Thursday, February 17, 2011

Things I hate

Is this the one you were waiting for? I spent all week thinking about this post. What is it that makes us bond more over hatred than love? I think maybe it's authenticity. You see, someone can plaster a fake smile all over their face and pretend they're loving, and we can see right through it. But hate... people just don't bother to fake hate, do they? And so we can come together and gripe together and nod in agreement and think, Man, I hate that too.

I'm sure some of you feel that I'm probably a little Pollyanna in my ways. Always looking on the bright side and all that. But I'm acutely aware that the things I hate define and sharpen my edges, like my love does, and I wrinkle my (cute little button) nose at the idea of hate. After all, if I have such a huge problem with these things in my life, doesn't that just make it MY problem? My hatred doesn't affect anyone else. It's like taking poison and expecting someone else to die from it.

Nonetheless - I will say that there are quite a few things in life that honestly bug the crap out of me, and when I'm feeling thin-skinned, the following things DEFINITELY push my buttons.

Without further ado:

I hate high heels. I want to time-travel back to whenever someone thought to himself (because you KNOW it wasn't a female who thought it up), You know what would make women more sexy to men? If they wore shoes that were elevated by a tiny, minuscule little stick at the end, underneath the heel, where all the balance goes, wouldn't that be glorious? Wouldn't women wincing in pain and falling over on their asses be so incredibly sexy? and I want to punch that person in the face. Guys, if you want, I'll do the same thing for whomever invented neck ties.

I hate writers who don't read, and actors who don't watch television. Know your craft, dammit.

I hate that some people insist on not having a cell phone because they claim that they don't want everyone to be able to reach them. See, there's this nifty thing on your phone, called voice-mail, and it totally solves that problem.

I hate poachers. I don't think I need to explain this one.

I hate tailgaters. Please don't make me break down the laws of Physics for you, because I won't, but a general rule is: you cannot go faster than the car that's in front of you by driving up its ass. Also, if you think that by closing the safe distance that is supposed to be maintained between two moving vehicles weighing approximately 4,500 pounds is somehow going to make me speed up so that you can do that all over again, you are sadly mistaken. I'm just going to daydream about slamming on my breaks and how lovely that insurance check would be.

Tracy hates when people refer to themselves in the third person. She finds it annoying. Even more annoying is when someone refers to themselves in the third person plural. We hate that the most.

I hate drivers who think they can multitask. I've seen women curling their hair with a curling iron; men shaving; people reading books, magazines, and printed out directions that are propped up on the steering wheel while going 80 mph on the freeway; women doing makeup at red lights that turn green and they don't notice because a mirror is in front of their face; people drinking coffee in one hand, texting in the other, and steering with their knee; and people who drive with their dogs freaking out in the front seat on top of them. Stop it, all of you. Before you kill me.

I don't hate ignorant or dumb people. But I do somewhat resent intelligent people who claim the right to be ignorant.

I hate when people put chewed gum underneath desks, chairs, or movie seats. It's disgusting and are people THAT lazy that they couldn't wad it up into a napkin and throw it away?

I hate it when animals are used in the circus. And I know - I hear it all the time - "Those animals are so pampered, they've got it so good, don't feel sorry for them," well, I do. A zoo or animal sanctuary is one thing. A circus - that travels hundreds of thousands of miles, forcing their animals to travel in cages, something already stressful for a domesticated animal, let alone a wild one - takes an animal, puts it in front of hundreds of loud humans each night under bright lights and loud music, and asks it to perform tricks that are not natural to its behavior. No. The animals do not have it good.

I hate torture porn. Do I really want to watch some attractive teenagers get the hubris tortured out of them so I can feel morally smug to the sound of chainsaws and carving knives? No. I don't.

I hate fundamentalism. I hate it in religion, and I hate it in politics. This planet will not survive if we demonize those who do not agree with us instead of having thoughtful dialogue and working towards accomplishing common goals together.

I already really don't like most gossip and fashion bloggers, but when they target children, I genuinely hate them. Honestly? You can't find anything better to write about - anyone else to make fun of - other than the outfit a 12 year old girl wore to an awards show? She's TWELVE. When she's eighteen, fine, give her hell. Until then, leave her alone and get some self-respect.

I hate that Disney has no strong mother characters in almost any of its movies. Go on, think about that. How many of the mothers in Disney movies are either already dead or die during the movie?

I hate that when I tell someone I'm an actress, if it's a single male his response will usually be something along the lines of: "Oh, so you're just a really good liar." Yes, you presumptuous ASSHAT, I studied at one of the finest theater companies in all of Southern California as a teenager, learning mime, clowning, mask-making, interpretative dance and comedic timing for over five years before attending this university, where I learned Suzuki, Tai-Chi, Tolstoy, Sophocles, Aeschylus, Moliere, Shakespeare, Strasberg, Stanislavsky, Linklater, and Mamet while interning at one of the most prestigious Shakespeare Companies on the entire West Coast, after taking a quick break to go to London and study Chekhov for half a year, then moving up to Los Angeles so that you could stand there now and tell me you're pretty sure I'm just a flaky bitch whom, if we dated, would just manipulate you because I know how to cry on cue. To which my reply is: Kindly get over yourself and get out of my way so that when I take over the world, you're standing there on the sidelines, still bitter about your life.


So there you go - and now it's your turn. What do you hate?

37 comments:

Lira Kellerman said...

Duh! I hate haters who hate stuff!

In all seriousness - I think the original high heels were invented for men in the 18th century so that we women could gaze longingly at their chiseled calves in white tights. They were more wedge shaped, though, if I remember correctly.

Can I get all personal on your blog now and ask when the heck I see you next? love to you! xoxo

Robin said...

What a wickedly sharp pen you have my lady!

Sage Ravenwood said...

Awesome hates!

What would I add, people who look at me as if I'm lying when I say I'm deaf. Apparently I'm not supposed to be able to speak eloquently if I'm deaf. Even worse is when they pull back afraid your going to touch them. Last I heard deafness wasn't contagious.

I seriously hate the SOB's who abandon pets and throw them away like trash. Speaking of trash idiots who throw theirs away in streams, woods, anywhere in nature.

I could go on...but I think we both pretty much agree on the same things. (Hugs)Indigo

Deech said...

This post was refreshing....every once in a while its nice to drink the bitters so that we can appreciate the sweet!

Elisabeth said...

I hate hypocrites, those who say one thing and do another. Granted that we all behave hypocritically to some extent from time to time, I can be a hypocrite myself, but you know the ones I mean: the self righteous ones who bemoan other people's behaviour and then go off and do exactly the same things themselves. As if there are two sets of rules: one set for them and another for the rest of us

Thanks for a great post, Tracy. Those high heels get to me too. I think of the Chinese women of years gone by with their bound feet and I shudder, such cruelty and domination.

jenn said...

Like you - I hate people referring to themselves in third person plural "we". It's something that Perez Hilton does and drives.me.nuts.

Also agree that I can't stand people who aren't willing to have honest and sometimes difficult discussions about things and instead demonize the other side. Right now in Madison we're having quite the political uprising over our governor's bill to try and limit union involvement for public sector employees. My facebook page is littered with people name-calling and arguing back and forth instead of having honest and insightful discussions that everyone could learn from. While the bill isn't perfect, I cannot STAND the people referring to our governor as "Hitler."

Because yes...changing benefits for state workers & murdering millions of innocent people because of how they looked or religious beliefs is the same thing. Ugh. People need to think before they speak. :)

Also - I hate watching violence against animals in any way, shape or form. I cry every last time.

Snowbrush said...

Interesting list. These are all annoying to me too.

Lori ann said...

i still can't get over your education. i followed all of the links. i'm SO proud of you.

it's hard for me to hate and even say the word.i kind of wish it weren't part of the english language.

but, i'm with you tracy, these things you listed, not good for sure. i especially don't like someone disrespecting your profession.

do remember the seinfeld where that guy kept refering to himself in the 3rd person? classic.

big love to you.

Gisizee said...

Excellent list, Tracy!

I would add - any kind of gameplaying or mindeffing nonsense between supposedly mature and sentient human beings who should know better.

That includes my special favorite: noisy neighbors with perversely slow learning curves who will continue to push the limits of acceptable sound levels at reasonable hours in spite of complaints that begin with courtesy and restraint but must apparently become aggressive and/or backed up by law officers to make a lasting impression. Living in apartment buildings with paper thin walls, there really is no good time to play a sound system that belongs in Madison Square Garden. And that won't be any less true when you try it again a week later after sneakily raising the volume one notch every day!

I'm totally with you on the abomination known as high heels!

All the best to you!

Bathwater said...

Remember- "Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering."

I sense much anger in you. ;)

Eric W. Trant said...

I hate working for a corporation. Owning it or being an investor, or even an executive or director, that's not a bad gig. Even so, I'm not a badly-paid grunt, but that doesn't change the fact that I genuinely hate working in a corporate environment. Like any good soldier, though, I fight because I have to, not because I like to.

I hate guys who grunt in the bathroom. That's a weird one, but it bugs the hell out of me. I lose my concentration and this is serious business.

I also hate whistlers. That's a weird one, too, and it's probably the asperger's acting up, but when I hear someone whistling my mind goes all Harrison Bergeron and my thoughts scatter and I forget what the heck I was thinking and now all I can think about is stapling the guy's (99% of the time it's a dude who whistles) lips together and see if he can whistle then!

I hate snarky police officers (traffic). It's bad enough that you pulled me over. It's bad enough that you have a gun and armor and backup and I'm alone and unarmed. I don't need your sarcasm or attitude anymore than you need mine. I respect you. You respect me. Yes, I know, we both hate our jobs but I'm not going to take it out on you, don't take it out on me. Write the ticket, be nice about it, and let's move along.

You're right about hate being a genuine emotion. That's a hard one to fake!

- Eric

Wine and Words said...

Can we add pantyhose to the list? I mean really! And I hate...whomever deemed that women's legs should be hairless. Arrrrgh!

Gwen said...

Gwen also hates when people talk in third person. But even more than that I hate the double talker. You know the guy that answers everything twice. Joe how are you doing today? Very Good, very good. WTF?

Snowbrush said...

I trashed high heels on my blog once, and heard from women who considered them the height of elegance. At least they're not so bad as furs. I remember the days when women not only wore furs; they wore furs that still had the heads attached.

Marion said...

I'm with you on all these. I hate bras, too. They're hot and uncomfortable and why don't men have to wear them? Enough of them NEED them. And whoever invented Spanx oughta be. It's a throwback to girdles. UGH! :-)

Love & Blessings,
Marion

drollgirl said...

well i am feeling the hate! lol!

i think my number one hate is traffic. but those that abuse and mistreat others are also a source of hate. hmmm. i could go on and on, but i'll keep it short! :)

Kass said...

Great list. Can we put rodeos right next to circuses? I abhor rodeos.

It's healthy to be able to identify and rant about what you hate. Most comedy is based on these kinds of feelings.

Anthony Duce said...

Your list is insightful. It’s good to be selective and know both sides. I dislike many things. I only hate those who knowingly hurt others in order to enjoy themselves. I hate the bullies in the world.

Dave said...

Wow. You've been around. ( education wise! ) I would think that anyone who considers acting easy probably never acted.

I hate wet toilet paper. Isn't worth a shit.

Rosaria Williams said...

You covered it well, the whole gamut!
I'd add the way women are made to feel diminished if they are not the ideal size. I've seen so much emotional damage on girls as young as ten.

Along These Lines ... said...

Yes, we've been waiting for this list. And a great one it was. At the risk of having high-heel shoes thrown at me, I've done a crude survey and (at least in my area), I'd say 75% of tailgators are young woman. Perhaps it's just in my region that they don't seem to understand Newton's Laws of Motion. But check your rear view mirror next time someone's hovering aroung your tailpipe - bet it's more often a young lass, than an old guy. Oh, and I checked out your reel a while back - good stuff.

Darcy said...

YES! Darcy likey this post. (is the word 'likey' on your list? teeheee)
ALSO, i also hate all those torture movies; they make my stomach churn. I think this means that you are probably nicer than anyone who watches it because they must be just a little sick.
(ps i got a new link www.threesixfivedegrees.com, just noticed the one on your sidebar was broken and hadn't heard from you in awhile and missed you :-)!

kj said...

high heels, circus animals, porn, gum, jeez tracy, i should have taken notes so i could comment on everything because i am walking right beside you on this one.

know what i hate the very most ande always will? betrayal. i stop understanding when i see betrayal in action.

did bathwater's comment upset you? i ponder comments like that, often too much and for too long. for the record, i totally disagree. i think you are filled with ♥ even when it might hurt, which may be burdonsome at times but i can't think of a more authentic way to live. there, that's my two cents.

oh, one more thing: i hate middle aisle airplane seats. :)

Snowbrush said...

I'm with KJ about Bathwater's comment. I hate it when people say something serious and completely un-open to any humorous interpretation, and then try to evade responsibility for their own words by putting a smiley face at the end of them.

Phoenix said...

KJ, Snow - ACK! I should have addressed this sooner. Bath is one of my oldest blogger buds (oldest meaning long-term) and we're very good friends, emailing each other regularly. He also regularly gives me crap, as it amuses us both. Bathwater has a very dry sense of humor that, if you guys didn't know him, could be interpreted as mean. However, especially since he quoted Star Wars to me, it just made me laugh out loud. :)

And Snowbrush - ugh. I'm right there with you on fur as well. And with HEADS attached? No thanks.

Phoenix said...

Lira - I get to see you tonight!

Robin - You know what they say, the pen is mightier than the sword ;)

Indigo - people who abandon pets also totally piss me off. And who on earth would think you were lying about being deaf?!

Joker - aw, thanks! I like to keep it real. :)

Elisabeth - hypocrites are very frustrating to me too. I just avoided posting that I hate them because I'm extremely aware that me hating hypocrites makes me hypocritical! Hah.

Jenn- ugh, I hate the political hyperbole that our media and zealots spin, in both sides of the political spectrum. So frustrating.

Lori - I know what you mean! I was taught to never say "hate" growing up (even for food!) and I had a lot of trouble with this post.

Two Tigers - I hate gameplaying. Hate it hate it hate it. I will not play, nor have I ever played "the game" with dating or with my friends. I prefer straight-forward, honest communication.

Bath - now all I can hear when I read your posts is your Yoda voice.

Eric - I have never particularly thought about people who grunt in the bathroom, but I could see that definitely getting under your skin. Maybe I'm lucky that the women's restrooms, even though we have stupidly longer lines (another hate) usually are grunt-free. And snarky police officers suck.

Phoenix said...

Annie - I am the WORST at shaving and I hate pantyhose to no end (I won't wear it, even when people then make fun of my incredibly white legs.)

Gwen - LOL, double talkers! That reminds me of the character Yeah Yeah from The Sandlot. Too funny...

Marion - Now that I know longer use underwire in my bras, I am a much happier camper.

Droll - traffic jams are one of those things that allows me to change from a mostly rational, sane human being into an insanely frustrated jerk in about 60 seconds. Especially if a car accident is on the opposite side of the freeway and the reason traffic is slow in my side is because people are craning their necks to get a really good look. Grrrrrrrrr.

Kass - we can definitely add rodeos. And while we're at it, I'll add bullfighting to that as well, which is disgusting and abhorrent.

Anthony - I too very strongly dislike bullies! I despise bullying and I do not like it when I see it in children at all.

Dave - LOL, I almost put 1 ply toilet paper as something I hated, which is just about as useful as wet toilet paper. Why make 1 ply? Really? Does anyone want to actually buy it?!

Rosaria, I am so right there with you. Girls who are taught to try to be the "ideal" from a very young age - makes me incredibly sad.

Nick - I would never throw any high heel shoes at you, at least not directly. ;) I see many tailgaters as women too - I wonder if it's because (while we're stereotyping) they're running late and have decided to try being aggressive with their car and speed instead of just leaving ten minutes earlier?

Darcy!! I thought I'd lost your blog. I didn't realize the link was broken, just tried to click on it one day and got the "this blog does not exist" thing and thought you'd shut down shop! Yay for you commenting and being on my butt about that :)

KJ - I think you and I both know how horrible betrayal is, and how it's the gift that keeps on giving in terms of it being hard to move on and trust others again. Such a shame, isn't it?

Barbara said...

I don't like prigs, constantly argumentative people or those who belittle. Simple list. To the point. :)

JJ said...

Wow! I spend so much time loving, I have been ignoring hatred. I feel ashamed. Don't you just hate it?

Ren- Lady Of The Arts said...

I hate writers who don't read- Never heard of torture porn but it sounds scary.

Kristin Quinn said...

I love this!! And I hate that I have been in LA for more than 2 months and I haven't seen you! (That's totally my fault)

Heather Taylor said...

You should watch The Princess and the Frog. Tiana has a mother in it which would be awesome except for the fact that the movie stereotypes the crap out of the African American community-particularly in the New Orleans area.
I hate seeing little kids on cell phones. What do you need to talk about so badly? I also hate crazy LA drivers (I almost got hit by a teenage girl while I crossing the street today because she didn't bother to look both left and right), general rudeness, and jeggings. Wear real pants please.

Bathwater said...

The T-Rex thinks I do a great Yoda voice, I also do a good Patrick from Sponge Bob and Mort from the Penguins of Madagascar.

I had no idea my comment had caused such a stir. Obviously the Tracy lovers are very protective and haters of any suspected Tracy haters.

For my ally is a blogger and a powerful ally it is!

I'm with them btw I'd hate anyone that doesn't love you too.

Anonymous said...

That's so true. It's shocking how many writers don't read. Reading is the single best method for improving your writing. All the great authors have said as much.

Jo said...

Holy moly....this was fun!! :)

Pretty Zesty said...

I hate lots of things... wish I liked more and hated less. oh well!

Tammigirl said...

Right now I can say I hate it when I don't buy enough pretzel bread from the Amish and I'm home, two days later, without pretzel bread.

Along the same lines: I hate it when I run out of cinnamon & sugar covered pecans.

I also hate it when I can't express myself well.

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