Intolerable Cruelty

Annoying. That is something you associate with a wailing kid lying down on the floor kicking away. Or when you rush your way to the supermarket to get that discounted product, just to see the last unit being taken by someone. That is just, so... arrggghh!

But what about when someone you know, or even related to, starts to get annoying? And you are just forced to tolerate it? On one hand, you cannot really comment since you do not want to damage the existing relationship. On the other hand, YOU JUST CAN'T STAND IT!

Imagine a colleague who incessantly prattles on and on to you, even when you have a pile of work stacked right in front of you. What do you do? Tell them politely to shut up so you can get on with your work? Tell them to stop bothering you with meaningless questions? You know they will stop... only to continue not five minutes later. Or you can just suffer the situation, all the while politely nodding your head and giving noncommittal grunts in the hopes that it shows you are remotely paying attention even though that is the furthest thing from your thoughts.

Or how about when your younger brother whines and whines to you about wanting to watch his favorite cartoon when you are in the middle of High School Musical? You keep missing the dialogue because he just cannot keep quiet! You feel like just... Why is it that of all times, he must choose such times to be annoying?

And it is most strange when your neighbour throws their rubbish into your rubbish bin. What. Don't they have a rubbish bin of their own? They sure do! And yet! Maybe they think there's no harm in it. After all, it's just rubbish... in a rubbish bin... is it not? Nevertheless, it annoys some people that their own rubbish bin is used while the one situated next to that is not. A most bizarre condition.

Again, the situations beg an answer: What to do, what to do? Do you reproach? Do you suffer in silence? Granted, we all have our different tolerance levels so when push comes to shove, it may not be the prettiest sight to see. Also, the implications from that one single outburst may cause lasting hurt and disappointment. Other people may view you differently from that point onwards, for better or for worse.

I guess it all boils down to how important the relationship is to you. Can you afford to lose it? Maybe if the relationship is close, the other person may even be able to accept your grievances. And oblige accordingly, perhaps. Nevertheless, having to tolerate someone sure is a cruelty in itself. How much annoyance can you tolerate?