I don't like the use of plastic bottles for cleaning supplies and all the packaging that goes into our products. I started making my own clothes washing detergent (some good recipes on the web), and I love that I don't have tons of detergent bottles to recycle anymore. I can see where bottled water or distilled water is a necessary thing for some folks with bad water (although, I think the majority of people in our country probably have good drinking water). I know of a person who drank well water on a property of his and is now seeing specialists in a large major hospital, because it made him sick due to some bacteria, parasite or chemical in the water. The last I heard they had yet to identify what was in the water that made him sick. They are doing testing, and despite different treatment approaches, he was still sick, unable to eat and losing weight quickly. We drank well water growing up and are fine, but it would not hurt to get well water tested. I think our local water companies and/or health departments will do these tests for free. One of my largest pet peaves is people getting their lawns sprayed with herbicides/fertilizers. They make claims that they are "all natural", but lots of things occur naturally that you would'nt want on your lawn. I guess some of it is ignorance (and I don't mean as in stupid; I mean as in "lack of knowledge"). Those products (chemicals) seep into the ground, into underground streams and eventually make it into our drinking water. We don't "eat" off our lawns, why put that amount of money into it, where it could be better used. Too many are concerned about appearances, which leads to another pet peeve: restrictions in neighborhoods. We are not supposed to put up clothes lines. ARE you kidding me!!! I've heard that dryers use up to fourty per cent of our energy usage in the home! I feel as though we bought this property, we should have some rights to do with as we please, as long as we are not hurting anyone. I also think steps should be taken to do away with "urban sprawl". Whatever happened to tearing down old buildings or using land that has already been developed, instead of tearing down trees and taking up valuable farm land for more houses and shopping strips? It makes me sick to watch a show on television where they pull out perfectly good appliances, cabinets, fixtures, countertops, just because they are not granite, stainless steel or the newest fashion. It does'nt bother me if they carefully remove them and make sure they get reused, but I have my doubts. When did it become necessary for everything to be perfect? I think if it is working, and you are satisfied with it, it does'nt matter what the newest trend is. I agree with the previous poster about all the t.v.s that are going to end up in landfills.

Self-involvement and rudeness to others always irritates me. But, I guess I'm not as nice as you, Bumblebeez. Recently, a lady literally ran to get in front of me, as I was walking down the aisle toward the check-out, cutting across another lane (it was at Walmart, where the check-outs are two per aisle). She then turned and smiled and said, "Oh, I didn't mean to cut in front of you." I said, "Yes, you did." She then said, shocked, "Oh, my God." I said, "That's okay. I'm sure your time is more valuable than mine." OTH, I think that Wal-Mart site is despicable. My SIL sent out a mass email with several of those pictures attached. One was of an elderly woman, naked from the waist up, with her breasts tucked into her pants waist. I cried at that picture because I could see my mother, who suffers from Alzheimer's doing the same. Of course the posters don't see any other explanation for such behavior other than the woman chose to appear in public that way, and hah-hah, isn't this funny? I responded to my SIL to please not forward any more of those emails to me. Dee

Hmm. It's not really an issue anymore, thankfully, but as a vegetarian, I have gotten annoyed when . . . (1) people read me the menu and point out vegetarian items. I am a vegetarian, not illiterate. (2) people think if a restaurant serves salad, then it's a good enough vegetarian meal. I'm hungry, people! Salad alone doesn't cut it! (3) people want to debate vegetarianism with me. I leave omnivores alone-- why do they care about my choice? In fact, I tell people (if they ask) NOT to be vegetarians, just to eat meat in moderation and/or buy free-range. IF they ask (really, it's when they tell me they feel guilty for not being a vegetarian), and never during meals. (4) people tell me I'm not really a vegetarian because I use milk products and free-range eggs. I try to explain veganism (that I'm not one!) to them but they don't get it. Actually, this only happened once, at a WEDDING (when I was discreetly eating my veggie entree) with a total stranger. So, not something ongoing. (5) people tell me they are vegetarians, but then order chicken, beef, whatever when we are out together. I mean, I do NOT CARE if someone is a vegetarian (I rarely discuss it), but why lie? The only reason I use a label ever is because it can be awkward when I am invited to dinner at someone's house and I haven't mentioned it.

Some people seem to have a sense of entitlement and/or no peripheral vision. That would cover the 'road blockers' whether on the road or in a store or on a sidewalk. Same for the people bellowing into a cell phone in a public place or gabbing away while failing to Just DRIVE! "No problem" makes me want to retract my thanks. "You're welcome" or "I'm glad I could be of help" or "My pleasure" indicate that the service was cheerfully given. "No problem" sounds more like, "It was no skin off my nose". (Please make eye contact when you speak, too.) Some of this may be a cultural thing. Americans tend to smile and acknowledge even strangers more than people in some cultures -- where you only acknowledge people you know. (At least *I* was raised to present a pleasant face in public; maybe it's passe now?)