What are some things that the culture you belong to (or live in the majority of the time) do or believe in that irritate you?

The USA is far too Christian. Do you know how many people here claim to believe in Creationism as opposed to evolution? What an embarrassment!

I think too many people in the US have the “I’m right; you’re wrong” along with the “let me say things as loudly as possible” attitudes.

Pet peeves:

If you’re a woman who doesn’t have or want children, you must be abnormal.
If you’re a woman who is self assured or self confident, you must be a dyke.
If you’re a woman who fights for your rights, you must be a bitch.

They get irritated too easily.

too many beer drinkers

Self-righteousness

I forgot to say, if it’s not obvious in your answer can you add what culture you are talking about. Sorry, should have mentioned that in my spiel above!

The way gays are treated and thought of. Of course I know it’s worse in other countries and not much different in many other countries, but I’m not proud of it, that’s for sure. It could be a lot better.

the way people put all of their attention on a candidate and not the actual issues.
i’m talking about americans, but it might suit another culture too

I wish people would spend a little less time in their electronic bubbles (iPods, cell phones, etc.) and a little more time being aware of the world around them. I go walking every day, and I love saying hi and sometimes stopping to chat with people I meet along the way – but it’s getting harder and harder as more people walk around with headphones in their ears or a cell phone glued to one ear. Just take a minute out of your busy lives to look around and enjoy your surroundings! Here endeth the rant.

It upsets me how many Americans think government should be able to run without them paying much in taxes and also the way people look at the government with such distrust. I despair of their ever being real health care reform in this country because of that mistrust.

Americans seem to be very consumed by our culture itself. I think “tradition” may sum it up. If you deviate from tradition, question it, or try to change it, you’re an outsider and unAmerican. Also, we’re very uptight here, which may stem from my previous point.

The American “mystique” of rugged individualism tends to breed self-righteousness.

I do think that if you plan to spend a large chunk of time in a country, you should be able to speak their language. Not necessarily enough to have philosophical conversations, but enough to be able to talk about important daily ordeals. Yes I know English federally is just our de facto language, but here in California, and 29 other countries, English IS the official language

The biggest pet peeve I have is how powerfully religious we are. It’s great to have a guideline, great to have faith, but we are basing our laws around a book that tells you to gouge out your eye if it tempts you to sin (My brother as a doctor in training encountered a man who did this recently).

I’m also sick of this exaggerated fear of socialism. Because when you step back and look at it, you’re either blind or retarded.

I hate how famous we allow worthless sacks of shit like Heidi Montag, Jon & Kate, Paris Hilton, so on and so forth, become famous for absolutely nothing, and continue feeding them attention.

I’m tired of people driving gas guzzling vehicles for no reason. Granted, my van only gets about 21mpg, but it’s something we’ve had for 12 years. A friend of mine went out last year and got a 15mpg huge fucking truck. Neither his job nor hobbies lead him to needing the hauling capabilities of a truck, he merely got it for the sake of having a big badass truck.

That’s all I can think of for now.

@Sarcasm Don’t get me wrong, I agree that REGARDLESS of what your first language is, if you are going to a another country for a large amount of time then yes, learn at least enough of the language. I’m talking more about English speaking holiday makers who don’t bother even learning odd words when they visit other countries because they know that, more than likely, people will speak English. Even learning to say little things like “thank you” in the language of the country you are visiting is showing a bit of respect.

The way that low income people are thought of as scum when so many of us live paycheck to paycheck.

The fact that women still make less money than men for the same job even though we know it is happening.

The fact that we count gay people as less than.

A general lack of personal responsibility also seems to be a theme…there’s always someone else to blame.

Fashion rules about what to wear
Believe they have a right to decide the lifestyle of others
Excess consumerism
Too willing to complain instead of help work for change

Generally speaking, there seems to be too little critical thinking done in our society; too much of a willingness to accept things at face value without evaluating things for one’s self and deciding why or why not we agree or disagree. schools in New Zealand may be quite different these days but I was certainly not taught to think critically when I was at school and I don’t remember my family being one that really discussed things critically I notice when I am reading a well-known, well used New Zealand online message board that people are so inclined to read things in the newspaper especially topical items and accept what they read as fact without proper evaluation.
In recent years I have had contact with quite a number of Germans and one of the first things I noticed was that they so readily discussed issues, intelligently, critically, thoroughly. It seems entirely healthy to me

I think there are too many home fires burning and not enough trees…..

The sense of entitlement I experience from others daily is mind-blowing. Really, people?

The last part of my previous post was a dig at general society and not at my fellow Flutherians.