Minor things that bother you

[1995hoo]

Mundane routine annoyance: Shipping confirmation e-mails (whether UPS or FedEx, doesn't matter) that simply tell you the label was created, and then when you track the package it's two or three days before there's actually any tracking info. Tell me when the package actually ships.

[Roadgeekteen]

Google Forms not saving answers if you close the page.

[SSOWorld]

Mundane routine annoyance: Shipping confirmation e-mails (whether UPS or FedEx, doesn't matter) that simply tell you the label was created, and then when you track the package it's two or three days before there's actually any tracking info. Tell me when the package actually ships.

package arrives.  Two hours later... Echo/E-mail: "Your package has arrived"

[1995hoo]

Mundane routine annoyance: Shipping confirmation e-mails (whether UPS or FedEx, doesn't matter) that simply tell you the label was created, and then when you track the package it's two or three days before there's actually any tracking info. Tell me when the package actually ships.

package arrives.  Two hours later... Echo/E-mail: "Your package has arrived"

Heh. I finally got updated info for the current one. I'll be keeping a sharp eye out this time because it's supposed to come Thursday, it's supposed to rain Thursday, and the box is too big to wrap in plastic (not that UPS does that anymore anyway).

[I-55]

Mundane routine annoyance: Shipping confirmation e-mails (whether UPS or FedEx, doesn't matter) that simply tell you the label was created, and then when you track the package it's two or three days before there's actually any tracking info. Tell me when the package actually ships.

package arrives.  Two hours later... Echo/E-mail: "Your package has arrived"

Heh. I finally got updated info for the current one. I'll be keeping a sharp eye out this time because it's supposed to come Thursday, it's supposed to rain Thursday, and the box is too big to wrap in plastic (not that UPS does that anymore anyway).

In a similar vein... When Severe Thunderstorm Warnings come over the radio AFTER the warning has already been canceled.

[tolbs17]

Whatever the hell the double red lights (and arrows) mean.

[dlsterner]

Mundane routine annoyance: Shipping confirmation e-mails (whether UPS or FedEx, doesn't matter) that simply tell you the label was created, and then when you track the package it's two or three days before there's actually any tracking info. Tell me when the package actually ships.

package arrives.  Two hours later... Echo/E-mail: "Your package has arrived"

They drop off the package - and don't knock on my door nor ring my doorbell, but just leave.  Sometimes even staying out of range of my Ring camera (like dropping it off at my garage door instead of my front door)

[1995hoo]

UPS always trained their drivers to knock, rather than ring the bell, because it's faster–it's obvious where the door is, but doorbell locations vary. With that said, I've also noticed they don't knock anymore. Same applies to Amazon delivery.

Tomorrow's delivery is supposed to weigh 61 pounds (I ordered a new desk chair for my home office). I assume they'll put it in front of the garage door.

[CapeCodder]

Mundane routine annoyance: Shipping confirmation e-mails (whether UPS or FedEx, doesn't matter) that simply tell you the label was created, and then when you track the package it's two or three days before there's actually any tracking info. Tell me when the package actually ships.

package arrives.  Two hours later... Echo/E-mail: "Your package has arrived"

Heh. I finally got updated info for the current one. I'll be keeping a sharp eye out this time because it's supposed to come Thursday, it's supposed to rain Thursday, and the box is too big to wrap in plastic (not that UPS does that anymore anyway).

In a similar vein... When Severe Thunderstorm Warnings come over the radio AFTER the warning has already been canceled.

This. Another wx related rant: Back in 2010 I remember it being a Sunday and the radio station I was listening to at work stated there was a tornado warning. Looked at the NWS site and there was no warning, only a watch for the area. That made me mad. Why? Because the general public often doesn't know the difference between a watch and warning. That could cause unnecessary panic.

[jmacswimmer]

Mundane routine annoyance: Shipping confirmation e-mails (whether UPS or FedEx, doesn't matter) that simply tell you the label was created, and then when you track the package it's two or three days before there's actually any tracking info. Tell me when the package actually ships.

package arrives.  Two hours later... Echo/E-mail: "Your package has arrived"

I've had the opposite happen before (presumably because the driver scans a bunch of packages at once prior to actually dropping them off), and yes it has caused moments of panic when I don't see anything at the door  (and then relief when it magically does appear a bit later!)

[mgk920]

UPS always trained their drivers to knock, rather than ring the bell, because it's faster–it's obvious where the door is, but doorbell locations vary. With that said, I've also noticed they don't knock anymore. Same applies to Amazon delivery.

Tomorrow's delivery is supposed to weigh 61 pounds (I ordered a new desk chair for my home office). I assume they'll put it in front of the garage door.

My personal work experiences have shown me that doorbells are often very unreliable.  A good 'police knock' usually does the trick.   

Mike

[Scott5114]

Mundane routine annoyance: Shipping confirmation e-mails (whether UPS or FedEx, doesn't matter) that simply tell you the label was created, and then when you track the package it's two or three days before there's actually any tracking info. Tell me when the package actually ships.

With USPS, this happens because it takes a while between when a package is sent and when USPS scans it in as received. I usually create the label the night before the package goes out, then it shows as "Label Created" (or even sometimes "No Information Available") even after USPS takes physical possession of the package, until they scan the package in at the distribution center. Which could take almost 24 hours, if they pick it up in the morning and then the truck's driving around town all day.

Since the shipper cannot tell when the package is going to get picked up or scanned in by the carrier, it makes sense to send the notification out as soon as the label is created, so the customer can check it at their leisure. 

[CoreySamson]

I really dislike the use of the word "they" as a personal, gender-neutral, singular pronoun. It messes up grammar and causes confusion when used as such. I wish English had a better one than "it", which is not appropriate when referring to humans. I like using "he/she", but I would be fine with creating a new term for the idea (such as "che" or "zhe", dunno, just spitballing here), or even just using "he" as a gender-neutral pronoun (probably the best option).

[kevinb1994]

I really dislike the use of the word "they" as a personal, gender-neutral, singular pronoun. It messes up grammar and causes confusion when used as such. I wish English had a better one than "it", which is not appropriate when referring to humans. I like using "he/she", but I would be fine with creating a new term for the idea (such as "che" or "zhe", dunno, just spitballing here), or even just using "he" as a gender-neutral pronoun (probably the best option).

You're not alone in this argument. My parents don't want to deal with using they/them.

[texaskdog]

I really dislike the use of the word "they" as a personal, gender-neutral, singular pronoun. It messes up grammar and causes confusion when used as such. I wish English had a better one than "it", which is not appropriate when referring to humans. I like using "he/she", but I would be fine with creating a new term for the idea (such as "che" or "zhe", dunno, just spitballing here), or even just using "he" as a gender-neutral pronoun (probably the best option).

You’re not alone in this argument. My parents don’t want to deal with using they/them.

how about he/she?  or like in German Der/Die/Das...... He/she/das

[Scott5114]

I really dislike the use of the word "they" as a personal, gender-neutral, singular pronoun. It messes up grammar and causes confusion when used as such. I wish English had a better one than "it", which is not appropriate when referring to humans. I like using "he/she", but I would be fine with creating a new term for the idea (such as "che" or "zhe", dunno, just spitballing here), or even just using "he" as a gender-neutral pronoun (probably the best option).

Too bad, it's been part of the language since as far back as 1375, meaning that usage is older than Shakespeare. Nobody even started complaining about it "messing up grammar" until 1750, which means it was being used for 375 years before anyone had a problem with it! And it's not just an American thing; it's used in every country that speaks English, including the UK.

"They" is the gender-neutral singular pronoun in English, and more or less always has been.

[Big John]

I really dislike the use of the word "they" as a personal, gender-neutral, singular pronoun. It messes up grammar and causes confusion when used as such. I wish English had a better one than "it", which is not appropriate when referring to humans. I like using "he/she", but I would be fine with creating a new term for the idea (such as "che" or "zhe", dunno, just spitballing here), or even just using "he" as a gender-neutral pronoun (probably the best option).

You're not alone in this argument. My parents don't want to deal with using they/them.

how about he/she?  or like in German Der/Die/Das...... He/she/das

In German, an unmarried woman is referred to a gender-neutral das.

[tdindy88]

I thought German was er/sie/es when referring to people. Isn't Der/Die/Das meant for nouns?

[kenarmy]

I really dislike the use of the word "they" as a personal, gender-neutral, singular pronoun. It messes up grammar and causes confusion when used as such. I wish English had a better one than "it", which is not appropriate when referring to humans. I like using "he/she", but I would be fine with creating a new term for the idea (such as "che" or "zhe", dunno, just spitballing here), or even just using "he" as a gender-neutral pronoun (probably the best option).

Too bad, it's been part of the language since as far back as 1375, meaning that usage is older than Shakespeare. Nobody even started complaining about it "messing up grammar" until 1750, which means it was being used for 375 years before anyone had a problem with it! And it's not just an American thing; it's used in every country that speaks English, including the UK.

"They" is the gender-neutral singular pronoun in English, and more or less always has been.

It can get confusing when you're talking about that person but I don't have a problem with it. I have a transgender (?) cousin, and I only refer to *their* name and avoid using pronouns period. Also, why isn't there an equivalent to "sir" or "ma'am"?

[zachary_amaryllis]

At the grocery store, when the old lady in front of me in line (it's always an old lady) has a bill of $9.48, and after peeling the five and four ones off her stack, goes digging through her coin purse until she finds exactly 48 cents.

The word "trickeration" used by football announcers.

having worked in a drive-thru for a long time...

'hey, i just want to get rid of some pennies...

well, what makes you think i want them?

[hotdogPi]

having worked in a drive-thru for a long time...

'hey, i just want to get rid of some pennies...

well, what makes you think i want them?

I don't know whether you're referring to the customer or the cashier saying it, but if the customer is saying it, the cashier definitely needs them – they give out a lot more than they receive.

[zachary_amaryllis]

having worked in a drive-thru for a long time...

'hey, i just want to get rid of some pennies...

well, what makes you think i want them?

I don't know whether you're referring to the customer or the cashier saying it, but if the customer is saying it, the cashier definitely needs them – they give out a lot more than they receive.

usually a customer. i always had all the pennies i needed. when someone came through and handed me socks full of them, it just meant more counting. generally this happened later at night ... we had a saying, 'the later, the stoned-er' (which applied to customers and employees equally...) and we were across the street from a trailer park. so, at 12am it wasn't uncommon to see a really baked person in a $200 car that barely ran counting pennies for a double cheeseburger.

[Roadgeekteen]

At the grocery store, when the old lady in front of me in line (it's always an old lady) has a bill of $9.48, and after peeling the five and four ones off her stack, goes digging through her coin purse until she finds exactly 48 cents.

The word "trickeration" used by football announcers.

having worked in a drive-thru for a long time...

'hey, i just want to get rid of some pennies...

well, what makes you think i want them?

How many pennies do they have? Maybe they think that you might want them for change?

[jakeroot]

I really dislike the use of the word "they" as a personal, gender-neutral, singular pronoun. It messes up grammar and causes confusion when used as such. I wish English had a better one than "it", which is not appropriate when referring to humans. I like using "he/she", but I would be fine with creating a new term for the idea (such as "che" or "zhe", dunno, just spitballing here), or even just using "he" as a gender-neutral pronoun (probably the best option).

I have to start saying "y'all" (shudder even typing that) instead of saying "you guys" for the simple fact that a gendered term is in the saying. There is no chance 'he' will ever become gender-neutral when 'they' does the job far better.

We are moving quickly towards a society where people are referred to as specifically as possible ('he' or 'she' if absolutely certain), or a term without any gendering ('they'). I really don't see why this is problematic.

[kkt]

I really dislike the use of the word "they" as a personal, gender-neutral, singular pronoun. It messes up grammar and causes confusion when used as such. I wish English had a better one than "it", which is not appropriate when referring to humans. I like using "he/she", but I would be fine with creating a new term for the idea (such as "che" or "zhe", dunno, just spitballing here), or even just using "he" as a gender-neutral pronoun (probably the best option).

Too bad, it's been part of the language since as far back as 1375, meaning that usage is older than Shakespeare. Nobody even started complaining about it "messing up grammar" until 1750, which means it was being used for 375 years before anyone had a problem with it! And it's not just an American thing; it's used in every country that speaks English, including the UK.

"They" is the gender-neutral singular pronoun in English, and more or less always has been.

You said this so well all that's left is to agree.  And to add that coining a new word rarely catches on, and that using "he" as a gender-neutral pronoun sounds deliberately hurtful.  We don't need to coin a new word, because singular "they" is a long established usage.