I really can't stand rudeness.  You can usually get your point across without being a fucking asshole.

This. Particularly assholery that tries to excuse itself by pretending to be "just joking" or "funny." It's not funny, it's an inferiority complex flexing its muscles.

my boyfriend does this instead of really telling me how he feels. He'll make a comment about something I'm doing that he doesn't like, but then say he's just joking. But it's not funny. And he's not really joking. But he's able to hide behind it if it's not well received.

I know where he got this underhandedness. I've met his mother.

Guh, what a biyatch, yabbit. :-\ This reminds me of people who will not move aside when they're passing you on a footpath even when you obviously.. have nowhere.. to move.. out of 'their' way. Grrr.

OK, so the last time I had the flu was 10 years ago. And since then I've only been troubled with passing colds (that I tend to get over in 2-3 days thanks to miso and a good, clean life.)

So now I've started having the balance issues and tinnitus. And people act like I'm making it up to get attention. Yes, I've started walking with a cane on the street...because the earth moves under my feet without warning sometimes, particularly if I'm tired or if I've been standing for a long time. A lot of times I don't actually need it but if I do, it's there, and it gives me more confidence because I can sort of "feel" the ground. I don't limp along, I walk, but it's there if I need it, and sometimes I do.

How do we get from "general good health" to "if she says she's sick, she's faking it"? I happen to know a couple of people who do "enjoy poor health" but they are the sort who are too sick to attend a meeting or keep their word, but well enough to go camping for the weekend or travel halfway across the country by car, or spend the day shopping. The same people (mutual friends) who are all over those people with help and sympathy, act like I'm being childish.

Today even my French teacher told me that "it's all in your mind, just stop thinking about it". Like she would know. The one who's always having stomach issues and going to the ER every five minutes. (Last time they sent her home and said, "Do what we told you the last 3 times--change your diet.")

It's not in my mind...though it may be in my head--specifically, in my inner ear. I don't think the ear/nose/throat specialist would have ordered an MRI if he thought I was shining it on.

Can you hear the gears grinding?

That is so freaking insensitive! My fiance has really bad inner ear issues and they are not a joke. He has thrown up before from being too dizzy from just moving his head.

People always think I'm making things up to be difficult (like gluten and dairy allergies). Yes, it's great fun to eat food that makes me feel sick, bring it on! My dad is the worst with this, he's always giving me shit about what I won't eat, even in public. Thank goodness I don't live with him anymore. 

OK, so I'm on the bus with DH today. There were a couple of older ladies all gussied up for Palm Sunday who got off at our stop. One got off, then DH got off, and I--cane in hand--started to go out the door when the second old lady put her hand out and took hold of my side, stopping me so she could get off ahead of me. At first I thought she didn't want to be separated from her friend, but no! She turned and walked the other way. She just wanted off first!! She never said a word, not "Excuse me," or "Drop dead bitch." I said, very pointedly, "Excuse me" but it never fazed her!! It would have taken what, 3 seconds, for me to go through the door and get off the bus, but no. She had to be first to the door. I just messed up her world. A total stranger, and she felt justified in people-copping so she could have her way. She basically pushed me aside.

I am soooo glad I'm not her. Coz I'd have her karma, which must really, really suck.

I feel, and perhaps this is a United States thing, but I feel like it's wrong to touch other people. I know in the US we have different personal space issues than in other countries, but I do not feel comfortable with any part of my body touching or being touched by another person (as you guessed, I don't live in NYC or another big city!). This is inappropriate and wrong to me. And just rude. Downright rude. Sometimes people can still amaze me with how fucking clueless they are about the environment around them and the people in it.

I can't stand having people touch me either.  At least where I live, reaching out and touching a stranger, other than maybe tapping a back or shoudler, is asking for a physical fight. 

Here in Spain, on the weather reports, my region of Andalucia (southern third of the country) has always been referred to as "the rest of Spain". The guy goes through naming aaaaalll the other regions by name and then, "And in the rest of Spain..." Like, "the leftovers".
Well today on the national weather service website, we are now "South of Madrid." Well crap. Region by region, all named, let's be inclusive here...and then "South of Madrid." You know, down there in redneck territory.
Grrrrrrrrrr.

Spain has rednecks?! :o

tee hee. :)

"Science says ______"

"Science claims that ______"

"Science shows how ________"

You know, I would LOVE to meet this Science dude in person. I've heard such incredible things about him/her! Apparently, he/she has discovered all the causes of cancer, uncovered what was happening at the origin of our universe, and has proven over and over again that God doesn't exist. Boy, oh, boy! Maybe some of these sensationalist journalists can hook me up with a personal meeting with Science someday. What a discussion that would be.

And have you met his friends, the Studies? Mr and Mrs Study know eeeeeverything. "Studies have shown_________."
And they work hard. "An exhaustive Study has proven that ______________."
The world at large takes their word for anything they want to say, even though they never reveal their sources or how long the project took or who paid them to do it. The name is enough. Now THAT's clout!!
But ya know, the Studies are kind of schizoid. They don't seem to have any problem with contradicting themselves from one month or week to the next. One month the Studies are behind a particular sweetner; a month or two later they prove beyond all doubt that said product should be removed from the shelves and banned for human consumption because it's so dangerous.
The Studies never seem to notice their own inconsistencies.

I remember: "A study shows fruit might actually be good for you!"
who said it was bad?? Damn you, Studies!!

Studies are often a little too enthusiastic about their conclusions. They're all like OMG U GUYZ THERE'S TOTALLY BPA IN YOUR PLASTIC WATER BOTTLE!!!!!1!1 Yeah... I know that... what about it? Too often, though, the Studies are just reconfirming the status quo or popular belief. Like chicken = good for you, ketchup = vegetable, antioxidants = miracles, etc.

I think the media makes it a thousand times worse. And what really grinds my gears and is that I can't figure out who's reading the studies and making the conclusions. The media is like 'Miracle Wonder Fruit! Coming up at 6" and really the study is something simple, saying oh, I don't know, vitamin C is good for you. I know the reporters aren't reading the studies. Is someone just skimming abstracts?

I love how in each country/continent, if there's any niggling doubts about the validity of said Studies, they place them in another country/continent. I have laughed myself silly hearing the US news claim that "a study in Europe" proves thus and so, when on the French or Spanish news that same study supposedly took place at "a prestigious US university!" No names, of course, so you can't check up on it with a trustworthy source...like, say, Wikipedia.  ;D

I've never noticed this. I usually try to ignore them. If I'm interested, I'll read the paper myself.

Friday afternoons grind my gears. Get over already!