PeevePile • A Pet Peeve Archive » Being told other people have it worse when I talk about a problem I have.

Being told other people have it worse when I talk about a problem I have.

Look, I know there are people in this world who don't have any parents/have terminal illnesses/are starving and living in a shanty. I never claimed to be the most unfortunate person on Earth in the first place, but thanks for the guilt trip anyway.

— B. Alexander from Long Beach | Conversation | 3.6.2010 | Comments (12)

Yeah, I think it's a misguided attempt to get us to count our blessings, but can't you just listen to me for one minute? Don't ask me how I am, if you don't want to hear the answer.

— SOtrue posted 3/6/2010

Definitely. This is akin to the "everyone feels that way, Biffy" peeve. I'm no telling you my problems so that you can diminish their worth.

— Biffy posted 3/6/2010

Yes, I know that other people have way worse cancers than mine, but I'm still scared shitless. And no, I'm not freaking grateful.

— Acacia posted 3/8/2010

Right, but some people can be really insensitive about this, like by complaining about a problem they have when you wish your life was that good. Like "my dad keeps sending me dividend checks from this huge stock investment in my name, but I am SO tired of living in his shadow and just wish I could cut him off totally but am afraid to not have the money, even though I make well over 60K a year and have no debt" when I am in the midst of unemployment and student loan drama. I think when people say "some have it worse" it's sometimes a very polite, gentle code for "do you have ANY respect for what I am going through at the moment?"

— Diana posted 3/8/2010

Hee, those people whose problems are your wildest dreams are another peeve altogether. Still, telling someone their problems are more or less worthless rarely does any good. It usually would just make people feel more like crap.

— B. Alexander posted 6/14/2010

One person is always telling me to smile. It's annoying. But even worse, one person told me "Get that frown off your face, missy!" In a friendly, I want you to be happy way. I said, "It's not a frown, it's a wrinkle! I need botox but can't afford it." It always looks like I'm frowning.

— Betty posted 6/15/2010

Saying that men watching their own kids are "babysitting." » 5 stars

Water on the counter at a public bathroom such that when you lean over to wash your hands, your stomach and crotch area get all wet. » 5 stars

When people tell me to "calm down" when I am already calm. » 5 stars

Putting on a clean pair of socks, entering the bathroom or kitchen and standing in a water splash left on the floor, thus getting your clean socks wet and forcing you to change them. » 5 stars

Excessive and difficult-to-remove packaging » 4.95238 stars

Rolls of toilet paper in which the size and weight to tensile strength ratio renders it impossible to dispense the paper in the usual manner (ie: pull on the end, roll turns, paper advances). » 4.93333 stars

Doctors "shortening" your wait time by making you wait in the exam room instead. » 4.93333 stars

People who touch computer screens. » 4.91667 stars

Using mobile phones at the register. » 127 Comments

The non-existance of unpadded bras in cup sizes less than D. Macy's, Victoria's secret, and Bloomingdales do not carry them. unpadded. » 41 Comments

People who put ketchup in the refrigerator. » 41 Comments

When pregnant women complain about being pregnant. » 39 Comments

People who deliberately pronounce words incorrectly and repeatedly. » 34 Comments

Women who are just so beautiful they don't have to contribute to sex... » 32 Comments

"Irregardless." » 30 Comments

Saying that men watching their own kids are "babysitting." » 27 Comments

Using mobile phones at the register. » super – luctroyally 2/6

Using mobile phones at the register. » super – Cireekeld 2/6

Using mobile phones at the register. » super – Kannyhila 2/6

Using mobile phones at the register. » super – Steashamate 2/6

10.31.10

Thanks to a recent torrent of spam, I’ve had to disable comments for a while. I’ve now removed the ability to put links in the comments. Email me if you want to put something in, such as five links to knock-off handbag sites, and I’ll happily oblige.

09.10.10

I’ve added two features to the sidebar: Highest Rating and Hotly Debated. They will be updated daily. To my surprise, the ketchup-in-fridge peeve seemed to really incite some anger — it’s clearly a complex situation that affects us all.

It should be noted that the star ratings indicate how much you agree with, or appreciate, the peeve, not how you feel when it happens.

I will be adding a Paragon Peeves section as well, for my and my friends’ personal favorites.

Please enjoy, and contact me if you have any new feature ideas.