Posted August 18, 2005

By Kevin Devlin

Some things that people do annoy others. Sure they do. It certainly annoys me to the point that I merely shake my head in disbelief. So, I'd like to share my thoughts, and my frustrations with you, and discover what you think. I also intend to share the thoughts-the gripes-of others.

     Tony "Wheels" DeMarco from West Roxbury who frequently reads SBOL has a gripe. Tip cans. As far as he's concerned they're everywhere. At dry cleaner's, at J.P. Licks, at Dunkin Donuts. He wonders why we have to tip people for simply doing their job. He feels it has gotten out of hand. Perhaps he's right. In the not so recent past, you didn't see them, but now every business has them lying about on the counter. As far as Wheels is concerned, enough is enough, and he doesn't appreciate the looks he receives from the employees when he decides not to dunk his change into their tip cans.

      My friend from Hingham feels that drivers who don't use their directional lights should be heavily fined for their lack of discretion, intelligence, and roadside etiquette. Motorists can drink coffee, smoke cigarettes, put on their make-up, comb their hair, continuously change radio stations, and talk on their cell phones. But flicking that directional switch seems to be too overwhelming a chore. After all, using directional lights saves people from many an accidents and saves lives. But why bother?  Motorists are preoccupied with other vital matters, matters apparently more important than safety, as far as they are concerned.

      We are all concerned with pedestrian safety, but our local griper, whom I shall merely refer to as Guy, feels that pedestrians should get their heads straight when walking across the streets. He feels they saunter across as if they have all day to do so, and don't even acknowledge the consideration given to them by drivers. He feels that a little wave of the hand never hurt anyone, and he's absolutely right.

     On the beach scene, lifelong and longtime M Street beachgoers feel that one lifeguard stand at this beach is not enough to cover the whole stretch of sand and the many people who frequent it.

     Last week, the gripe line mentioned Kevin Lally's disdain for parents who cross the line at athletic events. I experienced a similar situation recently at a youth playoff basketball game. The kids played their hearts out and didn't complain.  They just wanted to play hoop. But guess what, guess who was acting like juvenile delinquents, guess who behaved like they deserved to go to bed without supper. You guessed it, several parents, so-called adults if you will, who just couldn't keep their mouths shut, who had to act like idiots.

      They should smarten up, get a life, and stop behaving as if their kids are playing for the world championship. Even if they were vying for the world title or whatever, this type of behavior is still unacceptable. I will never understand why adults behave like they do at such events.

     Yeah. I've got a gripe because these parents crossed the line.   They shouldn't have, but unfortunately they did.

(Writer's Note: People do annoying things that bother us, all of us. So, what's your gripe? Send them to SBOL.)