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Pet Peeves

by Rod Miller

I would be far less than honest if I did not admit my considerable imperfections as a human being. Especially here where I am critical of others.

Why Pet Peeves? Well, I believe in human competition in all areas of life as a way of enhancing the entire of society by improving its individual components -- the people who make up that society. Sometimes, when in the company of others who know about my foibles, they are quick to jump on the occasional gaffs that are part of me. When that happens, I enjoy it. Wouldn't it be nice if people could be open and honest about constructive criticism?

The basic concept is this: When people are free to open up with their feelings and not threatened with criticism or angst of any kind, it is then that all parties are open to and capable of immediate personal growth.

This page therefore is intended to contribute to each reader in some way. On the other hand, when it is found that I am way off base, feel free to 'call me out' to use a baseball analogy.

PET PEEVE #1 -- NEGATIVE THINKING. There are ever so many things in life that can not be done ... or is that may not be done? My problem is the ubiquitous use of the alleged word "can't" ... ugh! As my children were making their way through the early years, they were subjected to some of the things I learned along the way. Such things as loyalty, honesty, integrity and so on. I guess each parent has some unique methods for imparting their personal wisdom as they know it. Sadly, a large and growing number of parents seem to have no worthy information that would qualify as wisdom. Even to the extent of passing anything along of personal value. But that last thought is an entirely different article.

Whenever my kids would say can't, I would put on my best Marine Corps face and accuse them of 'swearing' in my presence. Didn't take long for the point to get across. Such behavior on my part probably contributed in some way to their successes. Overall, the side effect seems to be their inordinate amount of confidence and independence. Still, all the family at some point, catch ourselves starting to say Can't ...t .... which quickly veers off to words or phrases like, "I don't seem to be able to ..." or "I choose not to ..." ... you get the idea!

PET PEEVE #2 -- MAKING MONEY. Nearly every day in personal, on television, e-mails and nearly every communication outlet, some one has an idea for how one can make money. Donald Trump, in pushing his real estate study course tells folks how they can make money with his course (Aside: I think most of those create income for the sellers of the course and very little, if any, income for those who buy the course). Anyway, I am facing a struggle of gargantuan portions and can only impact this by in some way by violating the Freedom of Speech part of the First Amendment as well as the first of the four freedoms. But if public speech can be denied or altered, I guess there is hope since accepted abbreviations seem to work ... like the "N" word. My problem with making money is, at least in the USA, that it is ILLEGAL. The U.S. Government a has a group called the Treasury Department and those folks operate something call the U.S. MINT. Since Congress created the United States Mint on April 2, 1792 and decided that THEY would MAKE all the money ... well, the rest of us were left out in the cold having to EARN our money. Big difference! Perhaps a middle ground here could be a preferred use as the "M" word.

PET PEEVE #3 -- LIARS and CHEATS. ... (back on this one about lies ... and how lies can kill you)

PET PEEVE #4 -- DIVORCE. The whole concept of divorce, its participants and hangers-on. As with nearly every story, there are THREE sides. In this case it is his, hers and the truth. Why don't people get that and insist on taking sides? Kind of' like being a Republican or Democrat and spouting the party line.

PET PEEVE #5 -- WORDS. Have you ever been to a fine restaurant, looked at the menu to find that the recommendation is, for example, the white asparagus with bernaise sauce because it compliments the veal oscar experience better than the green asparagus. Argh! That very expensive menu (Not the food, the cost of printing the menu etc.) all of a sudden becomes 'down scale.' What was intended by the word compliment was that the white asparagus goes well with their version of veal oscar. The word should have been complEment with an E rather than an I. If you tell the server that service that evening was perfect. You paid the server a COMPLIMENT. Big difference! Remember it this way: If things go with each other -- COMPLEMENT. If you say nice things to somebody or give them something -- COMPLIMENT. Get it?