Minor things that bother you

[roadman65]

Places. like small independent takeout restaurants, that are STILL in the 'Bug BAD and will kill us ALL' mode....

Even more annoying:  fast-food chain restaurants that still aren't open for dine-in.  For example, the nearest Hardee's to where we live.  Our family goes out to eat on Friday evenings, and that doesn't mean drive-through and then eat back at the house.

The problem is staffing.  Even though there are people looking for work, the people needing help are not in synch with them.  Thanks to cyber net and assessment tests, the employer never gets to meet the help he needs.

[kphoger]

Places. like small independent takeout restaurants, that are STILL in the 'Bug BAD and will kill us ALL' mode....

Even more annoying:  fast-food chain restaurants that still aren't open for dine-in.  For example, the nearest Hardee's to where we live.  Our family goes out to eat on Friday evenings, and that doesn't mean drive-through and then eat back at the house.

The problem is staffing.  Even though there are people looking for work, the people needing help are not in synch with them.  Thanks to cyber net and assessment tests, the employer never gets to meet the help he needs.

If a bunch of the other fast-food chains around here were also closed, or even severely understaffed, then I'd understand.  But that doesn't appear to be the case.

[abefroman329]

Places. like small independent takeout restaurants, that are STILL in the 'Bug BAD and will kill us ALL' mode....

Even more annoying:  fast-food chain restaurants that still aren't open for dine-in.  For example, the nearest Hardee's to where we live.  Our family goes out to eat on Friday evenings, and that doesn't mean drive-through and then eat back at the house.

The problem is staffing.  Even though there are people looking for work, the people needing help are not in synch with them.  Thanks to cyber net and assessment tests, the employer never gets to meet the help he needs.

If a bunch of the other fast-food chains around here were also closed, or even severely understaffed, then I'd understand.  But that doesn't appear to be the case.

Maybe dine-in wasn't that popular even before the pandemic and they just can't be arsed to reopen the dining room?

[kphoger]

Maybe dine-in wasn't that popular even before the pandemic and they just can't be arsed to reopen the dining room?

Hardee's was a newcomer to Wichita, and people went nuts over it.  I know multiple people who, before it opened up here, would take a drive on the Turnpike just so they could eat at the service plaza location.  So no, it isn't that dine-in wasn't popular before COVID.

[J N Winkler]

Even more annoying:  fast-food chain restaurants that still aren't open for dine-in.  For example, the nearest Hardee's to where we live.  Our family goes out to eat on Friday evenings, and that doesn't mean drive-through and then eat back at the house.

I suspect they simply aren't willing to offer the wages or conditions necessary to hire staff to keep the dining room open.  Of our fast-food regulars, none has closed its dining room since the initial wave in 2020, with the lone exception of the nearest Popeyes, which had a problem with inconsistent service and frequent staff turnover (other signs of pay and working environment not up to scratch) well before covid.

[JoePCool14]

Maybe a little more than a minor thing for me, but: read receipts. Especially ones like Messenger that cannot be hidden or disabled.

I actually like read receipts. It means I can show someone I read their message without necessarily having to respond. I also like "reactions" for the same reason.

You should definitely be able to disable it though, because there's definitely people who I'd rather not know whether I opened something or not.

[kphoger]

I also like "reactions" for the same reason.

One of the most annoying things in the universe is when someone with an iPhone (read:  someone who doesn't know how to reply without replying-all) "reacts" to a group text message with a reaction.  News flash:  everyone in the group doesn't need or want to know that you "liked" or "laughed at" the message.

There was once such a group text conversation going on, and one of my friends texted out sarcastically "I bet Terry will like this message".  And then, shortly thereafter, Terry "liked" that friend's message.

[JoePCool14]

I also like "reactions" for the same reason.

One of the most annoying things in the universe is when someone with an iPhone (read:  someone who doesn't know how to reply without replying-all) "reacts" to a group text message with a reaction.  News flash:  everyone in the group doesn't need or want to know that you "liked" or "laughed at" the message.

There was once such a group text conversation going on, and one of my friends texted out sarcastically "I bet Terry will like this message".  And then, shortly thereafter, Terry "liked" that friend's message.

iMessage groups don't have the ability to reply to only one person without sending a notification to everyone, unless everyone has the chat silenced aside from mentions. Also, reacting has its uses. "Who's available to go to the bar Friday night?" People who are can like, or dislike as appropriate.

Or you can just use it to mess with people, which I won't lie I have indulged in.

[kphoger]

someone with an iPhone (read:  someone who doesn't know how to reply without replying-all)

iMessage groups don't have the ability to reply to only one person without sending a notification to everyone, unless everyone has the chat silenced aside from mentions.

And that apparently makes 100% of all iPhone users throw their hands up in the air and exclaim that it's impossible.  As if they don't how, or as if it's exceedingly cumbersome, to just start a new message to a single recipient.  No, instead of jumping through all of those massive hurdles like tapping their phone three extra times, they send a message that everyone else in the group doesn't need or want to read–and making them all take out their phone and read said message for no reason.

Also, reacting has its uses. "Who's available to go to the bar Friday night?" People who are can like, or dislike as appropriate.

Which results in anyone who is unable to attend still getting everyone else's reactions–even though they have zero reason to care who's going.

[wanderer2575]

Even more annoying:  fast-food chain restaurants that still aren't open for dine-in.  For example, the nearest Hardee's to where we live.  Our family goes out to eat on Friday evenings, and that doesn't mean drive-through and then eat back at the house.

I suspect they simply aren't willing to offer the wages or conditions necessary to hire staff to keep the dining room open.  Of our fast-food regulars, none has closed its dining room since the initial wave in 2020, with the lone exception of the nearest Popeyes, which had a problem with inconsistent service and frequent staff turnover (other signs of pay and working environment not up to scratch) well before covid.

I think it's this.  After a day of hiking last week, I stopped at a Burger King to eat before starting the long drive home.  They had a huge "Drive Thru Only" sign in the window; clearly it was long-term and not just for the day.  I wasn't going to eat in my car so I continued down the road.  Less than a mile away, a Chcik-Fil-A was fully open and fully staffed, so workers are available.

[kphoger]

And my understanding (from knowing someone in local management) is that Chick-fil-A pays its workers well.

[jeffandnicole]

I'll see this, especially on local Facebook pages.  Someone comments that their car was broken into, or a bicycle was taken, or something relatively minor.  Others comment that it's a shame that people are now doing this stuff. 

I'm thinking, what do you mean "now"?  People have stolen other people's properties since caveman times.  There's a reason police departments exist - and they existed since before the invention of the automobile, so it ain't solely to catch speeders.

[ethanhopkin14]

I'll see this, especially on local Facebook pages.  Someone comments that their car was broken into, or a bicycle was taken, or something relatively minor.  Others comment that it's a shame that people are now doing this stuff. 

I'm thinking, what do you mean "now"?  People have stolen other people's properties since caveman times.  There's a reason police departments exist - and they existed since before the invention of the automobile, so it ain't solely to catch speeders.

It's a classic case of, it used to happen probably at the same rate it currently does, but before the advent of smartphones, social media and 24-hour news, people just didn't know about it back then, or at least the frequency of it. 

[kphoger]

When I'm listening to a music album on YouTube, and there's an ad for a new music album that keeps popping up, I really wish YouTube would match the ad to the type of music I'm listening to.  I mean, if I'm listening to Bob Dylan, do you really think I'm interested in the latest hip-hop album?

[Scott5114]

Even more annoying:  fast-food chain restaurants that still aren't open for dine-in.  For example, the nearest Hardee's to where we live.  Our family goes out to eat on Friday evenings, and that doesn't mean drive-through and then eat back at the house.

I suspect they simply aren't willing to offer the wages or conditions necessary to hire staff to keep the dining room open.  Of our fast-food regulars, none has closed its dining room since the initial wave in 2020, with the lone exception of the nearest Popeyes, which had a problem with inconsistent service and frequent staff turnover (other signs of pay and working environment not up to scratch) well before covid.

This is probably it. There are also tons of businesses that are putting out all sorts of ludicrous requirements, like multiple years of experience for an entry-level job, or requiring applicants to pass some sort of personality test. Or, here in Oklahoma, refusing to hire anyone with THC in their system (which, going by the number of people who have medical marijuana cards, is probably something like 10% of the population). Then when they can't find anyone that meets their demands, it's not the employer's fault, it's "nobody wants to work anymore".

There was a casino around here who had the general manager–the most senior manager of the entire casino–personally pulling the cash out of the slot machines at 4am because their hiring policies would not let them hire anyone who actually applied.

Maybe a little more than a minor thing for me, but: read receipts. Especially ones like Messenger that cannot be hidden or disabled.

I actually like read receipts. It means I can show someone I read their message without necessarily having to respond. I also like "reactions" for the same reason.

You should definitely be able to disable it though, because there's definitely people who I'd rather not know whether I opened something or not.

My problem is that more frequently I'll read someone's message and then either not be in a position to answer it immediately (like if I'm not near the computer or busy with something more pressing) or straight up not want to answer it (like an acquaintance wanting to sell me something out of the blue and I don't want to respond lest they not take a direct no for an answer). But "leaving someone on read" is generally considered rude, so now the onus is on me to concoct some sort of response.

I also like "reactions" for the same reason.

One of the most annoying things in the universe is when someone with an iPhone (read:  someone who doesn't know how to reply without replying-all) "reacts" to a group text message with a reaction.  News flash:  everyone in the group doesn't need or want to know that you "liked" or "laughed at" the message.

I have an Android, and the person with an iPhone I text with most frequently is my wife. She knows I don't have an iPhone, so she never uses those extra iPhone features (this is one of the many reasons I love her). So I had no idea that iPhones did that, until I sent my aunt a photo and her reply was "Laughed at an image." I just looked at the message and thought, "Welp, looks like Theron's finally lost her marbles." It wasn't until I showed it to my wife that she informed me, no, Aunt Theron did not type that bizarre message out by hand, and that it was an iPhone feature.

I don't find that kind of feature too annoying just on the face of it (though I might if I texted more), but I do resent iMessage for being an apparent latter-day attempt at embracing, extending, and extinguishing the SMS protocol.

[Max Rockatansky]

Even more annoying:  fast-food chain restaurants that still aren't open for dine-in.  For example, the nearest Hardee's to where we live.  Our family goes out to eat on Friday evenings, and that doesn't mean drive-through and then eat back at the house.

I suspect they simply aren't willing to offer the wages or conditions necessary to hire staff to keep the dining room open.  Of our fast-food regulars, none has closed its dining room since the initial wave in 2020, with the lone exception of the nearest Popeyes, which had a problem with inconsistent service and frequent staff turnover (other signs of pay and working environment not up to scratch) well before covid.

I think it's this.  After a day of hiking last week, I stopped at a Burger King to eat before starting the long drive home.  They had a huge "Drive Thru Only" sign in the window; clearly it was long-term and not just for the day.  I wasn't going to eat in my car so I continued down the road.  Less than a mile away, a Chcik-Fil-A was fully open and fully staffed, so workers are available.

Firebaugh has a purpose built drive-thru only Burger King which opened about two years ago.  I think the format works well in a small city like that given it is fairly space efficient and probably close to home for the customer base.  To your point I don't like eating in my car, so I usually avoid places that don't permit dine in. 

[roadman65]

Al's Pizza in Kissimmee, FL has the best pizza, but they have only take as they have no dining room.  I will make an exception here to eat in my car as the taste is worth it.

[hbelkins]

When a store is closed but there is no sign on the door, and you don't find out until you park your car and get out and try to open the door and find that the door is locked.

[roadman65]

When a store is closed but there is no sign on the door, and you don't find out until you park your car and get out and try to open the door and find that the door is locked.

Or when a motel has its no vacancy sign not turned on, but states "Vacancy" and walk up to the window and the owner says he has no rooms.  When you complain about his sign, he ignores you and says sorry!  Does a flip of a switch really cause hardship?

Oh and the business closed situation irks me, when the owner decides to not operate the business but leaves the hours of operation in the window or on the door. You go to open the door to find it locked.  You check your watch to see that its between open and close.  You only find out the place is closed when you peak inside and see no activity.    I had one restaurant open in my old neighborhood and I decided to try it two weeks after the place opened.  I found it out of business already and hours of operation still posted.  That irratated me as much as the fact that someone could actually conclude that his business is a failure during his first two weeks?

[Scott5114]

Similarly, when a business closes for the day but leaves their OPEN sign turned on. It's usually pretty obvious they're not actually open, but sometimes it's hard to tell, especially if they close at 5pm or some other time when it's still light out, so the building being dark isn't particularly obvious.

Or lit up signs that have red text and a blue border, like a typical OPEN sign, but it really says something like ATM or something like that, so at first glance it looks like an OPEN sign but it's not.

[zachary_amaryllis]

Places. like small independent takeout restaurants, that are STILL in the 'Bug BAD and will kill us ALL' mode....

Even more annoying:  fast-food chain restaurants that still aren't open for dine-in.  For example, the nearest Hardee's to where we live.  Our family goes out to eat on Friday evenings, and that doesn't mean drive-through and then eat back at the house.

The problem is staffing.  Even though there are people looking for work, the people needing help are not in synch with them.  Thanks to cyber net and assessment tests, the employer never gets to meet the help he needs.

I think it's that, plus corporate greed. "why hire 10 people, when we can do it with 6?

[hbelkins]

Related to my last complaint, businesses that don't answer the phone, let you leave a message, and then don't return your call.

Tried to call my doctor's office recently to get an appointment for refills of maintenance prescriptions. After two or three attempts, I finally got the automated system to answer, and at the prompt to leave a message, I did so. Told them I needed to make an appointment, left my name and number, and asked for a return call. We're going on two weeks now and I haven't heard back from them. They're notorious for not answering the phone.

So I'm looking for a new primary care physician. If you can't make an appointment at the doctor's office, why even have a doctor?

[skluth]

Related to my last complaint, businesses that don't answer the phone, let you leave a message, and then don't return your call.

Tried to call my doctor's office recently to get an appointment for refills of maintenance prescriptions. After two or three attempts, I finally got the automated system to answer, and at the prompt to leave a message, I did so. Told them I needed to make an appointment, left my name and number, and asked for a return call. We're going on two weeks now and I haven't heard back from them. They're notorious for not answering the phone.

So I'm looking for a new primary care physician. If you can't make an appointment at the doctor's office, why even have a doctor?

I had that problem this summer when my AC went out. First company I called (on a Monday) didn't call back until two days later. By then I had already gone with another company because I wasn't going with a company that can't call back for two days on AC calls during the summer in Palm Springs.

[ZLoth]

I think it's that, plus corporate greed. "why hire 10 people, when we can do it with 6?"

Hmmmm.... what about the employer who wants to offer below-market wages and then complains "nobody wants to work anymore"?

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Related to my last complaint, businesses that don't answer the phone, let you leave a message, and then don't return your call.

This worked in my favor once. I called a hotel in La Crosse, WI several years ago. No one picked up and I left a message which wasn't immediately returned. A couple hours later they still hadn't so I went to the property with the intention of booking directly on site and saw it was a horrific-looking shithole on the outside.

The funny coda to this is that they finally called me back about three days later, long after I had returned home.