I think I should start probably by seperating the general public into their different annoying categories.....with examples....there are several that come to mind straight away. Here are some basic ones....in no particular order:
-Deaf people .....having to shout the same thing down the phone several times is very frustrating. I once had to shout full voice down the phone just so I can be heard and believe me, for anyone who knows me, I have a loud enough voice as it is! And just because they apologise for being deaf doesnt make it that much better! Following on nicely......
-People with children or babies ....I appreciate that a mothers life can be very difficult granted....I dont have one myself, but Im sure that having this little thing that requires constant attention can be quite stressful...however it makes things at least three times more difficult when all you can hear on ur phone is a child screaming at full volume!
-Super Annoying special one ....husbands who call up wanting your help, but then unable to decide without speaking to their wife at the same time. Then occurs a three way conversation which takes twice as long wheras if the wife was on in the first place, it would only take 5 minutes!
- Foreign customers ....slightly controversial I'm aware, but alas its true that your job is made twice as hard of they have trouble understanding what youre talking about....just to confirm, Im in no way or do I agree with the movements of the BNP!
These are some of the more minor annoying traits people can come in or ring up with....following I like to class as 'medium' annoying ones....
Fosscinater
It would appear you dislike the public more than I do. However appearances can be deceiving and quite honestly NO-ONE could dislike the public more than I do. Now don't get me wrong, we're all entitled to complain and quite often don't when we really should but that would be the first thing to annoy me. If the customer service you receive is unacceptable ie someone shouting very loudly down the phone...then tell the bossman!! Don't walk around moaning and grumbling to all your friends who will greedily feed off every pissed off word you tell them whilst all the time feeling secretly pleased that you have something to feel pissed off about! Secondly I hate the public who fail to try and see the other side of the story...or counter as it were! Yes I would love to refund the item, give you the best seats at a discount or hold your hand whilst you do something really scary like confront your own childs bad behaviour but I can't and the reason I can't is because I'm told by someone much higher than me that I can't. Please bear this in mind when shouting at me and whilst on that subject can I remind the wonderful public that it is very rude and not socially acceptable TO SHOOT THE MESSENGER!!!!! I'll have to stop there for fear of stealing someone's thunder or hogging the soapbox but Aubinoman...I'm very much with you on this one!!