, of course?
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Posted in Commentary, Humor, Life, Photography, Vacation
Tagged camera phone, commentary, Humor, life, photography, photos, picture preference, pictures, poll, scenery, scenic shots, Travel, traveling companions, vacation