Thursday, July 19, 2007

Legitimately tagged...

...and I'm not entirely sure that I want to do this tag - or, indeed, if I should do it. But I'm going to, anyway. Broom, if I find myself alone and friendless after this, you're to blame for tagging me! :)

  • I'm judgmental about people who persist in speaking bad English when they can communicate much better in another language that we have in common. I dont see the point of trying to show off skills you dont possess, making a fool of yourself in the process.
  • I judge people who put on accents after a year or two abroad and yet cant speak or write correct English. If you must affect an accent with your countryfolks (ok to do so if you're trying to communicate with Westerners), at least make sure it doesnt slip!
  • I end up resenting people who are tight-fisted even though they are flush. I dont expect anyone - especially if they're relative strangers - to spend on me but I DO expect them to have the courtesy to at least offer to pay (at the very least their own share) when we are in a group! Just the offer alone is enough to keep me paying happily!
  • I judge people who are not quick enough on the uptake for my satisfaction, thereby making me repeat things (although there are plenty of instances involving maths/politics/electronics where I'm no more responsive than a sponge).
  • I judge people who are overly concerned about their looks and clothes. There's more to life than fashion and men, even if you're a perfect Size 8 and a man-killer to boot.
  • I judge people who dont respect my personal space (or who remain unaware of my discomfort and cool response) and are loud and noisy, and who keep using my name in every other sentence. I consider them pushy and insensitive.
  • I judge people who dont keep a rein on their (un)lovely children in my house. In fact, I judge them for the unloveliness of their brats - it can't be anyone else's fault!
  • I judge people who dont learn the correct expressions (idioms, phrases, whatever) despite hearing them used right, or who dont learn to spell words right even after seeing the correct spelling. How much time does it take to look a word up? And to remember how to write it? And if you're so stupid that you think you're right ALL the bloody time (about everything) and dont even resort to dictionaries... well!
  • I get judgmental about women who seem normal around other women but turn into affected, attention-craving nitwits when there's a man to impress.

Right, I've just taken a look at what I've written so far and I think that's enough fodder for judgment. Therapeutic though it's been to vent some steam, I think I'll stop short of transmogrifying into a complete monster in public. :)

15 comments:

meerkat said...

you come across as entirely sensible and propah. in fact, no right thinking person would object to any of the above. i think you should delve deeper and come up with some real stinkers :-)

mr218

Anonymous said...

Meerkat: You're too kind! :) MUCH too kind.

the mad momma said...

this isnt good enough. dig deeper.

Itchingtowrite said...

many commonalities with my pet peeves.. esp the unlovely children part

Anonymous said...

that's IT? u obviously don't rate ur friends too high if u think u'll lose them after THIS...

Anonymous said...

Got here via Kiwilax's blog. I think your honesty is refreshing. I think you would judge (!!) me, considering I've lived where I live for 7 years and the accent seems to have integrated into my speech. I know that doesnt quite make any sense. Oh well !

I have to agree with everything that's been listed, though I am compelled to add to the last peeve.

I hate it when my otherwise smart girl friends 'need' their significant other's approval/agreement on silly things. Mind you, its not an opinion they seek but an answer. Say, what is 2+2. Yes ! most often it *is* that silly. I think they think its 'cute' but its annoying as hell especially when they've asked me a question and have an answer but still have to ask their SO's the exact same question and get the exact same answer. Happens time and again. Pisses me off time and again.

MM.

Anonymous said...

unlovely children :) - I could soo relate to that.. not to mention the fake accents, and folks obesessed with looks, fashion.. I'll add people who are obsessed with being fair-skinned or who consider only fair is beautiful to that list..annoy me no end.
Shyam.. I am so sorry I completely missed you.. was totally off email.. did u come to the US last month?
Hope things are well with you.. will catch up sometime. Keep blogging, I do enjoy reading your posts!
-Vidya

Rebelzz said...

I get judgmental about women who seem normal around other women but turn into affected, attention-craving nitwits when there's a man to impress.

-- I know they r the MOST irritating types!

Castor aka Kiwilax said...

Shyam: 'Judge' seems to a replacement word for 'hate or dislike' here? Not that i am complaining - i endorse every single peeve of yours. In fact, as i know you'd love to tag me, I am going to consider myself tagged and work on this....

Maggie said...

Oh the fake accents! And the unlovely children... although at the rate Moppet's going, I'm very afraid I'm going to be one of those being judged myself :-)

Anonymous said...

I offered, I offered! yippee!

Anonymous said...

Shyam, you said "I judge people who put on accents after a year or two abroad and yet cant speak or write correct English".
I was of the same opinion until I realized (after living in the U.S. for a while) that there is a reason why this happens. Yes, the people who cant speak or write correct English do acquire an accent. Why? Because they've never learnt good English. And now, to survive in an English-speaking world, they pick up the English they hear around them which is of course, of the accented variety. Proof? Well, let your gray cells reflect on this (as Poirot may say) - how many of your (indian) well-educated friends living abroad sport that kind of accent?

Anonymous said...

Hmmm... possible, I suppose. But that doesnt explain the well-educated suddenly sprouting accents, mostly while trying to impress people - in India! Usually at the swankier shops! :) Saddoes, them people.

Srivilasica said...

Wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Oh, if you're talking about "the well-educated suddenly sprouting accents, mostly while trying to impress people - in India", well, I don't believe I've really experienced this, unless it's among the swinging young crowd ("young" as in western-influenced teenagers which I cannot seriously count) or the up-and-coming call-centre (I almost spelt it "center", heh heh! What do you have to say about that?!) crowd whose job it is to learn to speak with an authentic American accent (although, believe me, no American gets fooled by those phony accents).

I've never come across any person who having grown up and learnt English in India, has been able to acquire a truly authentic American accent. If you listen carefully enough, you'll be able make out the Indian flavour (tempted to spell it "flavor" just to see what you'll say!) of some key words. Strains of the Hungarian Phonetics Expert in My Fair Lady?

You know what? In the past I used to be strongly judgemental of these people, now I'm just amused and in fact, don't even care. An acquired accent will not change one's Indian-ness now matter how hard one may try.