Only nice midwestern housewives, Bagpuss :) I'm kidding, really. I'm kidding. (sorry, meant to post this a while ago, but couldn't get Mudcat or Loki to respond.)

I'm a pedant. Okay, I'm sorry. The reason, however, is pretty simple - you can talk however you like to your friends, in your letters, notes to yourself, etc. But in formal situations, I feel that one should abide by the rules of grammar to ensure clear communciation - artificial or not. That's just me. This here is Mudcat - do what you like :) (But please don't like using numbers and letters for words... please, please, please...) We'll just agree to disagree, and I'll only correct people who are heading to job interviews or are handing in formal papers.

Other things that annoy me -

People on sidewalks, yes! the ones who stop in front of you, or stand there impeding traffic obliviously, or the groups of four that all walk abreast very slowly so you can't get by, or even worse, the ones who weave! so no matter which way you go around them, they are there first! ARRRGH.

Skanky older men who leer at me and call me dear, particularly ones I'm asking questions of or buying things from. Don't get me wrong - I can tell when they are being sweet. Often, they aren't. The one who pissed me off most looked me right up and down and called me 'sweetie.' I was having lunch with my boss, who was right behind me - and who kindly restrained me from killing the man.

People who don't listen to me when I say things. I say something, and they are looking right at me, but not hearing a word, and then, either they realise I was talking and say excuse me, or worse, they just walk off - or start talking to someone else. I don't speak quietly. I don't talk too fast. I'm very noticable. And I'm sorry that your job is boring, and you can't keep your mind on it, but you're being RUDE!

Cell phones. Mean people. People who blow smoke in my face. People who don't teach their children decent manners, and expect me to understand that the little darlings are just too sensitive, and aren't they stubborn! Yes, lady, stubborn enough that just as soon as they are old enough, they are going to get themselves decked, because no one ever taught them that they can't get away with that.

I'm done for a while, thanks :)

-J