Amy, I am sooo in your park!

I can't stand it.

I blame it on my being too impatient and 'lets just get to it!'

Jane

I'm not a fan nor do I get impatient. Things like weddings don't bother me. Even Catholic weddings. While I may be bored, I figure it's the bride and groom's day and they designed it the way they want it. If I'm not in the wedding, I can choose to go or not. If I am a wedding party member, I keep in mind that everything was designed the way the main players of the day wanted it.

I've done hundreds of training courses over a 38 yr career at the same company. If it's a training requirement and they're paying me, it's just part of my day. At graduations, again, it's about the graduates and their special day.

I guess I just don't get worked up over things like this. Takes too much energy.

It all depends. Like sephia, I don't get worked up. But there are well done events and poorly done events. If I care about the people involved the quality of the event does not matter. I am there to mark the occasion and share in the happiness. As for coprporate training courses mine were pretty stellar, actually.

My wedding/big party bugaboo is people who want to tell me all about their plans and ask my opinion. They definitely do not want my opinion (and if they did actually want to hear my two cents, they would not like it.) And I definitely do not want to hear about their plans.

I have four sons. I am going to have to bite my tongue so hard when the time for their weddings arrive. I will listen cheerfully and endorse all their plans heartily.

Right there with you Amy. Well except for the national anthem. I love that during sporting events. Love hearing/seeing the other country's anthems being played at the Olympics also.

Weddings, funerals ,graduations. Those are obligations at times, not my idea of a way I want to spend my time. My kids chose to get married without the fanfare. DD and her DSIL hosted an anniversary dinner at a restaurant for family and friends a year later. Everyone had to dress as pirates. So much fun. Everyone brought gifts as if attending a wedding without being asked. No wedding registries. No matching poofy dresses or monkey suits. These people actually knew her and didn't need a list to know what the couple would like. People still talk about that evening. It's legendary. LOL DS didn't even tell us he and DDIL significant other tied the knot until weeks later. They got married in Dec. and we found out at a family dinner in Jan. When warm weather came around they chose to celebrate by inviting the families and just a couple of close friends to a BBQ they held at their home.

Glad I am not the only one who finds these events tedious.

I would rather be on a train or bus entertaining myself with my phone. Its bad manners to do so at a wedding.

To be clear, it not just major life events I am referring to. Its everything that just impedes progress to the main focus, whatever it is. I feel the same way about those endless ramblings before getting to a recipe on a website, for another example. Or, keeping with the internet theme, I hate stories that you have to click through slides to read the whole story, with ads along the way of course. I get upset when I go to shop at a website and it will not let me browse with entering my email address or something like that.

I used to get SO frustrated in school when the teacher would hand out a test or assignment and then proceed to just keep yakking on and on and on and until I learned to tune them and their nagging out when I got into middle and high school I could not concentrate and just get on with it so I could be done. I have always been the type to want to rip the band aid off, so to speak. If I HAVE to do it, and I do not like it, I just want to do it and be done and move on with life. All school work fell into this category, and some things still do. I prepare my taxes the very day I get all my necessary paperwork, and file them ASAP, just to be done. Those aforementioned online courses for work are meant to be done at ones own pace over the year, I do them all in one or two nights, as my regular duties allow. I want them DONE and OUT OF THE WAY. Bills gets paid as soon as I am aware of them. Immediately.

A completely ridiculous example: When I discovered the show "The Tudors" on Amazon prime, I really loved it but found myself getting annoyed at all the "extra." Even though I KNOW that such formality and pageantry was important at that time, I could not help but wonder how many minutes would be saved if they cut out all the "my lord, your grace, your eminence, your majesty your excellency ,etc. All the bowing and presenting things on pillows and in little boxes and all the tiny little details of all those ceremonies that were so important to that show...

Another completely absurd example. A coworker of mine interviewed for a position in another department. It took HR over a month to get back to her with a no. I was mad FOR HER. Not because they told her no. But because they took so long with it. I am convinced HR reps that do that enjoy it as some sort of sick mind game. They knew good and darn well that they did not want to hire her for that position after they interviewed her. I told her that if an job had the nerve to make me wait more than a week after my interview to OFFER me a job I would tell them to kick rocks. And that is generous. Because it is RUDE to keep people dangling like that about something so important, especially if you know what your answer is, you just wanna keep them hoping for some reason. Another job at another company she applied for told her no the day after the job listing closed. THAT was at least honorable. If you have time to him and haw and doddle around, then do not post the job until you are ready to get to business.

The only ceremonies I find unbearably boring are large graduations. I can stand watching maybe even 200 kids file across the stage but after that it's rough sitting there. Wedding, funerals, church services -- I sometimes tune out a long-winded speech but generally find comfort in the ceremony and repetition of ritual.

Mandatory all-hand's training -- if you're lucky it will be on line: mute the audio and choose the most complicated answer on the quiz. Don't tell the HR department. ;-)

I agree with Amy that a lot of this stuff is annoying. But there is some specific pageantry that I enjoy- the opening of the Olympics, royal weddings, and watching some of the Mardi Gras parades.

I don’t mind pageantry at all, but agree there can be too many speeches at events. And long graduations. My older son graduated from the state university, his ceremony combined two or three schools of the university and it was looooong. My younger son graduated from a liberal arts college, and due to covid it was divided alphabetically, and was much shorter. Middle and high school ceremonies of all kinds are fun for me because I know so many of the kids. DH doesn’t, and gets bored.

The HR example is very different from sitting through what could be a tedious ceremony. I abhor people who do not respect ofther people's time.

Punctuality is the courtesy of kings, indeed. And ignoring a request for one month is certainly a form of tardiness.

I don't mind watching the hoopla and pageantry........I just don't want to be involved with it and in many cases, think it is entirely unnecessary. Like those wedding extravaganzas costing tens of thousands of dollars and involving "planners" and hundreds of guests. What a waste of money!! And I do not understand paying thousands for a dress that will be worn once!

Close friends and family have always opted for low key weddings, as was my own. None were formal church weddings (although all were presided over by some sort of religious figure). No silly tuxes or foo-foo wedding dresses. All out in the open (or in my case, my brother's house) and with close friends or family providing "services" that would traditionally be hired out....catering/food, flowers, photographs, etc. My own wedding was on a strict budget - we paid for it all ourselves - and cost less than $1000.

The only graduations I have attended were my own....and my stepdaughter's. And only high school. I was so tired after working full time to get my college degree, I was just glad it was all over and never bothered attending. However, my second degree - obtained in middle age - was a different thing altogether and I wanted the acknowledgement of the accomplishment it was. So I went through all the graduation ceremonies and my DH at the time threw a big party for me AND my fellow students (all of whom were in a similar age group).

Amylou, I totally agree. How I wish there was a "fast forward" control that could be used for real life situations! I'd like to add -- listening to music while having to sit still. I'm all for music combined with dancing, exercising, riding in the car, even standing and shuffling place. I've worked at concerts where there is stuff to do backstage and that's fun. But sitting through a concert where you have to just sit there listening is soooo boring to me. And choral music is the worst! It goes on and on and on...

”I feel the same way about those endless ramblings before getting to a recipe on a website, for another example.“

The ‘jump to recipe‘ button was a great invention. It’s rare that I want to read all the ramblings, exception being interesting recipe development or ethnic notes.

”Or, keeping with the internet theme, I hate stories that you have to click through slides to read the whole story, with ads along the way of course.“

It’s called clickbait for a reason; the sole purpose is to blast ads in your face. Find a key word or name, google it, and you’ll usually find a years-old news article that gets right to the point.

”I get upset when I go to shop at a website and it will not let me browse with entering my email address or something like that.”

There’s no verification. biteme@gmail.com or similar works fine.

I’m actively trying to stop letting little things get to me. Listening to other people complain about life’s miseries helps me be aware of how petty most of my own annoyances are. Taking a second walk to check for mail is better for your well-being than getting all riled up and posting on the internet about how it’s late. (Seems to be a common complaint these days. Who cares? Pick a time to check for mail if it bothers you. If it comes later it will be there tomorrow.)

Not a fan of weddings...but I keep that opinion to myself ( don't want to spoil anyone's fun).9

Jim Gaffigan does a very funny routine about weddings:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+jim+gaffigan+weddings&view=detail&mid=B5526FD9332DC74CB1BEB5526FD9332DC74CB1BE&FORM=VIRE&PC=SMSM

It's about 7 minutes long...

No gripes from me on weddings.......as long as the receptions are well stocked ;-)

I take it that you do not go to high school, college, or family reunions.

I'm sort of a fan for weddings because I've made dresses for them, and so it was lucrative for me.

I have not been to many Catholic weddings (or many weddings at all, for that matter), but when my cousin in Long Beach got married, the entire audience stood for the whole ceremony, which was mercifully brief.

I went to my high school graduation but to neither of my university graduations.

In general, I am extremely patient, and pageantry does not bother me. I do not seek it out, however.

Most of my family live in Texas, and I was not even invited to my brother Mike's wedding. I was living in San Francisco at the time, and he knew I would not show up, but I thought he should at least have sent me an invitation or an announcement. His son did invite me to his wedding (which was in an October), and I do go to Texas from L.A. for that, and he seemed grateful that I showed up.

I didn't go to my niece's wedding because she had that in the first week of August, and there was no way I would go to Texas at that time of year. Kevin went, however.

I'm glad that my sons didn't let covid stop them from getting married. One got married July 1st 2020 and it was in the Bride's parents backyard with 12 people, including the bride and groom. My other son is getting married April 30 with 21 people, family and close friends. This makes me happy. The first son initially wanted the big party but loved his small family wedding and the other son and his fiance always wanted a small wedding so now they have the perfect excuse.

I don;t understand the playing of the national anthem before sports games either. Especially in the NHL when players are from all over the world. I bet that when two American teams are playing the majority of the players are not American.

School graduations aside, I tend to like gatherings for personal life events, namely weddings and funerals. Many weddings are increasingly secular and done by a friend or relative who obtains a mail order credential and can lead as an officiant. These weddings are the best because the couple has a blank slate to design a ceremony as they wish to have. These also tend to be shorter. Even Catholic weddings come in two lengths, the traditional one that includes mass and the short form that doesn't and is much quicker. Even with weddings and funerals conducted by a religious official, thoughtful people make their own contributions to the ceremony (and instructions to the religious person) in a way that's mindful and considerate of the comfort of attendees. By using time wisely so as to not last too long.

For me, the enjoyment of the events is not the ceremony but rather the social gatherings. My sons' weddings were great fun of which we all have fond memories. Zalco, being the parent of sons doesn't detach you from wedding planning (and spending obligations) because many things these days, like the rehearsal dinner (which is often expansive to include all out of town attendees) are planned and paid for by the groom's family. And, often money is contributed for the bride family's share as well.

I see nothing wrong with families spending amounts they can afford to stage a grand event if the betrothed couple and their families want something more along those lines. When that isn't desired or affordable, whatever is chosen is fine too, of course. For me, weddings in a backyard or park (pandemic times excepted) seem blah and ordinary and not special to me.

While gatherings occasioned by a death begin with a more solemn cause, funeral get-togethers can be enjoyable too. Mindful of the benefit gained from cheering up those closest to the decedent, get-togethers after a funeral can be lighthearted and fun. An occasion for family and friends who may not see each other frequently to catch up and share stories from the past. Such events should be anything but somber.

I think funerals are stupid. My family has actually been ordered to NOT have a funeral when I die. There will be no "viewing" of my dead body. People can come over to comfort my family (assuming they need it..... ;) ) and have coffee with them. Or a drink. Funerals are the biggest waste of money there is. You sit and listen to a minister who odds are has never even met the dead person, talk about that dead person like they were buddies for 20 years. Then you get to sit and listen to people reminisce about the good old days. I have avoided many funerals when I can: actually my husbands aunts funeral was last week Monday. I said I couldn't get the day off due to covid staff and we were short staffed. I lied. I didn't want to go. Oh, and my niece works for a funeral home. I'll let her cremate me. My kids can throw my ashes in the mountains near Vancouver closer to the ocean. Illegal, but not if you don't get caught... ;)

Elmer, I look forward to any participation in my sons' future weddings. It is such a minefield though. I have been to a wedding rehearsal which easily outcost the actual wedding. It was guauche of the boy's parents to do that and I worry I am capable of getting carried away myself. I am an enthusiastic party planner. I am sure when the time comes things will work out smoothly.

bored housewife, I loathe funerals. As they say, they are for the living. I would want minimal effort put into mine. If it were up to me, there would be none.

I don't participate. I have been to, I think, 3 weddings in my life. I didn't have one...married by a JP. I have been to 3 graduations....my high school, my daughter's high school and college graduation. I've been to a Catholic church once...in 1976...when visiting a friend. I don't even go to funerals any more. The older I get, the less I care about social functions, and going somewhere that I have no interest in going in the first place.

I agree with Elmer. Our last such event was a big, formal wedding a couple of years ago, at which we had a wonderful time. The groom was a close high school friend of our son, who was in the wedding party. We got to see many of the kids he had grown up with, and their parents, some of whom we hadn't seen in ages. The ceremony was a short Catholic mass, and the lavish party that evening was so convivial, with good food, wine, and much laughter. The ceremonial aspects only added to the fun. I look forward to more of these in the future!

^^^^^^^ My children are not quite this age, but getting very close. I am really looking forward to this.

I'm happy to join in the celebration! After all, just how many weddings and graduations do we get to attend in our lifetime? I know I want to relish my own. Having it in the courthouse surround by ??? strangers (and worse) doesn't leave me relishing it.

“No gripes from me on weddings.......as long as the receptions are well stocked”

Weddings have always been an issue for me because I don’t dance. But I drank a lot so there was that to do. Now I don’t drink, so the thought of going to a full-on wedding is dreadful. I’d fully support small, intimate, casual, destination weddings for my kids. As long as I’m invited.

The rehearsal events we hosted were like catered dinners - one at a restaurant, one at an event venue - that we planned to provide good food (that we chose), an open bar, and the opportunity for people to visit and enjoy themselves. No music. We weren't particularly privy to the plans for the weddings the next day in each instance. We could have found out but it didn't matter, we did our events our way without any thought of it being a competition. I think we did well and hit the right spot on each occasion.

It's a world of right-handed people and negative words arise from those who aren't in many languages.

Gauche = unsophisticated, improper, awkward, is French for "left"

Sinister = threatening, menacing, is from the Latin word for "left"

Elmer, I don't think our friends who hosted an OTT rehearsal dinner were trying to compete. They are quite nice people. They just got carried away. And maybe they were not totally clued in about the parameters of the main event. It felt awkward to me. I could be over thinking it.

"It felt awkward to me. I could be over thinking it."

That's for you to decide but as your reaction was that they got carried away says that the nature of the rehearsal dinner was awkward in context, sending or leaving the wrong message or impression with attendees. I suspect your view of this was shared.

Weddings can be wonderful. But an hour and a half ceremony is too much in my book. Good for them who are enjoying that.

But an hour and a half ceremony is too much in my book.

I once attended a Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony which lasted an hour, and I thought that was interminable. I can't imagine something even longer. Most weddings I've been to it's all been over in 15 minutes.

If you don't like people, you don't want to be around them, much less *celebrate* with them. What's important to them isn't any concern of yours. Fine. Don't attend their events. They'll be happy to return the 'favor', and you can go on your merry way alone.

A wedding *used* to be a solemn thing, two people pledging to care for one another forever, their vows publicly witnessed and thereby endorsed by family, friends and neighbors -- as well as a deity. Whether the *eternity* part is or was for better or for worse may be debated, but it was a CONTRACT. Contracts require witnesses.

Pageantry doesn’t bother me much at weddings or commencements or funerals. I expect it and therefore plan to spend some time paying my respects to the people I have feelings for.

If I don’t have strong feelings for the person(s), I don’t go.

chisue, I agree with your first paragraph but not the second. It's a shame that some people aren't social and don't enjoy sharing happiness and events of others. That isn't an excuse to stay away from events one's expected to attend but it's true, you do reap what you sow.

As far as weddings being solemn events, that must have been before my time. Any ceremony lacking laughing, smiling, and non-solemn happy moods is one I'm glad I've never attended. Whether witnesses are required or not might be a legal formality but it's hardly an ingredient required for a relationship.

I seem to have gone to more funerals than weddings. Had to be in graduation every year when I taught high school. I did not mind graduations because I tuned out the speeches and looked over the list of graduate names and had memories about each of them.

My extended family had a number of funerals in the winter with snow on the ground, and no one stood around and talked after the burial. Went home and it seemed so incomplete. Even though my mother just wants a graveside service, we will all go somewhere for food and talk. It just completes the ceremony. Funerals are for the living, and I remember who came and who said what to me, who came to the house with food, etc. when my father died when I was 23. It was a great comfort. So for people saying they "don't like funerals", WHO DOES?, BUT you do it for the family, not your entertainment.

I think my message got lost. I love celebrating with people. However, I do not count sitting through mindless rituals as "celebrating." The celebrating comes AFTER the ceremony. For my brothers third marriage, they did not invite anyone to their actual wedding, which was at the courthouse. There were witnesses provided, so no loved ones were imposed upon. They just had a reception for everyone to celebrate. THAT I loved, even though I was recruited to make the grooms cake, which was a doughnut cake and chocolate covered strawberries. I will happily spend a couple hours doing that before sitting, eyes glazing over, watching words being exchanged. It was remarked to me once that the reception was the reward for sitting through the ceremony, and I agreed at the time. Its like, "you want this food and cake and booze" How bad? If you want it you must sit through our wedding." It reminds me of those sales pitches for time shares you have to sit through to get a gift card or something.

My own high school graduation was held in the Church associated with our school. And even though my class was only 32 kids, with the required full Mass with it it was well over 2 hours long. It was painfully boring. The party afterward was fun. I did not need that ceremony at all. Just mail me my diploma, lets party together one last time before we are off into adult life. Cut the extra. I honestly felt that they were holding our diplomas over our heads to coerce us into the dog and pony show....for WHAT?!?!?! Me and my friend Mikey were next to each other and giggled through a large portion of it. It was the only thing that saved it. We were so amused at how STUPID the whole thing was. We passed the classes, we were done, why were we sitting there in these awful costumes for yet another ritual. All the "authorities" involved(the teachers, the priest, the deacon, whoever else) in the ceremony were SOOOOO solemn and serious, we couldn't help it. It was ridiculously funny. And then all the assembled families of the graduates were asked to NOT clap or cheer for their graduate when their name was called. WHAT?!?!? WHY?!?!? I thought this was a celebration?!?!?! Nope. A mindless, needless, tedious ritual. It was simply MORBID. Even for my parents, who tend to like these sorts of things, it was dull. Of course, I was their 6th and last child, so the novelty was gone anyway.

I have managed to wriggle out of my siblings' children's' Baptisms by volunteering to cook for the actual celebration afterward. The only ones I could not wriggle out of were for 2 of my nephews, because I was asked to be their Godmother. (interesting choice there, but whatever)

I really think funerals are different, even though I avoid them when I can. The trouble with funerals is that they are indeed for the living, and it could be seen as callous to the surviving loved ones if you choose not to attend. The best type of sympathy, the type that was guilted outta ya. The few funerals I have attended were done so out of guilt and duty, nothing else. And I have never attended a family funeral, as I simply refuse to have my last memory of them dead in a box, on display like a Costco chicken. I find the whole idea of funerals...well dumb. I just want to be buried. If you must have something for me, make it a party, make and eat all my favorite foods and watch Christmas movies. But please, no empty words, no meaningless gestures or ritual, nothing that traditional decorum demands. Oh, and feed the dogs and George..... That's it. Celebrate an excuse to get together. No long, drawn out required steps to go through to qualify to celebrate.

Oh...and as an aside, has anyone noticed how exploitive these things are? The wedding industry, the death industry, even the grad industry. I spent (wasted) a LOT my own money to buy "commemorative" things for graduation, because it was a joyful and emotional time. A $400 class ring that I never wore and am oblivious to its whereabouts, a Beer Stein of all things, with all my classmates names on it, (my own name was misspelled),and a variety of other things that have long since been disposed of or lost. Not to mention the cap and gown that I was indeed required to buy, not rent and I wasn't allowed to wear hand me down either and thy told me that they would KNOW because I had to have an order registered or I would not be allowed to get my diploma at all and it was a slightly different shade of black anyway from my older siblings so they would know. That is another reason I dislike these things. They take advantage of people at times of heavy emotions, both happy and sad, to make tons of money off of them.

I'm okay with stuff like this, but I also hate them since I get teary eyed over anything like this. Kid's school plays, the national anthem, graduation, weddings, etc.. doesn't matter. I hate funerals. I start to cry if someone else is crying. I don't want a funeral. Take a trip somewhere pretty and toss my ashes out. Then enjoy the rest of the trip and think of me and the places and things we did when I was alive.

The thing I really hate is trying to find something appropriate to wear to them since I own one dress and have no dress shoes that are comfortable to wear for more than 5 minutes.

I know no one really wants to go to funerals, but when my father passed away, it was very comforting for my mother to see how many people respected, liked, loved him enough to attend the funeral. I found some comfort in that myself. We had a kind of a wake afterwards, with much reminiscing over some of the funnier memories we shared. It seemed an appropriate way to mark the end of a gentle and caring life.

There was no graveside ceremony. Dad was cremated, and my sister and brother in law arranged with BC ferries for the captain to stop the ferry somewhere near Active Pass, so they could scatter Dad's ashes over the sea ( he has wanted his ashes scattered at sea and that was a particularly suitable, given the number of times he'd taken that trip - and BTW it's also perfectly legal).

When my dad died, after a brief graveside service, they went to lower the coffin and it wouldn't fit! While everyone stood around in the chilly weather, couple of workers had to come out with power tools and remove the handles in order to get the coffin to fit in the hole. It was kind of funny, and I'm sure everyone talked about it later. My dad loved attention and he would have enjoyed that. Even more, he would have loved that the funeral director gave us a big discount because they screwed up!

Amy,

I think it's hard to separate the ceremony from the event. Most of us combine them. Most of us tolerate the ceremony to get to the event. Neither one is for us. It's for the other person, the one we love, to savor and enjoy their day. Maybe not a funeral. But sometimes, that's the only place we see other people that love the person we love. Which still means it's for the other person. Might be hard, but keep it in mind.

Yes, rob. That was sort of the premise for my whole post. The tedium of ceremony before getting to the point. Whether it be a celebration, a get together, a sporting event, a show, a class or test, a meeting, an announcement, anything. I was wondering if anyone actually enjoyed such, and if not, why it is still so prevalent to fiddle faddle around before the main event? Think gender reveals. All sorts of leading up to things, trying to build suspense, for what? if you want people to know what you are having send an announcement out. If you wanna have a party about it just do so. We're having a boy/girl! Come celebrate with us! Its that easy. It would work for most other happy events. We got married! Come celebrate with us! The kid graduated! Come to a party to celebrate! I think it would be better if people keep in mind that a lot of people only attend such events either out of obligation/guilt, or indeed to take the opportunity to get together with family and friends. I know that the bridal industry pushes the idea of a fairy tale wedding HARD so that a lot of young people think that they NEED to have such an event, and get excited for it. Thus the tradition of family and friends and friends of family showing up to suffer through, in order to get an opportunity to see each other. Why not just get married and then have such a party? Same thing with things like training or meetings. No one is there for fun. We are here because we have to be. No, I do not want to see your pretty little PowerPoint slides, unless they are RELEVENT to why I am here. I do not want to play an ice breaker. I either already know someone or will likely never work with them, so stop wasting time, get to it so I can get out. I am an adult and can either get along with everyone or at least fake it for works sake. I need no help from an ice breaker game. get to it. Or a game. I want to watch THE GAME! Not someone warbling and over embellishing the national anthem to try to make it stand out. Not a dance or cheerleading routine. The game was supposed to start as 7. Its 8:30 and nothing sports related has happened.

I will for sure attend all the future weddings of my nieces and nephews that I am able. Out of OBLIGATION and GUILT, because I am their aunt and I love them. And I will make small talk and rant and rave over the decorations and how lovely the colors looked and how well done the ceremony was......then I will be thankful that it is over. I do hope I have at least one that thinks like me......

I snuck out of a wedding reception for an hour and a half once. Another guest had to go back to their office unexpectedly and I offered him a ride. Then I went to a friend's house and visited for a while. No-one noticed a thing when I went back. Not-so-nice me thought it was hilarious.

I'm with you, Amy. Not a fan at all.

Well said by rob. The right approach is to tolerate one as the price of being able to participate and/or have fun (if not a funeral) at the other. And hope that those putting on the event have enough humility and respect for those who went to the trouble and expense to attend, do not make the ceremony part too long or too arduous.

Not obligation and guilt, amy, but rather out of respect and consideration for the principals. They thought enough of your presence to invite you, reciprocate in kind by making them glad they did.

Obligation/ guilt can be reworded as respect/consideration.....

I understand that these things are a part of the life of someone with a family or friends that they like and get along with. Or if you want to go to an event. Or of you have a job that requires periodic training or whatever. That doesn't mean its not okay to voice an annoyance with it, and express how dumb it all is.

It will not stop me from attending important things, but it wont stop me from being impatient with it all, as long as the subject is not aware.

Reading this....it isn't that I don't like people. I don't have a lot of people in my life. I have almost no family and what few I have don't live anywhere near me. My family and friends aren't having functions. The last ones that died didn't even have funerals. My brother-in-law did have a memorial, several weeks after he died, and I attended that. Before I moved 200 miles away. I don't like to drive at night any more and I cannot go that far and back easily in daylight hours. I realize my circumstances aren't the norm, but at my age and stage of life, I don't do anything that I don't want to do or that could be problematic for me. I have only myself, and I have to stay cognizant of that.

A different thing that is tedious to sit through ... battle scenes. Whether it's a book, tv show, or movie, how many ways can a person be hit, stabbed, shot, yell "arrgggh" and fall backwards to die? After the first Star Wars movie, how interesting is it really to watch a fight between rival space ships? We all know who's going to win. Just get on with the story.

I agree with Nickel. I FF though fight scenes, car chases and battle scenes. I think sometimes they are just filling in with special effects to make up for weak writing.

Elizabeth, yes -- weak writing. At least it's an opportunity for a bathroom break.