Pet peeves
By Lynn Fowler
@lynnief (1203)
Australia
April 14, 2018 8:06pm CST
Do you have a pet peeve - something that is actually not terribly important in the larger scheme of things, but that drives you crazy?
One of mine is being called Mrs. I am not a Mrs! I am not currently married, and Fowler is my maiden name, which I resumed after the break up of my second marriage. Mrs Fowler was my mother! Personally, I would prefer to simply be called Lynn. In this age when everything is much more informal (particularly in the western world) I see absolutely no need for titles at all. However, if you absolutely must stick a title in front of my name, there are plenty to choose from: Ms, Pastor, Rev., Dr., Rev. Dr., even Mum Lynn or Mommy Lynn as many of my spiritual sons and daughters from Asia and Africa call me. Just don't call me Mrs!
Apart from anything else, I think it is downright insulting to automatically assume that a woman is Mrs - it's like saying that a woman has no validity unless she "belongs to Mr" (which is what Mrs literally means.)
Do you have any pet peeves? What are they?
8 people like this
6 responses
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
15 Apr 18
I only use titles for teachers. And my boyfriends dad 
. Unless at the store or resturant then I'll say excuse me mr or ms. But thats also different.
Everyone to me is their name.. or friend, or dude, or girl / girlfriend / love lol.
. Unless at the store or resturant then I'll say excuse me mr or ms. But thats also different.
Everyone to me is their name.. or friend, or dude, or girl / girlfriend / love lol.1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
15 Apr 18
@lynnief i've been told to call him by his name, but it's awkward.
@lynnief (1203)
• Australia
15 Apr 18
@Courtlynn I understand. Give it time, it will become more comfortable.
@JAWwriting (298)
• United States
15 Apr 18
Mine is people who start responses with "actually" as if they are calling you a liar or talking down to you.
1 person likes this
@chavezrmc (6095)
• Philippines
15 Apr 18
We can always call women/girls Ms. i prefer that one. That is of course if you don't know them by name. Otherwise you can also add the name.
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
15 Apr 18
I can understand how you feel about being called Mrs. .. I am married but I am also uncomfortable being addressed as Mrs.
Probably because of my first miserable first marriage when I first got the title "Mrs." .. Oh I hated being called his Mrs..
I am now married to a wonderful man, but I don't even use his surname .. and like you, I prefer Ms.
1 person likes this
@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
15 Apr 18
My pet peeve is small talk. Especially on social media like facebook. I've had people message me with only one word. "Hi".
I HATE that!
I will respond by saying politely; "Hello."
They message me back; "How are you?"
Me (getting frustrated because I'm in the middle of doing something else): "I'm fine, how are you?"
Other person (normally a male): "What are you doing?"
Me (very pissed off by now): "Look, if you have something to say to me, say it! Don't waste my time!"
I never hear from them again.
Call me insensitive but if someone messages me out of the blue I expect to know the reason in the first sentence. 
@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
15 Apr 18
@lynnief Yes. Those are annoying and I hate when they send them to my messenger. I use messenger for REAL conversations.
1 person likes this
