I would imagine that everyone, at some time in his/her life, has met someone they took an immediate disliking to. It’s human nature. The same can be said for taking an immediate liking to someone as well. For some people, the barometer is what they look like, physically. For me, I’d say the amount I dislike someone on first sight is directly proportional to how loud they are. I think one of the biggest turn-offs for me is people who just have to have attention. If I’ve never met you before, quit putting on a show. I’m less-than-impressed. The more someone talks at a normal tone, the more likely I am to listen, and not to judge.
Here’s one of my favorite examples. I’m sitting on a train (or bus or any form of public transportation) and here’s some guy on his cell phone. Oh, but he can’t talk quietly, or even at a nice, level tone. No, this guy has to talk very loudly. Not only does the person on the other end of the line need to know what’s happening, All of us who happen to share a train car with this guy have to know as well. “Yeah. I was just over at Tony’s Bar and Grill. Had the barbeucue beef. Dude, it was awesone.” When someone’s this loud (and boring), you wonder if there’s really someone on the other end of the line.
Cell phones, for me, are the most obvious, but anyone who has to be heard and to make sure everyone has heard them is a prime target for my immediate derision. You know the types. The guy who, when he shakes your hand, has to make a “hilarious” quip-then look around to see who’s noticed how funny he is. The guy who has to comment on every woman who’s passed him by. “Yeah. I’d do her. Not her, though.” As if these passers-by could even begin to care what he thinks.
Yes, loudness is a pet peeve of mine. This may not be bothersome to others, but almost everyone has something that really bugs them on first sight. It may be the way someone looks, or the way someone dresses or the way they wear their hair. If there’s something about human nature that just really gets under the skin, this can be cause for “intense dislike” at first sight. We can’t help it. We’re human, and there’s something that bugs each and every one of us. And for every pet peeve, there’s somebody (or a thousnad somebodies) that will display this kind of behavior. It’s just the nature of the beast.
Have you ever met someone you immediately disliked? I can’t think of anyone who hasn’t. If so, they are very lucky. If you have disliked someone on first sight, don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s easy to get caught in the trap of expectations among our fellow humans. And, as humans are wont to do, they often disappoint.
