All posts tagged: annoy

If These 11 Phrases Annoy And Irritate You Deeply, You Probably Have A Really High IQ

If These 11 Phrases Annoy And Irritate You Deeply, You Probably Have A Really High IQ

Published by Jenni Sidey

Smart people don’t always know how intelligent they are, nor do they go around bragging about their level of knowledge. While many people tend to overestimate their competence and intellect, measuring intelligence is more than just knowing things; in fact, a person’s reaction to certain words can indicate their brainpower.  Whether it’s telling others to be more positive or claiming everything happens for a reason, if these phrases annoy and irritate you deeply, you probably have a really high IQ. It doesn’t mean you think you’re better than others, it just means you’re open-minded and are fairly annoyed when people are surface-level rather than genuine. If these 11 phrases annoy and irritate you deeply, you probably have a really high IQ 1. ‘It is what it is’ Andrii lemelianenko | Shutterstock Life isn’t meant to be predictable, and people are bound to experience hurt and disappointment. But the way a person chooses to connect with one another during these tough moments says a lot about how intelligent they truly are. For those who lack emotional …

The Books Briefing: Let a Book Annoy You

The Books Briefing: Let a Book Annoy You

Published by José Betancourt

This is an edition of the Books Briefing, our editors’ weekly guide to the best in books. Sign up for it here. The margins of my books are filled with handwritten annotations such as “Absolutely not” and “STOP IT!!!!” and “girl get UP.” These are not necessarily critiques of the story; some are expressions of high praise. Several of my favorite titles are full of characters who utterly vex, agitate, and perturb me. I know I’m not alone in this; my colleague Lily Meyer, in a recent Atlantic essay, found Andrew Martin’s Down Time, a novel full of irritating people, to be a useful reflection of the society we live in. I agree with her, and I’ll go a step further: Let books be annoying. First, here are four new stories from The Atlantic’s Books section: Characters—in both fiction and nonfiction—should be as exasperating as people can be. As Meyer writes, “Annoying characters let us admit that we might be annoying too.” I’m on record praising Alison Bechdel for letting the main character of her …

11 Tiny Habits That Annoy Pretty Much Everyone Else At The Grocery Store

11 Tiny Habits That Annoy Pretty Much Everyone Else At The Grocery Store

Published by Jenni Sidey

Despite the annoyance of grocery shopping being a chore that some people loathe, the added anxiety and stress of avoiding other customers, mingling with strangers, and getting out of a packed parking lot only adds to shoppers’ general distaste. Whether it’s people lallygagging in aisles or treating cashiers poorly, there are many tiny habits that annoy pretty much everyone else at the grocery store. According to etiquette expert Elaine Swann, it’s essential to prioritize respect, noting that it doesn’t take much to act with a little bit of consideration. By learning “grocery store etiquette” and avoiding behaviors of the most unfavorable shoppers, this chore can actually become enjoyable, making a stressful grocery experience less chaotic. Here are 11 tiny habits that annoy pretty much everyone else at the grocery store 1. Not putting away their shopping cart Dragana Gordic | Shutterstock While there are several behavioral reasons why people don’t return their shopping carts at grocery stores, from pure laziness to misguided feelings about service workers and the weather, many people find it annoying when they see …

People Who Use These 12 Tired Phrases Annoy Pretty Much Everyone They Talk To

People Who Use These 12 Tired Phrases Annoy Pretty Much Everyone They Talk To

Published by Jenni Sidey

Mastering the art of engaging and compassionate conversation isn’t easy. If you rely on a number of tired phrases, it can be easy to slip up and say the wrong thing or annoy people.  When someone relies too heavily on clichés or corporate jargon, they wind up annoying pretty much everyone they talk to. Some of these phrases are so overused, they’re almost meaningless, which seems lazy or careless while others might come off as flippant, sarcastic or salty. Regardless of the reason, it’s worth avoiding tired phrases like this, substituting genuine, authentic phrases instead.  People who use these 12 tired phrases annoy pretty much everyone they talk to: 1. ‘It is what it is’ dekazigzag | Shutterstock While this phrase can be annoying in passing conversation simply because it’s overused, there’s an unsuspecting deeper meaning that is much more serious. That’s because it is a sign the person saying “it is what it is” doesn’t care about the consequences of their choices. This phrase actively suggests that people avoid responsibility in their lives and …

11 Phrases People Often Think Are Polite That Actually Annoy High-Level Thinkers

11 Phrases People Often Think Are Polite That Actually Annoy High-Level Thinkers

Published by Jenni Sidey

People often hope to convey respect with their manner by saying the right things. But what they may not always realize is that the words they use can be irritating to some people who think on a higher level. While some social interactions call for being more formal than others, it’s typically a good idea to maintain proper etiquette in your conversations. Still, there are very specific phrases people often think are polite that actually annoy high-level thinkers. Sometimes, people may try to seem as though they’re being generous or proper in their manner of speaking, while really, they come off as self-righteous or condescending. In cases like that, their politeness becomes becomes downright bothersome. And it’s not because it’s polite, it’s because it’s extremely fake, snobby, and comes from a person who thinks they’re superior to others. Here are 11 phrases people often think are polite that actually annoy high-level thinkers 1. ‘With all due respect’ Aloha Hawaii | Shutterstock It’s common to hear this phrase uttered during tense conversations or heated debates, when …

My smart home used to annoy my guests until I built this

My smart home used to annoy my guests until I built this

Published by skeptic

My sister came over last Thanksgiving and couldn’t figure out the living room lights. She kept flipping the wall switch — nothing. The Philips Hue recessed cans just sat there, dark. I’d turned them off with a voice command earlier, so the switch was technically already on — it just feeds constant power to the smart bulbs. She didn’t know that. How could she? I watched her frustration build, and I quickly explained that flipping a switch wouldn’t work because I’d spoken to a speaker three hours ago. That moment forced me to admit something uncomfortable: my sensors, my automations, all those voice commands I’m so proud of? They only made sense to the four of us who live here. The fix wasn’t removing the smart features I love — it was adding physical controls that make sense to everyone and creating a single command that brings the whole house back to normal. The problem nobody warned me about Voice control isn’t intuitive for visitors Credit: Jonathon Jachura / MUO Voice assistants handle smart home control …

If These 11 Things Make You Fly Into A Rage, You Likely Have Unusually High Intelligence

If These 11 Things Make You Fly Into A Rage, You Likely Have Unusually High Intelligence

Published by Jenni Sidey

Being super smart isn’t always a gift. Sure, it’s easier to pass tests, and you might find yourself climbing up the corporate ladder faster. However, the downside of intelligence is often how many people or things seem to make you uncontrollably angry. The truth of the matter is that if certain things make you fly into a rage, you likely have unusually high intelligence. As the Davidson Institute explains, “The intense emotions and heightened sensitivities that come with being profoundly gifted can often lead to frustration and outbursts.” So while intelligent people may do their best to keep their cool and rein in their emotions, just because their facial expression is blank doesn’t mean they aren’t secretly seething on the inside. This is especially true for some particularly irritating circumstances. If these 11 things make you fly into a rage, you likely have unusually high intelligence 1. People who confuse confidence with competence insta_photos | Shutterstock If people confusing confidence with competence makes you fly into a rage, you likely have unusually high intelligence. It’s …