Top 10 Things You Probably Do That Are Annoying Other People
#10: Not Muting Background Noise During Meetings
It’s easy to get distracted anywhere at any time. It’s even more annoying to get distracted by irrelevant noise on a work call. When someone lets background noise run wild on a call, it’s hard to hear your coworkers and understand what’s going on. In a survey of 800 full-time workers in 2020, nearly half of them said the most irritating meeting behavior is not muting the background. The worst part? A simple search for how to mute background noise on a call brings up literally hundreds of results. So it really shouldn’t be a problem.
#9: Interrupting
You might be excited to chime in on a conversation, but chances are, your piece can wait until the other person finishes their thought. Interrupting makes the other person feel unheard, unimportant, and disrespected. The habit also derails conversations and disrupts the flow. Studies show that interruptions occur very frequently in casual conversations, with one person butting in every 12 seconds. Interrupting can have long-standing effects outside of conversation, too. It can lead a person to talk less if they’re often interrupted. It can also lower self-esteem by making the person doubt their worth.
#8: Eating Loudly
It’s great to enjoy your food. Just remember that not everyone needs to know what you’re eating or just how good it is. When you chew, slurp, or make other eating sounds, it can come off as very off-putting. That turns to embarrassment, which can get in the way of social interaction. A loud eater in public also has the potential to irritate and distract others, especially if they’re trying to concentrate. You definitely don’t want to hear any appreciative noises. If you’re particularly annoyed by these sounds, though, you might want to look into misophonia. That’s when you just can’t tolerate little noises like lip-smacking and chewing.
#7: Not Returning Your Shopping Cart
It’s so simple to put a shopping cart back in the corral instead of leaving it in the middle of the parking lot. There’s no penalty for not putting it back, but it is terribly annoying for everyone after you. The next person looking for a spot has to avoid your abandoned cart. And you’re putting more work on employees who are already plenty busy. There’s even a theory floating around online that returning your shopping cart to the corral is a litmus test for morality. It really comes down to respect for your fellow humans.
#6: Replying “K” or “LOL”
Nothing says “I don’t want to talk to you” like a one-word - or in some cases - one-letter, response. Since it’s so short, it puts the burden of continuing the conversation on the other person. What exactly did you mean? What should the other person assume from your curtness? How do they follow up? Do you even want them to follow up and pursue this conversation? Replying “K” or “LOL” might save time. But in the long run, it just makes you seem like a lackluster communicator. Next time you’re tempted to offer such a response, take the time to at least come up with a full sentence instead.
#5: Clicking a Pen or Using One as a Drumstick
Everyone has some nervous energy, but there are so many other outlets than incessantly clicking a pen. The average range of the pen-clicking noise is between 2 and 4 kHz. That also happens to be the range of the most sensitive hearing in humans. The repetitive nature of frequently clicking your pen is definitely adding to all your coworkers’ or classmates’ annoyance, even if they’re too polite to confront you about it. It’s a recipe for irritation. And the same goes for using pens as makeshift drumsticks. No one wants to hear a one-note desk percussion rendition of your favorite songs.
#4: Chronic Tardiness
Of course, emergencies and last-minute obstacles happen. No one can be early or exactly on-time for every meeting. But when it’s a chronic issue, your behavior sends some less-than-pleasant messages. You might think your time is more important than anyone else's. You might be passive-aggressively lashing out. You might think you’re doing the person a huge favor by showing up at all. Regularly being late can damage your professional reputation and personal relationships too. The point is that you’re being disrespectful, whether consciously or not, and the more it happens, the less patience others will have for it.
#3: “No Offense”
No offense to whoever coined this term, but this phrase actually doesn’t do anything helpful. It doesn’t soften the blow of whatever offensive remark you’re about to make. It’s used so frequently that people know what’s coming when they hear it. They brace for the impact of an insult. You’ve probably heard it used in an attempt to free someone from facing the repercussions of their rudeness. A study in 2017 found that 20 percent of Americans find the phrase annoying, and we wouldn’t be surprised if that’s an underestimate. Saying “no offense” just primes the listener to take offense.
#2: Being Very Loud in Public
Have you ever used speakerphone during a call when you were outside? You’re letting everyone in on your business, whether they want details or not. Have you ever played music in public without headphones? Or maybe used headphones, but blasted the music so loudly that people could still hear it? You’re forcing your playlist onto everyone. There are plenty of noisy habits that people do every day. Some places are meant to be quiet, like libraries and movie theaters. Other places, like restaurants, don’t have to be quiet, but no one wants your private conversations dominating the room when they’re trying to have dinner. Being so loud might not be intentional, but regardless of intention, it’s still highly irritating.
#1: Using Your Phone While Talking to Someone
You might think you’re skillfully multitasking, but you’re really sending the message that your phone is more important than whoever you’re actively communicating with. It also gives off an unprofessional appearance in official settings. Imagine your doctor texting while talking about treatment options. It’s not a good look. One study even found it among the top 10 rudest behaviors. Unfortunately, we all get distracted by the lights and noises of our phones. Whether you’re out to dinner or even just having a casual, in-person conversation, try putting your phone out of sight. It will look like you care about what’s actually happening, and will likely make you far more engaged and present.
Have you noticed yourself doing any of these habits? Did we miss any that annoy you? Let us know in the comments!
