While it's natural for us to have individual habits, it is important to consider the impact that our actions may have on those around us. After all, we often work, travel, and go shopping surrounded by other people, so why not make these random encounters at least bearable? There's plenty of nonsense in the world that's out of our control already. No need to contribute to it.
So, let's begin our quest of becoming a considerate passerby by taking a look at one viral Reddit post. Created by a now-deleted user, it asked everyone on the platform: "What is something people do in public that gets under your skin?" In just days, the post has received over 5,000 comments, many of which detail our annoying behaviors. Here are the most popular answers.
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People who litter
The most annoying thing ever. When I see it happen and if the situation presents itself, I take it and throw it in their cars.
Speakerphone calls.Seriously, just hold the phone to your ear. No one wants to listen to your conversation.
People who watch videos at full volume on speaker are worse. I was chilling after work one day, sipping on my beer and this guy at the other end of the bar, like 20ft away was watching Seinfeld reruns. I could hear EVERY WORD.
When I worked at Starbucks I got written up because I was working window and some guy came through in a pickup and ordered a venti caramel macchiato. He's a regular turd when I open the window and charge him but when I came back and opened the window to give him his coffee, he was actively dumping all the garbage from inside his truck all over the drive thru. Receipts, kleenex, mcdonald's wrappers and tim hortons cups, all over the ground and he was doing this like it was the most natural thing in the world. I said, "what are you doing?" and he said, "they pay them to clean it up".
I said I was going to have to clean it up and he shrugged, so I dumped his drink on the ground between the window and his truck and told him I was saving him a step. It was rural Alberta, so the situation was de-escalated by an even bigger guy getting out of an even bigger truck behind him and telling Litterbug to get moving. Bro had to call the store to complain, I still had to pick up the garbage and I got written up but I'd do it again just to watch his face as he watches me dump his fucking drink.
Pissant.
People being oblivious to their position or how they are blocking an entire aisle.
Groups that walk 5 wide on a sidewalk chatting away like they're the main characters
People that take up the whole aisle in the grocery store. Push your s**t to one side or the other so other folks can shop, you inconsiderate prick.
I’ve stopped shopping with my mom for this reason. If you tell her she’s blocking the aisle, she’ll say “I was here first” or “they can wait” or “they can go around.” I’m constantly having to move the cart and it pisses her off every time. Her inconsiderate behavior was taking a toll on my anxiety. I just can’t tolerate it anymore.
Coughing or sneezing without covering their mouths
If your arms are long enough, coughing/sneezing into your armpit works best! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[Edit] Some Panda's recognized this as a joke (everyone knows arm length makes no difference). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I interact with a lot of kids in educational settings and some of them tell me I should use the crook of my elbow instead of reflexively using my hand (as I was taught). I'll tell them, "thank you, you're right" if it was said helpfully, but, if a kid is saying it as bratty little comment, I tell them about the armpit "solution". This gets a laugh from the other kids and makes them think twice before speaking disrespectfully to me.
Idiot drivers who change lanes way too sudden and not use their f*****g turn signals.
If you're waiting for me to back out of my spot so you can take it, that's cool, *but give me room to back out first for f**k's sake.*
Worst is when you’re just getting in your car and they start to honk because you’re taking too long, guess what you’ve just earned 5 more minutes of wait time
not letting people off the train before trying to cram themselves into a full car. just let people off and there will be more room!!! how do you live/work in the city and not learn this by day 3!?
Standing too close behind me in line. It will not make the line move faster, I promise.
That's what I loved about covid times, people not coming close. I'm glad the pandemic is pretty much over, but I sure miss that :/
Leaving their shopping carts out in the middle of the parking lot, rather than taking the cart to those designated spots the store puts out.
Let’s face it. It’s all the SAME PEOPLE committing each of these self-centered actions on this entire list.
Get to the top/bottom of an escalator and then simply stop in order to figure out where to go next. Like, the rest of us have no choice in our movement right now, we're going to pile up behind you!
That's actually dangerous if there are people behind you, and people behind them...
Spit
I once saw a girl spitting like every 30 seconds, like it was the coolest thing to do. I then told her that it's possible to swallow saliva in case she hadn't heard and that she won't die from it. At least she was confused enough to stop it for a bit.
Be rude to anyone trying to do their jobs. Times I just wanna slap the person silly and tell them to grow the f**k up.
IKR!? I’m sorry…. I can’t just let you buy alcohol without your id. Geez the looks I used to get and we were pretty strict about it. One time I let it slip due to my anxiety and a customer told my manager. 😭
Smoke near the entrance of an establishment, then I have to walk thru the smoke.
My city made a law in 2007: “no smoking within 3-7 meters of doorways/entryways” (some other areas too). It was amended in 2014 to include bus stops/parks/playgrounds/playing fields/public squares. It now includes e-cigarettes and vaping. Marijuana is legal in my city, which I don’t have a problem with… except for the horrible smell of it. I’m not judging any pot smokers, just the smell of their drug of choice.
Not pick up after their dog. I live in an apartment complex and I see dog s**t *everywhere* despite there being free baggies and trashcans. It's literally in the lease agreement and they need to start enforcing it.
People who don't leash their dogs. Regardless of their recall ability. When a dog comes running up to me and my dog, the owners always call out, "Oh it's okay, he's friendly!" Yeah, but you know who *ISN'T*? You know who is about to start s**t because a stranger just got up in her face? My cranky a*s 13 year old dog leashed by my side.
Also the cat owners that let their cats roam completely unattended outside. My dog has been attacked twice on our walks. Completely unprovoked ambush. I was scared she was gonna lose an eye.
Another one is when dog owners dont keep their dog on a lease in areas where they are required too. Im terrified of dogs. My grandpa died almost 6 months ago and i havent been able to visit him because you have to pass a field to get to the graveyard, people are supposed to have their dogs on a lease but nobody has, they end up running up to you and fighting with other dogs. I tried visiting him once but ended up crying and shaking when a women ignored my moms plea to please but her dog on a lease, i was so scared i was frozen. So please dog owners try to remember that even if you love your dog somebody might not. Thank you!
People who keep passing me and then slowing down so I have to pass them. I'm on cruise control going the same speed all the time. Pick a speed, we don't need all this lane changing!
People NOT washing their hands in a public restroom after using it. I work in a store and see if often. Disgusting.
Another user added:
This is how it is at all the casinos, where everything it touch - screens, cards, chips, etc. More than half of men do not wash their hands, even after using the crapper.
I would have thought that Covid had helped people be more vigilant about hand hygiene but I guess not as much as I would like to think/hope. I, like many other people, started carrying a small bottle of hand sanitizer in my inner jacket pocket near the start of the pandemic and I use it often and refill it as needed.
Saw some kids in the literal front row of a movie theater with their bright a*s phones on taking selfies the entire time. Like wtf who bought your tickets and why bother even going to the movie?
People can be so inconsiderate. Sadly I have a hard time speaking up sometimes 😞
People who are obnoxiously loud with no consideration to the person(s) standing right next to them.
Oh no… my dad is like this 😂 One time in the movie theater my dad was laughing and talking at the same time during the movie. The guy in our row moved away from us. Poor guy
I dont know how to put it but not navigating a store correctly. You should navigate a store like you drive. Leaving the aisle you stop and yield to people on the main walkway. Stay on your side while walking and pull over properly and get out of the way if you need to stop and look. Check your blind spots. Etc etc.
I drive my mobility scooter around the supermarket and I am so cautious and careful, using the lowest speed setting, and the people around me are so inconsiderate! I try to keep a good following distance because if they stop suddenly, I can't stop as fast... Just like it is when you are driving a car and you try to maintain a good following distance, there's always some idiot who tries to cut in, in front of you!
Chit chat excessively with the checkout clerk at the grocery store when there is a line of people behind them
Walking slowly in the parking lot, in the middle, with cars waiting on you to stroll to your spot.
Where the heck are you supposed to walk? It's not safe to walk to close behind the parked cars because someone may back up into you, and that's nearly happened so many times to us. Just be patient. Not everyone is able to walk fast, and unfortunately malls and big box stores cater to cars more than pedestrians. There needs to be more safer paths to walk across parking lots.
Cyclists behaving like they are the protagonist of an action movie. Almost got hit by one while walking because he was making videos while riding his bike.
Cyclist, the only people that get to chose if they are car driver, pedestrian or cyclist when it comes to rules. Driving lane has a red light-just use the pedestrian way. /s
Having no situational awareness at all.
Is this in reference to a "normal" person just being a selfish a-hole? Or could this person have a neuro/mental disorder that impedes their situational awareness?
We have a girl that [watches TikToks loudly] in the bathroom at work. More than once I've thought about turning the light off on my way out
Meh. What someone wants to do in the stall is their business. They are distracted by their videos to be bothered to listen to me drop a log and piddle. I hate having listeners in the washroom trying to hear me if I'm done or not then asking when they "don't hear anything". S**t takes time. At least with a video I can listen to that, too. Doesn't bother me much. Better than a live phone call.
Lots of grocery and driving rants. I would like to add people using heavily scented creams, sanitizers, body sprays in public.
I well remember the Axe body spray craze. I could smell those guys coming from a mile away and with asthma and allergies, they were the bane of my existence
Load More Replies... One I would add is people who pull into an intersection when there's no space on the other side. Rush hour, heavy traffic. Instead of stopping before the intersection and waiting for space, they eat up that last 15 feet or so. Good job dingleberry, now you're blocking two streets.
Lots of grocery and driving rants. I would like to add people using heavily scented creams, sanitizers, body sprays in public.
I well remember the Axe body spray craze. I could smell those guys coming from a mile away and with asthma and allergies, they were the bane of my existence
Load More Replies... One I would add is people who pull into an intersection when there's no space on the other side. Rush hour, heavy traffic. Instead of stopping before the intersection and waiting for space, they eat up that last 15 feet or so. Good job dingleberry, now you're blocking two streets.
