Fine, Don't Be My Friend

A couple of months ago, I wrote a sincere message to someone I was genuinely sorry to have fallen out of touch with. I invited this person to be my "friend" on one of the big social media sites, adding that I'd be glad to be able to follow news in this person's life/work more closely. This person accepted the invitation, though never wrote a message back.

Today, I saw that my "friend" count on the site had fallen--by one person. It didn't take me long to realize that the one who had "unfriended" me was the same person who'd accepted that honest, well-meaning invitation.

I'm fine with people choosing not to be my friend. I just wish they could be honest from the get-go. Telling me if there's something specific I've done to annoy or antagonize them would also be appreciated. I think it's rude to simply drop people in an obvious, traceable, and yet nondirect way. Like "unfriending" them.

--Prunella

Setting Things Straight

As a curly-haired woman, I get extremely annoyed at the idea that all hair should be shiny, slick, and, yes, straight. I can’t even count all the times I’ve seen a television commercial or an advertisement in a publication that shows “before” and “after” views of a woman. Before, she has tangled and coarse curly hair. After she has used some fancy product or been to a certain salon, she has a waterfall of straight locks. Clearly the idea is that straight and shiny is always preferably to a thick bird’s nest of curls. Hmph. Personally, I prefer my curls and I wish other curly-headed types would revel in their natural looks as well.

--Curly

The Cure

What the hell is the matter with people who create and spread computer viruses? Why would anyone think this is entertaining? I have had to spend hours, days even, trying to get viruses off my computer and I am still having problems. I can not seem to completely cure my poor computer. Why are people such jerks?

--Curly

Let There Be Light

I have never understood why so many bathrooms, especially in certain European and Asian countries, have their light switches outside the bathroom. Why does that make sense? The switch should be inside the room that it is meant to light up. Am I the only one to find this arrangement odd?

--Curly

iSlap

I was in line at the grocery store. The man behind me was "entertaining" his long-suffering, eyeball-rolling girlfriend with the following:

"Apple should create the iFart. Haha! You press a button and it makes all sorts of farting noises. Wouldn't that be great? Haha!"

He then proceeded to demonstrate the kind of flatulent noises Apple could include. The line at the store moved slowly and I had to stand there listening to him for ten minutes, which made me wish that Apple had a program called iSlap. It could not only make slapping noises but also actually slap annoying people. Haha.

--Curly

Piqued About Peaked

Yes, Curly and I are so peeve-prone that we still rant away in our own e-mail correspondence. Recently, I used the word "piqued" (as in, "Have I piqued your interest?") in a message to Curly, who responded with a note about how irked she is when she sees "peaked" in "piqued"'s place. To which I say: moi aussi!

--Prunella

All About Baby

I like children just as much as the next person and I am always interested in hearing about people's kids and seeing pictures of them. However, I think things are going way too far when proud parents set up blogs devoted entirely to their children, with new posts several times a day.

Ooh, the baby said a word! Look, here's a picture of the baby in the bath! The baby burped! The baby is smiling! The baby is now toilet-trained! And so on.

The thing is, it's fine to want to remember your child's special moments, but is everyone else supposed to be just as interested? I'm really expected to read each post and comment on it? And if I don't, you take offense?

Come on! Just as I don't have the time or the interest to hear about every single thing going on in my friends' lives, I certainly don't have the time or the interest for their children's lives. Sorry, but time is limited.

Not to mention that later on, your child might resent that his/her every move was recorded and published for the world to see.

--Curly