Whistling

I think this blog will be a testament to all the things that I find particularly bothersome, annoying, or to which I have a neurotic aversion. One of the things I most enjoy doing is complaining. It's something that I can't really explain - why does it make me happy to point out things I don't like? The truth is that I have a thing for having my pet peeves and irritants known, without any expectation or hope that any action will be taken to remedy the situation. It's probably driven by the same compulsion that drives me to take surveys and answer questionnaires whenever possible, to fill out all the comment cards and participate in market research studies. It's just something I like to do.

Which brings me to this blog. It will probably be a long string of complaints, with (I hope) the odd witty comment or musing thrown in for variety. If you're not into that, look elsewhere for reading material.

Today's complaint revolves around whistling. This is perhaps the best known of my neurotic aversions. It's not just a dislike; the sound of whistling actually makes my skin crawl. It's just so annoying. It's not even a real sound. Why anyone would take enjoyment from creating or listening to the sound that old, environmentally unfriendly windows or poorly-spaced teeth make is beyond me.

And people seem to accept it as a form of music. And one that can be reproduced anywhere. When you see people singing on the subway, a far more valid form of music, you probably give them a strange look. If they're whistling, people tend to let that go, especially if it's some grandfatherly old man or smart-ass kid. Personally, if someone is whistling on the subway, I will get off and wait for the next train.

On the other hand, I was on the streetcar last week with a girl who was unabashedly singing, and I thought it was actually pretty cool. Of course, she was singing a song I like by one of my favourite bands (Little Hands by Mother Mother), so that may have influenced my opinion on the incident, but I'm inclined to say that random girl singing along with her iPod is far superior to weird old guy whistling.