Pet peeves? Here we go again

Well, here we go again. It’s time to get away from the doom and gloom of social ills and have some fun with some of life’s daily annoyances — at least to me.

We all have pet peeves — those things that just annoy the heck out of us but we are left with no choice but to put up with.

Number one on my list — and certainly high up on most people’s — is the alltoo-familiar “I am sorry. We are experiencing high-call volume.” Nobody believes this nonsense. What we do believe is companies don’t employ enough people to handle customer service.

This robotic, depersonalized service is getting worse. Americans pay too much for the products they buy to be handed this second-class service under the guise of efficiency and keeping costs down. Can you say jobs?

Driver’s license: I have one word for the Department of Motor Vehicles: retest, retest, retest (OK, maybe three words). Seriously. Readers of my column know I take public transportation but I also am behind the wheel a lot. And I can tell you, it is not only road warriors you have to worry about but drivers who don’t seem to know the basic rules — like excelling into highway traffic or moving over to let other drivers merge. And heads up folks, highways are not for Sunday driving; going too slow is just as bad as going too fast.

Clothing sizes: What is up with this? In my last Peeves column, I tackled the lack of wide-sized shoes available in department and shoe stores. This time out, I am questioning clothing sizes. Why isn’t extralarge extra-large across all makes, brands and manufacturers of clothing? Salespeople have told me it depends on where the item is made but this doesn’t make sense to me. No matter where the item is made and produced, if it is being made for the American male or female consumer, doesn’t size matter? And speaking of shopping ... Online shopping is beginning to weird me out. There is something creepy about marketers “following” me around the internet to make my advertising experience more personal. To me, it is a flat-out invasion of privacy as they step into my life, uninvited, unwelcome and refuse to leave.

Welfare jobs: Why are billion-dollar companies passing on the cost of eating, paying rent and health care to the taxpayer? Isn’t the purpose of working to be able to pay your own way? I get that all professions can’t pay enough to live among the lush in Greenwich — but struggling to live in Bridgeport? Experts say that paying people working certain positions a livable wage would wreck the economy. OK ... so, what’s the problem with the rest of us?

Phone booths: In retrospect, they’re a lot better than these bullhorns masquerading as cellphones. Enough said.

And speaking of bullhorns ... Fox and CNN commentators, please shut up. Enough said.

And finally for this time out, just like I admitted in a previous column falling for that sleight-of-hand marketing that wingettes are somehow wings, I admit I also fall for the “look younger” marketing for some popular products on the shelves.

But I am going on record to say save your money: hair dyes and aging-defying lotions don’t work. I know because I use both and a young clerk recently said to me after ringing up my purchase,” I gave you the senior discount.”

Talk about a blow to my ego — not to mention my wallet. I am not yet a senior; it is just my title! James Walker is the Register’s senior editor. He can be reached at 203-680-9389 or james.walker@hearstmediact.com. Folllow him on Twitter @thelieonroars