Oh, boy, it feels great to be out and about again! You’re excited to be enjoying the great outdoors
and meeting both new people and old friends. There’s just one problem - the people. For every
new friend in the making, there’s someone who just drives you nuts. They all seem to have bad habits
that drive you up the wall. Why can’t they just be like you - no one has a problem with you, right?
You might be surprised. Bad habits are surprisingly common - and you
might even have a few. These are the ten habits that annoy other people the most.
#10. Rude Noises
Remember when you were a kid, and the teacher would drag the chalk across the chalkboard? You
were just about ready to tear your hair out. Well, if you’re sensitive to noises, it might be pretty
hard to handle being around other people for long. There are a lot of little noises that people make
day to day that just drive others nuts. Some of these include cracking their knuckles - which
might not be healthy for the joints either - or smacking their lips while they talk. Sometimes
even something as simple as tapping legs while sitting and talking can get on someone’s nerves.
So why do people make these noises - and why are they so annoying?
There’s no one reason. Sometimes people are just a little bored,
so they do something with their hands to occupy themselves. Sometimes it’s a
nervous tic. Some people are loud chewers and it might not even be totally under their control.
And neither is being annoyed by it. Some people have a condition called misophonia that makes
certain sounds intolerable to them. Something as simple as people chewing the wrong way can
make them panic or even become enraged - so it might be best to just end the conversation there.
But this next habit definitely isn’t unintentional.
#9. Being Too Blunt
We all know that person - they say the rudest things and then announce “Oh,
I’m just telling it like it is!”. But really, no one needed to know that this dress made you
look like a hot air balloon, or that you were their third choice to go on a date with. Sure,
there are sometimes when bluntness is a good idea - if you have a friend who can tell you
when you’re being an idiot and about to make a terrible decision, that can be helpful. But
there’s a difference between that, and someone insulting you and trying to pass it off as
bluntness. And if they don’t like being told that, well, you’re just telling it like it is.
But why are some people unable to keep these comments to themselves?
Some people are just mean. It may have been acceptable in school to give someone a wedgie
or push them down on the playground, but after graduation that’s just called assault.
So bullies have to find other ways to bully, and the targets are often their friends. But not all
blunt people are bullies. Some are trying to help, but don’t know how to say it politely,
or are mirroring things they heard from their parents. But good intentions or bad,
this habit annoys people because it never feels good to be insulted. People who get
this treatment are likely to either become more self-conscious - or just find other friends.
You might want these people to go away - but these next group are just the opposite.
#8. Being Late - All the Time!
You get that call that your friend wants to meet for lunch! You cancel the rest of your
plans for the day, get dressed, and hold off on eating until noon - and then they call and
say they’ll be a little late. A little late turns into 3:30, and the restaurant isn’t
even serving the lunch specials anymore. Sure, delays happen, but if a friend is constantly late,
it’s easy to start wondering why you’re scheduling your day around them. This is an even bigger
problem if you’re planning a vacation with them, or relying on them to pick you up from somewhere.
A lost afternoon is one thing, but consistent lateness can cause much bigger issues.
So what’s the holdup, anyway?
It’s not hard to see why lateness annoys people. If you make plans and then someone shows up late,
the whole schedule goes out the window. And if a whole group of friends has plans
and one person is late, it starts to seem easier to just leave the squeaky wheel out
of the plans next time. But what causes consistent lateness is more complicated.
Some people have trouble judging time, and the next thing they know they have ten things to do
and too little time to do them. Other people get thrown off by their sleep cycle. Others,
though, just assume people will wait for them - and eventually they might be surprised.
Of course, some people might want this next guy to stay away.
#7. Being THAT Guy at the Party
Woo-hoo, party time! There’s no better way to meet people than an old-fashioned mixer.
You dance, play some party games, and maybe get a little drunk. But there’s always that one guy who
takes it too far. He thinks the party starts when he shows up, but really, everyone’s just wondering
what he’ll break this time. He’s loud, seems to think the party is his private stunt show,
and if it doesn’t end with someone driving him to the hospital after a kegstand mishap,
the odds are you’ll still have to explain a few broken lamps.
So why does he keep getting invited to places?
Well, sometimes this guy is the life of the party! He provides comic relief,
but there’s a fine line between being over the top and just too much. Sometimes this guy is trying
to get positive attention, and sometimes he just can’t handle his alcohol too well and doesn’t know
when to quit. His friends are usually willing to put up with him - until his poor judgement
goes a little too far and he says something he shouldn’t, or breaks something too valuable.
And if you don’t know who that guy is in your parties, think long and hard - are you that guy?
This next person won’t wreck your house - but they may wreck your nerves.
#6. No Sense of Personal Space!
An old friend sees you for the first time in a while! You wave to them and hold your
hand out for a handshake - and the next thing you know you’re being swept up in a bear hug.
They sure are excited to see you, even if your ribs aren’t exactly happy about it.
Even after you’re released from the vice grip, they’re so close to you as they talk that you’re
pretty sure you can see their tonsils. We’ve all had that friend who talks a little too close,
hugs a little too tight, and gets your attention by punching you in the arm.
Sure, they mean well, but you’re a little afraid for your safety when you’re around.
Why can’t they just back off?
This can often be a cultural thing - body language and personal space is
different in different cultures, and even in different regions of the same country.
What feels natural and friendly to one person may feel intimidating to another.
If it’s a good friend, it may be best just to talk it out and tell them that you’re not comfortable
with the high-intensity contact - and they’ll probably get it. If they don’t, that’s a bigger
problem and it might be time to find another friend. Either way, your ribs will thank you.
But at least they’re happy to see you? The next person, I’m not sure.
#5. Being Too Negative
Going on vacation with a friend can be exciting! You discover new places and you have someone you
know and trust by your side in case of unexpected events. You’re having a blast - but if they are,
they could fool you. There’s a complaint about everything - the plane ride, the hotel room,
the restaurants. They even complained that there are too many French people in France!
Some people feel like they’re impossible to please. Even at the happiest event, they’re
the first to zero in on a little thing and spend the entire rest of the day complaining about it.
Why are some people so hard to please?
Sometimes this is a sign of depression, where they expect things to go wrong and keep their
expectations low. Other times they’re mirroring past experiences - maybe dad
could never be pleased even when they got all A’s on their report card. But whatever the reason,
being around this person can be a drag for people who look on the bright side of things.
There’s nothing fun about having the time of your life and suddenly someone
is talking about all the things that could go wrong. You can hear about bad things at home!
But at least being a debbie downer won’t offend the senses.
#4. Poor Personal Hygiene
We all know that person who just can’t seem to get it together.
Maybe they only seem to wash their hair once in a blue moon and are constantly playing with it.
Maybe they’re a close talker and you get a wave of bad breath any time they
open their mouth. Maybe they can’t keep their fingers out of...everywhere. Ew.
These are habits most kids are taught to ditch in preschool, and yet some adults still have
trouble getting a handle on it. Not only is it gross to look at, but you might be worried that
being associated with these people will make you look bad - or even pick up some unwanted bugs.
You’ve got to say something - but what?
There’s no tactful way to say “You stink”. Most people might avoid the topic because
they don’t want to be #9 on this list and lose a friend. But in social situations,
it can be tricky to hang around someone with personal hygiene issues.
One of the most common causes of this problem is depression - when someone is struggling,
even the smallest task can be difficult to manage. Suddenly taking a shower can feel like climbing
Mount Everest. This is even more difficult when someone lives alone and has no one to remind them.
But if the problem is getting out of control, it might be time for a friend intervention.
But this next hygiene issue may be much more than an annoyance.
#3. Smoking
For smokers, the whole world sometimes seems like it’s a big non-smoking zone these days.
Most places have banned smoking inside, but even outside - that smoke carries. Not only
do many people not want their friends smoking around them, but the smoke is so persistent
that it can linger on the clothes and on the breath long after the last cigarette - which
makes a casual conversation with a friend a challenge if you can’t stand the smell.
So why does this old habit get so many people worked up?
Well, for one thing - even if you don’t smoke, secondhand smoke can increase the risk of cancer
and other ailments. And if someone has allergies or other lung ailments,
being around a smoker can make them sick. That’s why many smokers are retreating to the
few remaining places that allow smoking indoors - often casinos, cigar clubs, and other private
clubs - and many friend groups might as well have a sign outside - smoking or non-smoking.
Some people don’t get that their actions affect others - like this next group.
#2. It’s All About Me!
Some people can’t help but turn the conversation back to their favorite subject
every time - themselves. You’ve all had this conversation - you just applied for a job and
you’re waiting to hear back, and the next thing you know your friend is launching into the world’s
longest story about the worst job interview they ever had. These people can even turn a best man
speech at a wedding into the story of how they were the best friend you’ve ever had. If they were
a Disney character, they’d have a showstopping musical number about how great they are.
So why IS it all about them?
Most of the time, it’s insecurity. People who are genuinely confident in themselves
and their place in a friend group are more comfortable taking a step back once in a while.
If someone feels like they don’t really belong or was socially awkward in the past,
they might try too hard to make themselves the center of attention. It can be an annoying habit,
but many friends just decide to put up with it. Of course, if someone pushes it too far and hijacks
the wrong event, they might find themselves the center of attention in the worst way possible.
But at least these people won’t get you kicked out of a restaurant.
#1. Were You Raised in a Barn?
The most annoying habit is one that shows up a lot - at least three meals a day. Rude eaters are
a problem everyone deals with at some point, and there are so many ways to make a dining
partner cringe in the restaurant. Maybe you’ve got that friend who thinks every food is a finger
food - even spaghetti. Maybe they finish their soup by picking up the bowl and slurping it down,
or maybe they can’t even keep their mouth closed when they’re chewing. Either way,
it might just be enough to put you off your meal.
So why can’t some people seem to eat properly?
As usual, this comes back to how they were raised. Table manners are one of those things
taught at a young age, and if their parents made dinner a free-for-all, it’s going to be
harder to unlearn that later in life. The older someone gets, the harder it is to break a habit,
and there’s no tactful way to say “You eat like a wild animal” during a date or friendly dinner.
Maybe it’s time to consider hanging out with this friend at the movies,
so they can face-plant into a bucket of popcorn in complete darkness instead.
For more on annoying behaviors,
check out “American Behaviors Considered Rude in Other Countries”,
or watch “Weirdest Phobias People Suffer From” for how unpredictable social interactions can be.