The science of what really bugs us
Everyone is annoyed by something. In fact, many of us are annoyed by lots of things.
But did you know that there are scientific reasons that we get so ticked off? In "Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us" NPR science correspondents Joe Palca and Flora Lichtman explain why even everyday things can drive you into a homicidal rage.
It turns out we’re hardwired to be sensitive to sights and sounds that are dissonant, disgusting, or violate social norms that lurk in the back of our minds.
Take the “halfalogue” cell conversation, for instance. When we don’t know what’s being said on the other end of the conversation, it draws our minds away from other tasks requiring concentration such as reading or working on a computer.
There are a couple of common characteristics at work here: Unpredictability, in the sense that you get on the subway and you can't know or even control that the guy next to you is going to have leaky headphones or a scratching problem. The second is the uncertain duration. It has to stop sometime, you say, but there’s really no telling when.
What really bugs you, and why? Do you get annoyed with yourself for being annoyed?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
* Follow Gordon on Twitter here.
Posted by: the diluting of our culture bugs me | May 16, 2021 2:49:59 PM
the hijab headgear that muslim women wear really bugs me. i am not in a muslim country, i am in a christian country. you can't see their faces, that is an act of cowardice and distrust. i wonder if they are hiding a bomb under the blankets that they wear. another thing that bugs me is non christian immigrants not wanting us to celebrate christmas and easter. the icing on the cake is when you listen to all the clicks and pops of a foreign language. i learned english and french, canada is a bilingual country, it has two official languages, to speak a language in public other than english and french is both ignorant and rude and is exceedingly annoying. it should be illegal to speak a foreign language in public and subject to heavy fine, otherwise soon we won't even be able to read the signs in our own country.
Posted by: Route66 | May 17, 2021 3:51:50 AM
It all boils down to spineless politicians who don't have the backbone to tell them to piss off. Nothing bugs me more than having immigrants trying to change our country to the way thiers is. If thiers is so great, why did they leave. I wish all my friends a Merry Christmas. I don't care who it offends. Because it's the holidays, I have a special place that they can kiss if they don't like it.