Humming annoys me as well but I’ve since learned it is often used as a calming/soothing mechanism to the hummer and also helps them in concentration. If they start this young, it becomes a habit but still soothing to them and keeps their emotions and mind in check. Now I’ll just block it out or leave the area if I can’t take it any longer.
A couple of years ago, DH started burping regularly. It drives me NUTS. I had him ask his doctor about it, but I guess there’s nothing that can be done. It really is like chalk on a chalkboard, and I have to listen to him all day.
He was also clearing his throat regularly, but at least that’s decreased.
(1) I used to have a boss who would send calendar invites that just said “meeting”. There would be no explanation and no other words. All of my colleagues and I would try to guess what the meeting was about based on who was invited. It was incredibly frustrating and impossible to prepare for.
(2) My husband has a habit of listing whatever he did that day. So yesterday it was “I emptied the dishwasher and installed some new door jambs and I organized all the extra screws and nuts and I oiled the chain on my bike.” Ok. Why are you telling me this? I was here all day, I saw you do that stuff. We even talked about it while you were doing it. Am I supposed to thank you? Am I supposed to say good job? I don’t ever list what my day was. (Yesterday would have been: “I did all the grocery shopping, prepared three meals for each person in the house, did four loads of laundry, made a return to one store, visited two other stores to try to find what you wanted, sent emails through the patient portal for two different doctors and cleaned the shower.”) This has annoyed me for years, but I just ignore it, because I think it’s just the way he is.
My husband does #2 as well!! And it also drives me nuts because I also don’t list everything I did. Ha!
I think that a lot of these habits that we are talking about are coping or calming habits for people - still can bother me though! And I do often have to walk away.
For instance the “list makers” just above - that is clearly an organizing or wrapping up their day habit - but it can still bug someone on the opposite end of it!
Add me to the list of people who wake up HAPPY (I love mornings!) but need QUIET or quiet tones until I transition a bit. That is probably annoying to my husband!
Just finished reorganizing my pantry. Today’s “things that annoy me”…
When manufacturers make it so hard to find the expiration date. Often a combination of it being small, in an obscure place, or in a such a light color that can’t be seen. I’m also finding, as I get older, I’m having a hard time reading directions on things like laundry detergent when they use a light color on a slightly less light colored background.
My annoyance du jour
Try to arrange something and no one will commit. Or some will commit and others want to wait. It’s like herding cats.
Of course, a related annoyance is that what the dates on food actually mean is not always that obvious:
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/food-product-dating
Oh no you triggered something else! Have you noticed almost nothing really has an expiry date?it’s mostly sell by, or best by. I want to know the “you’ll get sick or die if you eat this” date.
Maybe this thread should be things that annoy me ”today”? If I go back further than that, the list would be too long ![]()
Today’s annoyance: People who always stretch a rule (or courtesy request) to their benefit, ignoring the intent. Our small apartment complex has (1) shared parking spot for about 10 units. IMHO, it should be available for loading/unloading only, but the manager feels it is ok to use as a parking space as long as you don’t park there over 24 hours. One tenant feels it is their personal parking space, and perhaps moves their car, but returns soon after for the next 24 hour slot before others have the chance to use it, or need it.
Yes, people who take advantage and game the system to the detriment of everyone else are extremely annoying and what makes the world a more frustrating and fraught place.
I told my DH he needed to talk to his Dr about his throat clearing. DH told Doc. Doc said, it is often just a bad habit. DH said. “no I can’t control it.” Doc said make a conscious effort to stop it and if you find you can’t in the next month we will do a series of tests (endoscopy etc…). Well, he stopped!
Throat clearing is a sign of acid reflux.
Could be something different but once my husband started taking an acid reducer it stopped.
I personally change my diet when I have a flare up
Aargh yes, humming! And I’ll add, very quiet whistling. I can still hear you!
Interesting, I will keep that in mind! Just as soon as I posted that he’s not clearing his throat much, he has been today.
@maya54, I like the doctor’s approach!
My first boss had a cubicle next to mine. He was a fantastic mentor, but he cleared his throat CONSTANTLY. It made it hard to concentrate.
I don’t think my husband could consciously stop clearing his throat.
For him, butter is a trigger. Bread and butter, he starts clearing his throat.
Not making up the throat clearing and reflux connection. Have an ent in the family. Reflux is a common dinner conversation ![]()
My son cleared his throat often in high school. It was likely allergies, and then a habit.
Same son coughed, maybe every 10 seconds, for a LONG time (weeks, not months or years). He did not have whooping (however you spell it) cough. If he didn’t stop soon we were going to have to start various testing. Somehow he got himself to stop.
Dishtowels…or the things that are sold as dishtowels, look like dishtowels and then don’t absorb enough to dry a dish. I have tried expensive ones, cheap ones, cotton, microfiber and blends. The best ones I have are about 30 years old. From Williams Sonoma - a waffle type cotton. One of those dries more dishes than 4 of any of the new ones I’ve tried.
Bring back a god honest dishtowel!
I play fast and lose with expiration dates after having an ex in the industry and knowing how little they mean. However, our food pantry doesn’t take expired food and I didn’t want them to have to sort through everything.
My family thought my throat clearing/coughing (I sounded like a dog barking) was a bad habit when I was a kid, to the point of binding my chest (on the advice of a doctor as a form of behavior modification) after ruling out allergies. Turns out, they never tested me for milk because I have refused milk since infancy/never had it. No one thought about the milk that was an ingredient in things like bread, sauces, etc. Turns out, I have a severe milk allergy, and if I’m exposed now, my first symptom is coughing and throat clearing.
One of my (autistic) students lets out a blood-curdling scream if he hears a toilet flush or someone clears their throat. There are multiple teachers in our room, and someone would have to be dying before they would dare clear their throat. It’s amazing how aware of you it can be when major negative reinforcement is involved.
My husband is the best & kindest person I know, but dang – old man noises (that started with throat clearing) are BAD now! I don’t want to harp on him, but can’t he stand up or bend down without grunting and groaning?