If you live in a major American city, you know firsthand how daily life isn’t exactly the luxurious and glitzy dream depicted in Hollywood movies. (If only we ate at Michelin-starred restaurants and skated in the park every night!) In truth, city life is filled with frustrations, from the throngs of tourists who clog the sidewalks to the unreliable subways that drive us crazy. So if you’re thinking of making the move sometime soon, it’d be helpful to read following list closely. That’s right: Here are the 30 most annoying and utterly maddening aspects of city life. And when you want to know how the rest of America complains, check out the 30 Things That Always Annoy People in Small Towns.
1 Slow Walkers
Nothing drives a city dweller crazier—and faster—than being in a hurry to an important meeting and getting stuck behind a slow-walker who is also managing to block the whole of the sidewalk. Move aside, pal! Or, better yet, take your casual constitutional to a park!
2 Manspreaders
Yes, manspreading occurs when a man—or sometimes a woman—sits with his legs so far apart that he effectively takes up several seats in a public space.
Fact: You’ve never experienced rage until you’ve seen a manspreader on the subway after a long day at work and you’re staring down a 45-minute trip. And for more on new slang, check out 40 Everyday Slang Words That Were Invented Online.
3 Subway Delays
If you lived in New York in the early aughts, the subway was dependable. Since then, there’s been a dramatic deterioration. According to mismanagement and poor maintenance, trains are traveling upwards of 20 mph less than they used to, and the system is plagued with bottlenecks all over the place. It ensures that every working professional’s day begins and ends on an angry note. MSNBC host Chris Hayes spoke for all residents of the Big Apple when he tweeted in February: “FIX THE SUBWAYS FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.”
4 Solicitors
Cities are flooded with do-gooders on sidewalks who try to draw you in to help with their cause, whether it’s signing a petition or donating money. Though admirable, they can be annoying, especially when they blind-side you with their canned earnestness at a moment when you’re stressed and on-the-go. (Common opening salvo: “You look like a guy who wants to save the planet!”)
5 Backpacks Everywhere
When you’re stuck in a crowded, seemingly endless commute, nothing is more annoying than someone wearing a backpack that takes up the space filled by an average human. If you’re got a big packpack on, the polite thing to do is to take it off and put it down on the (admittedly filthy) floor. Or better yet, you and the manspreader can go halfsies on a cab.
